WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY Minutes of the Faculty Meeting

January 28, 2004 (fourth Faculty Meeting of academic year 2003-2004)

Attendance: Approximately 45

Announced Agenda:

1. Approval of the minutes of November 11, 2003 (http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~facsec/facmin/03-11-11.html) and December 16, 2003 (http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~facsec/facmin/03-12-16.html)

2. Unfinished business - none

3. New business:

a. Approval of students graduating mid-year

b. Graduate Certificate in the Study of Women and Gender Proposal

c. Proposal to establish a Masters of Liberal Studies Degree Program

4. Announcements

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President Malcolm Gillis called to order and chaired the General Faculty Meeting in McMurtry Auditorium of Duncan Hall at 4:04 PM. Alan Chapman served as Parliamentarian.

1. Minutes of 11-11-03 and 12-16-03 Faculty Meetings - On motion duly made and seconded, the minutes of the November 11, 2003 and December 16, 2003 Faculty Meetings were APPROVED as circulated in advance on the web.

2. Unfinished Business - none

3. New business:

a. Approval of students graduating mid-year - Deborah Nelson, chair of the Committee on Examinations and Standing, presented the mid-year undergraduate degrees. There were 88 undergraduates with completed requirements for graduation, as follows:

Undergraduate Degrees:

Bachelor of Arts - 74
Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering- 3
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering - 3
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science- 1
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering - 4
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering - 3

There were no exceptions for these degrees. The degrees were APPROVED. [Degrees and candidate names appear in Attachment A.]

Clarence Miller, Chair of the Graduate Council, presented the graduate degrees. There were 140 graduates with completed requirements for graduation listed in the handout from the Registrar's Office as follows:

Graduate Degrees:

Doctor of Musical Arts - 2
Doctor of Philosophy - 48
Master of Architecture - 3
Master of Arts - 42
Master of Arts in Teaching - 3
Master of Business Administration - 3
Master of Computer Science - 2
Master of Electrical Engineering - 7
Master of Environmental Engineering - 1
Master of Mechanical Engineering - 3
Master of Music - 8
Master of Science - 17
Master of Statistics - 1

It was recommended that one exception with the degree of Master of Science in Teaching be approved. This degree program has been reviewed by Graduate Council, and it is now being reviewed by Faculty Council. Presumably, it will come to the general faculty for approval sometime this semester.

Stan Dodds pointed out that several of the individuals listed with Physics and Astronomy degrees should be listed as Applied Physics degrees, and he requested correction. The Registrar agreed to correct this error.

The graduate degrees, including the one exception, were APPROVED. [Degrees and candidate names appear in Attachment B, with degree corrections noted*.]

b. Graduate Certificate in the Study of Women and Gender Proposal - Lynne Huffer explained the proposed graduate-level certificate and the impact such a program would have on Rice. This certificate program, for students who have already been accepted into a Ph.D. program, constitutes graduate level certification to demonstrate expertise beyond the student's primary area of study. This graduate certificate program establishes the first graduate-level interdisciplinary program housed in the School of Humanities, with benefits to graduate students across all schools and departments at Rice. Designed to serve the needs of graduate students pursuing degrees in existing departments, the program consists of 12 hours of training, including participation in a graduate student colloquium. Students will be encouraged to include faculty members from Women and Gender Studies on dissertation committees. Fulfillment of certification requirements will be dependent on successful completion of the primary degree program. See Attachment C for further details of the proposed certificate program.

After limited discussion, a motion was duly made and seconded. A vote APPROVED the proposal for a graduate certificate in the Study of Women and Gender.

c. Proposal to establish a Masters of Liberal Studies Degree Program - Ed Akin opened discussion on the proposal to establish a Masters of Liberal Studies Degree Program through the School of Continuing Studies. This proposal has been approved by Graduate Council and Faculty Council, with the primary concern being how to guarantee the quality of the faculty members involved, ensuring the vast majority of courses are taught by Rice faculty. Since this is the first time the School of Continuing Studies will offer a graduate degree and because it is a new program, Faculty Council and the President agreed this proposal should be a two-vote issue, with the second discussion probably taking place in March. Akin called on Mary McIntire to review the elements of this proposal and answer questions.

McIntire detailed the proposal for a new part-time masters degree program to be administered by the School of Continuing Studies and overseen by a faculty steering committee. The program, interdisciplinary in nature, is aimed at working professionals and other adults in the Houston community. She included some history and relevant information regarding similar programs at peer institutions and explained Continuing Studies involvement was due to its role in dealing with adult learners, with part-time students, and with faculty across the entire campus. The goal of the program is to promote the values of liberal arts learning in contemporary society, rather than to prepare individuals for a specific vocation or profession, and to promote communication and critical thinking skills. She gave an overview of the structure of the program, admission, faculty and faculty recruitment, faculty governance, and assessment. Specifics of this proposal are at Attachment D.

