UCGE Meeting Minutes – April 29, 2008
Jaharis Building - Boston Campus
Present: Barry Trimmer (chair), Arthur Donohue-Rolfe, Larry Feig, Vincent Manno
Meeting convened 9:00AM
1) Discussion of meeting with Arts & Sciences deans. Issues discussed included:
- processes on how faculty get credit for mentoring. One idea is to make mentoring graduate students count as one course taught so that other faculty feel that they are being treated fairly.
- mechanisms for Ph.D. programs can meet as distinct group among themselves and with school leadership
- concern about excess costs and logistical complications of separate doctoral program reviews amidst other review processes– versus the need for evaluation as a mechanism for continuous improvement.
2) Responses with respect to Structuring Ph.D. document - a companion document to the structuring Ph.D. document that includes:
a) a recommendation that the Provost office require that all Ph.D. programs (university-wide) have periodic external reviews and that the outcomes of these reports should be include in annual Dean’s report to the Provost.
b) have Ph.D. directors meet separately with their graduate dean equivalent in each school and have Ph.D. directors from all schools meet with all their deans at least once a year.
c) formulate a mechanism to account for time spent for training students in the graduate program (don’t put separately, which might dilute message).
3) Question that arose in discussion - Are there rules already about outside reviews of Ph.D. programs? Information obtained after the meeting courtesy of Vin Manno - No internal rules at Tufts beyond requirement for evaluation plans for “new” degree programs. So far, only Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering covered under this requirement.
4) Planning for Debbie Kochevar’s visit next – Ph.D. program in Sciences Dept. – Current Cummings doctoral program- small- 1-2 students a year.- issue of size- 7-8 students – 12 faculty- there isn’t excessive professional school teaching- fewer issues about teaching vs. research
5) Provost fellows- results- total- 12/24 success
Sackler 3/9
Fletcher 3/5
GSAS 5/6
Engineering 1 /4
Friedman ?
Cummings – no offers
-Provost fellows showcase - poor attendance – need to rethink formats and venues?
Meeting adjourned 11:45 AM.
