Graduate Council Meeting Minutes: 09-8-2026
Graduate Council Meeting Minutes
September 8, 2026
Location: Virtual (Microsoft Teams) | 1:00–2:30 p.m.
Call to Order
Chair Dr. Michael Weintraub called the September 8, 2026, meeting of the Graduate Council to order shortly after 1:00 p.m. and welcomed members to the fall semester.
Roll Call
Whitney Valencia conducted roll call. A quorum was present. During roll call, it was noted that Janice Servick is no longer at the University and should be removed from the roster.
Present
Members Present: Brian Ashburner, Grace Bochenek, Dan Boden, Scott Crawley, Brian Fink, Bashar Gammoh, Benjamin George, David Giovannucci, Dawn Goldstein, Tyler Hancock, Kristen Keith, Joey Kim, Tammy Kinsey, Malathi Krishnamurthy, Virender Kumar, Minxuan Lan (for Dan Hammel), Glenn Lipscomb, Nagalakshmi Nadiminty, Leslie Neyland-Brown, Erin Prestwich, Dorcaslove Quartey, Jeanine Refsnider-Streby, Patricia Relue, Srinivas Saladi, Rebecca Schneider, Zahoor Shah, Snejana Slantcheva-Durst, Kuo-hui Su, Jerry Van Hoy, Eileen Walsh, Michael Weintraub, Kandace Williams, and Qiuying Zhao.
Guests Present: Teri Green, Tara Hanna, Whitney Valencia.
Excused: Dan Hammel (sabbatical; Minxuan Lan serving as substitute during Fall 2026), Scott Molitor.
Absent: Andrea Kalinoski.
Approval of Minutes
No corrections were offered to the April 28, 2026, Graduate Council meeting minutes. Jerry Van Hoy moved to approve the minutes, and Scott Crawley seconded the motion. The motion was approved by chat vote.
Presentations & Discussion Items
Standing Committee Memberships and Leadership — Dr. Srinivas Saladi
Dr. Saladi reported that most returning committee members had agreed to continue serving and that responses were still pending from a small number of individuals. The primary remaining vacancy identified was a Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences representative on the Academic Programs and Regulations Committee. Dr. Saladi invited Dr. Virender Kumar to discuss service on the committee, and Dr. Kumar agreed to follow up regarding the details.
Dr. Weintraub reminded members that standing committee service is not limited to current Graduate Council members and encouraged recommendations of qualified colleagues. Members interested in the proposed ad hoc committee on graduate assistant stipends were also invited to contact Drs. Weintraub and Saladi.
Reports
Graduate Council Executive Committee — Dr. Michael Weintraub
Dr. Weintraub summarized the first Graduate Council Executive Committee (GCEC) meeting of the academic year and outlined priorities for 2026–2027. Graduate enrollment remained stable overall, with headcount slightly lower and FTE slightly higher. GCEC will continue monitoring international enrollment, visa-related challenges, and the effects of federal financial aid changes, including reduced loan limits and the elimination of Grad PLUS loans, particularly in higher-cost professional programs.
GCEC identified several priorities for the year:
- Establish an ad hoc committee to benchmark graduate assistant stipends, review minimum and partial appointment practices across colleges, and develop a phased plan for potential stipend increases in coordination with university leadership.
- Develop clearer criteria and a formal review process for the Outstanding Graduate Student Award through the Graduate Student Affairs Committee, in collaboration with the Graduate Student Association (GSA).
- Review graduate handbook and academic policy language, including possible graduate code-of-conduct provisions, the student grievance policy, and the leave-of-absence policy, through the Academic Programs and Regulations Committee.
- Strengthen recurring coordination between Graduate Council/GCEC and GSA so that graduate student concerns, including health insurance and other benefits, can be communicated more directly.
- Separate recognition for staff advisors and graduate faculty mentors to better distinguish the populations currently considered through the Outstanding Advisor Award process.
- Consider extending the term of “Special” graduate faculty appointments for external dissertation committee members so that membership remains active through the student’s dissertation defense rather than requiring renewal after three years.
- Develop recommendations regarding the use of artificial intelligence in theses and dissertations.
Dr. Weintraub also noted ongoing administrative work related to unused thesis and dissertation course sections and other schedule cleanup. No questions were raised following the report.
Senior Vice Provost for Academic and Graduate Affairs — Dr. Scott Molitor
Dr. Weintraub presented Dr. Molitor’s report on his behalf in his absence.
Seven minor course modifications were processed following the final Spring 2026 Graduate Council meeting for inclusion in the 2026–2027 catalog:
- CHEE 6550
- CIVE 5710
- EECS 5720
- EECS 5750
- RCRT 5810
- SOC 5830
- SOC 5720
The modifications primarily involved updates to student learning outcomes or prerequisites, with all forwarded following Faculty Senate approval of corresponding undergraduate course changes.
Dr. Molitor identified several areas for Graduate Council consideration during the academic year, including revisions to the leave-of-absence and student grievance policies, development of recommendations regarding the use of artificial intelligence in theses and dissertations, and a possible amendment to extend Special graduate faculty appointments for external dissertation committee members through the student’s dissertation defense.
