Graduate Council Minutes: November 25, 2025
Graduate Council Meeting Minutes
November 25, 2025
12:25 PM – 1:20 PM | Microsoft Teams
Call to Order
Chair Dan Boden called the meeting to order at 12:25 p.m. and initiated the agenda as published.
Roll Call
Members Present:
Saad Andalib; Brian Ashburner; Dan Boden; Qian Chen; Scott Crawley; Mai Dao; Holly
Myers (for Jennifer DeVries); Brian Fink; Bashar Gammoh; Beth Schlemper (for Dan Hammel);
Tyler Hancock; Edward Janak; Andrea Kalinoski; Kristen Keith; Barbara Kopp Miller;
John Laux; Glenn Lipscomb; Nagalakshmi Nadaminti; Megan Petra; Srinivas Vinod Saladi;
Snejana Slantcheva-Durst; Sorin Cioc (for Hossein Sojoudi); Kuo-hui Su; Varun Vaidya;
Michael Weintraub; Qiuying Zhao.
Guests Present:
April Ames; Svetlana Beltyukova; Teri Green; Lexi Metz; Don Poulson Jr.; Erin Prestwich;
Jeanine Refsnider; Whitney Valencia; Jerry Van Hoy; Eileen Walsh.
Excused:
F. Scott Hall
Absent:
David Giovannucci; Patricia Relue; Kandace Williams.
Approval of Minutes
Minutes from the prior meeting were not available and will be circulated for approval at a subsequent session.
Presentations & Discussion Items
Graduate Council Chair Report — Dan Boden:
The Faculty Senate is forming a University–Community Connections Committee with an initial focus on parking access and barriers. A Graduate Council representative is needed; the workload is expected to be minimal (approximately one meeting per month). No volunteers came forward during the meeting.
Graduate College Report — Dr. Scott Molitor:
Dr. Molitor welcomed new COGS staff member, Whitney Valencia, who will support minutes, committee operations, and workflow development. He announced a pilot initiative using Copilot-generated minutes, which will be reviewed for accuracy before implementation.
He recognized the success of the 3MT competition held the previous week, thanking Teri Green, Yasmeen Hamdah, GSA representatives, judges Dr. Mike Weintraub and Dr. Bashar Gammoh, and COGS/GC attendees.
Dr. Molitor asked Council members to review the undergraduate grade replacement policy for possible adaptation to graduate coursework. He clarified that the policy removes the prior grade from GPA calculations but does not remove the course from the transcript.
He also announced the Spring Graduate Programs Fair: February 11, 2026, UTMC cafeteria.
Guest Presentation — Graduate Student Health Insurance (Don Poulson):
Mr. Poulson delivered a comprehensive overview of student health insurance processes, addressing communication methods, marketplace comparisons, ACA impacts, enrollment timing, and financial concerns.
Highlights:
- Communications on premiums, co-pays, and plan changes are issued via the Student Health Insurance webpage, semester emails, and in-person orientation events.
- Anthem uses the Sydney Health app to deliver updates and allow claims management.
- Federal ACA debates do not directly affect UT plan premiums, which are based on UT-specific data.
- ACA marketplace enrollment (Nov 1–Dec 15) differs from UT’s per-term enrollment, which closes at add/drop.
- Students cannot generally enroll mid-semester unless they experience a qualifying life event.
- ACA marketplace premiums range ~$495–$1,166 monthly without subsidies; UT’s plan averages ~$191.
- Installment plans through Rocket Solution Central are available but include a $50 administrative fee and a higher first payment.
- HR is available for individual consultations.
Reports
- GSA Report — Saad Andalib:
Two General Assembly meetings were recently held (Oct 8: 54 attendees; Nov 12: 52 attendees). GSA also hosted a November 18 Trivia Night (~30 participants). Physics & Astronomy students won the top three positions. The 2026 MGRS will be held April 11 with the theme 'Authenticity & Integrity (AI)'; proposals are open.
- Standing Committee Membership — Dr. Mike Weintraub:
All committees are fully staffed except for the Academic Programs & Regulations Committee (AP&R), which still requires a representative from Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences.
- Curriculum Committee — Presented by Dr. Scott Molitor on behalf of Dr. Tim Mueser:
Occupational Therapy Program Revisions (Dr. Alexia Metz):
Revision efforts align with 2020 ACOTE standards and include:
- Expanded research sequence (Research II–V)
- Shift from APA-style manuscript to poster dissemination
- Capstone realignment and reduction of credit hour burden
- Movement of IPE course to second year with credit assignment
- Increased clinical skills coursework
- Standardized numbering across curriculum
Detailed OT Course Restructuring:
- OCCT 7120 → replaces OCCT 8120
- OCCT 7130 → replaces OCCT 8130
- OCCT 7410 → replaces OCCT 7000
- OCCT 7420 → replaces OCCT 7030
- OCCT 7430 → replaces OCCT 7400
- New Courses: OCCT 8150, 8440, 8560, 8760
- Capstone Consolidation: OCCT 9900 replaces OCCT 8380, 8910, and prior OCCT 9900
Public Health / Occupational Health — Dr. April Ames:
Dr. Ames presented updates to eight Master of Science in Occupational Health (MSOH) courses to align with ABET and CEPH standards. Courses updated: PUBH 5020, 5060, 5160, 5310, 5410, 5560, 5620, 5700. Added: PHPR 6150.
Vote:
A motion to approve the full Curriculum Committee slate was made and seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Report of the Membership Committee — Dr. Svetlana Beltyukova
On behalf of the Membership Committee, Dr. Svetlana Beltyukova, Chair, presented a summary report for Graduate Faculty Membership. The committee reviewed 24 applications during the current review cycle. Several applications were approved in categories different from those initially requested, including reclassification to Adjunct or Special membership based on eligibility criteria. One application remains pending receipt of a department chair endorsement and will be approved upon completion. No graduate faculty membership items required Council vote at this meeting.
Elections
No elections were conducted.
Announcements
- Graduate Program Fair: February 11, 2026 (Health Science Campus)
- GC representation needed for University–Community Connections Committee
Old Business
None.
New Business
None.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 1:20 p.m. Members exchanged well-wishes for a safe and restful Thanksgiving break.