Committees

It shall consist of at least seven elected faculty members and one elected graduate student member of Graduate Council. The Dean, Senior Associate Dean, Associate Dean, Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Services, and Director of Graduate Council Administration of the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School shall be ex officio members of this committee.

It shall be responsible for standards of quality of graduate programs and research and is authorized to select Subcommittees as needed for the following activities:

1. Admissions: Studies admission and evaluation techniques and recommends to the Graduate Council standards and policies for the admission of students.
2. Degree Requirements: Recommends standards and policies for degree requirements and assessment, registration, and satisfactory academic progress of students.
3. Membership of the Graduate Faculty: Recommends criteria for membership in the Graduate Faculty.
4. Theses and Dissertations: Considers general policy, objectives, standards, regulations, procedures, and requirements relating to theses and dissertations.

• Mike Axtell, Professor of Biology, Eberly College of Science
• Samuel Bonsall, Professor of Accounting, Smeal College of Business
• Andy Cole, Professor of Landscape Architecture, College of Arts and Architecture (Chair)
• Edward Dudley, Professor of Food Science, College of Agricultural Sciences
• Mark Ramos, Assistant Research Professor, College of Health and Human Development
• Douglas Stairs, Associate Professor, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine

Ex Officio Members

• Robert Bannon, Director of Graduate Council Administration
• Kathryn Brasier, Chair of the Graduate Council
• Michelle Corby, Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Services
• Levon Esters, Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Fox Graduate School
• Douglas Orzolek, Associate Dean for Graduate Academic Affairs
• David Vanness, Senior Associate Dean Designate

It shall consist of six elected Graduate Council faculty members, plus one graduate student representing the Graduate and Professional Student Association. One-half of the membership normally shall be elected each year. The Chair-Elect and Immediate Past Chair and the Dean, Senior Associate Dean, and Director of Graduate Council Administration of the Fox Graduate School shall be ex officio members of this committee.

By the Graduate Council. All elected Graduate Council faculty members who have at least two years left in their terms will be on the ballot, unless they request to be removed. The Council will elect the Committee members electronically by secure and secret ballot. The three candidates who receive the largest number of votes are elected to the committee. The candidate with the fourth largest number of votes will serve as an alternate and will take over for any of the three committee members elected that year if they cannot complete their term. In the event of a tie, the results of the election shall be determined by drawing lots among the tied candidates.

1. It shall recommend appointment of members of all other Standing Committees. To the extent possible, it shall take the following criteria into account:
   1. Member preferences and availability;
   2. Continuity of committee membership; and
   3. Diversity of perspectives, including but not limited to discipline, college, and faculty rank.
2. It shall assist the Chair in the appointment of Ad Hoc Committees if requested.
3. It shall elect its own presiding officer. The chair must be elected after June 1 (when committee terms begin) and before the September meeting of Graduate Council.
4. It shall periodically review these Articles, Bylaws, and Standing Rules and recommend changes as necessary.

• Andy Cole, Professor of Landscape Architecture, College of Arts and Architecture
• Tara Felix, Associate Professor of Animal Science
• Renee Flasher, Associate Professor of Accounting, Capital College
• Chamika Ishani Goonetilleke, Graduate Student, GPSA
• Susan Loeb, Distinguished Professor of Nursing, Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing
• Douglas Stairs, Associate Professor, College of Medicine
• Samuel Yates, Assistant Professor of Theatre, College of Arts and Architecture

Ex Officio Members

• Robert Bannon, Director of Graduate Council Administration
• Kathryn Brasier, Chair of the Graduate Council
• Levon Esters, Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Fox Graduate School
• Jan Reimman, Immediate Past Chair of the Graduate Council
  
• David Vanness, Senior Associate Dean
• Nicolai Volland, Chair-Elect of the Graduate Council

It shall consist of one Graduate Faculty representative from each academic college and school of the University that offers graduate programs, appointed by the dean or unit executive. The Director of Graduate Fellowships and Awards Administration is an ex officio member of this committee.

