Graduate Council Meeting Minutes: 09-22-2026
University of Toledo Graduate Council
Meeting Minutes
September 22, 2026 | 1:00–2:30 p.m. | Microsoft Teams
Chair: Dr. Michael Weintraub
Call to Order
Chair Michael Weintraub called the September 22, 2026 Graduate Council meeting to order and welcomed members.
Roll Call
Whitney Valencia conducted roll call. A quorum was present.
Approval of Minutes
The September 8, 2026 Graduate Council meeting minutes were presented for approval. Jerry Van Hoy moved to approve the minutes, and Dawn Goldstein seconded. Members indicated their votes in the Teams chat. The motion carried by majority vote, and the September 8, 2026 minutes were approved.
Present
Members Present: Brian Ashburner, Grace Bochenek, Dan Boden, Scott Crawley, Brian Fink, Bashar Gammoh, Benjamin George, David Giovannucci, Dawn Goldstein, Tyler Hancock, Andrea Kalinoski, Kristen Keith, Joey Kim, Tammy Kinsey, Malathi Krishnamurthy, Virender Kumar (joined after roll call), Minxuan Lan (serving as substitute for Dan Hammel), Glenn Lipscomb, Scott Molitor, Nagalakshmi Nadiminty, Leslie Neyland-Brown, Erin Prestwich, Dorcaslove Quartey, Jeanine Refsnider-Streby, Patricia Relue, Srinivas Saladi, Rebecca Schneider, Zahoor Shah, Kuo-hui Su, Jerry Van Hoy, Eileen Walsh, Michael Weintraub, Qiuying Zhao.
Guests Present: Teri Green, Yasmeen Hamdah, Tara Hanna, Whitney Valencia.
Absent: Snejana Slantcheva-Durst, Kandace Williams.
Reports
Graduate Council Executive Committee — Dr. Michael Weintraub
Weintraub reported that the graduate student stipend initiative will move forward through the existing Fellowships and Scholarships Committee rather than through a new ad hoc committee. The committee was charged with benchmarking graduate assistant stipends against regional and near-peer institutions, reviewing minimum and partial assistantship practices across colleges, and developing a phased plan for potential stipend increases in coordination with university leadership. The intent is to identify a university-wide minimum level of support while preserving the ability of units and grant-funded programs to provide higher stipends. Scott Molitor will contact committee members, convene a Teams meeting, and assist with comparative data collection.
Weintraub also reviewed several previously identified Graduate Council initiatives. The Graduate Student Affairs Committee will work on clearer criteria and a formal process for the Outstanding Graduate Student Award. The Academic Programs and Regulations Committee will review the graduate student handbook and related policy language, including possible graduate conduct, grievance, and leave-of-absence provisions. Molitor clarified that an ad hoc Constitution and Bylaws Committee should be reconstituted to consider extending the term of special graduate faculty appointments.
The Council also discussed developing recommendations regarding the use of artificial intelligence in theses and dissertations. Molitor indicated that this work would likely be assigned to the committee reviewing policies.
President Holloway will attend the October 6 Graduate Council meeting. Weintraub invited members to submit questions or topics they would like President Holloway to address. Valencia noted that an email will be sent from the Graduate Council inbox soliciting questions in advance. Molitor added that Provost McKinney is also expected to attend if available and that the meeting may include an update on the university strategic plan.
Senior Vice Provost for Academic and Graduate Affairs — Dr. Scott Molitor
During continued discussion of artificial intelligence, David Giovannucci suggested that the Council consider not only student use of AI in theses and dissertations, but also best practices for faculty use of AI in student-facing materials and instruction. Molitor noted that the Teaching and Learning Center is devoting substantial professional-development activity to AI and that UT Online has offered training related to teaching with AI.
Eileen Walsh identified University Libraries faculty member Joan Marumba as a resource with expertise in AI literacy. Weintraub also noted the availability of library liaisons and LibGuides related to AI and information literacy. Molitor reported that a university-wide AI task force has been commissioned by the provost and is working in coordination with the Teaching and Learning Center and University Libraries.
Molitor reported that standing committees are moving into active work. Steven Peseckis has agreed to chair the Graduate Curriculum Committee, and curriculum proposals will begin moving forward. Svetlana Beltyukova continues as chair of the Graduate Faculty Membership Committee, which is already conducting its review cycle and is expected to report at an upcoming Graduate Council meeting.
Molitor also noted that a chair is still being sought for the Academic Standing Committee so that a pending student grievance can proceed. Two colleges are continuing to work on filling unexpected Graduate Council representative vacancies.
