The Graduate Council approved yesterday the creation of a new degree program under the wildlife and fisheries science major -- the master of forest resources.

Professor of Forest Genetics Henry Gerhold said before the creation of this program, the degree was only available to students in the forest resources major.

Gerhold said the new program will have no impact on faculty since only a small number of students will use it.

In other business, Professor of Management Michael Hottenstein said some professors issue plus/minus grades for graduates because the scan sheets for grades contain the plus/minus system.

Council members recommended attaching a note to the scan sheet or sending a letter to the associate deans of departments reminding professors not to use the plus/minus system.

Hottenstein suggested leaving it up to individual professors whether to use plus/minus. He added the system might help differentiate performance levels of students.

Council member Bob Gould (graduate-nuclear engineering) said the plus/minus system is a "more accessible measure of performance in a class."

Council member Scott Sabol (graduate-civil engineering), a member of the academics committee, said students were against implementation of the plus/minus system when the issue was brought up a few months ago. At that time, the council decided not to implement the system.

No decisions were made, but the academics committee will examine these issues at its next committee meeting.

Also, an informational session regarding revisions of the Higher Education Act was canceled. Joan Schumacher, director of graduate students financial resources, who was supposed to present the session, was unable to attend the meeting.