It shall consider policies on awards; examine and judge applications for Fox Graduate School fellowships; and make recommendations to the Dean of the Fox Graduate School for awards.

• Youakim Badr, Professor of Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence, Great Valley
• Ying Cao, Assistant Professor of Project and Supply Chain Management, Behrend College
• Francisco Dini Andreote, Associate Professor of Plant Science, College of Agricultural Sciences
• Marek Flaska, Associate Professor of Nuclear Engineering, College of Engineering
• Ann Holt, Assistant Professor of Art Education and Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies, College of Arts and Architecture
• Jingzhi Huang, Professor of Finance and Mathematics, Smeal College of Business
• Matthew Jackson, Associate Professor of Telecommunications and Media Industries, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications
• Younhee Kim, Associate Professor of Public Administration, Capital College
• Leticia Oseguera, Professor and Senior Scientist of Education, College of Education
• Nuno Raimundo, Associate Professor, College of Medicine
• Jacquelyn Ryer, Assistant Teaching Professor, Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing
• Edwin Sabuhoro, Assistant Professor of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management, College of Health and Human Development
• Andrew Smye, Associate Professor of Geosciences, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
• Natasha Tirko, Associate Teaching Professor, Eberly College of Science (Chair)
• Lingzhou Xue, Professor of Statistics, Eberly College of
• Vineeta Yadav, Professor of Political Science, College of the Liberal Arts
• Xiang Zhang, Associate Professor of Informatics and Intelligent Systems, College of Information Sciences and Technology

Ex Officio Members

• Kathryn Brasier, Chair of the Graduate Council
• Brooke Snider, Director of Graduate Fellowships and Awards Administration

It shall consist of at least four elected faculty members of Graduate Council. Additional participants may be invited to attend based on their expertise. The Associate Dean for Graduate Academic Affairs is an ex officio member of this Committee.

This committee helps to implement the annual Graduate Exhibition and makes recommendations to the Dean of the Fox Graduate School concerning the Graduate Exhibition.

• Taylor Greer, Associate Professor of Music, College of Arts and Architecture
• Xinning Gui, Assistant Professor, College of Information Sciences and Technology
• Susan Loeb, Distinguished Professor of Nursing, Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing (Chair)
• Amanda Scott, Associate Professor of History, College of the Liberal Arts
• Stephanie Winklejohn Black, Associate Professor of Psychology, Capital College

Ex Officio Members

• Kathryn Brasier, Chair of the Graduate Council
• Robert Bannon, Director of Graduate Council Administration

Participants

• Sukwon Choi, Associate Professor of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, College of Engineering
• Elzbieta Sikora, Teaching Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics, College of Engineering
• Richard St. Clair, Associate Professor of Theatre, College of Arts and Architecture
• Max Zorin, Associate Professor of Music, College of Arts and Architecture
  

Fox Graduate School Staff

• Gillian Kinney, Programmer/Analyst
• Heidi Dorefice, Director of Alumni and External Relations
• Lesley Vrabel, Administrative Support Coordinator
• Liam Jackson, Director of Marketing and Strategic Communications
• Mike Shanafelt, Director of Graduate Enterprise Technology Systems
• Lisa Waite, Assistant Director, Alumni Events and Stewardship

It shall consist of at least seven elected faculty members and one graduate student member of Graduate Council. The Associate Vice President for Research, and the Dean and Senior Associate Dean of the Fox Graduate School shall be ex officio members of this Committee.

This committee meets jointly with the University Faculty Senate Committee on Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity. It may also meet separately as needed. It shall be responsible for and is authorized to select Subcommittees as needed for the following activities:

1. Advise the Graduate Council on policies and procedures that affect graduate research.
2. Foster graduate research at The Pennsylvania State University by aiding the Graduate Council in recognizing and rewarding outstanding graduate research performed by faculty and students of The Pennsylvania State University.
3. Support efforts, at all University levels, to enhance the funding of graduate research.
4. Support efforts to attract and retain excellent graduate students.
5. Inform and advise the Graduate Council on issues and opportunities associated with industrial-academic-related research areas, particularly as they affect graduate research and graduate study.
6. Recommend to the Graduate Council appropriate policies or actions on emerging political, budgetary, and academic issues related to graduate research.

