The Graduate Council will decide today whether to approve the creation of a master's degree in forest resources under the wildlife and fisheries science major.

If approved by the council, which meets at 3:30 this afternoon in 101 Kern, students in wildlife and fisheries science and forest resources will be able to receive a master's degree in forest resources, said Henry Gerhold, professor of forest genetics.

The forest resources master's degree is now only available to students in the forest resources major, Gerhold said.

At last month's meeting, the council approved the creation of a doctorate program in wildlife and fisheries science. Gerhold said this program has not yet been approved by the University Board of Trustees.

In other business, Joan Schumacher, director of graduate students financial resources, will give an informational session regarding revisions of the Higher Education Act, specifically Title IX, which is the area of funding for graduate students.

Schumacher said every five years the legislation for student funding is examined to see if any changes need to be made. She said she will ask for suggestions the council may have regarding revisions of the act.

The original presentation by Catherine Lyons, director of the Center for Minority Graduate Opportunities, and Deborah Atwater, senior faculty mentor of the Center for Minority Graduate Opportunities, was postponed until the next council meeting.