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Graduate student recruitment As of January 1, we welcome Jack Selzer to his new role as associate dean for resident instruction. Part of that new role involves graduate education. We are now in the process of completing a College strategic plan in which continuing improvement of our graduate programs will be a large component. We are also now entering a crucial period in the annual cycle of graduate programs: recruiting the entering class for next fall. The quality of graduate programs is a major factor in our departments' national reputations and overall research productivity. We have greatly improved the quality of our graduate programs over the years. Part of that improvement has been and continues to be an emphasis on recruitment of more top quality students. Indeed, high quality entering students, alongside the quality of the training we provide them and the placements we help them achieve, are essential components of a premier graduate program. For nearly a decade, we have focused on improving the quality of entering students, and most of our departments have had success. The chart below provides some comparative data on two quality indicators that are the most quantifiable, grade point average and GRE scores. The chart also indicates the changing composition of the graduate student population over time.  The recruitment process begins in the fall, and includes a meeting of each department head and director of graduate studies with Ray Lombra (and this year Jack Selzer as well) to review overall recruitment strategies and discuss resources that might be available for recruitment. Departments plan how they can get a good pool of applicants; this is more difficult for some departments than others, reflecting different disciplinary strengths and the historical and current standing of the department within the discipline. Departments decide whom to admit on the basis of criteria they devise, and then request top-offs and fellowships for the candidates they consider best. For those students, standard indicators of quality are important, as well as other evidence that graduate directors might have, including letters of recommendation and personal contacts. Within this process, diversity is an important objective, as we seek to provide funds for quality students who can diversify our graduate student body. Our graduate students have become more diverse during the past seven years. Today about twenty-four percent are international students and about ten percent are American citizens who are African American, Latino, or Asian American, and we are determined to make further progress in this important area. This year, for example, we have gained additional flexibility from the Graduate School in handling Bunton-Waller funding that should help our graduate officers considerably. The College offers top-offs and fellowships on a competitive basis, and works with graduate directors to tailor packages to specific potential students. We make many more offers than we have funds, recognizing that it is important to be aggressive because not all of the top students will accept our offers. These offers are typically made in mid-January through February, and it is a period of high activity for graduate directors who often are in touch with their potential recruits weekly, if not more often. For those students at the top of departmental lists, we may make counter offers to offers they receive elsewhere. For some, salary may be most important, others want summer support, access to special programs, guarantee of time for dissertation writing, and so forth. Typically, we offer five years of support, pending good progress. We encourage departments to invite their top candidates in for campus visits, and the College and Graduate School provide funding assistance for those visits. We have found that students who visit are much more likely to accept our offers than those who do not. Moreover, departments use these visits as a final screen on their own decisions about whom to give priority to in countering other offers. Graduate recruiting is far different than it was even a decade ago, let alone in decades before that. It is much more competitive, and students are much more aware of the market. Continuing to increase resources for our graduate programs is a key College priority, and should be a priority of all departments with graduate programs. During the past seven years, the value of our typical offer to top candidates has increased by 277 % ($9000 to $20,500, counting all parts of the offer); our general funds for graduate students have increased only about 20%. That is why we are asking departments to consider how they are going to help meet these increased costs. Some departments have downsized slightly, and in other areas, departments have greatly increased their external funding. Though resource issues are a continuing concern, further improvement in our graduate programs is necessary if we are to be among the nation's best colleges of the liberal arts. Susan Welch There has been some reorganization in the Dean's Offices. Here are those who have moved or who have had their phone numbers changed. Note that Karen, Chris, Alice, Barbara, and Jennifer have the same responsibilities as before; only their location or numbers have changed.