• Alison Gernand, Associate Professor of Nutritional Sciences, College of Health and Human Development
• Sarah Ivory, Associate Professor of Geosciences, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
• Christine Kirchhoff, Associate Professor of Law, Policy, and Engineering, College of Engineering
• Shilpi Paul, Richard J. Santen Department of Medicine Early Career Professorship in Endocrinology, College of Medicine (Chair)
• Philip Savage, Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering

Ex Officio Members

• Kathryn Brasier, Chair of the Graduate Council
• William Clark, Associate Dean, Fox Graduate School
• Levon Esters, Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Fox Graduate School
• Douglas Wolfe, Associate Vice President for Research

It shall consist of at least six elected faculty members, and two elected graduate student members of Graduate Council, and five ex officio members: the Assistant/Associate Dean for Graduate Educational Engagement and the Associate Dean for Graduate Academic Affairs in the Fox Graduate School, and one representative each from the Division of Student Affairs, the University Office of Global Programs, and the Office of Student Aid.

It shall be responsible for and is authorized to select Subcommittees as needed for the following activities:

1. Review existing and proposed policies and make recommendations concerning the welfare and ethics of the Graduate Faculty and graduate students.
2. Promote the intellectual development and social welfare of an inclusive graduate community by fostering an awareness and appreciation of cultural and social differences.
3. Keep the Dean of the Fox Graduate School apprised of issues of concern to graduate students.
4. Assist the Dean of the Fox Graduate School in the review of appeals concerning the violation of accepted norms of professional behavior of Graduate Faculty members and graduate students with authorization to review and make recommendations to the Dean when it is charged that individual rights have been violated and responsibilities unfulfilled.

• Brent Ambrose, Professor of Risk Management, Smeal College of Business
• C. Daryl Cameron, Associate Professor of Psychology, College of the Liberal Arts
• Estelle Couradeau, Assistant Professor of Soils and Environmental Microbiology, College of Agricultural Sciences
• Tara Felix, Associate Professor of Animal Science, College of Agricultural Sciences
• Chamika Ishani Goonetilleke, Graduate Student, GPSA
• Wilson Okello, Associate Professor of Education, College of Education
• Bronwen Powell, Associate Professor of Geography, African Studies, and Anthropology, College of the Liberal Arts (Chair)
• Lijiang Shen, Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences, College of the Liberal Arts
• Spencer Szczesny, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering
• Samuel Yates, Assistant Professor of Theatre, College of Arts and Architecture
• Ae Ja Yee, Professor of Mathematics, Eberly College of Science

Ex Officio Members

• Kathryn Brasier, Chair of the Graduate Council
• Jamie Kosh, Campus and Professional School Liaison, Student Aid
• Allie Meyer, Managing Director of International Student and Scholar Advising, Penn State Global
• Douglas Orzolek, Associate Dean for Graduate Academic Affairs
• Stephanie Preston, Associate Dean for Graduate Educational Engagement

The Committee shall consist of one Graduate Faculty representative from each academic college and school of the University that offers graduate programs, appointed by the dean or unit executive. The Dean, Associate Dean, and Director of Graduate Council Administration shall be ex officio members of this subcommittee.

It shall be responsible for and is authorized to select Subcommittees as needed for the following activities:

1. review quality indicators of existing graduate programs.
2. make recommendations to the Dean of the Fox Graduate School on those.

