The Fletcher School PhD Committee Meeting Revised Agenda Minutes
Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016 in Cabot 407 from 11am-1pm
Present: Bulutgil, Rouhana, Jacobsen, Pfaltzgraff, Daniels, Decembrele, Krystalli, Bacon and Burckett-Picker
A. Approval of Minutes of October 25, 2016 APPROVED
1. Petitions
Michael Byrnes APPROVED
He petitions to have a special field of study in “Security Technology”. See attached petition that he originally sent to CSAP. CSAP wants the PhD Committee to make a decision on this. Approved by his adviser, Robert Pfaltzgraff
2. Yasodara “Aruni” Jayakody NOT APPROVED
She petitions to attend the Institute for Qualitative Multi-Method Research as her third methods course in lieu of taking that third course at Fletcher. Approved by her adviser, Hurst Hannum.
After a long discussion (in which the PhD Comm felt that as she is not graded nor does she have to turn in any products for IQRM, that this alone could not count as her third research course), the PhD Committee will give her two options for fulfilling her third methodology course to include IQMR—
A. Attend IQRM (and register for an Independent Study at Fletcher) and then do a qualitative study and turn in a paper on it to be graded. This would count as her fourth PhD course, as well as her third methodology course. (She would also have the option of taking a research module at Fletcher, doing a qualitative study and turning in a paper for a grade, before or after attending IQMR.) These are ONE-TIME OPTIONS for this year only before we intend to offer an advanced-level methodology course.
B. Take D235 (Intro to Field Research Methods) next semester and also go to IQRM.
The pilot study that she does, in relation to either IQMR or the research module, should reflect her dissertation proposal and be graded by her adviser.
3. Sarah Detzner APPROVED
She petitions for a second 6-month extension of time until March 1, 2017 to defend her dissertation proposal due to the fact that one of her readers has not yet seen the version recently approved by her chair (Chayes) and 2nd reader (Burgess).She passed comps in May 2015. Approved by adviser Chayes.
B. Other Business
4. Update from PhD Town Hall Meeting with Nadim Rouhana on Nov. 28th (Nadim Rouhana and student representatives) Summary of discussion to be sent to committee by Prof. Rouhana.
5. Discussion of the PhD Student Memo of April 12, 2016 (see attached and please reread before next Tuesday). Of the “five most important points to discuss,” we discussed ‘financial support’ at the Sept. 20th meeting, and ‘academic rigor’ to some extent at Oct. 25th meeting, and ‘transparency’ in special transparency meeting, so for the Dec. 6th meeting we will discuss:
a. Sustained faculty and advisor support for students
b. Program management/strategic leadership
Summary of discussion to be sent by Prof. Rouhana
Future Ph.D. Committee Mtgs.
All Tuesdays from 11-1:00 unless noted
Jan. 24 (11am-1:00pm) Isobe (includes 11-11:20am session for faculty only to learn about Slate for application reading), March 14 C407, April 18 C702
Thursday, May 18, 1-3pm (just before Faculty Mtg.)
PhD ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE MTGS (Faculty and administrators only)
Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 11am-3pm C702
Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017 11am-3pm C702 (cancelled)
Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017 11am-3pm C702
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