February 4, 2026 – Graduate Curriculum Committee (GCC) –Minutes

Posted on:

Time:   Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Location:         Microsoft Teams

Meeting was held online only.

Timothy O’Brien, 2025-2026 GCC Chair

Members Present:    Qingsu Cheng, Itziar Lazkano, Maria Novotny, Timothy O’Brien, Wilhem Peekhaus, Katie Vater

Absent:     David Clark (Division of Academic Affairs); Sara Vanderhaagen

Guests:     Susan McRoy (College of Engineering & Applied Science); John Boyland (College of Engineering & Applied Science); Nadine Kozak (College of Engagement and Professions); Atish Sinha (Lubar College of Business); Melissa Tesch (Biomedical Sciences & Health Care Administration); Rani El Hajjar (College of Engineering & Applied Science); Cynthia August (School of Rehabilitation Sciences & Technology); Amy Kirby (Helen Bader School of Social Welfare); Kundan Kishor (College of Letters & Science); Daniel Neely (Lubar College of Business); Dijo Alexander (Lubar College of Business); Alan Barnhart (Lubar College of Business); Jennifer Jordan (College of Letters & Science); Cheng Chen (Lubar College of Business); Ke’andra Hagans (Helen Bader School of Social Welfare); Melissa Melcher (School of Nursing); Belle Rose Ragins (Lubar College of Business); Yang Wang (Lubar College of Business); Xiaowei (Tom) Shi (College of Engineering & Applied Science); Lisa Moline (Peck School of the Arts); Susan Wolff (School of Nursing); Jennifer Doering (School of Nursing); Adrienne Markiewicz (School of Nursing); Jennifer Carrera (School of Nursing); Prasenjit Guptasarma (College of Engineering & Applied Science); Emily Kuhnen (Registrar’s Office); Nora Miller (College of Health Professions & Sciences); Sara Benesh (College of Letters & Science); Alessandra Gillen (College of Letters & Science);Tiffany Nation (Graduate Programs Coordinator, Graduate School); Joan Hayes (Program Service Representative, Office of Grad Education); Riley Harrison (Policy and Appeals Coordinator, Graduate School); Bryan Porter (Graduate School Dean); Victoria Moerchen (Ex-Officio, Graduate School)

  1. Call to Order
    12:29 p.m.
  2. Announcements
    There were no announcements.
  3. Automatic Consent
    The following automatic consent agenda items which include meeting minutes, course actions, and program change requests were approved.
    1. Approval of meeting minutes from December 3, 2025
    2. Course Action Requests (table below)
    3. Program Changes
      1. Architecture, MArch

        Course catalog cleanup.  Many elective classes have been assigned to ARCH801 Special Topics, requesting to move those classes from the list of elective classes.  Also, there were incorrect undergraduate course numbers listed for several degree programs and those numbers have been replaced with the correct graduate number.  These are joint UG/G classes – the curriculum has not changed.
      2. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Graduate Certificate

        Adding IND ENG 765: Advanced Mathematical Optimization: Algorithms, Math Modeling, and Theory as an option among the “generic electives”.  The total credits should remain at 15.
      3. Women’s and Gender Studies, Graduate Certificate
        Making the third required WGS course either WGS 710 or WGS 740 rather than only 710.  Updating list of approved elective courses.
  4. New Business
    1. New/Substantially Revised Courses (table below)
  5. Program Changes
    1. Biomedical Sciences, MS

      Requesting to add BMS 808 a new course submitted as an elective for our non-thesis students to allow the students a chance to find an internship and experiential learning as part of their degree.  Requesting to add BIO SCI 465G as an option for the program’s thesis students to complete their statistics requirement.  The program has reviewed the syllabus for the course and believes it will cover the necessary topics to prepare the program’s students.

      Admin Note: BMS 808 is currently in governance workflow with the proposed effective term of Fall 2026.
    2. Business Analytics, Graduate Certificate

      The Lubar College of Business has been offering a graduate certificate in Business Analytics since 2013.  In Spring 2025, 33 students were enrolled in the certificate program.  The rapid deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) and generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) within organizations calls for the development of new talent capable of developing and managing AI and analytics applications for business.  The proposed changes to the certificate will help students develop additional knowledge and skills in AI strategy, AI for creating business value, GenAI and large language models for business, social media analytics, and social network analysis.  The revised title and curriculum will help business students gain formal recognition of their expertise in leveraging AI for business, as well as developing business analytics solutions, and help them boost their career prospects in the increasingly analytics and AI-driven business landscape.  The proposed changes are expected to generate increased demand among business graduate students, many of whom are eager to develop knowledge and skills in AI for business along with those for business analytics.