• Margherita Cantorna, Distinguished Professor of Molecular Immunology, College of Agricultural Sciences
• Lisa Jo Elliot, Associate Teaching Professor of Psychology, Behrend College
• Mark Fedkin, Associate Teaching Professor, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
• Charlene Gross, Associate Professor of Costume Design, College of Arts and Architecture
• Cristin Hall, Associate Professor of Education, College of Education
• Mathias Hanses, Associate Professor of Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies, African Studies, and African American Studies, College of the Liberal Arts
• Gregory Huff, Professor of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering (Chair)
• Ying Ling Jao, Associate Professor of Nursing, Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing
• Zugang (Leo) Liu, Professor of Business Administration, Penn State Great Valley
• Amanda Nelson, Associate Professor, Dermatology, College of Medicine
  
• Michael Schmierbach, Professor of Communications, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications
  
• Alexey Silakov, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Eberly College of Science
  
• Douglas Spotts, Associate Teaching Professor, College of Health and Human Development
  
• Courtney Szocs, Associate Professor of Marketing, Smeal College of Business
• Mohammad-Reza Tofighi, Professor of Electrical Engineering, Capital College
• Suhang Wang, Associate Professor, College of Information Sciences and Technology

Ex Officio Members

• Robert Bannon, Director of Graduate Council Administration
• Kathryn Brasier, Chair of the Graduate Council
• William Clark, Associate Dean, Fox Graduate School
• Levon Esters, Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Fox Graduate School

The Committee shall consist of:

• at least nine elected faculty members, one of whom serves as chair of the committee;
• one Graduate Faculty representative from each academic college and school of the University that offers graduate programs, appointed by the dean or unit executive, one of whom serves as vice chair of the committee. The appointed representatives also serve as consultative resources for curricular proposal development within their unit.
• one graduate student member of Graduate Council; and
• a non-voting faculty librarian from the University Libraries appointed by the Dean of the University Libraries. The University Libraries representative will a) review all graduate curricular changes and advise on the current availability and suitability of Libraries’ resources for the study of those subjects and b) proactively work with graduate programs to ensure that appropriate resources and services are available to support the ongoing evolution of the curriculum.

The Dean, Senior Associate Dean, Associate Dean, Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Services, and Director of Graduate Council Administration of the Fox Graduate School shall be ex officio members of this committee.

The vice chair of the committee will be nominated by the Chair of Graduate Council, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee on Programs and Courses, and elected by the committee. The chair and vice chair of the committee will alternate presiding at committee meetings, on a schedule to be determined by themselves.

It shall be responsible for and is authorized to select Subcommittees as needed for the following activities:

1. Suggest policy related to programs and courses.
2. Review, evaluate, and approve or reject all graduate program and course proposals that have been submitted for curricular review.
3. Review all requests for extended degree programs submitted through the established protocols of the University.
4. Develop criteria for evaluating program and course proposals and recommend procedures for handling these proposals.
5. Review and comment, in consultation with the Dean of the Fox Graduate School, on other issues that have impact on the quality of graduate education.

• Jyoti Gulati Balachandran, Associate Professor of History, College of the Liberal Arts
• Adrian Barb, Associate Professor of Data Analytics and Information Science, Penn State Great Valley
• Joshua Barnett, Associate Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences, College of the Liberal Arts
• Anthony Buccitelli, Associate Professor of American Studies and Communication, Capital College
• Nilanjan Chaudhuri, Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering
• Andy Cole, Professor of Landscape Architecture, College of Arts and Architecture (Chair)
  
• Kelley Cotter, Assistant Professor, College of Information Sciences and Technology
• Prabhani Kuruppumullage Don, Associate Research Professor of Statistics, Eberly College of Science
  
• Janet Duck, Clinical Professor of Management and Organization, Smeal College of Business
• Renee Flasher, Assistant Professor of Accounting, Capital College (Chair)
• Gregory Huff, Professor of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering
• Jason Keagy, Assistant Research Professor of Wildlife Behavioral Ecology, College of Agricultural Sciences
• Shawnee Kelly, Associate Teaching Professor of Nutritional Sciences, College of Health and Human Development
• Susan Leight, Research Professor of Nursing, Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing
• Ashkan Negahban, Associate Professor of Engineering Management, Great Valley
• John Peters, Assistant Professor of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
• Nuno Raimundo, Associate Professor, College of Medicine
• Michael Rutter, Associate Professor of Statistics, Penn State Behrend
• Katherine Ryan, Graduate Student, GPSA
• Priya Sharma, Associate Professor of Education, College of Education
• Chistofer Skurka, Associate Professor, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications
• Mitchell Smith, Professor of International Affairs, School of International Affairs
• Douglas Stairs, Associate Professor, College of Medicine
  

