Recommendation on the Report from the Task Force on Graduate and Postbaccalaureate Education in the California State University

AS-2652-04/EX - March 11-12, 2004

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate of the California State University (CSU) endorse the principles and recommendations of the Task Force on Graduate and Postbaccalaureate Education in the CSU; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate CSU strongly urge that the Chancellor's Office, together with the Academic Senate CSU, review the recommendations of this report and establish a definite plan of action to be submitted to the Board of Trustees for the development and maintenance of graduate programs in the CSU; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate CSU strongly urge that individual campuses, through the shared governance process, retain autonomy in their graduate degree programs, guided by the principles and recommendations articulated in the Report from the Task Force on Graduate and Postbaccalaureate Education in the California State University; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate CSU, together with the Chancellor's Office, explore the feasibility of differential fees for students in various types of postbaccalaureate programs and graduate degrees.

RATIONALE: The committee structure and process that developed the report, California's Prosperity at Stake, was a model of shared governance. The committee comprised selected members of the Academic Senate CSU, representatives of the CSU Graduate Dean's Council, and representatives of the Chancellor's Office. The committee's work was done in consultation with the campuses, very frequently with the offices responsible for graduate and postbaccalaureate education, along with campus senates. It was this balanced solicitation of input from sources external to the committee that marked its adherence to shared governance principles.

This report builds upon and extends the previous CSU evaluation of graduate education, The California State University Master's Degree: Implementation and Quality (Dinielli, 1989). The Task Force found this report as relevant today as it was 15 years ago.