September 21, 2026 – Graduate Faculty Committee – Minutes

Posted on:

Time: Monday at 3:00 p.m.

Location: Microsoft Teams

Present: Itziar Lazkano (Chair), Nicole Ridgway, Bryan Porter (ex-officio), Vipavee Thongpriwan, Victoria Moerchen (ex-officio), Winson Chu, Alexander Arnold, Elana Levine, Aaron Schutz, Amy Kalkbrenner, Penninah Kako, Habib Rahman, Erin Flynn (ex-officio), Riley Harrison (admin support)
Absent: John Berges, Emily Middleton, Gordon Gauchat
Guests: Kim Litwack, Shane Haensgen

I. Call to Order.

Meeting called to order by GFC Chair at 3:02 p.m.

II. Announcements

  1. Introductions.
  2. Welcome to the GFC/Updates – GS Dean, Bryan Porter: One Big Beautiful Bill Act, duration of status rule, CPT, internal AOP Fellowship update
  3. 2026-27 Graduate School Initiatives – GS Associate Dean Vickie Moerchen: Art Speaks, i-SPARC, 3MT
  4. Upcoming Graduate Student Wellness Series – GS Assistant Dean Erin Flynn
  1. Minutes of the Graduate Faculty Meeting of May 11, 2026 were approved as distributed.
  2. Graduate Faculty Committee Annual Report 2025-26 approve as distributed.
  3. Graduate School Scholastic Appeals Committee Annual Report 2025-26 approved as distributed.

IV. New Business

  1. Information only: Renaming of the School of Rehabilitation Sciences – Kim Litwack
  2. Review 2026-27 Schedule
  3. Review committee charter
  4. Proposed revisions: Fac. Doc. 3182: Awarding Posthumous Graduate Degrees (vote needed) – Vickie Moerchen
    MOTION: approve revisions (motion made by Elana L.). The motion was seconded by Amy K. and approved by voice vote.
  5. Appointment of representatives for standing commitees
    1. Academic Planning and Budget Committee: Nicole Ridgway
    2. Academic Policy Committee: Itziar Lazkano
    3. Physical Environment Committee: Alexander Arnold
    4. Research Policy and Advisory Committee: Peninnah Kako

V. Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at 3:36 p.m.