Ex Officio Members

• Robert Bannon, Director of Graduate Council Administration
• Kathryn Brasier, Chair of the Graduate Council
• William Clark, Associate Dean, Fox Graduate School
• Michelle Corby, Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Services
  
• Levon Esters, Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Fox Graduate School
• David Vanness, Senior Associate Dean, Fox Graduate School

Participants

• Jessica Aguilar, Graduate Education Curriculum and Assessment Specialist
• Linda Grant-Oishi, Records Lead, Graduate Enrollment Services
• Lori Hawn, Director of Graduate Records, Graduate Enrollment Services
• Fawn Hosterman, Director of Graduate Admissions, Graduate Enrollment Services
• Jessica Myers, Associate Director of Assessment, Office of Planning, Assessment, and Institutional Research

It shall consist of the Chair, Chair-Elect, Immediate Past Chair, and Secretary; the chairs of the Committees on Academic Standards, Committees and Procedures, Fellowships and Awards, Programs and Courses, Program Review and Evaluation, Graduate Research, Graduate Exhibition, and Graduate Student and Faculty Issues; the liaison member from the University Faculty Senate Council; the Dean and the Senior Associate Dean of the Fox Graduate School; plus at least three elected faculty members from the Graduate Council appointed by Graduate Council and one graduate student appointed by the Graduate and Professional Student Association from the elected graduate student members of Graduate Council. The Chair of Graduate Council chairs this committee.

1. Provide advice and counsel as requested by the Chair.

• Timothy Krause, Associate Professor of Finance, Behrend College
• Katherine Ryan, Graduate Student,
• Amy Voss Farris, Assistant Professor of Education, College of Education
• Lingzhou Xue, Professor of Statistics, Eberly College of Science

Standing Committee Chairs

• Andy Cole, Committee on Academic Standards
  
• Renee Flasher, Committee on Programs and Courses
• Gregory Huff, Committee on Program Review and Evaluation
• Susan Loeb, Committee on Graduate Exhibition
• Shilpi Paul, Committee on Graduate Research
• Bronwen Powell, Committee on Graduate Student and Faculty Issues
• Natasha Tirko, Committee on Fellowships and Awards
  

Ex Officio Members

• Robert Bannon, Director of Graduate Council Administration
• Kathy Braiser, Chair of the Graduate Council (Chair)
• Hamid Emami-Meybodi, University Faculty Senate Liaison
• Levon Esters, Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Fox Graduate School
• Jan Reimann, Immediate Past Chair of the Graduate Council
• David Vanness, Senior Associate Dean
• Nicolai Volland, Chair-Elect of the Graduate Council

Identify and investigate issues around the use of Artificial Intelligence in graduate education and graduate research. Consider the scope of existing policies as they apply to Artificial Intelligence and if necessary, develop academic guidelines and/or policies for consideration by the Graduate Council and its standing committees.

The arrival of ever more powerful AI systems will have a continuing, profound impact on graduate education, regardless of the domain. Given the role and scope of the Graduate Council in the oversight of graduate education at Penn State, it is critical that the Council have information from which to act responsibly. It will be the committee’s task to provide information and suggestions that will enable Council members to make decisions that promote educational and academic equity.

The committee will regularly report to the Council. If the committee decides to develop guidelines and/or policy, these will be presented to Graduate Council leadership who will then determine the appropriate next steps.

The committee will continue its work until the Graduate Council determines that its work is no longer necessary or can be encompassed by one of its standing committees.

