Graduate Council meeting 10/11/13

Attendance:C. De Filippo, T. Trabold. A, Savakis, J. Venkataraman, J. Hornak, HP Bischof, J. McCluskey, D. Jacobs, D. Wilson, H. Flores, C. Licata

Scheduled Topic of discussion: R/F/I grades, S/F/I grades as options in selected graduate classes/theses

Meeting begins: 10:05am

  1. Briefly revisiting topical committee assignments. Please contact Joe if you are interested in helping on any of these under-represented assignments. R&T Credit Count, Graduate Residency, MS along the war to a PhD, Separate Graduate Policies, Advising Roles, Grad Assistant Definitions, Degree Certification Timing.
  2. Grading options

JH: The history of the request for R/F/I grade option, Research and Thesis assigned “R”. No credit, not part of GPA – several faculty members raised the issue of “no show” students. Currently there is no recourse. Advisors – prefer a mechanism for communicating unsatisfactory work.

Purpose of today’s meeting is to discuss and bring documents back to the colleges – we will reconvene in 2 weeks or later to reconsider.

Summary:

GC discussed R/F/I only, with a suggestion that “U” and “S” replace “F” as a grade for thesis work.

There was consensus that the policy needed to be revised and edited so it was clear that R/F/I optionswould be further restricted to only thesis credits to accommodate SIS and administration.

Several members agreed that “F” on a transcript was a severe consequence and discussed an “S” of “U” option as a preferred alternative.

The issue of generating clear policy/criteria for imposing a grade (F, U, S) on thesis credits for students was discussed in terms of faculty discretion and criteria for assignment.

The meeting ended with a recommendation that Joe Loffredo will come in and discuss grading.

GC members should take policy back to colleges and program directors to get input.

There will be no vote until all scenarios are considered.

Meeting Ends: 10:55am

Some important notes and a quasi-transcript:

Excerpted from an email :Proposal R/F/I Grades:

  1. It would be ideal if the R/F/I grading basis was further restricted to particular types of classes (Thesis, Research, Colloquium, Continuation). There is a need to isolate the classes that can have this grading basis.
  2. Would it be possible to require a university level committee to approve courses that would be allowed to have this grading basis?
  3. Is it to be assumed that the standard grade for courses warranting the R/F/I grading basis will ordinarily be granted an “R” grade and that only in extraordinary circumstances students will receive either the “I” or “F” grade?
  4. Although the “R” and “I” grades do not impact GPA, “F” grades do. If the course is credit bearing, and the student receives an “F” there would be a negative impact to the GPA. Would this be the desired result?
  5. It may be helpful to explain that when any class is re-taken at the graduate level, grades earned in each iteration are reflected on the final transcript. They may not be removed, and all grades are calculated in the GPA.

CL: As emailed, calculation of “F” may cause GPA problems – a “U” would be preferred.

AS: Is this a problem across campus?

HP: Faculty would like to make a statement, coordinator can not sign FTE, to enforce message, the faculty advisor sends message about thesis.

AS: Question of how to align thesis work, semester, and faculty obligations to student.

JV: For EE, if not finished in a year, topic stale and student starts over. An “F” should not count to GPA.

CD – Need to clean up the document, since it refers to classes/thesis. Is this proposal restricted to thesis? Why not R/I?

JH – I is for extenuating circumstances, legitimate reasons

AS – Raised the issue that even if students do nothing, it is not like the course goes away. An F will be on their record. Two semesters of F will hurt the student.

HP: If student does not do work, no way to express failure to complete. Do we want to give faculty that power?

JH: Cannot only focus on Masters level, but we have PhD where the some that do not finish earn a Master’s degree.

HP: Talking to students might be stronger message than grade.

CL: Is the bar consistent with other graduate programs? Philosophy, best practice?

HF: S or U is typical (R- registered)

CD: What would the harm be of talking with student. IS this about developing a campus culture? Resource based? Speed? Limiting service?

JH: Part of the component? No effort is required – not where we want to go.

AS: But registration and thesis are not equal. Right now no U/S grading, F is too harsh.

HF: Capacity issue – limited resources, what can we do? Timely basis? What is the responsibility of the faculty.

AS: IF you do not write a thesis by the end of the term, you will get an F?

JH: Currently not possible

JV: If get F grade or U grade is assigned what is the consequence?

HF: You may get suspended

HP: Do not have to give anything but “R”, but faculty member has power. Exceptional cases will have options. Should individual faculty members invested with this power? Will there be guidelines or is it completely up to faculty?

JH: Thinking of substituting U for F. Those credits will be repeated.

TT: “F” on transcript, raises red flag

JV: “F” erasable?

HP: Not in favor of retroactive

JH: No U exists, No I exists for R graded courses

TT: Why not use U?

JH: U will replace “F”

HF: “F” is drastic

JH: S/F/I – will be considered. Recommendation that Joe Loffredo will come in and discuss grading. Please take back to colleges and program directors to get input. No vote until all scenarios are considered. PhD side might yield different perspectives.

Judge new program proposals vs. academic blueprint, ICC reviewing at UG level. ICC will not follow the scoring.