October 16, 2019

Lamar University Graduate Council

MINUTES #452

October 16, 2019

Approval of Minutes

• #451 – September 18, 2019

Council members reviewed minutes, motioned to accept, seconded and passed unanimously.

Old Business

Sociology, Social Work & Criminal Justice –Requesting change to Grade Replacement/Course Repetition Policy: department wishes to limit grade replacement to one-time only, effective Fall 2020.

• Council tabled this item for further discussion with the Provost and Dean of Arts & Sciences.

New Business

The Graduate Faculty Review Committee met Monday and discussed the need to have current graduate faculty input/approval for applicants before council review.  Currently, the G4 Grad Faculty application requires the Department Chair and College Dean to sign in approval with a statement that, in the case of applicants for Full and renewed Initial membership, “graduate faculty of the candidate’s department have provided input concerning this action.”  Review Committee members feel this is not being done and wish for this council to address the issue.

• The Graduate Council recommends no change to current procedure beyond reminding department chairs that they are certifying they’ve received input.

Department representatives present:  M. Dahm, FCS and S. Bandyopadhyay, MBA/Business

College of Arts & Sciences

Earth & Space Science – new graduate certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS): Course Additions: GEOL 5312 Advanced GIS and GEOL 5313 Research Project, effective Fall 2019. 

• The department did not submit syllabi for courses other than those listed above. Potential issue with offering a graduate certificate in an area where we do not offer a graduate degree.  Will need to check with the Coordinating Board.  Item tabled for now.

College of Business

M.B.A./M.S.A/M.S. MIS – proposing dual M.S. in Accounting and Management Information Systems, change M.B.A. degree requirements from 36 to 30 hours, and proposed removal of the 3 Cs policy from the M.B.A. program

• S. Bandyopadhyay described the proposed changes and provided justification for each. Overall, these changes are proposed to remain competitive with other universities offering similar programs and to provide students with more options in concentration areas.  Motion to accept the proposals was made, seconded and the motion passed.

College of Education

Nutrition, Hospitality & Human Services – proposing new online M.S. Hospitality Leadership, including 12 new courses: HOSP 5335 Intro to Hospitality & Tourism, HOSP 5341 Research Methods in Hospitality, HOSP 5357 Hospitality Operational Analysis, HOSP 5358 Hospitality Law, HOSP 5360 Organizational Management for Services, HOSP 5361 Service Management, HOSP 5362 Current Marketing Topics, HOSP 5371 Data Analysis, HOSP 5372 Leadership Strategies, HOSP 5373 Ethics and Diversity, HOSP 5374 Contemporary Issues, HOSP 5381 Thesis: Hospitality Leadership

• Dahm explained that 5335, 5341 and 5371 track through the proposal and data collection/analysis for the thesis in 5381. The department submitted a new course addition form for 5381, changing the title to Hospitality Capstone.  Dr. Dahm also explained that 5360 and 5361 can be credited by “life experience,” ideally service management experience.  Dr. Hefner-Babb discussed potential SACS issues including the need for documentation on those cases in which credit is granted for life experience, and the need for a prospectus.  Dr. Hefner-Babb will meet with the department to assist with the prospectus with the goal of having the program approved for Fall 2020 roll out.  Motion to accept the proposal was made, seconded and the motion passed.