Michelle Corby, Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Service, Fox Graduate School

Jan Reimann, Associate Professor of Mathematics, Eberly College of Science

• Robert Bannon, Director of Graduate Council Administration, Fox Graduate School
• C. Daryl Cameron, Associate Professor of Psychology, College of the Liberal Arts
• Michelle Corby, Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Services, Fox Graduate School
• Janet Duck, Clinical Professor of Management and Organization, Smeal College of Business
• Jacob Holster, Assistant Teaching Professor of Music Education, College of Arts and Architecture
• Eric Hudson, Associate Professor of Physics, Eberly College of Science
• Esther Gomez, Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering
• Courtney Karmelita, Executive Director, Ethical Research and Outreach, and Research Integrity Officer
• Wanda Knight, Professor of Art Education, College of Arts and Architecture
• Nuno Raimundo, Associate Professor of Cell and Biological Systems, College of Medicine
• Jan Reimann, Associate Professor of Mathematics, Eberly College of Science
• Joel Segel, Associate Professor of Health Policy and Administration, College of Health and Human Development

Ex Officio Members

• Kathryn Brasier, Chair of the Graduate Council

Identify common problems with either Graduate Council policies concerning graduate faculty status, or Fox Graduate School administration of these policies, and recommend potential solutions for consideration by the Graduate Council and the Fox Graduate School.

Last year 11 of the 13 colleges or commonwealth campuses that the Chair visited in the Fall (of 17 total colleges and campuses with graduate programs) to discuss their concerns regarding graduate education and the direction of the Graduate Council raised concerns about graduate faculty status. The most common concern was the process of getting graduate faculty approved to teach graduate courses, including both the amount of work involved and restrictions imposed by Fox Graduate School administration of Graduate Council policy. Concerns were also raised about uneven standards concerning the application of graduate faculty membership rules for tenure track vs. non-tenure track faculty. This topic was considered recently and extensively by the Academic Standards committee, and policies were modified within the last 5 years by the Graduate Council, but nevertheless this was the most common problem raised by the graduate leadership (Associate Deans, Grad Program Heads) of our units in discussions with the Chair last fall and spring.

The Graduate Council is being asked to create an ad hoc committee to investigate these problems further, identify, if possible, common problems, and suggest possible solutions. The committee is welcome to consider issues of both policy and administration of policy, with the understanding that the Graduate Council does not govern the administration of policy but is interested in all issues impacting graduate education, consistent with the Council Articles of Authority which state, “ultimate responsibility for all matters pertaining to graduate education and graduate research rests with the Graduate Faculty.”

This issue could be addressed by our Academic Standards committee, but the Chair suggests that 1) the Academic Standards Committee already has a full slate of issues to address this academic year and 2) the people who have raised the concerns about this issue are typically unit administrators who deal directly with how the policies are administered, and most Academic Standards members will not have this experience. Selecting a committee that includes those unit representatives who deal with this issue first-hand will help to evaluate whether or not common concerns exist, and what potential solutions can be proposed.

A brief report that articulates the problems encountered with the current system regarding Graduate Faculty status is requested. In addition, this committee could suggest solutions to these problems including: 1) recommended changes to Graduate Council policies concerning graduate faculty status, and; 2) recommended changes in the administration of current Graduate Council policies.

Any recommendations developed by the Ad Hoc Committee will be brought to Graduate Council for additional consultation, final review, and approval.

