Karen Olmstead, Salisbury UniversityMichael Monticino, University of North Texas

S. Laurie Sanderson, The College of William & Mary

Strategies for Productive Relationships between the

College of A & S and the

Graduate School

Enrollment 8,204 (headcount) Campus

•30% enrollment increase in 10 years•Entering class in F09 was most academically talented and most diverse• Highest retention and graduate rates of Maryland comprehensives•647 graduate students•13 graduate programs (Masters level)•Two doctoral program planned•44 undergraduate majors•4 Endowed Schools

Trends in Maryland and Mid-Atlantic•Decreasing number and increasing diversity of high school graduates•More 1st generation college students → more coordination of university and community college offerings.•BRAC, government-sector, and aerospace jobs create demand for graduate degree-prepared workforce.•Increasing focus on 4+1 and applied graduate programming.

University System of Maryland PrioritiesSustainabilityClosing the Achievement GapSTEM including science and math education

• Over 36,000 students– 4.5% enrollment growth

for Fall 2009– 7600 graduate students,

11% increase– 4th largest transfer

institution– Over 4600 African-

American and 4500 Hispanic students

• Location– Dallas-Fort Worth

Metroplex– 4th largest and fastest

growing metropolitan area US

University of North Texas

• 12 colleges and schools– CAS largest– Strong traditions in

College of Music and College of Visual Arts & Design

– Relatively new COEng

• Degree Programs– 97 Bachelor’s– 101 Master’s– 49 Doctoral

• Degrees Awarded• 7769 total in 2008-2009• 211 doctoral in 2008

• Investing over $25M in multi-disciplinary research clusters

• 3 major construction projects– $33M Life Sciences Complex– Business Leadership Building– Stadium

• Research infrastructure– $2.2M high-performance computing facility– Nanofabrication and Analysis Research Facility clean

room– Additional $1.7M laboratory upgrades

• Over 100 faculty hired in 2008-2009• Over $2.5M increase in graduate student

support this year – On top of successive previous investments in

graduate programs

UNT Continuing Investments

Academic programs• Five schools• Arts & Sciences core• 45 undergrad programs• 15 Master’s programs• 9 doctoral programs• 60 doctoral degrees awarded in

2008

Budget trends• < 14% of operating budget from

State; down from 43% a generation ago

• Increasing reliance on private support and research funding

Public liberal arts university• Founded in 1693• Residential, full-time• 5800 undergraduates, 2000

grad/professional• 12,000 undergrad apps

for 1400 spaces• 11:1 student-faculty ratio• Research university (high

research activity)• Campus building boom• Comprehensive strategic

planning process underway

WHERE YOU STAND DEPENDS UPON WHERE YOU SITPerspectives from different campus leadership positions

Introduction to the Issues• Value of grad programs to core mission of CAS and institution• Production tension between undergrad and graduate education• Faculty and student recruitment and retention• Establishment, revision and adherence to policy• Graduate assistantships, tuition remission and other support• Faculty issues• Development of graduate curricula and new programs• Interdisciplinary graduate programs• Program assessment and accreditation• Clarity on roles

• Running examples– Graduate student compensation plan – Program review

• Communication– Dropping hints– Multi-layer– Expanding circles and double-back– Writing the script

• Allies and partners– CAS dean and associate deans– Key chairs– Research office– Upper administration

• Something for everyone, but not necessarily equal shares

• Information-based versus impression-based decisions

Graduate Initiatives: Strategies for Success

Texas Proposition 4

Interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary curricula and research as future of higher education• “Frontiers of knowledge” at interfaces between disciplines

– Algal bio-fuels initiative

• Innovative sharing of faculty expertise, facilities, equipment– Undergrad minor in Marine Science

Administrative Collaboration on Integrative Programs

Connections between graduate and undergraduate programs in research and teaching• Career preparation for both graduate and undergraduate students

– National Institute of American History and Democracy

• Innovative sharing of faculty expertise, facilities, equipment– STEM education initiatives

STRATEGIES FOR PRODUCTIVE RELATIONSHIPSThe sum is greater than the parts

• Graduate program reviews• Regular communication• Close work relationships• Solving problems early and good grievance processes• Partnerships in fund-raising