September 15, 2025 – Graduate Faculty Committee (GFC) – Minutes

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Time: Monday at 3:00 p.m.
Location: Microsoft Teams

Present:  Brian Schermer, Amy Kalkbrenner, Jerald Thomas, Itziar Lazkano (chair). Winson Chu, Joshua Mersky (GPRC), Jeb Willenbring, Emily Middleton, Timothy O’Brien (GCC), Hamid Ouali (vice chair), Peninnah Kako, Mohammad Rahman, Jorg Woehl, Victoria Moerchen (ex-officio), Bryan Porter (ex-officio), Riley Harrison (admin support)

Guest: Cynthia Marifke

  1. Meeting called to order at 3:01p.m.
  2. Announcements
    1. Committee Introductions
    2. Welcome to the GFC/Announcements from the GS: New GS Dean, Bryan Porter
  3. Automatic Consent
    1. Minutes of May 5, 2025 approved as distributed.
    2. 2024-25 GFC Annual Report approved as distributed.
    3. 2024-25 GSSAC Annual Report approved as distributed.
  4. New Business
    1. Review 2025-26 meeting schedule
    2. Review GFC committee charter
    3. Appointment of representatives for standing committees
      1. Academic Planning and Budget Committee – Hamid Ouali
      2. Academic Policy Committee – Itziar Lazkano
      3. Physical Environment Committee – Brian Schermer
      4. Research Policy and Advisory Committee – Jerald Thomas
    4. Policy priorities for 2025-26 – Associate Dean Moerchen: possibilities of PLA policy, dual degree/coordinated degrees, multidisciplinary degree, and more
  5. Continuing Business
    1. Three policies will be at Faculty Senate this week from GFC: Transfer credits, G/UG syllabus requirements, and non-degree policies
  6. Other business – None.
  7. Meeting adjourned at 3:27p.m.