• Lisa Holden, Associate Professor of Dairy Science, College of Agricultural Science, University Faculty Senator
• Jan Reimann, Associate Professor of Mathematics

• Rick Brazier, Interim Dean and Senior Associate Dean for Faculty and Research, University College
• Bill Clark, Associate Dean, Fox Graduate School
• Andy Cole, Professor of Landscape Architecture, College of Arts and Architecture
• Stuart Echols, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture, College of Arts and Architecture
• David Fusco, Associate Teaching Professor, College of Information Sciences and Technology
• Lisa Holden, Associate Professor of Dairy Science, College of Agricultural Science, University Faculty Senator
• Christine Kirchhoff, Associate Professor of Law, Policy, and Engineering, College of Engineering
• Karyn Marvasti McKinney, Associate Professor of Sociology and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Penn State Altoona, University Faculty Senator
• Jan Reimann, Associate Professor of Mathematics
  
• Michael Verderame, Senior Associate Dean, Fox Graduate School
• Kent Vrana, Professor of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University Faculty Senate Liaison to the Graduate Council
• Jennifer Wagner-Lawlor, Professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, College of the Liberal Arts

• Kathryn Brasier, Chair of the Graduate Council

Review the initial proposed college/school-specific qualifications for nomination to the Graduate Faculty and Approval to Teach by non-members of the Graduate Faculty as submitted by each college/school Graduate Faculty Nomination Evaluation Committee (GFNEC).

The Ad Hoc Committee on Graduate Faculty Status proposed revisions to GCAC-101 Graduate Faculty Membership that were approved by Graduate Council in Spring 2022. In part, these revisions stipulate that Graduate Faculty Nomination Evaluation Committee (GFNEC) shall create college/school-specific Graduate Faculty membership qualifications that interpret the general guidelines provided in the policy. Under GCAC-101, these proposed qualifications would typically be submitted to the Committee on Academic Standards and the Dean of the Fox Graduate School for approval. Given a number of pressing issues currently under consideration by the Committee on Academic Standards and the anticipated workload of the initial round of review, the Ad Hoc Committee on Graduate Faculty Status recommended that Council consider forming an additional ad hoc committee to focus solely on the review and approval of the proposed college/school-specific qualifications.

A report of recommended qualifications for Graduate Faculty nominations and Approval to Teach for each college/school offering graduate programs is requested. Recommendations developed by the Ad Hoc Committee will be brought to the Graduate Council and the Dean of the Fox Graduate School for final review and approval.

The committee will begin to solicit GFNEC qualifications in Fall 2022 and expects to complete the majority of review by the end of Spring 2023. Any remaining proposals which have not been approved by Spring are expected to be completed by the end of the 2023 calendar year at which point the on-going work would transition to the Committee on Academic Standards.

The Chair proposes that this committee includes at least two past or present members of Graduate Council, preferably members who have experience with the Academic Standards committee, a representative from the Fox Graduate School, and a Graduate Faculty representative from each college/school, to be nominated by the Associate Deans of Graduate Education. The Chair, working with the Chair-Elect and the Fox Graduate School, will solicit committee membership nominations and propose the membership to Council for approval.

Hong Ma, Professor of Biology, Eberly College of Science

Mary Shenk, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Demography, and Asian Studies, College of the Liberal Arts

• Barbara Birriel, Assistant Research Professor, College of Nursing
• Darrell Cockburn, Assistant Professor of Food Science, College of Agricultural Sciences
• Andy Cole, Professor of Landscape Architecture, College of Arts and Architecture
• James Dillard, Distinguished Professor of Communications Arts and Sciences, College of the Liberal Arts
• Stuart Echols, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture, College of Arts and Architecture
• Daning Huang, Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering
• Don Hummer, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice, Penn State Harrisburg
• Carol LaRegina, Senior Instructor in Public Health Sciences, College of Medicine
• Hong Ma, Professor of Biology, Eberly College of Science
• Meg Meloy, David H. McKinley Professor of Business Administration, Smeal College of Business
• Ray Najjar, Professor of Oceanography, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
• William Rothwell, Professor of Workforce Education, College of Education
• Sagnika Sen, Associate Professor of Information Systems, Penn State Great Valley
• Mary Shenk, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Demography, and Asian Studies, College of the Liberal Arts
• Heather Shoenberger, Assistant Professor of Advertising and Public Relations, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications
• Michael Verderame, Senior Associate Dean, Fox Graduate School

• Kathryn Brasier, Chair of the Graduate Council

Develop and implement a multi-faceted strategy that engages with central administration, shared governance bodies, and other partners both internal and external to the University to protect and advance the critical role of graduate education in defining a successful Penn State. The committee will advocate for graduate education as an institutional pillar necessary to the overall health of the University and press for its inclusion in any discussions related to the broad planning of the University’s future in light of current budget realities and challenges in the higher education landscape.