McIntire responded to questions from the floor regarding issues of teaching by graduate students, the pool of available students, faculty interest in teaching overload, relation between admission and ability to pay, and the roll of the honor council in the new program. After further discussion, the proposal was moved and seconded. A vote was taken, and the proposal PASSED on first vote.

6. Announcements - There were no announcements.

The meeting was adjourned 4:35 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Janis L. Cain
Secretary to the Faculty

Attachment A - Undergraduate Degrees

Bachelor of Arts - 74

Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering- 3

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering - 3

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science - 1

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering - 4

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering - 3

Attachment B - Graduate Degrees

Doctor of Musical Arts - 2

Doctor of Philosophy - 48

Master of Architecture - 3

Master of Arts - 42

Master of Arts in Teaching - 3

Master of Business Administration - 3

Master of Computer Science - 2

Master of Electrical Engineering - 7

Master of Environmental Engineering - 1

Master of Mechanical Engineering - 3

Master of Music - 8

Master of Science - 17

Master of Statistics - 1

Master of Science in Teaching - 1*

Attachment C

PROPOSAL FOR A GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN THE STUDY OF WOMEN AND GENDER
January 2004

Executive Summary

Over the past decade, the Program for the Study of Women and Gender (SWG) has established itself as a vital interdisciplinary program at Rice University. With forty-five (45) faculty affiliates from fourteen (14) different departments and an undergraduate major firmly in place, SWG is now in a position to offer training at the graduate level. The following proposal for a certificate program in SWG outlines the justification and curricular requirements for this new graduate program.

Among the points detailed in the proposal, the following are particularly relevant to those with an interest in the development of graduate education at Rice. Specifically, we highlight a) our justification for the certificate program and b) its most salient curricular requirements:

Justification:
1. A graduate certificate program in SWG will constitute the first graduate-level interdisciplinary program housed in the School of Humanities, with benefits to graduate students across all Schools and departments at Rice.
2. Women and gender studies now constitutes a distinct field with its own core curriculum, scholarship, and critical vocabulary. Curricular initiatives at Rice should reflect these developments in research, scholarship, and teaching, especially at the graduate level. Establishing a graduate program in SWG will make Rice competitive with peer institutions where such programs are already in place.
3. The proposed graduate certificate program draws on the strengths of the large and distinguished group of scholars at Rice who work within the field of women and gender studies and, in doing so, will significantly enhance graduate education across the university.
4. A graduate certificate in SWG responds to an existing need among current graduate students at Rice, and will also serve as a powerful recruitment tool for prospective graduate students. In addition, the opportunity to teach graduate courses in SWG and to serve as dissertation advisors to SWG certificate students will strengthen efforts to recruit and retain outstanding faculty, particularly in departments without a graduate program.
5. A graduate certificate program in SWG offers a practical, realistic, and feasible way to make a significant contribution to present and future interdisciplinary initiatives at Rice by encouraging faculty collaboration across the disciplines. Increased interdisciplinary collaboration promises to increase the impact and visibility of scholarship in women and gender studies both at Rice and beyond.

Curricular Requirements:
Designed to serve the needs of graduate students pursuing degrees in existing departments, the graduate certificate program entails twelve (12) hours of training, including:
1. One core course, “Feminist Debates,” that identifies and traces major theoretical debates in the field of women and gender studies (3 credit hours).
2. A second core course to be offered during the student’s prospectus-writing semester, “Gender, the Disciplines, and Interdisciplinarity,” that allows students to examine the conceptual, methodological, and pedagogical assumptions of their own disciplines in the context of women and gender studies (3 credit hours).
3. A third graduate-level course offered through a department and cross-listed with SWG (3 credit hours).
4. Participation in an annual colloquium consisting of four invited lectures that highlight emerging knowledge in the field of women and gender studies (3 non-credit hours).

The following proposal details the rationale and curricular requirements highlighted above. We believe the proposed graduate certificate program will bring significant benefits not only to SWG and the School of Humanities, but to the university as a whole.

Attachment D

Proposal to Establish a Masters of Liberal Studies Degree Program, Rice University
November 3, 2003

Overview

The School of Continuing Studies, in collaboration with Rice faculty, seeks to establish a new, interdisciplinary, part-time master’s degree program to serve working professionals and other adults. Tenured full and associate professors, other voting Rice faculty and recently retired (emeriti) Rice faculty in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences will form the core teaching staff. Oversight for the program will be faculty led: a Steering Committee appointed by either the Graduate Council or the Faculty Council, as appropriate, will include three sub-committees: an Admissions Committee; a Curriculum Committee; and a Committee on Academic Standing. The Steering Committee will be drawn broadly from the faculty, reflecting the full range of faculty rank, discipline, gender, and age.

