THE GRADUATE SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

MAY 2010

THE GRADUATE SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

Greetings from Dave Francko, Dean of the Graduate School at The University of Alabama.

With the May 2010 UA Commencement, another group of graduate degree recipients has left the Capstone, and we’re reminded that as proud as we are about the recent growth in the size of graduate programs at UA, we are even more proud of the increasing numbers of students graduating each year with their advanced degrees! In the 2009-10 academic year ending with the May 2010 Commencement, UA again set new records for doctoral degrees earned (210) and total graduate degrees conferred (1615), eclipsing last year’s records of 192 doctoral degrees and 1518 graduate degrees. Congratulations to ALL of these new Alabama alumni!

Fortunately, we look to be able to “replace” this record graduating class with another record entering cohort of new graduate students in Fall 2010. Although it’s far too early to predict Fall 2010 total graduate enrollment, UA attracted a record number of applicants for Fall 2010: over 4500 and counting, or about 8% more than last year’s old record applicant pool and almost 50% larger than the applicant pool for Fall 2006. Based on early commitments, we are confident of meeting our enrollment target of 4500 this fall, which would be about 200 more than the Fall 2009 record of 4291 and more than 700 larger than Fall 2006.   

One of the reasons that we have made such strides in our recruitment of graduate students is the collaborative relationship between the Graduate School and Graduate Student Services. At many universities, the Graduate School and Graduate Student Services are completely independent silos - - much to the detriment of graduate students and their needs. Fortunately, this is not the case at UA. The UA Graduate School enjoys a close working relationship with Graduate Student Services in jointly supporting UA’s most important student constituency - - our 4,300-plus (and growing!) graduate student population. Whether it’s co-sponsoring social events, working together to provide funding for graduate student research and travel, or partnering to develop innovative student support groups like the Tide Together mentoring program and the Graduate Parent Support (GPS) program, the bond between the Grad School and Graduate Student Services is strong and getting stronger.

Hope everyone has a great summer!

Last Lecture Takes on Science and the Misguided Worship of Technology

Dr. Lawrence Kohl, Associate Professor of History, delivered the 2010 Last Lecture on Monday, April 26 to a packed audience.  His lecture, entitled “Education in the Age of Science:  A Critique”, explored how scientific thinking is shaping higher education in ways that are often detrimental and de-humanizing.  To hear the lecture in its entirety, click here.  For photos of the event, click here.

Writing Boot Camp for Grad Students

Eighteen participants in the Graduate School’s Tide Together Mentoring Program spent this spring in boot camp learning the basics of academic writing. 

On March 26, participants met at the Child Development Research Center.  A panel discussion on the purpose of academic writing was led by Dr. George Daniels, Associate Professor of Journalism.  Dr. Luke Niiler, Associate Professor of English and Director of the UA Writing Center, spoke about the “nuts and bolts” of academic writing.  Participants also learned how to critique published articles.  On April 23, participants were treated to a tour of the Writing Center.  Finally, they received feedback about their own writing from a faculty mentor, a peer mentor, and other boot camp participants.  Tide Together is a grant-funded program that provides early career graduate students who qualify with a supportive mentoring team and professional development resources.  Click here to see pictures of the event.  Read more about Tide Together events.

Graduate School Awards

Each year the Graduate School recognizes outstanding teaching, research/creative activity, and service by graduate students.  These students are recognized at the annual Honor’s Day award ceremonies held the week of April 5-9.

This year the winner of the outstanding dissertation award was Toni J. Copeland (Anthropology) for “Poverty and Sickness Among Women in Nairobi, Kenya:  Cultural Models of Managing HIV/AIDS in the Absence of Biomedical Treatment.”  The thesis co-winners this year were Amanda Phillips (English) for research titled, “Masculinity in Peril: Mutiny Fiction and Victorian Man-Making” and April B. Kendrick  (Human Development and Family Studies) for “Teacher-Directed Play Versus Natural Play on the Playground and Preschool Children.”  Click here for more information about this year’s winners. 

Mercedes-Benz Partners with UA in a New Graduate Fellowship Program

Mercedes-Benz U.S. International (MBUSI) has launched a new graduate fellowship program that will give students the opportunity to work on a master’s degree in business or engineering while developing leadership and management skills at MBUSI in Vance, Alabama.  Read more...

Dr. Carl Williams, Director of Graduate Recruitment, Receives Vergil Parks McKinley, Sr. Employee Award

If you’ve ever stepped foot in the Graduate School, chances are you have met Dr. Carl Williams, who has been the Director of Graduate Recruitment for the Graduate School for over 20 years. 

Dr. Williams was recently honored by President Witt and Charlotte Harris, Associate Vice-President for Human Resources, with the Vergil Parks McKinley, Sr. Employee Award.  The award honors enterprising UA employees who, by action or idea, contribute to UA’s mission of teaching, research, and service.  For information about other recipients of this year’s McKinley Awards, click here.