      A motion was made and seconded to approve this program change.  Motion passed unanimously.
    3. Organizational Leadership in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Graduate Certificate
      Request to change the title of the certificate and add additional elective course options.

      A motion was made and seconded to approve this program change.  Motion passed unanimously.
  6. New Degree, Certificate, or Concentration
    1. Applied Econometrics and Machine Learning, Graduate Microcredential

      This graduate microcredential combines competency-based and traditional learning objectives to provide students with practical skills in applied econometrics and machine learning.  The program equips participants with the ability to apply econometrics methods to analyze economic data, implement machine learning techniques to solve real-world problems, integrate econometric and machine learning approaches for predictive modeling, and develop data-driven decision-making capabilities.  The competency conferred enables graduates to bridge technical implementation with business and policy applications in data science, economic analysis, policy evaluation, and business intelligence.

      A motion was made and seconded to approve this new graduate microcredential degree program.  Motion passed unanimously.
    2. Software Engineering, Graduate Certificate

      The establishment of a graduate certificate in Software Engineering addresses a critical gap in Wisconsin’s educational landscape and professional development opportunities.  While undergraduate computer science programs are widely available throughout the state, specialized graduate-level training in modern software engineering practices remains limited.  This new certificate will provide formal recognition and advanced skill development, DevOps, continuous integration, software architecture and quality assurance practices.  This focus certificate specifically addresses the practical challenges faced by software professionals in enterprise environments.

      A motion was made and seconded to approve this new graduate certificate degree program.  Motion passed unanimously.
  7. Curricular Codes
    1. NURSDNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice)

      Discontinue curricular code because it was determined to not be used.

      A motion was made and seconded to approve this curricular code change.  Motion passed unanimously.
    2. NURSMN (Master of Nursing)

      Discontinue curricular code because it was determined to not be used.

      A motion was made and seconded to approve this curricular code change.  Motion passed unanimously.
    3. NURSPHD (Doctor of Nursing)

      Discontinue curricular code because it was determined to not be used.

      A motion was made and seconded to approve this curricular code change.  Motion passed unanimously.
  8. Information Only
    A.   Suspension of Admission to Programs:
    1. Library and Information Science, MLIS / Women’s and Gender Studies, MA

      Suspending admission to the program.  Women’s and Gender Studies will not have any teaching assistantships available for incoming graduate students next year, and the department-like body of Women’s and Gender Studies is also in the process of changing its administrative structure, likely to become an autonomous program within a larger department.  Given all of the changes and uncertainties, we request to suspend admissions for one year until it is clearer what the program that students might be entering into would look like.  The program is not requesting the suspension of the WGS graduate certificate, so the program for the time being will continue to offer all of the graduate courses necessary for the current enrolled students in the WGA MA program and the two coordinated master’s programs (MA/MLIS and MA/MSW).  Therefore, no additional teach-out plan is required.  Proposed Effective Term: Spring 2026.
    2. Social Work, MSW / Women’s and Gender Studies, MA

      Suspending admission to the program.  Women’s and Gender Studies will not have any teaching assistantships available for incoming graduate students next year, and the department-like body of Women’s and Gender Studies is also in the process of changing its administrative structure, likely to become an autonomous program within a larger department.  Given all of the changes and uncertainties, we request to suspend admissions for one year until it is clearer what the program that students might be entering into would look like.  The program is not requesting the suspension of the WGS graduate certificate, so the program for the time being will continue to offer all of the graduate courses necessary for the current enrolled students in the WGA MA program and the two coordinated master’s programs (MA/MLIS and MA/MSW).  Therefore, no additional teach-out plan is required. Proposed Effective Term: Spring 2026.
    3. Women’s and Gender Studies, MA
      Suspending admission to the program.  Women’s and Gender Studies will not have any teaching assistantships available for incoming graduate students next year, and the department-like body of Women’s and Gender Studies is also in the process of changing its administrative structure, likely to become an autonomous program within a larger department.  Given all of the changes and uncertainties, we request to suspend admissions for one year until it is clearer what the program that students might be entering into would look like.  The program is not requesting the suspension of the WGS graduate certificate, so the program for the time being will continue to offer all of the graduate courses necessary for the current enrolled students in the WGA MA program and the two coordinated master’s programs (MA/MLIS and MA/MSW).  Therefore, no additional teach-out plan is required.  Proposed Effective Term: Spring 2026.
  9. Other Business
    The Biomedical Sciences, MS program change request was approved under Other Business due to the late arrival of the program’s representatives.