Background

The first graduate liberal studies programs began in the United States in the early 1950’s. At present, more than 110 programs exist nationwide, many at distinguished institutions such as Stanford, Penn, Harvard, Chicago, Duke, Dartmouth, Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, and Columbia. Because these programs enroll professional, working adults on a part-time basis, they are often administered in colleges or schools of continuing or general studies.

The School of Continuing Studies has for 35 years held hundreds of courses for professional, working adults taught by Rice faculty. Though these have been non-credit, they have been academic in scope and excellent in quality. Many have been interdisciplinary. In fact, the commitment of the Rice faculty to teach with Continuing Studies has ensured the school’s success and has made literally thousands of friends for the University. In addition, Continuing Studies also administers the Rice Summer School for College Students, which enrolls Rice undergraduates, graduate students, and visiting students in credit courses.

Concept

Curiosity is, in great and generous minds, the first passion and last. Samuel Johnson

Intellectual curiosity does not cease with the completion of a college degree—in fact a degree should signal the beginning of a passion for learning. Graduate liberal studies programs appeal to adults who have one or more degrees (often in technical areas), significant life experiences, and a desire to pursue new interests or broaden their knowledge. The goal of the Masters in Liberal Studies program is to promote the values of liberal arts learning in contemporary society, rather than to prepare individuals for a specific vocation or profession. Nevertheless, being well and broadly educated in the liberal arts is useful in any occupation. Particularly important are the abilities to communicate effectively and to think critically. These skills can make individuals more valuable and effective in the workplace and deepen their understanding of an increasingly complex and rapidly changing society. Rice has not only gifted teachers but also a commitment to providing a rich, broad educational experience for its undergraduates. The MLS program will extend to qualified adults these significant resources.

Benefits to Rice

Discussions with those who have shaped MLS programs elsewhere underscore the benefits of such programs to the universities who undertake them. The director at Duke emphasized that a liberal studies program provides an opportunity for faculty development: “the interdisciplinary breadth and flexibility of a MALS (Masters of Arts in Liberal Studies) program invites faculty to teach outside of their disciplines or to teach/develop areas of personal research interest…MALS is a site for the development of innovative and interdisciplinary courses that in turn can be used in other graduate programs or adapted to undergraduate teaching.” In addition, such programs give faculty whose departments do not offer graduate courses the opportunity to teach graduate courses in their areas of research. At Duke, some of the liberal studies courses are jointly offered to disciplinary graduate students as well, increasing the number and range of graduate courses that a given department can offer. The directors at both Stanford and Chicago stress the joys of teaching committed adult students. They “always do their work and they have always thought about it,” one says. Another quotes a faculty member: “there is nobody more exciting to teach than an intelligent 45-55 year old.” They are “hungry” for knowledge and bring significant life experiences and insights to the classroom. Finally, offering such a program to the Houston community can extend Rice’s mission of outreach in a focused and meaningful way. It will also create a new group of loyal alumni, many of whom are already community and corporate leaders.

Admission

The program seeks exceptionally bright and committed students who have a strong undergraduate background and a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. Applicants must submit a writing sample that demonstrates academic potential and ability, as well as motivation. Official transcripts of all college work, both undergraduate and graduate, and two letters of recommendation are required. An interview is also required. The Program Director will conduct the interviews and make recommendations regarding admission to the MLS Admissions Committee. Final decisions will be made by the Admissions Committee.

Faculty and Faculty Recruitment

The core faculty of the program will consist of Rice faculty and Rice faculty emeriti. For any Rice faculty member, teaching in the program will be over and above the regular teaching responsibilities. As in the Rice Summer School, also administered by the School of Continuing Studies, and in the non-credit courses the School offers to the Houston community, faculty will receive pay over and above their regular salaries. Though some visiting instructors from other universities may be employed, at least 80% of the faculty involved will be Rice faculty, current or emeriti. Each course would meet one evening a week on a quarter system schedule. Thus the faculty commitment would be 10 rather than 15 weeks. At full enrollment (100-125 total students), the program would require offering an estimated 15-18 courses a year, spread out among faculty of at least three schools, emeriti faculty, and visiting faculty. In any given 10 week quarter, no more than four or five Rice faculty of any rank or status would be teaching in the MLS program.

