250 University Hall  |  230 N. Oval Mall  |  Columbus, OH  |  43210  |  (614) 292-6031  |  www.gradsch.osu.edu

Message from the Dean

Over the past several weeks, I have been delighted to help celebrate the achievements of the 10 Graduate Teaching Associates who have been awarded this year's Graduate Associate Teaching Award. I took part in several of the visits to surprise the GATA award winners in their classrooms.

The experience was energizing. I saw packed classrooms during beautiful, warm spring afternoons, attentive and appreciative students, and proud faculty and peers. We truly have outstanding teachers among the 2,500 graduate students who serve as graduate teaching associates at Ohio State, and I am impressed with their commitment to high quality educational experiences for their students. We will honor the 2008 GATA award winners during the Graduate School Awards Reception on Wednesday, May 28, 3-5 p.m., in the Faculty Club. Please mark your calendar for this event.

I also look forward to seeing you during the Graduate School's Spring Quarter 2008 meeting for department chairs and graduate studies chairs on May 14, 3-5 p.m., in the Blackwell Ballroom B&C. (See below.) The doctoral assessment process and other important topics will be on the agenda. As you know, the college responses to the reports are due to the Graduate School on May 15.

Patrick S. Osmer
Vice Provost for Graduate Studies and Dean of the Graduate School

News

Best Graduate Teaching Associates Announced

The Graduate School is pleased to announce the winners of this year’s Graduate Associate Teaching Award: Anouschka Bergmann, Linguistics; Kelly Bradbury, English; Megan Bulloch, Psychology; Christopher Bungard, Greek and Latin; Benjamin Gibbs, Sociology; Laura McCloud, Sociology; Christopher Porter, Physics; Thomas Pruiksma, English; Alison Pfent, Psychology; and Sarah Sanderson, Spanish and Portuguese.

These exemplary teachers were selected by the Graduate School's Awards Committee, which includes graduate faculty from across the graduate programs, an undergraduate honors student, and previous GATA award recipients. Winners of the 2008 competition were notified through surprise visits to their classrooms or graduate programs. The GATA award is Ohio State’s highest honor for graduate teaching associates, and it honors 10 GTAs each year who exhibit exceptional teaching. GATA winners receive a $1,500 honorarium, a plaque, and campus-wide recognition during the Graduate School's awards reception on May 28. More information. Contact: Kathleen Wallace, assistant dean, 247-7300.

Graduate School Spring Meeting for Chairs and Graduate Studies Chairs

The Graduate School's Spring Quarter 2008 meeting for department chairs and graduate studies committee chairs is scheduled for Wednesday, May 14, 2008, from 3-5 p.m. in the Blackwell Ballroom B&C. Topics for this meeting include post-candidacy tuition, the revised Graduate Council, and discussion about the doctoral program assessment process. The responses from the colleges are due in the Graduate School on May 15. Please RSVP. Contact: Susan Reeser, assistant to Dean Pat Osmer, 247-7413.

Publicize Graduate Faculty and Graduate Student Research

Ohio State's new media group in University Communications is compiling a list of students and faculty who are doing interesting things over the summer quarter. Selected stories will be featured on the Ohio State home page and in stand-alone video stories. This is a perfect opportunity to highlight graduate faculty and graduate student research, service, or other activities. They are particularly interested in stories with a multidisciplinary aspect. Last year's selections focused more on undergraduates, but the editor is interested in widening that approach. Contact: Kristen Convery, web editor, The Ohio State University, 247-8346.

Reminders When Hiring International Students

The Office of International Affairs reminds hiring departments that international students with F-1 and J-1 visa statuses are permitted to work only a cumulative total of 20 hours per week on campus. As a consequence, international students are only permitted to hold appointments that are 50 percent FTE or less. Any appointments greater than 50 percent will cause the student to fall out of legal status. Students who hold 50 percent appointments are not permitted to work any additional hours in other employment. Contact: International Students and Scholars, Office of International Affairs, 292-6061.

Please Use Revised Graduate School Forms

The Graduate School has revised many of its forms and has also removed requests for Social Security Numbers. Please contact the Graduate School or check the Graduate School website for the most up-to-date forms. We recommend that older versions of these forms be recycled. Please share this information with faculty and staff who may assist or advise students. Contact Shari Breckenridge, director of registration services, 247-6031.

Recruitment

Free Recruitment Opportunity: CIC Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) Annual Research Conference

Graduate programs and graduate faculty interested in recruiting highly talented prospective graduate students are encouraged to attend the 2008 CIC Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) annual research conference at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan, July 25-27. This research event brings together a diverse cohort of 600 of the nation's most promising and ambitious undergraduates who are conducting faculty-mentored research at CIC universities. Representing virtually all areas of study, SROP scholars are bound for graduate study and are drawn from colleges and universities across the country. Fifty of these scholars will be spending the summer in Ohio State's SROP program, which is directed by Cyndi Freeman, director of graduate student recruitment and diversity initiatives.

There is no registration fee for faculty who wish to participate in any part of the conference. Lodging and all meals are provided. The Graduate School wants to coordinate Ohio State's participation in the conference. Contact: Cyndi Freeman, director of graduate student recruitment and diversity initiatives, 247-6377.

Recruitment Materials Now Free

The graduate student recruitment print pieces produced by the Graduate School are available for free to all graduate programs. The one-page "Graduate Study at The Ohio State University" brochure is a general recruiting tool for any prospective graduate student expressing interest in Ohio State. The four-page "Do Something Great" brochure provides detailed information for highly desirable prospective students. This brochure is best used with graduate program-specific materials. The Graduate School has "Request for Information" contact cards, which all graduate programs are encouraged to use during recruitment events to capture prospective student information. Those cards are then forwarded to Graduate Admissions where they are entered into a prospect database. Please contact the Graduate School as far in advance as possible so we can have the appropriate number of brochures printed. Contact: Joe Papio, assistant to Cyndi Freeman, 247-6377.

Save the Date

• Spring Quarter 2008 Meeting with Department Chairs and Graduate Studies Chairs, Wednesday, May 14, 3-5 p.m., Blackwell Ballrooms B&C

• Graduate School Awards Reception, Wednesday, May 28, 3-5 p.m., Faculty Club Grand Lounge.

• Ohio State Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP): Formal Research Presentations, Friday, August 15, 9 a.m.-noon.

• Ohio Science and Engineering Alliance (OSEA): Research Forum, Thursday, August 7, and Friday, August 8.

Deadlines

• Last day to submit doctoral and master's examination report forms, Wednesday, May 21.

• Last day to submit dissertations and theses, Wednesday, May 28.

• Commencement: Sunday, June 8, Ohio Stadium. Visit the commencement website for more information.

250 University Hall  |  230 N. Oval Mall  |  Columbus, OH  |  43210  |  (614) 292-6031  |  www.gradsch.osu.edu