    A motion was made and seconded to approve this program change.  Motion passed unanimously.

    There was no other business.
  10. Adjourn
    1:11 p.m.

    Committee website:  https://uwm.edu/secu/governance/faculty/standing-committees/graduate-curriculum-committee/

Course Action Requests

CourseActionType of Change
AIS 308 (AIS 308G / ANTHRO 308 / ANTHRO 308G)DiscontinueDiscontinue
AIS 310 (AIS 310G / ANTHRO 310 / ANTHRO 310G)DiscontinueDiscontinue
AIS 311 (AIS 311G / ANTHRO 311 / ANTHRO 311G)DiscontinueDiscontinue
AIS 473 (AIS 473G / HIST 476 / HIST 473G)DiscontinueDiscontinue
ART 347 (ART 347G)DiscontinueDiscontinue
ART 447 (ART 447G)DiscontinueDiscontinue
ART 493 (ART 493G)DiscontinueDiscontinue
ART 496 (ART 496G)DiscontinueDiscontinue
ART 526 (ART 526G)ChangeTitle
ART 529 (ART 529G)ChangePrerequisites
BUS ADM 481 (BUS ADM 481G)ChangePrerequisites
BUS ADM 482 (BUS ADM 482G)ChangePrerequisites
CHEM 990ChangeCredits, Description
CHEM 991ChangeCredits, Prerequisites
CHEM 992ChangeCredits, Description, Prerequisites
CHEM 993ChangeCredits, Description, Prerequisites
CHEM 994ChangeCredits, Description, Prerequisites
CHEM 996ChangeCredits, Description, Prerequisites
CIV ENG 463 (CIV ENG 463G / MECHENG 463 / MECHENG 463G)ChangePrerequisites
CIV ENG 571 (CIV ENG 571G)ChangePrerequisites
CIV ENG 572 (CIV ENG 572G)ChangePrerequisites
ECON 734ChangePrerequisites
IND ENG 465 (IND ENG 465G)ChangeTitle, Description, Prerequisites
IND ENG 765ChangeCatalog Number, Course Rules
NURS 653GDiscontinueDiscontinue
NURS 657GDiscontinueDiscontinue
NURS 670GDiscontinueDiscontinue
NURS 671GDiscontinueDiscontinue
NURS 702ChangePrerequisites
NURS 703ChangePrerequisites
NURS 704ChangePrerequisites
NURS 707ChangePrerequisites
NURS 724ChangePrerequisites
NURS 725ChangePrerequisites
NURS 728ChangePrerequisites
NURS 735ChangePrerequisites
NURS 741ChangePrerequisites
NURS 742ChangePrerequisites
NURS 743ChangePrerequisites
NURS 750ChangePrerequisites
NURS 753ChangePrerequisites
NURS 754ChangePrerequisites
NURS 755ChangePrerequisites
NURS 757ChangePrerequisites
NURS 758ChangePrerequisites
NURS 759ChangePrerequisites
NURS 765ChangePrerequisites
NURS 767ChangePrerequisites
NURS 768ChangePrerequisites
NURS 769ChangePrerequisites
NURS 773ChangePrerequisites
NURS 781ChangePrerequisites
NURS 782ChangePrerequisites
NURS 783ChangePrerequisites
NURS 784DiscontinueDiscontinue
NURS 801DiscontinueDiscontinue
NURS 803ChangePrerequisites
NURS 804ChangePrerequisites
NURS 805ChangePrerequisites
NURS 820DiscontinueDiscontinue
NURS 822ChangePrerequisites
NURS 823ChangePrerequisites
NURS 824ChangePrerequisites
NURS 832ChangePrerequisites
NURS 833ChangePrerequisites
NURS 834ChangePrerequisites
OCCTHPY 790 (IND ENG 790)ChangeJoint Offering, Description, Course Rules, Prerequisites
WGS 500 (WGS 500 (G)ChangeTitle, Description, Course Rules, Prerequisites