Faculty Governance

Because this program will have high visibility in the community, will involve interdisciplinary courses among at least three schools, and will be a part-time program for adults whose bachelors’ degrees reflect a wide variety of academic backgrounds, Rice faculty will oversee all aspects of the program. In order to ensure objective, ongoing attention to the highest standards, a Faculty Steering Committee, drawn broadly from across the faculty, will make key decisions. The Steering Committee will be appointed by the Graduate Council or the Faculty Council, whichever is appropriate. The Program Director and the Dean of the School will be ex officio members of the Steering Committee. Three sub-committees will be formed within the Steering Committee. The MLS Admissions Committee will review applications and make final decisions on who is admitted to the program. The MLS Curriculum Committee will review the credentials of non-Rice visiting faculty to ensure consistency in the quality of teaching. The MLS Curriculum Committee will also review course proposals for consistency in quality. The MLS Committee on Academic Standing will resolve issues related to students enrolled in the MLS program, such as petitions for exceptions to policy. Most important, the Committee on Academic Standing will recommend to the general faculty for vote those students who have satisfied all the requirements for the degree.

Structure

The Planning Committee recommends the following:

A 33-hour course of study, including three required, interdisciplinary core courses (to be taken in the first year of study) and 7 electives, followed by an interdisciplinary capstone course. The core courses and the capstone course will be developed for the program by faculty, but the electives include courses in the existing Rice curriculum, but offered for this adult set of learners in the evening MLS program. (See Appendix i for core courses under consideration). Students in the capstone course will write a 20-30-page paper or complete a special project and a shorter paper (15-20 pages). These requirements are in keeping with those of a number of Rice departments in Humanities and Social Sciences. (See Appendix iii).

The proposed course schedule for this program is three 10-11 week terms per year. Adults with careers also have family and other commitments, and the shorter term would offer a more realistic schedule for completing a degree. A shorter term would also be more attractive to the faculty involved. The fall term would begin in mid-September and end before Thanksgiving. The winter term would begin in early January and end in mid to late-March, and the spring term would begin in late March and end in late May. Classes would be held in the evenings, 6-9:45.

In the first year that the program is offered, at least three core courses and a limited number of electives would be available. After the first year, when the initial cohort has completed the core curriculum and new students are entering the program, additional electives will be available. If the program is successful, 100-125 students will be enrolled at any given time. Classes must remain small, with no more than 20 students to a class.

The program is designed to teach students the basic principles, perspectives, and methodologies of the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences and to encourage students to assess critically these principles and approaches as they are applied to contemporary issues. Consequently, the emphasis in the core courses will be on close reading of primary texts exemplary of each field’s perspective, a study of fundamental concepts (within a particular discipline of academic inquiry), and examination of the great minds, competing approaches, and intellectual debates within that field. Although students are encouraged to develop their specialized interests through their elective courses, they will be required to take at least one elective from each of the three fields.

The degree normally should be completed within four years. An extension beyond that time must be requested by petition to the MLS Committee on Academic Standing. Because of the intensive schedule, students typically would take no more than two courses a term. Candidates who have completed the requirements for the degree will be certified by the Program Director and the MLS Committee on Academic Standing. Rice faculty will vote on the list of certified candidates. Students awarded a Master of Liberal Studies degree take part in the University’s commencement ceremony and become Rice University alumni.

Assessment

The MLS will have ongoing assessment: students will evaluate individual courses and other program features; faculty will be asked to assess their teaching experience, the students, and the overall program; and the Program Director and appointed oversight committees will assess all aspects of the program. At the end of three and a half years, when the first cohort of students would have completed the program, the Graduate Council, in cooperation with the Vice Provost for Research and Graduate Studies, will conduct a formal review of the program.

Appendix i

Potential Core Courses (offered at Stanford or Chicago)

Humanities
The Narrative Conscience and the Origins of Historical Consciousness
Critical Aesthetics: Thinking, Seeing, Feeling the Beautiful

Social Sciences
Meaning and Motive in Social Life, Sections I and II

Science
Order and Chaos in the Natural World
Regulation and Physiological Systems: Homeostasis

Appendix ii

Planning Committee (Three Oversight Committees will be drawn broadly from the faculty to develop and maintain the MLS Program)
Bill Martin*
Ron Sass*
Ira Gruber*
Debbie Nelson
Frank Fisher*
John Anderson*
John Freeman*
Bill Camfield*
Chandler Davidson
Walter Isle
Allen Matusow
Anne Schnoebelen*
*Core Faculty as of 5/03

Appendix iii

Masters’ Degree Requirements for a Sampling of Rice Departments

Anthropology 30 hrs, 1 special paper and a thesis
French Studies* 27 hrs plus 6 hrs of independent study and 3 research papers
Hispanic Studies* 24 hrs, 6 hrs thesis work and a thesis
History 24 hrs and a thesis or 48 hrs, including 8 seminar papers
Philosophy 30 hrs and a thesis
Political Science 36 hrs and 2 research papers
Psychology 30 hrs and a thesis
Religious Studies 30 hrs plus 6 hrs independent research and 2 major papers or a thesis
Liberal Studies 33 hrs, incl capstone course and research paper or project/paper

*Also require other competencies related to language

Several allow some 400 level courses.