In May 2023, in response to the University’s announcement of a new budget model and a subsequent Council discussion with the University Budget Allocation Working Group, an ad hoc committee was formed to address concerns regarding the budget model’s potential impact to graduate education, creative accomplishment, and research. This ad hoc committee advocated for open and inclusive engagement in discussions of the budget model while surveying all graduate program leaders across the University, meeting with a wide variety of stakeholders, and gathering data from other institutions. The Ad Hoc Committee on the University Budget Model presented their findings along with points of concern about and recommendations for modifications to the University budget model at the September 2023 meeting of the Graduate Council which was subsequently endorse through a vote of Council in October 2023. The endorsed points of concern and recommendations have been shared broadly with all members of the Graduate Faculty, the University Faculty Senate, the University Budget Allocation Working Group, and the President. As of January 2023, the University Budget Allocation Working Group has been disbanded and there has been no official response from University administration regarding the points of concern and recommendations.

On January 22, 2024, University administration shared Penn State’s road map for the University’s future along with an announcement of a comprehensive review of all academic programs, including undergraduate and graduate majors and minors offered at all campuses. The Ad Hoc Committee on the University Budget model began discussing the announced review in its relation to the budget. It was quickly recognized however that a full academic program review potentially goes beyond budgetary matters and is part of a broader concern about the focus of the University, historical lack of transparency, and exclusion of graduate education in institutional decision making. The Executive Committee was called to discuss approaches to addressing these issues and partnership opportunities with the Faculty Senate and other stakeholders.

The formation of a new ad hoc committee with an expanded scope to examine these broad issues was encouraged by the Executive Committee to ensure prompt and vigorous engagement in this issue as soon as possible given the urgency of the topic.

The Ad Hoc Committee will attempt to engage with central administration and other stakeholders on topics related to the administration’s road map for the future of the University. The committee will also develop a strategic communication plan to disseminate information to graduate education constituencies on the potential impact of changes and promote open discussion highlighting the importance of graduate education at Penn State. Periodic reports on the nature of discussions will be provided to the Council with any formalized or final recommendations presented to the Council for review.

The committee will continue its work until the concerns raised above have been addressed, are no longer relevant, or the work of the ad hoc committee has been encompassed by the standing committees of the Council.

• Kenneth Davis, Professor of Meteorology, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
• John Flanagan, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine

• Robert Bannon, Director of Graduate Council Administration, Secretary of the Graduate Council
• Kathryn Brasier, Professor of Rural Sociology, College of Agricultural Sciences
• Andy Cole, Professor of Landscape Architecture, College of Arts and Architecture
• Kenneth Davis, Professor of Meteorology, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
• Edward Dudley, Professor of Food Science, College of Agricultural Sciences
• Matthew Fantle, Professor of Geosciences, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
• John Flanagan, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine
• Renee Flasher, Assistant Professor of Accounting, Capital College
• Charlene Gross, Associate Professor of Costume Design, Chair of the Senate Committee on Faculty Affairs
• Julia Kossowska, Graduate Student, Graduate and Professional Student Association
• Amber O'Shea, Assistant Professor of Education, College of Education
• Anirban Paul, Assistant Professor, Neural and Behavioral Sciences, College of Medicine
• Jan Reimann, Associate Professor of Mathematics, Eberly College of Science
• David Vanness, Senior Associate Dean, Fox Graduate School
• Nicolai Volland, Associate Professor of Asian Studies and Comparative Literature
• Josh Wede, Teaching Professor of Psychology, Immediate Past Chair of the Faculty Senate

• Kathryn Brasier, Chair of the Graduate Council