The March meeting minutes were approved with 14 in favor, 0 opposed, and 7 abstentions. 8 members arrived after the minutes were approved.
Academic Policy Review
Academic Standing
The revised Academic Standing policy was presented by VP Godley for discussion. Council members discussed and concluded that three changes would improve the draft. Those changes include: 1) Rather than focusing on cumulative GPA, which means a calculation of the GPA for the entire graduate career, instead change the policy to focus on “cumulative GPA in the program in which they are enrolled. 2) In the last sentence of academic program change the word “will” to “may” to provide some flexibility. 3) Modify the last sentence to allow students who are dismissed to reapply if the school chooses: “A student who receives Academic Dismissal may be ineligible for readmission to the school or program that placed them on Academic Dismissal.”
A motion was made and seconded to recommend to the Provost that the policy be approved with the stated changes made. Members present voted in favor of recommending approval (23 in favor, 0 opposed, and 3 abstentions).
Advanced Standing Credits
The revised Advanced Standing policy was presented by VP Godley for discussion. Council members discussed three modifications. Those changes include: 1) A question was raised concerning how many graduate credits taken while the student is an undergrad at another institution are accepted as advanced standing in a Pitt graduate program. The discussion discovered a wide variation of viewpoints and existing practices, but further investigation showed that it is very rare for a program to accept any graduate advanced standing credits of this nature. 2) Council members suggested that schools or units may have additional limitations or guidance on the graduate-level credits taken while the student is enrolled as an undergraduate that can apply to a Pitt graduate or professional degree or program. This is covered by the exceptions clause in paragraph 1 and unit-level decisions about course equivalencies. 3) Clarify that the 50% maximum advanced standing credits are 50% of the credits required for the degree and not 50% of the credits the student take. 3) Remove the following sentence: “It is recommended that the maximum number of advanced standing credits applied toward completion of master’s, certificate and micro credential programs not exceed 20% of the credits needed for the credential or program.”
A motion was made and seconded to recommend to the Provost that the policy be approved with the stated changes made. Members present voted in favor of recommending approval (20 in favor, 0 opposed, and 2 abstentions).
Course Repeat
The revised Course Repeat policy was presented by VP Godley for discussion. Council members did not raise any questions or points for discussion.
A motion was made and seconded to recommend to the Provost that the policy be approved with the stated changes made. Members present voted unanimously in favor of recommending approval (23 in favor, 0 opposed, and 0 abstentions).
Incomplete Grades
The revised Incomplete Grades policy was presented by VP Godley for discussion. Council members did not raise any questions or points for discussion.
A motion was made and seconded to recommend to the Provost that the policy be approved with the stated changes made. Members present voted in favor of recommending approval (22 in favor, 0 opposed, and 1 abstention).
Distance and Online Learning Pitt Definitions
A new Distance and Online Learning Pitt Definitions policy was presented by VP Godley for discussion. This policy focuses on the program as a whole and not about individual courses. Information about course attributes can be found under Instructional Delivery Method. Council members also asked a question to clarify how they are permitted to market a program as hybrid and suggested the policy is reviewed by the Office of International Services. Council did not conclude any recommendations for change.
A motion was made and seconded to recommend to the Provost that the policy be approved with the stated changes made. Members present voted unanimously in favor of recommending approval (20 in favor, 0 opposed, and 0 abstentions).
Announcements
There were no announcements.
The meeting adjourned at 4:51 pm.
Attendance
- Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences - Grad Faculty - Marc Coutanache
- Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences - Grad Faculty - Peng Liu
- Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences - Grad Faculty - Jonathan Woon
- School of Public and International Affairs - Grad Faculty - Luke Condra
- Katz Graduate School of Business - Grad Faculty - Sara Moeller
- Office of the Provost - Chair - Amanda Godley
- Office of the Provost - Staff - Jennifer Walker
- School of Dental Medicine - Grad Student - Dylan Baxter
- School of Dental Medicine - Grad Faculty - Dobrawa Napierala
- School of Computing and Information - Grad Faculty - James Joshi
- School of Education - Grad Student - Gerard Dorve-Lewis
- School of Education - Grad Faculty - Michael Gunzenhauser
- School of Education - Grad Faculty - Linda DeAngelo
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences - Grad Student - Abdulmohsen Alroumi
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences - Grad Faculty - Mark DeRuiter
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences - Grad Faculty - Ketki Raina
- School of Medicine - Grad Student - Brooke Dresden
- School of Medicine - Grad Faculty - Arjumand Ghazi
- School of Medicine - Grad Faculty - Saleem Khan
- School of Medicine - Grad Faculty - Tija Jacob
- School of Nursing - Grad Student - Myeong-ga Cho
- School of Nursing - Grad Faculty - Elizabeth Schlenk
- School of Pharmacy - Grad Student sub - Pooja Rajadhyaksha
- School of Pharmacy - Faculty - Kerry Empey
- School of Public Health - Grad Faculty - Ying Ding
- SEPC - Grad Faculty - Michelle Schein
- School of Social Work - Grad Faculty - Suzanne Pritzker
- Swanson School of Engineering - Grad Student - Yousra Bensouda
- Swanson School of Engineering - Grad Faculty - Bryan Brown
- Swanson School of Engineering - Grad Faculty - Bob Parker
Additional attendees: None