MAGS Excellence in Teaching Award

To recognize the importance of excellence in teaching, and the preparation of graduate students for future service as college and university faculty, the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools (MAGS) has announced the Excellence in Teaching Award competition. One award will be given to a Masters student each year.  Each award will include a citation and a $750 honorarium that will be presented at the annual MAGS meeting (April 11-13, 2012).  As a MAGS member institution, we may submit one nomination. In view of the very tight timeline for the 2012 competition, we are asking for nominations from Program Coordinators and/or GC members before January 16, 5:00 pm.  To be eligible, a teaching assistant must be teaching his/her own class(es) in the spring 2012 semester.  Nominations should include a nomination letter explaining why this TA should be selected.  A resume showing the teaching experience of the nominee is also required, and any supportive materials that make the nominee stand out from other TAs is welcome.

Spring Graduate Student Orientation

The Spring Graduate Student Orientation is Friday, January 13.  Please encourage all new graduate students to attend.  Information will be posted at http://graduate.missouristate.edu/92424.htm.

Graduation Deadlines

• DUE NOW – – applications for FA11 graduation.
• December 9, 2011 – – Deadline for submission of Comprehensive Exam Result Form to the Graduate College.
• December 16, 2011 – – Commencement (12:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.).

• 12:30 PM Ceremony:   COAL, CHHS, CHPA, CNAS and Darr School of Agriculture
• 4:00 PM Ceremony:     COBA, COED

Graduate College Showcase Summary

• Of the 73 prospective students who attended the Graduate College Showcase, 54 students filled out surveys about what their program of interest is, if they are currently in school or employed, what they liked most about the event, and what they thought needed improving.
• The largest program of interest prospective students were interested was in MBA, but there were several program representatives that students wanted to meet with.
• The majority of prospective students were enrolled as undergraduates at MSU.  There were a few students that came from Drury and Evangel.  Also there were some prospective students that were there for a career change or adding more to their educational background for the careers they were recently in.
• What prospective students liked most at the Showcase was the information provided at each table and the faculty, staff, or Graduate Assistants who were there to answer their questions.
• The scheduled time and food for the Showcase were much appreciated as well.
• Things that could be improved upon according to the surveys were more Graduate Assistant information and possibly even a table just for that.  Some prospective students thought it should be more than one day, but for the most part there were no complaints.

Program Brochures Development

Please remember that the Graduate College is offering $400 to any graduate programs on campus to have their brochure updated. In addition, the Graduate College can help in the designing of these brochures.  A template has been developed to assist departments with the design of the brochures.

Open Staff Positions in the Graduate College

The search for the Coordinator of Recruitment position is not posted with a closing date of January 6, 2012.  The search for the newly created Coordinator of Admissions position will be posted soon.  Tom Tomasi is chairing both of these search committees.

Program Directors Meeting

The two meetings will be on February 15, 2012 and April 18, 2012. Times and location TBA.  The items on the agenda will include: Low-Completer Programs; Online Graduate Programs; International Student admissions; Accelerated Programs; Graduate Student Workshops for Professional Development; Assessment and Student Learning Goals.

Departmental/Program Highlights

• Chemistry.  Jacob Robison presented the poster “Synthesis and Characterization of New PEGylated Poly(estersulfide) Denrimers” at the 242^nd National American Chemical Society meeting in Denver, CO.

Important Faculty related funding deadlines

Guidelines and applications can be found at http://graduate.missouristate.edu under “Faculty & Staff” – “Sources of Faculty Support”

• Faculty Research Grants:  28  proposals were submitted.  Notifications went out to faculty members late last week.
• Summer Fellowships:  23 proposals were submitted to the Graduate College and will be discussed by the committee in January.

Important Student related funding deadlines 

All guidelines and applications are on the Graduate College website.

• Thesis Funding:  SP12 deadline is February 17.  Information can be found at http://graduate.missouristate.edu/thesis_information.htm.

Graduate Interdisciplinary Forum

The date for the 2012 will be Saturday, April 14th.  For pictures and information from the 2011 Forum, please see http://graduate.missouristate.edu/IDF.htm.

Graduate Student Workshops

Please RSVP at http://graduate.missouristate.edu/GradStudentWorkshops.htm

• Thesis Writing 101?  TBA.  Speaker: Tom Tomasi, Associate Dean of the Graduate College and Biology Professor.  This session will focus on research requirements of the Graduate College, specifically dealing with formatting requirements for writing a thesis. The session will include hints on how to avoid some of the common pitfalls in thesis writing.
• How to Write an Abstract.  TBA.  Speaker: Tom Tomasi, Associate Dean of the Graduate College and Biology Professor.  This session will include suggestions on how to write an abstract. This session is intended to assist students as they prepare abstracts for their theses and for the Graduate Interdisciplinary Forum, which will be held April 2, 2011.