Graduate College News Fall 2004 - Graduate College - The University of
Iowa
Graduate
College—Fall 2004
|
Click here for a printable PDF version of Graduate College News |
| Inside this Issue: |
| Graduate College Hosts 2004 SROP Conference |
| Thanks to 2004 SROP Conference Volunteers |
| Sponsors Contribute Nearly $30,000 to 2004 SROP Conference |
| Letter from the Dean |
| Symposium on Future of Graduate Education |
| Interdisciplinary Innovations: Groundbreaking Research on Cleft Palate |
| Graduate Teaching Certificate Program |
| Grad Students Express Thanks for Summer Fellowships |
| Alumni Update |
| Receive Graduate College News |
| Graduate College Hosts 2004 SROP Conference |
|
Over 500 talented undergraduates from 14 campuses across the United States gathered at The University of Iowa for the 18th Annual 2004 CIC Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) Conference. The conference was hosted by the Graduate College and the Committee for Institutional Collaboration (CIC). CIC is a consortium of Big Ten universities plus The University of Chicago. The privilege of hosting this key conference rotates among the CIC institutions each year. Post-conference feedback indicates that this year’s conference was a tremendous success!
Benefits of SROP Graduate College and UI faculty partnership The benefits of this professional conference are far-reaching for the visiting scholars, for our own scholars at Iowa, and for the Iowa City area. The conference was a positive reflection on the entire UI community. |
| Thanks to 2004 SROP Conference volunteers |
|
This year’s conference theme was The Breadth of Mentorship—Scholarly Engagement, Professional Development, and Personal Enrichment. Over 200 UI faculty, graduate students, and staff volunteered their time and expertise to mentor students, make presentations, facilitate panel discussions, serve on planning committees, and provide assistance. They made an impressive contribution to the conference, and their presence had a positive impact on each SROP scholar. |
| Sponsors Contribute Nearly $30,000 to 2004 SROP Conference |
|
We thank these sponsors for supporting graduate education at The University of Iowa. Their generosity toward the Summer Research Opportunity Program Conference helps the Graduate College augment its efforts to increase diversity and improve access for all students to pursue graduate study and research careers, especially in disciplines where representation lags.
Dean’s List (over $1,000) Friend of Graduate
Education ($500-$1,000) SROP Supporter ($75-$499) Additional donations from: |
| Letter from the Dean |
 Academic
year 2004-2005 will bring positive changes for the Graduate College, with an
emphasis on continuing excellence in graduate education at The University of
Iowa.
The year began with the success of the 2004 CIC SROP Conference in July. Over 500 prospective graduate students from across the nation participated, and we are proud that over 200 of our own UI faculty, staff, and graduate students volunteered to assist SROP. Their commitment serves as an inspiring model for mentorship and enhances the high standards for graduate education at The University of Iowa. As we continue the year, the Graduate College will work
toward Assistance for our graduate scholars continues to be our focus. A positive report from the first-ever external review of the college commends the Graduate College staff for offering exemplary, accessible service to students, who come to us seeking a wide range of services and information. In the coming months, we will continue to act on recommendations from the external review. An ongoing analysis of our fellowship programs helps ensure that funds are allocated to best serve our graduate scholars. In response to students’ needs, the Graduate College funded two new fellowships this spring and summer, awarding 10 Social Science Dissertation Fellowships and 35 Summer Fellowships. Through collaboration with COGS, the graduate assistant union, the Graduate College works to enhance student financial support. We look to this year’s negotiations to produce yet one more step toward full tuition scholarships for our graduate students. Through these and many other initiatives, the Graduate College staff works toward continued excellence in graduate education at The University of Iowa. |
| Symposium on Future of Graduate Education |
|
This past spring, the Graduate College hosted the first annual Symposium on the Future of Graduate Education. Over 120 UI graduate faculty participated. Guest speakers Eva Pell, vice president for research and dean of the Graduate School at Penn State University and Debra W. Stewart, president of the Council for Graduate Schools, presented their perspectives on the state of graduate education nationwide. The Symposium brought forth key issues, generating fruitful discussions on topics such as measuring the success of graduate education, enrollment in UI and other graduate programs across the country, and degree completion. |
|
Interdisciplinary Innovations: Groundbreaking Research on Cleft Palate |
|
Funding for Graduate College Interdisciplinary Programs helps support internationally important work such as genetic studies of cleft lip and palate. UI geneticist and mentor Jeffrey C. Murray worked with several graduate students on this study. Their study uncovered a genetic link that helps scientists better understand the causes of cleft lip and palate. The findings were published Aug. 19, 2004 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
From left: Lina Moreno, Dows Institute for Dental Research; Min Shi, biological sciences; Theresa Zucchero, interdisciplinary program in genetics; and Rebecca Schultz, Medical Scientist Training Program. |
| Graduate Teaching Certificate Program |
|
The Graduate College Teaching Certificate program has been approved by the Graduate Council and the provost. An advisory committee, comprised of Graduate College faculty from various disciplines, is developing plans for campuswide implementation. The Graduate College Teaching Certificate is a 12-semester-hour program of graduate-level course work on teaching. Students develop a portfolio consisting of sample syllabi, statements of teaching philosophy, samples of assignments and student work, and reflective essays on critical issues in higher education teaching. The Graduate College plans to fund up to 20 tuition scholarships of $1,000 each per semester. Please consider supporting the Graduate College Teaching Certificate program with a gift to the Graduate College this year. It is the latest addition to a suite of services that make the Iowa graduate experience uniquely rewarding. Visit www.givetoiowa.org/graduate to give online. |
| Grad Students Express Thanks for Summer Fellowships |
|
“My goal was to research and write an entire chapter of my dissertation...The Summer Fellowship gave me the time to go back to the proverbial drawing board and conduct research that would otherwise have been impossible while working a part-time or full-time job. Without the opportunity to regroup, I would have been left with a half-finished draft of sub-par quality at the summer’s end. Instead, the chapter is back on track to become the essay I use for job talks when I go on the market this fall.” —Summer Fellowship recipient Michael Germana, PhD candidate in English.
“With the help of the fellowship this summer, I was able to make
significant progress on my project… I am clearly closer to graduation than I
would have been without the fellowship. I am very thankful I was given this
opportunity.” |
| Alumni Update |
|
Alumni! We would like to hear from you! Please visit the Graduate College web site to let us know what you've been doing since receiving your UI graduate degree. http://www.grad.uiowa.edu/AlumniFriends/AlumniUpdate.asp |
| Sign up to receive Graduate College News |
|
Please let us know if you would like to receive the Graduate College News via U.S. Post: |
|
Graduate College News Jennifer Masada, editor Warren Staal, designer Graduate College News is published in the fall and spring.
|
