August 12, 2014 New Faculty Orientation College of Graduate Studies

The Context of Graduate Education “A graduate degree will become the new bachelor’s degree, the minimal education credential that high-skills employers require.” --- The 2010 CGS Report

Organization

Key Facts (as of Fall 2013) Graduate and professional student enrollment: 2,307 (19.4% of the total enrollment 11,884) International graduate students: 240 (10% of the graduate students) Countries represented in student body: 68 National ranking by U.S. News & World Report: 79 National ranking by Washington Monthly: 65 Graduate faculty members: 600 Master’s degrees: 88 Doctoral degrees: 31

Mission The College of Graduate Studies has a primary mission to promote excellence in graduate education by implementing rules and policies regarding academic standards in graduate education. It assists all other colleges and programs in the recruitment, enrollment, retention, and graduation of graduate students. CoGS works to improve the visibility of graduate programs and to enhance funding for graduate students.

Main Functions Recruitment Answer inquiries on a regular basis. Recruit at regional, national and international fairs. Connect prospective students to departments and faculty. Build recruitment pipelines with domestic and international partners.

Main Functions Admissions Process domestic and international applications, according to academic standards established by the Graduate Council (e.g., GPA and TOEFL) Conduct transcript evaluations Route all applications to academic units for decisions

Main Functions Graduate Student Support and Oversight The Dean serves as the academic dean of all graduate students. Provide graduate students with financial assistance (TA IST fellowship and OST waiver) Review and approve dissertations and theses (e.g., ETD) Organize hearings for students’ petitions Offer special seminars and workshops for graduate students and TAs/RAs --- TA/RA Institute (e.g., RCR for RAs) --- International TA training --- Graduate Student Orientations (domestic and international) Advise graduate student organization, Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA).

Main Functions Graduate Faculty Membership, Appointment, and Development Grant and review graduate faculty status (see the new Bylaws). Appoint the major professor and thesis/dissertation committees (see the new Catalog). Provide training opportunities in graduate mentorship and graduate program management. Establish the guidelines for graduate mentorship and program management.

Main Functions Interpretation and Mediation Interpret all the rules and regulations related to graduate education at the University. Work with other colleges and units to solve conflicts in graduate studies.

COGS Strategic Plan A Vision: The College of Graduate Studies will improve the funding, enrollment, outreach, and quality of graduate programs in order to meet the benchmarks of peer, research universities by 2020.

COGS Strategic Plan Goal 1: Increase the enrollment of graduate students including diverse economic, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds in and outside of the state. 19.5% Goal 2: Work with colleges, programs, donors, and the university to increase the funding of graduate programs. Both internal and external funding (e.g., the new capital campaign)

COGS Strategic Plan Goal 3: Increase outreach efforts throughout the communities of Idaho and beyond. NSF AGEP grant. Pipelines with targeted domestic and international institutions Goal 4: Improve the quality and capacity of graduate programs at University of Idaho. Graduate program review Recommendations (“Focus for the Future” and 2020 Plan)

COGS Strategic Plan Goal 5: Enhance the graduate student experience with increased support and dedication to excellence. TA and RA support (OST waiver and IST fellowship) Combined TA/RA Institute Innovation Showcase Goal 6: Improve the quality of and support for the graduate faculty at University of Idaho. New Graduate Faculty By-Laws Mentorship Handbook

Role of Graduate Council The Graduate Council is the representative body of and is empowered to act for the Graduate Faculty. Membership on Graduate Council –One member elected by and from the constituent graduate faculty of each of the colleges that offer programs leading to graduate degrees (except the J.D. degree) – Four members of the Graduate Faculty appointed by the president of the university (at-large) –Two graduate students –Dean of the Graduate College, who serves as chair –Associate graduate dean, who serves as vice chair. Term of service is three years

Graduate Faculty Membership Eligibility : 1.Hold a terminal degree, or commensurate professional experience, in the field of his/her research specialty; 2.Have the recommendation of the administrator of the unit in which the faculty member has his/her primary appointment; 3.Be approved by the dean of the College of Graduate Studies; 4.Hold one of the following academic ranks as defined in the Faculty-Staff Handbook, Faculty (Section 1565 D-2), Research Faculty (D-3), Extension Faculty (D-4), Distinguished Professor (D-8), and Clinical Faculty (D-9). –Incoming faculty who hold the terminal degree in the area of specialty must apply for membership and receive support from the department administrator. Under these circumstances, they will be automatically approved

Benefits/Responsibilities of Membership Serve as Major Professor; Serve as graduate faculty member on students committee; Eligible to vote for Graduate Council Representative; Eligible to vote on matters concerning graduate instruction, policies, and curriculum; Serve as a representative to Graduate Council.

Duties of Major Professor Mentor and supervise students in their studies and research Assess student work and performance Conduct annual evaluation Create the next generation of scholars and researchers

How to be a good major professor Provide accurate advice Be enthusiastic Rigorous and fair Accessible Reliable Consistent and reliable communication

IP Grades In progress (IP) grades are allowed in 500 and 600. To give an IP the student must be doing A, B or P (passing) work Cannot be changed later to lower than A, B, or P. Must be graded off before graduation Not to be substituted for a poor grade!

Annual Evaluation It is the students responsibility to initiate the review Provides and opportunity for performance review and communication Due to COGS by May 1 each year

Annual Graduate Student Review Three recommendations possible: Continue Warning Dismissal

TA/RA (care and feeding) TA/RA’s are employees and students –Limited to 20 hrs. per week of work in the classroom or lab –Required to maintain full time enrollment status (9 credits) –RA’s and TA’s are required to complete COGS sponsored training in their first term Responsible conduce of research Sexual harassment prevention Success strategies in the lab or classroom –International TA’s are required to complete INTR 508

RA’s / TA’s –TA’s are funded by COGS, Colleges, and Departments – three components to compensation package - stipend, tuition, OST (if necessary) Primary responsibility is in the classroom –RA’s are funded by grants and contracts Primary responsibility is in the laboratory –COGS verifies RA/TA responsibilities and approves the employment request

Recognize and Reward excellence Faculty and Student Recognition –Crawford Faculty Award for outstanding mentoring –Outstanding Masters research –Outstanding Doctoral research –Outstanding TA award

Resources –Videos, how to guides, forms, policies COGS office University Catalog Writing Center TA / RA Institute COGS seminars/workshops