Meeting Minutes
Tufts University Council on Graduate Education
May 11, 2005 12:00-3:30 PM
Medford Campus
The meeting was called to order at 12:45 PM. Present were David Walt (Chair), Bea Rogers, Art Donohue-Rolfe, David Kaplan, Vin Manno, Ayesha Jalal, Bill Moomaw, and Laura Liscum.
Minutes of the March meeting were not available. Bea Rogers said she would get them to the Council as soon as possible.
Provost Fellows program
The program was incredibly successful with 19 out of 30 offers accepted. The incoming fellows represent a very diverse group. The schools did a great job of nominating Fellows. Vin has conveyed this message to the schools.
Two changes were recommended for next year:
The issues of Fletcher students all being current matriculating Masters candidates was raised. It was agreed that no more than 60% of the nominations should be current Tufts students.
An earlier deadline is required to allow additional applicants to be made offers. This year there was no time to allow for additional nominees before the decision deadline for acceptance.
The ‘Operational Changes to Build Excellence in Graduate Education’ document
The document has been sent to the deans with a copy to Council members.
Discussion:
How will the recommendations get implemented? How will the deans be held accountable for implementing the recommendations? How do the deans want it distributed?
The Council is scheduled to meet with the deans at the first Provost’s Council Meeting in September. The document is the only item on the agenda. It was agreed that the Council would meet either right before the meeting or via a conference call to discuss strategy. It is important that as many Council members attend as possible.
Next Year’s Agenda
Discussion of topics to consider for next year include:
What should be the criteria for new Ph.D. programs? As a start, we should look at existing programs and see whether they map to the Strategic Plan. This information can be found in the Tufts Factbook at: http://www.tufts.edu/ir/FACTBOOK%202005%20wv5.pdf see pages 69 and 94-95.
Postdocs—Society of Fellows
Mechanisms for attracting and funding more Ph.D. students—e.g. unfunded students, travel grants
Improving departmental productivity, a range of issues—linkage between Ph.D. and undergrad research, mentoring, feedback to faculty during annual review, “stuck” associate professors
Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program—should it remain within A&S or be moved to university level?
Cross school Ph.D. programs
New Members
The Council thanks David Kaplan for his wonderful service to the Council from its inception. The Provost will appoint an Engineering representative replacement to the Council. Other longstanding members of the Council will be replaced over the next several years.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:30 PM.
