April 20, 2026 – Graduate Faculty Committee (GFC) – Minutes

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Time: 3p.m. – 4:30p.m.

Location: Microsoft Teams

Present: Amy Kalkbrenner, Jerald Thomas, Itziar Lazkano (chair). Winson Chu, Joshua Mersky (GPRC), Jeb Willenbring, Taylor Mathewson Levandoski, Emily Middleton, Timothy O’Brien (GCC), Hamid Ouali (vice chair), Peninnah Kako, Oluwaseyi Ambrose,  Brian Schermer, Pamela Bermender, Jorg Woehl, Shane Haensgen, Erin Flynn (ex-officio), Victoria Moerchen (ex-officio), Bryan Porter (ex-officio), Riley Harrison (admin support)

  1. Meeting called to order at 3:00PM.
  2. Announcements
    1. Summary of Grad Student Appreciation Week – Erin Flynn: presentation that included photos from several events, highlight of the week was 72 people at family bowling event
      1. Some events were new trials, and some were annual events that grad students love
  3. Automatic Consent
    1. Minutes of the Graduate Faculty Meeting of March 16, 2026 approved as distributed.
  4. New Business
    1. Itziar Lazkano self-nominated for 2026-27 GFC Chair position. Motion was made to make Itziar Lazkano GFC Chair for 2026-27, seconded, and approved unanimously.
    2. Emily Middleton self-nominated for 2026-27 GFC Vice Chair position. Motion was made to make Emily Middleton GFC Vice Chair for 2026-27, seconded, and approved unanimously.
  5. Continuing Business
    1. SAAP: Credits for Prior Learning: draft discussion (Vickie Moerchen/Shane Haensgen)
      1. Rationale for why this policy is being drafted from a regular policy to a SAAP. The SAAP was initiated by Academic Affairs and will be vetted by GFC.
      2. Discussion on the draft included clarification of the fees section, acceptance of credits at a program level, and the execution of the policy as a process within programs.
  6. Reports from Committee Representatives (if any updates)
    1. Physical Environment Committee: Creating recommendations for pedestrian safety
    2. Graduate Program Review Committee: Faculty Senate approved the changes to Fac. Doc. 3197R1.
  7. Other Business
    1. Bryan Porter – Graduate School personnel announcements.
  8. Meeting adjourned at 3:33PM.