UH Hilo Graduate Council Minutes, November 16, 2010

In Attendance: Ken Morris (Chair), Jerry Calton, Scott Saft, Bryan Kim, Tony Wright, Michael Shintaku, Don Price, Cathy Zenz, Kenny Simmons, Charles Langlas, Natalie Beam, Yoshiko Fukushima, and Aaron Jacobs, Bryan Kim, Sarah Smith (Nursing), Katharyn Daub (Nursing), Edward Fisher (CoP), Darius Kalvaitis (Education), and Michele Ebersole (Education). Jenny Lee Ramos (scribe).

Meeting brought to order at 11:00am

• Discussion of Program Review – Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

• The Program Committee received the revised document and reviewed it.
• All members in the Program Committee unanimously agreed on three main concerns on the proposal that affect the overall presentation:
• Grammatical errors
• Formatting issues
• Sections should be rearranged
• Recommendation: approve program proposal after corrections have been made
• The question of  impact on undergraduate students and courses was raised.
• Katharyn Daub & Sarah Smith (Nursing): the program will focus more on students who are currently in the Nursing program and/or returning practicing nurses
• As the first DNP program in Hawaii, more students may be attracted
• Currently, there are ~200 pre-nursing students. ~35 applicants are accepted each year. It is expected that the number of pre-nursing students will increase anyway but neither the Undergraduate cohort size nor the cohort size for the DNP (10) will increase.
• Cover language will include a statement to encourage the administration to analyzed for any impact.
• Should weigh which classes are getting filled
• Direct impacts of the  program must be considered but are likely limited
• Number of Biology majors increasing, impacting faculty members’ capacity to advise students
• Pre-pharmacy students who do not get accepted to the CoP usually become Biology majors. Pre-nursing students may do the same if they are not accepted.  This is good news as they are typically good students and could help improve our graduation rates but must be considered
• A solution could be to restrict entry to pre-pharmacy and pre-nursing students to lessen impact
• As students with higher GPAs make up a larger fraction of the applicant pool, it is recommended that an increase GPA requirement be considered.
• The GC will assemble a list of courses at risk for general consideration
• The question of faculty members who have Masters Degrees, yet are still working on Ph.D., teach courses was raised.
• Katharyn Daub & Sarah Smith (Nursing): Faculty members have area expertise on the clinical portion of the program
• Faculty members with Masters Degrees will maintain courses on an undergraduate level.
• The program plans on hiring faculty members, but because there are not many DNP programs, there are not many qualified faculty members existing programs make use of Masters degreed teachers.
• Program will be based on an executive model
• Pre-requisite courses to be removed from catalog
• Confident that there are enough resources for the DNP Program
• Cathy Zenz: moved that the DNP program proposal be approved, provided that the editorial changes are made.
• Seconded by Jerry Calton.
• Yes: 6; No: 0: Abstentions: 0

• Discussion of Program Review – M.A. Teaching Program
• Program committee recommend that the APR review be approved
• Michele Ebersole (Education): The current program offers an MEd in Teaching for in-service teachers who seek for professional development. The proposed program for an MAT will facilitate the earning of an advanced degree while completing requirements for a licensure.
• Program will offer 30 credits, which would benefit students seeking advancement and better salaries
• Offer courses face-to-face and online
• Statewide distance learning: existing online facility will be utilized. About 20 students targeted for online course
• Challenges of field placements and of finding supervisors within the field will be explored during planning.
• Chuck Langlas pointed out the option for supervisors to travel to students
• The program expected to begin in Fall 2012; National accreditation in 2013.
• There is the need to hire faculty: currently there are 2 vacant positions, with one faculty member on leave of absence.
• It was pointed out and acknowledged that students will have to meet the increased GPA (from 2.70 to 3.00)
• Michele Ebersole (Education): program will recruit eligible motivated high school students
• Students with certificates may not be eligible for admission to the MAT
• Again it was pointed out that the program should plan for any anticipated increase in the number of students in classes and other areas such as the library
• Chuck Langlas: moved that the APR review be approved
• Seconded by Donald Price
• Yes: 8; No: 0; Abstentions: 0

• Discussion of ATP Review – ATP Masters of Science and Clinical Psychopharmacology
• The Program Committee chair Bryan Kim, described the program as offering training for psychologists to receive license to prescribe medications
• Concerns:
• Impact on other programs including undergraduate programs
• Need to refresh psychology courses
• Supervision for internships
• National examination students need to pass for admission
• Edward Fisher
• All courses are recorded with:
• Weekly online chat sessions will be held for students who need to catch up
• Online exams
• Students will present case studies on drug interactions
• Program is rigorous and will challenge students, but their motivation will benefit them in knowledge base and career development
• 400 level biochemistry course included for rigor missing in programs outside of Pharmacy.  This would be the 1^st such program to be offered at a College of Pharmacy
• Target market for program – Tripler clinical psychologists
• 100 hours practicum with Tripler
• 5-year contract with Tripler
• Degree requirements not yet fully established but will be explored during final planning
• Impact on resources are minimal due to the delivery model and funding
• ABA National Exam will be utilized
• All funding and tuition will be received by Tripler and  the taped online courses will not impact pharmaceutical faculty
• Need to hire FTE for video chats
• Dr. Fisher pointed out that there will be live faculty always available for students who have questions
• Experimental courses will be offered in the Spring
• Motion to approve ATP Masters in Science and Clinical Psychopharmacology
• Yes: 7; No:0; Abstentions: 1 (Aaron, CoP representative)

Meeting adjourned at 1:00pm