March 9, 2022

Lamar University 

Graduate Council  

MINUTES #476

March 9, 2022

Attending: Jerry Lin, Carly Cox, Tammy Henderson, Vivek Natarajan, Debbie Troxclair, Donna Azodi, David Short, Jeff Forret, Brett Welch, Xianchang Li

Approval of Minutes 

#475 – February 16, 2022

Motion to accept: Azodi; second: Forret

Old Business 

College of Education & Human Development

Teacher Education – proposal for new M.Ed in Literacy Leadership in Urban Education was tabled at Feb 2022 meeting due to in-progress syllabi revisions, and council had issues with the inclusion of “Urban Education” in the program title that was not reflected in any of the course titles or descriptions. Recommendations were made to Dean Spina and changes were made.

• Council reviewed updated syllabi. The proposal document needs to be updated to reflect the changes to the course titles. The course addition forms need corrections: the SCH is listed at “5” but should be “3,” and the forms indicate the courses are repeatable. Dr. Troxclair noted that the practicum courses need to specify that the learning environment of the practicum is in an urban school. Motion to accept pending revisions: Troxclair; second: Welch; motion passed.

College of Engineering

Civil & Environmental Engineering – proposing new graduate certificate program: Engineering with Nature. Includes one course addition (CVEN 5339) and one course change (CVEN 5335).

• The syllabus for CVEN 5339 is not in Concourse format. Dr. Lin will send the current syllabus format template to Dr. Li to help distribute to all Engineering faculty. This item is tabled today and will be considered at next month’s meeting, pending revisions to the syllabus.

New Business 

College of Arts & Sciences

Sociology, Social Work and Criminal Justice – proposing course addition (CRIJ 5346 Capstone in Criminal Justice) as a required course for the Master’s in Criminal Justice degree plan; course was previously offered as an elective course.

• Council reviewed the course syllabus and noted a need to revise the verbiage regarding undergraduate course offerings. The course addition form does not contain required approval signatures. Motion to accept pending revision and fully approved course addition form: Hefner-Babb; second: Azodi; motion passed.

English & Modern Languages – proposing modification of MA Teaching Spanish degree plan to include two previously-approved thesis courses. Memo provided by department contains degree plans for thesis and non-thesis options.

• Council reviewed this proposal and found issues with the repetition of 5390 Special Topics as substitute for study abroad option, the hours required in the portfolio versus thesis degree plans, the use of ENGL courses as substitutions for SPAN courses, and the language regarding taking “Salamanca courses at Lamar.” This item will be tabled for next month’s meeting pending modifications to this proposal.

College of Business

School of Accounting – proposing degree plan changes for MS Professional Accounting to align curriculum with the program’s new STEM designation. See memo for full details. No course additions or changes needed.

• Don Warren from the School of Accounting attended and described the rationale for this proposal. Motion to accept: Forret; second: Natarajan; motion passed.