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

Message from the Dean

Colleagues,

While preparing for a recent Board of Trustees meeting and this week's Graduate School meeting for department and graduate studies committee chairs, I was struck by how far we--the graduate community at Ohio State--have come since the doctoral program assessment plan was released last April.

I want all of you to know how pleased I am with the initiative and collaboration shown by the colleges and graduate programs. Please take a moment to review the presentation I prepared for these meetings so you can review the progress that has been made and the activities that are underway. We truly are moving doctoral education forward at Ohio State.

Finally, I want to congratulate this year's winners of the Graduate Associate Teaching Award (below). In addition to their excellence in the classroom or lab, these graduate students are also remarkable scholars, researchers, and members of the academic community. The GATA winners are a wonderful reminder of the tremendous talent among the graduate students we are privileged to work with every day.

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

News

Graduate Associate Teaching Award Winners Announced

Over the past two weeks, representatives from Graduate School have been making surprise visits to classrooms, research labs, and departmental meetings around campus to announce this year's winners of the Graduate Associate Teaching Awards. The GATA award is Ohio State's highest recognition of the exceptional teaching provided by graduate students, and the winners were selected by the Graduate School's awards committee, consisting of Graduate Faculty representing the range of disciplines, former GATA winners, and the Council of Graduate Students.

Only 10 GTAs are selected each year, and this year's GATA award winners are: Michael Boss, Physics; Kyle Kopko, Political Science; Todd Letcher, Mechanical Engineering; Sungjoo Park, Physical Activity and Educational Sciences; Sharon Ross, Linguistics; Anice Sabag-Daigle, Microbiology; Jessica Spears, Microbiology; Alexis Stern, English; Susan Vdovichenko, Slavic Language and Literature; and Aaron Wenzel, Greek and Latin.

GATA winners will receive public recognition during the Graduate School Awards Reception later in May and will receive a $1500 honorarium with their June stipends. Contact: Kathleen Wallace, 247-7300.

Council of Graduate Students Hayes Graduate Research Forum, April 25

The 23rd Annual Edward F. Hayes Graduate Research Forum will be held Saturday, April 25, in Hagerty Hall. The welcome begins at 8 a.m., and graduate student presentations run from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Contact: Lea Popielinski.

Fulbright U.S. Student Program Information Sessions Scheduled

Ohio State University staff will lead information sessions about the Fulbright Program for U.S. students in 180 Hagerty Hall on Wednesday, April 29, 3:30 p.m.; Friday, May 15, 2 p.m.; and Wednesday, May 20, 3:30 p.m. Contact: Bobbi Davis-Jones, 292-9490.

Annual McNair Visitation Day, June 29: Graduate Programs and Former McNair Scholars Needed

The Graduate School is partnering with the Office of Minority Affairs for Ohio State's Annual McNair Visitation Day on Monday, June 29. We will be contacting graduate program chairs and support staff to identify faculty members who will be available to meet with these potential graduate students. We are also looking for current Ohio State graduate students who are McNair alumni to participate in a graduate student panel and to interact with the McNair scholars during their visit. Contact: Joe Papio, 247-6377.

Graduate Council Approves Changes to Graduate School Rules and Policies

The Graduate Council has approved the following changes to Graduate School rules and policies. The changes are effective immediately, and the Graduate School Handbook has been revised appropriately. Please make sure that you are consulting the 2008-09 edition, version 3. Contact: Kathleen Wallace or Ann Salimbene.

Minimum Ph.D. Credit Hours Changed from 135 to 120

The change in the number of credit hours required for full-time status for post-candidacy students to three credit hours necessitated a change in the total number of credit hours required for the Ohio State doctoral degree. After consulting with university budget officers, the minimum number of hours has been set at 120. See Section VII.2 of the Graduate School Handbook.

Guidelines for Formatting Dissertations and Theses Streamlined

In recognition of disciplinary variation and changes in publishing practices, the Graduate School has streamlined its formatting guidelines for dissertations and theses. The new guidelines have been reduced from 12 to four pages, are focused on essential formatting issues only, and ask students to follow discipline-specific publication practices. Sample pages are available.

Doctoral Residency Requirements Revised

The change in full-time registration for post-candidacy students to three quarters prompted a revision of the Graduate School's doctoral residency requirements. The revision changes provision two from 10 to nine graduate credit hours. This revision aligns the number of required credit hours with the number of graduate credit hours required of funded graduate students. See Section VII.2 of the Graduate School Handbook.

Presidential Fellowship On-Campus Residency Requirement Loosened

In recognition of changing research practices and opportunities, Presidential Fellows are no longer required to maintain an on-campus residency.

Candidacy and Candidacy Examination Definitions Clarified

The Graduate Council has approved revised language for candidacy examinations, candidacy, and final oral examinations. The new language is crafted to clarify standards and expectations, support consistency across the university, and to assist graduate programs with developing appropriate local processes. These changes are in effect immediately. See Sections VII.4, VII.8, and VII.10 of the Graduate School Handbook. (Note: This is the second publication of this announcement.)

Professional Development Events

Workshop: Converting Vitas to Resumes, May 12

Graduate students considering jobs outside of the academy need to prepare a professional resume, which is very different than a pared-down c.v.. Professional counselors from Career Connection will work with graduate students during this interactive workshop. Participants are encouraged to bring a copy of their c.v. and/or resume. Suggestions for how to draft a resume are available. This event is co-sponsored by Career Connection and the Graduate School. Tuesday, May 12, 3:30-5 p.m., Younkin Success Center, Room 150. Please register. Contact: Karen Mayer, 247-7300.

Panel Discussion: Faculty Roles and Responsibilities in the Liberal Arts College, May 14

Faculty roles and responsibilities differ from institution to institution. Graduate students who are interested in learning more about faculty life in the liberal arts setting are invited to a panel discussion by faculty from Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. These faculty, from a range of disciplines, are also mentors in the Graduate School's Preparing Future Faculty program. Participants will have an opportunity to ask questions and join in the discussion. Thursday, May 14, 3-4:30 p.m., Recreation and Physical Activity Center, Meeting Rooms 2 and 3. Please register. Contact: Kathleen Wallace, 247-7300.

Workshop: Interviewing Outside of Academia, May 19

This workshop will provide an overview of the non-academic interviewing process, strategies for effective communication, and a forum for asking questions about how job candidates with advanced degrees can position themselves for success in a non-academic setting. This event is co-sponsored by Career Connection and the Graduate School. Tuesday, May 19, 3:30-5 p.m., Younkin Success Center, Room 150. Space is limited. Please register. Contact: Karen Mayer, 247-7300.

Theatre's InterAct Players Develop "A Failure to Communicate" for Graduate School

The Graduate School collaborated with the Department of Theatre's InterAct Diversity Players to develop an entertaining and interactive theatre piece dramatizing issues and challenges common to the graduate student/faculty advisor relationship. InterAct Director Robin Post wrote the script and directed the first performance, which was held on March 5. Approximately 150 students, faculty, and staff attended. Plans are under way to repeat the performance autumn quarter. Contact: Elliot Slotnick, 292-9490.

Reminders

Graduate Program Handbooks Must Be Posted on Graduate Program Websites

Graduate programs are reminded to post their 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. The Graduate School is reviewing graduate program handbooks on a revolving basis. Contact: Ann Salimbene or Kathleen Wallace, 247-7300.

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