Institutionalizing Success for Underrepresented Graduate Students: Weaving PROMISE into the Fabric of the University Renetta G. Tull, Ph.D. IGERT-IBP, Nobleboro, Maine March 13, 2007

PROMISE: Maryland’s AGEP 20+ Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate UMBC (Lead) –Former commuter school, now “An Honors University in Maryland” –Meyerhoff Scholars/Fellows –A Balanced Approach to Graduate Education UM College Park, UM Baltimore 2003

PROMISE: Our Efforts Recruitment & Retention Professional Development Transition to the Professoriate

PROMISE: Our Strategy Create a culture of involvement

PROMISE: Involvement = Weaving RESEARCH & GRANT PARTNERING: –NSF-ERC: UMBC, Princeton, Johns Hopkins, CCNY, Rice; IGERT; Career PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: –For ALL graduate students –Involves faculty and staff CAMPUS COMMUNITY: –Administration, Faculty, Staff, Students

PROMISE: Recruitment Involves Faculty Graduate Horizons –Lab Tours –Presentations to students Faculty Partnerships –MSI institutions Conferences –ABRCMS, NSBE, AISES, SACNAS

PROMISE: Retention Involves Faculty Community Building Retreat & The Dissertation House

Faculty: Engineering Social Sciences Humanities Active Involvement Graduate Dean Assoc. & Assist. Deans from 3 campuses, GPCs, University Staff (Counseling Center)

PROMISE: Retention Involves Students Involve non-STEM, majority, and inter- national students to strengthen retention of underrepresented STEM students.

PROMISE: Professional Development Involves PROMISE Ph.D. Alumni

PROMISE: Professional Development Involves other Ph.D.s of Color Images of Possibility –Drs. Randal Pinkett, Calvin Mackie, Maria Mercedes Franco, Juan Gilbert, Eloy Rodrigues PURPOSE Institute –Dr. Christine Grant, NC State, Meetings at NSBE Conferences, PROMISE SSI

PROMISE: Professional Development Involves Faculty Success Seminars –“How to Publish in Peer-Reviewed Journals” –“How to Exceed Your Advisor’s Expectations” –Dissertation Roundtables

PROMISE: Training for the Professoriate Involves Faculty & Staff Professors-in-Training (PROF-it) –UMBC Faculty Development Center –UMCP Center for Teaching Excellence –Howard University ECE Department –McNair Scholars Research Methods Course CCBC-UMBC Fellows –Basic Training: Fall –Teaching with Technology: Spring Interesting Trend: Faculty attend! For their OWN development

PROMISE: Professional Development Example of Faculty Involvement in Professional Development When Faculty Say ‘x’, They Really Mean ‘y’

PROMISE: Professional Development When Faculty Say ‘x’, They Mean ‘y’ 1. How do you know when a faculty member is pleased with your work? Will they ever just tell you if you're not doing well or if you're doing a great job?

2. What are the non-verbal actions or pattern of interactions that give clues as to how seriously a professor takes you or your work? What are the warning signs that it may be time to have a heart-to-heart? PROMISE: Professional Development When Faculty Say ‘x’, They Mean ‘y’

Answer: Good signs: Gives you more responsibility, puts you in charge of projects/lab/undergrads, new cohorts, recommends you for awards, meetings, etc. Warning signs: Non-response. Lack of content in their advice, comments on projects, lack of verbal communication. Advisors often want to avoid confrontation at all costs. PROMISE: Professional Development When Faculty Say ‘x’, They Mean ‘y’

3. When a professor says he or she wants a DRAFT what does that REALLY mean?

PROMISE: Professional Development When Faculty Say ‘x’, They Mean ‘y’ Answer: The draft that goes to the professor should be your 4 th or 5 th draft.

PROMISE: Involvement  Influence State Budget & Grad Education Policy State Budget –PROMISE  Graduate Student Professional Development –State funded: Ph.D. Completion initiative Education Policy –Chair NAGS Mentoring Comm., Board Member –New SBE AGEP Director = Asst. Dean of BSOS

PROMISE: Our Best Practice Institutional Involvement Involvement of: –Administration, Faculty, Staff, Students Involvement in: –Campus-wide programs –Research and Grant Partnering

Renetta G. Tull, Ph.D. PROMISE: Maryland’s AGEP Contact: Office: ; Text Msg: IM: rg_tull (yahoo) Visitors section: Creating a Culture of Involvement