A fall Graduate Faculty meeting is expected to be scheduled for late October or early November. International Student Services has been asked to provide an update regarding issues affecting international students, including duration-of-status matters and curricular practical training. Council members were invited to suggest additional topics for the Graduate Faculty meeting.
Vice President for Research and Innovation — Dr. Grace Bochenek
Bochenek reported that the newly structured Research Council will hold its first meeting on September 25. Under a recently approved policy, the Council will operate as an advisory body with a chair, vice chair, and secretary and will focus on research strategy implementation, internal research investments, faculty success, and research governance.
Bochenek emphasized the significance of the university’s R1 designation and discussed the institutional goal of reaching $100 million in research activity over the next five years. She described the Research Council as an important mechanism for helping develop strategies that support research competitiveness, national distinction, faculty success, and student learning.
She asked Graduate Council members to consider what information and feedback should flow between Graduate Council and Research Council. Areas discussed included the research and innovation strategy, research excellence awards, an internal seed grant program expected to begin rolling out in October, research communications, and documenting research-supported experiential learning.
Bochenek also emphasized the importance of consistent and accessible data related to graduate and PhD students, research activity, and expenditures so that institutional decisions and investments can be better informed.
Weintraub noted that Graduate Council still needs to respond regarding an initiative related to water and the environment. Bochenek indicated that the timing may align with development of the broader research and innovation strategy and that Graduate Council may have opportunities to provide feedback as that work progresses.
Graduate Student Association — Dorcaslove Quartey
Quartey expressed support for the graduate stipend initiative and noted that increased graduate student support could also help students manage health insurance costs.
She reported that recent graduate student welcome sessions held on the Health Science Campus and Main Campus drew more than 100 students combined and helped increase awareness of GSA and its activities. The first GSA General Assembly meeting is scheduled for September 23 at 6:00 p.m. and will include information on GSA, travel reimbursement, and involvement opportunities.
Yasmeen Hamdah provided updates on the Midwest Graduate Research Symposium (MGRS) and Three Minute Thesis (3MT).
MGRS is scheduled for Saturday, April 10, 2027. The organizing committee is being assembled, proposals are expected to open in October and remain open through the end of 2026, and the planning team is recruiting judges. The symposium will include five-minute lightning talks, posters, and seminar presentations intended to help students communicate their research or academic work to audiences outside their disciplines.
The 3MT final competition is scheduled for November 19, 2026. Registration is open, preparation workshops are underway, and the qualifying round will take place during the first week of November, with eight students advancing to the final competition. Participants must explain their research or scholarly project in three minutes or less for a non-specialist audience using one static presentation slide.
Hamdah clarified that eligible projects may include scholarly work such as Doctor of Nursing Practice projects in addition to traditional theses and dissertations. She also encouraged faculty participation as qualifying-round non-judges and MGRS judges.
Quartey requested support for MGRS sponsorships to expand student participation and awards. Hamdah indicated that a formal sponsorship solicitation is expected to be ready in October. Weintraub asked that it be shared with Graduate Council so members can distribute it to departments, chairs, and deans.
Presentations & Discussion Items
Standing Committee Memberships and Leadership — Dr. Srinivas Saladi
Saladi reported that most Graduate Council standing committees are now fully or nearly fully populated. The Academic Programs and Regulations Committee is fully staffed and has a chair, and the Graduate Curriculum Committee is nearly complete.
Two committee membership needs remain: one Graduate Faculty Membership Committee member and one Academic Standing Committee member, both requiring additional follow-up with NSM. Chair confirmations are also being finalized as needed.
Saladi thanked Molitor for assisting with chair outreach and Valencia for helping ensure committee communications were directed to the appropriate faculty members.
Graduate Council Membership Vacancies — Dr. Scott Molitor
Molitor confirmed that Engineering and Health and Human Services are working to fill their remaining Graduate Council representative vacancies.
No additional action was taken.
Committee Reports
No standing committee reports were scheduled. With committees now largely assembled, reports on committee work and the initiatives assigned earlier in the meeting are expected at upcoming Graduate Council meetings.
Curriculum & Membership Votes
No curriculum or graduate faculty membership votes were scheduled for this meeting.
Announcements
President Holloway is scheduled to attend the October 6, 2026 Graduate Council meeting. Council members will be asked to submit questions or discussion topics in advance.
Old Business
Eileen Walsh asked for an update on the previously discussed graduate form revision.
Molitor reported that no revised form has been finalized and asked members to continue using the current form until further notice.
New Business
No new business was brought forward.
Adjournment
With no additional business, Chair Weintraub moved to adjourn. Patricia Relue seconded.
The meeting adjourned without objection.