1. Graduate Education – What does a new faculty member need to know?
Dixie L. Thompson, Ph.D.
Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School
August 7, 2017
I’m happy to be with you today. A little bkgd on me – I’ve been a faculty member here since I moved through the faculty ranks, served as dept head and then as associate dean for research and academic affairs in EHHS. In April 2016, I started my newest role. I’m hopeful that what I share today will help ease your transition or at least point you to some useful resources.
Universities are big, complex organizations that few people really understand how all the pieces fit together. People in the organization tend to have a deep understanding of our areas, but not a broad understanding of how things fit together.
As a faculty member, you’ll be working with graduate students. They will look to you to guide and mentor them through their educational journey. So, you need to have a working knowledge of the graduate school process.

2. Graduate School at UTK
The Graduate School provides a wide range of services to support graduate education:
Provide the infrastructure for admissions
Provide a wide range of support services to current students
Provide support for recruitment and mentoring
Oversee awarding of fellowships and centralized fee waivers
Review records for awarding of degrees – in concert with University Registrar
Host the Graduate Hooding ceremony at the end of fall and spring semesters
Work with Graduate Council to ensure that policies are clearly written and implemented consistently
Produce the Graduate Catalog each year
Work with Associate Deans and Directors of Graduate Studies to support colleges and departments
Work with Graduate Student Senate as an advocate for graduate students
Communicate about graduate education at UTK

3. What do you need to know about Graduate Admissions?
The system we use for managing Graduate Admissions is ADMIT. You will need access to this system in order to review files of applicants to your program.
We also host PROSPECT – a system that can assist with graduate student recruitment
Admission to UTK is a two-part process
Graduate School evaluation
Departmental evaluation
If you are going to be involved with student recruitment, familiarize yourself the the admissions deadlines.

4. What do you need to know about Student services?
Throughout the time a student is on campus, the Graduate School provides assistance.
Tracking of milestones
Assisting with special requests
Processing paperwork related to graduation
Final acceptance of theses and dissertations
Familiarize yourself with the Forms Central location on the Graduate School website:

5. What do you need to know about the Graduate Council?
The Graduate Council is a committee of the Faculty Senate.
The Graduate Council is responsible for
Setting policies for graduate education
Reviewing and approving graduate curriculum
Approving faculty to direct doctoral dissertations
Hearing student appeals
Graduate Council
Curriculum Committee
Credentials Committee
Academic Policy Committee
Appeals Committee

6. Mentoring
Mentoring students is one of the most important roles we play as faculty members. A strong predictor of graduate student success is faculty mentoring. In my role as Dean of the Graduate School, I see the rewards of good mentoring and the repercussions of poor mentoring. Invest time to become a good mentor – it doesn’t just come naturally to everyone. A mentor is more than just someone who tells students what classes to take. A mentor is an encourager, a enforcer, a confidant, a guide, and a role model. Read about mentoring, talk with senior colleagues who are successful mentors, ask your graduate students what they need from you.

7. Closing Thoughts
Suggestion: Set up a meeting with your department’s director of graduate studies – ask for an overview of graduate education in your department.
Familiarize yourself with:
Graduate Catalog
Hilltopics
Your department’s graduate student handbook
Graduate School website
Let us know if we can help you