International student enrollment and immigration-related policy changes remain areas of concern, although no substantive updates were available at the time of the meeting.
Dr. Molitor will also work with GCEC to schedule a future presentation from the Northwest Ohio Innovation Consortium (NOIC/Glass Hub) regarding opportunities for graduate faculty and graduate student involvement. The Registrar will begin cleaning the 2027–2028 course schedule by removing independent study, thesis, and dissertation sections with no enrollment during the current academic year. Programs may work through their departments to reinstate sections if needed in the future.
Graduate enrollment was reported as down 17 students (0.5%) compared with the same point in Fall 2025, while graduate FTE was up 12 (0.5%). Excluding changes in the classification of PharmD students, new domestic graduate enrollment was up 6%, or approximately 60 students. Even excluding students from Lourdes, new domestic enrollment remained approximately 1% higher. New international graduate enrollment was down approximately 15%, representing 30 students.
In response to a question from Dr. Kristen Keith, Dr. Weintraub reiterated the principal policy items identified for Graduate Council consideration: the leave-of-absence policy, student grievance policy, AI guidance for theses and dissertations, and Special graduate faculty term extensions.
Vice President for Research and Innovation — Dr. Grace Bochenek
Dr. Bochenek described the research component of the University’s emerging five-year “A Growing for Toledo” strategy. The research and innovation pillar focuses on driving research and innovation, supporting economic development, increasing research expenditures and competitive external awards, expanding the research-doctoral pipeline, and advancing the University’s R1 trajectory. A more detailed Research and Innovation Strategy is being drafted and will include implementation plans, areas of distinction, faculty and student success, infrastructure modernization, innovation and partnerships, and translation of research into impact. Faculty input will be invited through Research Council, college engagement, and open sessions as the plan develops.
Preliminary FY2026 research metrics were reported at $74–75 million in HERD expenditures, approximately $55 million in competitive external awards, and approximately 85 research doctorates. Dr. Bochenek noted that data remained preliminary and that future quarterly review of metrics is planned.
Research policies scheduled for review include the Centers and Institutes Policy and the Research Integrity Policy, both of which will move through Research Council. Dr. Bochenek emphasized continued collaboration between Research and Academic Affairs to strengthen resources, remove barriers, and support faculty and graduate student success.
Graduate Student Association — Dorcaslove Quartey
GSA President Dorcaslove Quartey reported that GSA representatives participated in departmental orientations to welcome graduate students and highlight opportunities available through GSA, including travel reimbursement, Graduate Research Awards, and participation in planning the Midwest Graduate Research Symposium (MGRS). GSA also tabled with the College of Graduate Studies during the September 2 Involvement Fair.
The GSA Executive Board is planning General Assembly meetings, trivia nights, sporting activities, and other graduate student events for the academic year. The 2027 MGRS is scheduled for April 10, 2027. Ms. Quartey encouraged Graduate Council faculty to volunteer as judges, and Dr. Weintraub encouraged faculty to promote student participation based on the strong quality of the prior year’s symposium.
Committee Reports
No standing committee reports were scheduled or presented. Standing committees will begin reporting as their work proceeds during the academic year.
Curriculum & Membership Votes
No Graduate Curriculum Committee or Graduate Faculty Membership Committee reports were presented, and no curriculum or membership votes were taken.
Announcements
The 2027 Midwest Graduate Research Symposium will be held April 10, 2027. Faculty were encouraged to reserve the date, volunteer as judges, and encourage graduate student participation.
Old Business
None.
New Business
Degree Audit Report (DAR) and Graduate Plan-of-Study Processes
Dr. Scott Crawley raised concerns conveyed by Biology faculty regarding departmental responsibilities associated with Degree Audit Report (DAR) maintenance and graduate plan-of-study changes, particularly when prior master’s coursework affects doctoral credit requirements. Dr. Malathi Krishnamurthy clarified that the concern centered on responsibility for entering and maintaining exceptions in the DAR rather than on determining the student’s academic plan of study.
Teri Green explained that academic advising and determination of a student’s plan of study remain the responsibility of the academic program. Historically, COGS received approved paper plans of study as records and used them during degree clearance; the transition to DAR automates comparison to catalog requirements, while substitutions and other deviations must be entered as exceptions. Paper plans of study remain available as an advising and documentation tool, although they are no longer required for programs using DAR.
Ms. Green reported that approximately 80% of graduate programs now have an accurate DAR, with the system working most smoothly for lockstep and certificate programs. Some programs continue to face coding or program-specific challenges. Existing training materials are available through the Registrar and data managers, and targeted assistance is available for programs needing help with coding or exceptions. She suggested that departments or colleges identify a designated individual to become proficient in maintaining DAR exceptions where feasible.
Dr. Dan Boden endorsed the DAR process based on his program’s experience and noted that individualized support from the Registrar’s staff had been effective. Chair Weintraub asked Dr. Saladi, as chair of the Academic Programs and Regulations Committee, to bring the issue to that committee and coordinate with Ms. Green to review roles, responsibilities, and support needs. Dr. Saladi agreed.
Adjournment
Chair Dr. Weintraub moved to adjourn the meeting, and Dr. Patricia Relue seconded. The meeting adjourned at approximately 2:05 p.m.