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

Message from the Dean

Colleagues,

The Task Force on the Environmental Sciences and the Task Force on the Life Sciences have been a focus of the Graduate School's activities this quarter. The task forces' working groups have been gathering data about Ohio State's existing academic and research programs in these areas, research frontiers and directions, and best practices at Ohio State and elsewhere. The life sciences task force plans to send a survey to life sciences faculty in early January. Once all data have been compiled and discussed early winter quarter, the task forces will invite wider participation. Please watch for announcements.

I want you to know that Ohio State is increasingly being recognized for the attention it is giving to graduate education. I was recently elected to a three-year term on the board of directors of the Council of Graduate Schools, and while I was at the CGS annual meeting in Washington last week, I was appointed to the board's executive committee. I look forward to working with my CGS colleagues across the country to advance graduate education.

I wish you all the best during this holiday season.

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

News

Presidential Fellows Named for Autumn Quarter 2008

The Presidential Fellowship recognizes the outstanding scholarly accomplishments and potential of graduate students entering the final phase of their dissertation research or terminal degree project. The following 15 students (listed by graduate program) have been awarded Presidential Fellowships for the 2008-09 academic year:

Chemistry: Samantha Horvath; Electrical and Computer Engineering: Woo-jun Yoon; English: Kyoung-hye Kwon; Evolution, Ecology & Organismal Biology: Craig Barrett; Geological Sciences: Steve Goldsmith; Geography: Theresa Wong; History: James Bennett; Industrial and Systems Engineering: Yang Chen; Integrated Biomedical Science Graduate Program: Corey Clay; Mathematics: Guo Luo; Mechanical Engineering: Vladimir Jovovic; Ohio State University Nutrition: Michelle Asp; Political Science: Dino Christenson; Sociology: Jill Harrison; and Theater: Jason Bush. Contact: Bobbi Davis-Jones, director of fellowship services, 292-9490.

Alumni Grants for Graduate Research and Scholarship (AGGRS) Winners Announced

The Graduate School's AGGRS program provides up to $2000 for dissertation and final project research to doctoral and MFA candidates without any other research support from their department or advisor. The Graduate School's graduate faculty awards committee reviews proposals and makes selections based on the merit of the proposal. AGGRS competitions are held autumn and spring quarters.

The following students (listed by graduate program) have been awarded AGGRS support during the Autumn Quarter 2008 competition: Anthropology: Robert Schubert; Biochemistry: Betina McNeil; Civil & Environmental Engineering and Geodetic Science: Jungwoo Lee; Comparative Studies: Rebecca A. Adelman; Dance: Ashley Thorndike and Kathryn Enright; English: Kyounghye Kwon; Environmental Science Graduate Program: Hanbae Yang; Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology: Abigail Reft and Amy M. McKinney; History of Art: Mayumi Kamata; Human Development and Family Science: Pushpanjali Dashora; Linguistics: Kathleen Hall; Music: Crystal Y. Sellers; Neuroscience: Akshata Almad, Megan Detloff, and Robin E. White; Neuroscience and Psychology: Ekaterina Karelina; Nursing: Carolyn M. Carle; Oral Biology: Xingxue Hu; Political Science: Yoon-Ah Oh; Education--Teaching and Learning: Dorothy Kupsky and Rachel S. Hintz; Speech and Hearing Science: Ursula Goss; and Theatre: ChuYoung Chon. Contact: Kathleen Wallace, assistant dean, 247-7300.

Graduate Program Handbooks Must Be Posted on Graduate Program Websites

During the Graduate School's quarterly meeting for department chairs and graduate studies committee chairs on October 29, Dean Osmer announced that the Graduate School expects all graduate programs to post their graduate program handbooks on their websites. This best practice ensures that all graduate students, faculty, and staff have ready access to the information, policies, and procedures important to each graduate program. Starting Winter Quarter 2009, the Graduate School will be reviewing graduate program handbooks on a revolving basis. Please send the link to graduate program handbooks by January 15, 2009. Contact: Ann Salimbene or Kathleen Wallace, assistant deans, 247-7300.

Electronic Submission of Master's Theses Required Starting Winter Quarter 2009

The Graduate School has decided that all Ohio State master's theses must be submitted electronically starting Winter Quarter 2009. This decision follows one year of giving master's students the option to submit their theses electronically. The Graduate Council approved this new policy earlier this fall. The submission process for master's theses will mirror the process currently followed by doctoral students, including the ability for master's students to request a dissemination delay for up to five years. The Graduate School website and publications are being updated to reflect this change. Contact: Tim Watson, director of Graduation Services, 247-7292.

Graduate Fellowship Workshops--Thursday, December 18

The Graduate School has scheduled its annual Fellowship Policies and Procedures workshops on Thursday, December 18, at either 9 a.m. or 2 p.m., in 014 University Hall. The workshops are two hours long and are identical in terms of content. Fellowship Services staff will review procedures and answer questions regarding the submission of nominations (electronically and on paper) for the 2009 first-year fellowship competition. Graduate Admissions will also have representatives available during both workshop sessions. No registration is necessary. Contact: Bobbi Davis-Jones, director of Fellowship Services, 292-9490.

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