WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY

Minutes of the Faculty Meeting

January 29, 2002 (third Faculty Meeting of the academic year 2001-02)

Attendance: Approximately 60

Announced Agenda: 6 items

Approval of the minutes of November 7, 2001 (http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~facsec/facmin/01-11-07.html)
Unfinished Business - appointment of Secretary to the Faculty
Approval of Students graduating mid-year
Recommendation from the Graduate Council and the Faculty Council for Professional Master's degree programs in the Natural Sciences (2 attachments)
Announcement
Adjournment

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President Malcolm Gillis called the meeting to order at 4:03 PM in McMurtry Auditorium. Alan Chapman served as Parliamentarian.

President Gillis opened the meeting with a reading of an e-mail he sent to the Rice community earlier that day.

"It is with profound sadness that I must inform you that Michael Hammond died last night in Washington. Only eleven days ago we honored Michael for his service as Dean of the Shepherd School of Music and wished him well on his new position as the presidentially appointed chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. Michael Hammond leaves a family and a university permanently enriched by his vision and his strength of character and his integrity and his indomitable spirit. I have said it before and I shall now say it again that if Rice University is a living monument to William Marsh Rice then surely the Shepherd School of Music is a living monument to Michael Hammond."

President Gillis then went on with some personal comments and observations about Michael and his life.

Provost Gene Levy then also made a few remarks concerning Michael and his interactions with him.

Anne Schnoebelen, representing the Shepherd School of Music recalled the many ways in which Michael contributed to the school.

The regular business of the Faculty was then begun.

1. The minutes of the November 7, 2001 Faculty Meeting were APPROVED.

2. Robert Patten pointed out that we still did not have a permanent Secretary, and were not likely to find one. Representing the Faculty Council, he then proposed that we appoint a member of the university staff to assume these duties. The motion PASSED on a non-dissenting oral vote.

3. Jerry Montag then asked Dan Osherson, chair of the Committee on Examinations and Standing to present the mid-year undergraduate degrees. There were 81 students for a total of 84 degrees. There were no exceptions for these degrees. The degrees were APPROVED. Kate Beckingham presented the graduate degrees. The graduate degrees were APPROVED. [Degrees and candidate names appear in Attachment A.]

4. Kate Beckingham then recounted some of the history of the development of a new class of non-thesis master’s degrees in the Natural Sciences. She then outlined an overview of the details of the program. [Supporting documents are attached to the file copy.]

Robert Patten then pointed out that Faculty Council had a few questions about the program and that these had been subsequently satisfied in January. Previous legislation which said that departments could establish non-thesis master’s degrees without Faculty approval only applied to degrees within a department, and since the proposed degrees were interdepartmental, they would require Faculty approval. With the proviso that this be a one-time question, and not necessarily a template for any future programs which might be proposed, Faculty Council was willing to agree that this could be considered a one-vote issue.

There was no further discussion of the issue. The motion to approve non-thesis master’s degrees in the Natural Science in Energy Exploration, Environmental Analysis and Decision-Making and Nanoscale Physics was made, seconded and APPROVED.

5. There were no announcements.

The meeting adjourned at 4:27 PM.

Bill Wilson

ATTACHMENT - 1

ATTACHMENT A

MID-YEAR DEGREE CONFERRAL

January 2002

Undergraduate Degrees

Bachelor of Arts
Alvarado, Carlos Dominic: Philosophy
Bansal, Seema: Biology
Bergquist, Rebecca Jean: Art and Art History
Birnbaum, Christopher Michael: Computer Science
Cabello, Sarah R.: Economics, Managerial Studies
Chang, Andrew Jehow: Economics, Managerial Studies
Chuang, Joann: Computer Science, Managerial Studies
Cochrane, Kevin M.: Political Science
Cook, Gregory Fife: English
Courtwright, Andrew Miller: Biology, Philosophy
De Luna, Alisa: Biology
Doan, Quynh Thu Nguyen: Psychology
Fisher, Kevin Edward: Biochemistry
Fry, Layla Florence: Art and Art History, Sociology
Gabbert, Elisa Ann: Cognitive Sciences, Linguistics
Gabrielova, Kristy: Policy Studies, Spanish
Galvan, Adan: Psychology
Ghutzman, Phillip Garrett: Kinesiology
Gohel, Angeli Pratap: Biology
Goodrich, Glenn Andrew: English, Political Science
Gray, Jason Colby: Kinesiology, Managerial Studies
Guajardo, Juan Manuel: Chemistry
Hallmark, James Patrick: Kinesiology
Hartley, Lucas F.: Asian Studies, Economics
Hernandez, Erica Noelle: Psychology
Huang, Annie Lee: Economics, Managerial Studies, Psychology
Huang, Shiiyuh: Biology, English
Hudlow, Terra Celeste: Psychology
Hunter, Heidi Griesemer: Computer Science
Izzo, Lawrence Alexander: Managerial Studies
Johnson, Randi Michelle: Linguistics
Joynt, James Joseph: Economics, Mathematics
Kalu, Ndukwe Dike: English
Kannengieser, Sean Robert: Biochemistry, Economics
Kao, Cynthia Lee: Economics
Katz, Michelle Suzanne: French Studies, Psychology
Kurella, Vishnu Kumar: Mathematical Economic Analysis
Leal, Jose Leon: Art and Art History, Spanish
Lecclier, Michael Louis: Psychology
Lin, Annie Rong-tzu: English
Lushao, Jennifer Lynn: Economics
Maloney, Joseph Douglas: English
Morales, Liza Doreen: Biochemistry, Biology
Nakawatase, Keri Lynn Aiko: History
Patel, Harikrishna Ashokkumar: Philosophy, Political Science
Pittman, Rashard Jermaine: Kinesiology
Platt, Thomas Gene: Biology
Pule, Anthony James: Electrical and Computer Eng.
Rammage, Kevin James: Psychology
Ray, Lily Amelia: Geology
Riggs, Amy Lene: Psychology, Study of Women and Gender
Rombokas, Eric Scott: Electrical and Computer Engineering
Rosenberg, Jacob Louis: Computer Science
Rubin, Courtney Katherine: English, History
Sandoval, Aaron David: Kinesiology
Shih, Michael Patrick: Economics
Smith, Juddson Tyler: Kinesiology
Stafford, Rashad Ashley: Kinesiology
Steinbach, Karen Anne: Economics, Managerial Studies
Stone, Jamilla Christine: Kinesiology
Sutton, Ricardo Gustavo: Economics
To, VanDung Dang: Computer Science
Vargas, Olivia: Psychology
Wagman, Elissa Mindi: History
Wang, Lan S.: Computer Science
Witt, Anna Marie: Biology, Kinesiology
Woodward, Andrew Warren: Biochemistry, Biology
Zambetakis, Evie: Political Science

