The Graduate Council will hear more concerns regarding mandatory insurance for graduate assistants and examine a proposal to recognize outstanding graduate assistants at its meeting today.

Scott Sabol, Graduate Student Association representative to the council, said he will inform the council about graduate students' concerns regarding the University's decision to make insurance mandatory for graduate assistants and international students enrolled after Fall 1990.

Concerns presented at last week's GSA meeting included the following: what types of incidents the policy covers, whether or not alternative policies will be made available or will be considered as equivalent coverage and whether or not the proposed insurance met the recommendations of the Students Insurance Committee.

In another matter, the council will examine a proposal honoring graduate assistants.

Associate Dean for Fellowships and Awards Richard McCarl said it is unknown how many awards will be given, but the goal of the proposal "is to have one for each college."

McCarl said the council must approve the proposals before nominations will be accepted. The guidelines have been proposed to the council and may come to a vote at today's meeting, he said.

McCarl added that copies of the application form and guidelines for nominations will also be provided at the meeting.

If approved, the award would be sponsored by the Graduate School and University Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education Gregory Knight, he said.

In addition to these topics, a forensic session on the nature and role of the doctoral dissertation will be presented.

David Christy, chair of the Committee on Academic Standards, said some discussion is taking place across the country as to what the doctoral dissertation is supposed to accomplish.

Professor of Art Education Robert Ott, who will take part in the discussion, said the session will focus on the role of the doctoral dissertation within each department. Ott is the council representative for the College of Arts and Architecture.

Christy, who helped organize the discussion, said the main purpose is to raise the issue among faculty members on campus. Five faculty members and one doctoral student will take part in the session.

Faculty from the University's Graduate School make up the Graduate Council membership, including student representatives from GSA.