New/Substantially Revised Courses

Course NumberNewCourse Title
BMS 808NewInternship
This new course will count as an elective for the program’s non-thesis track students.  Several students have asked for internship opportunities.  This course will fulfill this gap in experiential learning for the program’s non-thesis students. GCC Feedback: The Following Information is Recommended for All Classes: (1) No AI statement included. A motion was made and seconded to contingently approve the new course. Motion passed unanimously.
CIV ENG 796NewConnected and Automated Transportation Systems
This new course introduces connected and automated vehicle (CAV) technologies, covering sensing, trajectory planning, and control, as well as connectivity, cybersecurity, and policy. Students gain hands-on experience integrating sensors, communication systems, and control modules in CAV applications and projects. GCC Feedback: The Following Information is Required for All Classes: (1) Please add specific dates and time when the course meets. GCC Feedback: The Following Information is Recommended for All Classes: (1) please add specific due dates for assignments.  (2) Can there be any language added about how make-up work is counted or not counted? A motion was made and seconded to contingently approve the new course. Motion passed unanimously.
INFOST 694NewComputer Forensics
This is a new course is a topic to a permanent course request. This course has been taught for several semesters and is popular with students.  The program requests to add it as a permanent course so that it can be included in certificates and microcredentials. GCC Feedback: The Following Information is Required for All Classes: (1) More specific with meeting times and dates (instead of “TBD”).  (2) Could not find an attendance policy on the syllabus; please add.  (3) Link to Secretary of University missing.  (4) CETL now CASL. A motion was made and seconded to contingently approve the new course. Motion passed unanimously.
NURS 714NewFoundations in Pathophysiology, Pharmacology and Nursing Care for Adults I
Creating 2 new courses NURS 714 and NURS 715 to replace and retire 4 other courses (NURS 653, NURS 670, NURS 671, and NURS 657).  Updates are being done to meet the program’s essentials and accreditation requirements while better meeting the needs of the program’s students. A motion was made and seconded to approve the new course. Motion passed unanimously.
NURS 715NewFoundations in Pathophysiology, Pharmacology and Nursing Care for Adults II
Creating 2 new courses NURS 714 and NURS 715 to replace and retire 4 other courses (NURS 653, NURS 670, NURS 671, and NURS 657).  Updates are being done to meet the program’s essentials and accreditation requirements while better meeting the needs of the program’s students. A motion was made and seconded to approve the new course. Motion passed unanimously.
NURS 760NewFamily Nurse Practitioner Practicum IV
This proposed new course is to align with the updated DNP curriculum and to meet new accreditation requirements. GCC Feedback: The Following Information is Required for All Classes: (1) Office hours: minimum hours required by new policy in addition to by appointment.  (2) Dates: In person dates are from 2025, please update them to 2027.  (3) Inclement weather and safety policies are included twice (p. 6 and p. 15). A motion was made and seconded to contingently approve the new course. Motion passed unanimously.
NURS 835NewAdult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Practicum IV
This proposed new course is to align with the updated DNP curriculum and to meet new accreditation requirements. GCC Feedback: The Following Information is Required for All Classes: (1) Update course dates to Spring 2027.  (2) Remove language on p. 2 that gives instruction for creating the syllabus (“Include drop/add dates on your syllabus”, etc.). A motion was made and seconded to contingently approve the new course. Motion passed unanimously.
OCCTHPY 989NewDoctoral Capstone
The post professional occupational therapy program does not have a course option to support student’s completion of a capstone project. GCC Feedback: The Following Information is Required for All Classes: (1) Class meeting times and location(s).  (2) Office hours.  (3) Days, times, and location.  (4) Instructors’ and Teaching Assistants’ names.  (5) Instructors’ and Teaching Assistants’ e-mail address and/or phone number.  (6) It is unclear from this syllabus whether the class is in-person, online, or hybrid. The Following Information is Recommended for All Classes (1) Assignments appear with no description in the grade breakdown table.  Brief descriptions of these graded components could be useful. A motion was made and seconded to contingently approve the new course. Motion passed unanimously.
SOC WRK 732NewAdvancing Educational Equity Through School Social Work
This course has been historically offered for many, many years in the Social Work department, but as a current topics subtopic (SOC WRK 791, subtopic Institutional Racism).  With the program evolution, an attempt to make our curriculum easier for students to follow and an attempt to better align the significance of and title of this course with the standards of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (WI DPI), the program is seeking to assign a unique and permanent course number and revised title to this subtopic, effectively making it it’s own course in the program’s curriculum. GCC Feedback: The Following Information is Required for All Classes: (1) Office hours: needs scheduled hours due to new policy. A motion was made and seconded to contingently approve the new course. Motion passed unanimously.
SOCIOL 433 (SOCIOL 433 (G))NewThe Sociology of Beer and Brewing
Requesting approval for a new course SOCIOL 433 U/G titled “The Sociology of Beer and Brewing” A motion was made and seconded to approve the new course. Motion passed unanimously.