Bachelor of Music
Garza, Jeffrey L.: Music
Wagman, Elissa Mindi: Music

Bachelor of Science
Rundberg, Robert Charles: Chemistry

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
Bergquist, Rebecca Jean

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Joyner, Mackale Ramone
Rammage, Kevin James

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering
Jones, Andrew Granger

Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering
Athos, Brian Gregory
Balzano, Laura Kathryn
Datta, Indra Neel
Hammer, Ryan Ashley
Wang, Brian Yun Ji
Welsh, Erik James

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Alexander, Phillip Andrew
Leopoulos, Thaddeus Paul

Graduate Degrees

Master of Architecture
Gunther, Janelle Marie

Master of Arts
Christie, Bianca Lou: History
Dorsett, Jeremy Robert: Philosophy
Kesavan, Sunitha: Geology and Geophysics
Knoll, Edward Tyler: Geology and Geophysics
Lin, Jean: Psychology
Nauck, Jennifer Marie: English
Pena, Hector: Economics
Phillips, Rebecca Kimberley: Hispanic Studies
Thesieres, Holly: Linguistics
Wilks, Nancy Goldberg: Philosophy

Master of Chemical Engineering
Aimone, James Bradley
Ren, Lilan

Master of Computer Science
Bornstein, Charles Bruce
Collins, Nicholas Edward
Hassin, Bryan Guido
Lopez, Gustavo Alberto
Song, Jie

Master of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Brinkmann, John Philip
Camp, Charles John
Furbish, Eric Jason
Hewes, Gregory Robert
Titus, Christina DeAnn

Master of Environmental Science
Lorenzon, Ines Maria: Environmental Science and Engineering

Master of Mechanical Engineering
Angstadt, Tara Suzanne

Master of Music
Cameron, Michael Bernard: Cello
Gallup, Tamara: Music
Goncalves, Orival Bento: Voice
Harvey, Bethany Louise: Musicology
Hauptly, Christine Elizabeth: Violin
Hitchcock, Austin Pippin: Music
Kawashima, Kimi Pauline: Piano
Laukholm, Kjetil Risnes: Music
Lawrence, Diedra Lorraine: Viola
Stalnaker, Sara Kristin: Music

Master of Science
Artar, Remzi: Mech. Eng. and Materials Sci.
DeMello, Martin Julian: Physics
Li, Zhiwei: Bioengineering
McCants, Edward Whitcomb: Mech. Eng. and Materials Sci.
Morin, Geraldine: Computer Science
Rangaraju, Nagaraju: Civil Engineering
Rui, Yuan: Civil Engineering

Doctor of Musical Arts
Lee, Min-Young
Marsh, John

Ph.D.
Boyd, Joel E.: Chemistry
Cabello, Javier: Biochemistry and Cell Biology
Dorney, Timothy Dominic: Electrical and Computer Eng.
Douglas, Stuart Sholto: Anthropology
Fernandes, Felix Carlos: Electrical and Computer Eng.
Friedfeld, Stephen J.: Environmental Science and Eng.
Huang, Yanmei: Biochemistry and Cell Biology
Kainz, Kristofer Keith: Physics
Karim, Lamia Nazneen: Anthropology
Leuschen, Martin L.: Electrical and Computer Eng.
Litosh, Vladislav Alexander: Chemistry
Masters, Kristyn Simcha: Chemical Engineering
Morin, Geraldine: Computer Science
Payne, Richard Grady: Chemical Engineering
Pena, Hector: Economics
Rajamani, Karthick: Electrical and Computer Eng.
Rogg, Luise Elizabeth: Biochemistry and Cell Biology
Sauer, Sharon Gail: Chemical Engineering
Schepmann, Hala Gobran: Chemistry
Tang, Lei: Biochemistry and Cell Biology
Tannian, Bridget Ellen: Electrical and Computer Eng.
Tierney, Robert Barkley: Philosophy
Vega-Cantu, Yadira Itzel: Chemistry
Wagner, Howard Andrew: Mech. Eng. and Materials Sci.
Yowell, Leonard Lee: Mech. Eng. and Materials Sci.
Zhao, Qiang: Biochemistry and Cell Biology