Robert Drago, professor of labor studies and industrial relations and women's studies, from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation for “Integrating Work-Family Research, Policy and Practice for Faculty Through the 2005 CUWFA Conference.” George Farkas, professor of sociology, demography, and education, and Paul Morgan, assistant professor of education, from the American Educational Research Association for “What's Special About Special Education? Modeling the Determinants and Consequences of Special Education Placement Using the ECLS-K.” James Farr, professor of psychology, from the State Police of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for “Graduate Practicum Working Relationship.” Mark Hayward, Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Demography, and Duane Alwin, McCourtney Professor of Sociology, Demography, and Human Development and Family Studies, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for “Center on Population Health and Aging.” Quan Li, associate professor of political science, and Nathan Jensen, assistant professor of political science at Washington University at St. Louis, have received a 2004-05 International Studies Association Workshop Grant to organize a workshop on “The Political Economy of Multinational Corporations and Foreign Direct Investment.” Mark Shriver, associate professor of anthropology, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for “Construction and Application of a U.S. Admixture Map.” Barry Ickes, professor of economics, Penn State, and the President of the Association for Comparative Economic Studies for 2004, will present the Presidential Address at the association's meetings in Philadelphia, January 2005. Quan Li, associate professor of political science, and co-author; and Rafael Reuveny, associate professor at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University, have received the 2003 Best Article on Democratization Award from the American Political Science Association, Comparative Democratization Section, for their article “Economic Globalization and Democracy: An Empirical Analysis,” published in the British Journal of Political Science 2003. Please note the following approaching deadlines for Institute competitions: Tuesday, February 15, 2005: Graduate Student Summer Residency Program, 2005 This competitive program provides up to eight advanced graduate students with a $3,000 stipend and the use of an office in Ihlseng Cottage during summer term 2005, enabling them to spend focused time working on their dissertations or final creative projects. Graduate officers may nominate up to two students per department or program. Tuesday, March 1, 2005: Individual Faculty Grant Program (for the period July–December 2005) This program helps to fund the research and creative projects of individual faculty members in and across the arts and humanities at Penn State. Awards support materials, travel for research/creative activity, costs related to publication, wages for research assistance, and release time. Maximum grant award: $4,000. Further information on these programs can be found on the IAH Web site at http://www.research.psu.edu/iah/. Craig Melchert, professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, will give a lecture entitled “Fosterage in Lycian and Luvian Societies,” on Friday, January 28, at 4 p.m. in 124 Sparks Building. All are welcome. Karen Younger will present THE GRADUATE STUDENT WORKSHOP, “Shaping an Image of Africa in Antebellum America: The Impact of the American Colonization Society and Evangelical Missions,” on Friday, January 28, at 4 p.m. in 102 Weaver Building.
David Smith and Dan Hicks will be the commentators. For a copy of this pre-circulated paper, please contact Karen Ebeling (kae3@psu.edu). Breaking the Silence Lecture Series Suzanne Miers, Professor Emerita in History, Ohio University, will present “Freedom is a Good Thing but it Means a Dearth of Slaves: Twentieth-Century Solutions to the Abolition of Slavery,” on Friday, February 11, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the Nittany Lion Inn, Alumni Fireside Lounge. Rock Ethics Institute War and Ethics Lecture Series Christopher Byrne, research associate, Applied Research Laboratory, and assistant professor of mathematics, Penn State; Timothy Lenoir, professor of history of science and co-chair, Program in History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, Stanford University, and research professor of New Media and Society, Duke University; and Steven Walton, assistant professor of Science, Technology, and Society, Penn State, will present “Ethics and Taboos of War,” on Friday, February 18, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in Foster Auditorium, 101 Pattee Library. Feminist Scholar Series Speaker Uma Narayan, professor, Department of Philosophy, Vassar College, will speak in 102 Kern Building on Friday, February 25, at 3 p.m. Comparative Literature Luncheon The Comparative Literature Luncheon is a weekly informal lunchtime gathering of students, faculty, and other members of the University community. Each week there is a short (twenty-minute) presentation, by a visitor or a local speaker, on a topic related to a humanities discipline. Daniel Walden (dxw8@psu.edu) is the coordinator for the series this semester. We meet every Monday in 102 Kern at about 12:15 p.m. Coffee and tea are provided (no charge). You can bring your lunch or buy something on a tray in Kern Cafeteria (next door) and bring it into 102. The speaker will begin at about 12:40 p.m. Allowing a few minutes for discussion, we'll conclude in time for you to get to classes that meet at 1:25 p.m. All students, faculty, colleagues, and friends are welcome. For details; check the WebEvents Calendar. The Spring 2005 Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 14, 2005, at 6 p.m. in the Bryce Jordan Center. The Graduate School Ceremony will be held on Sunday, May 15, 2005 at 5 p.m. in the Bryce Jordan Center. If you have not done so already, I invite you to take a look at the WebEvents Calendar which features, lectures, talks, and conferences sponsored by units within the College of the Liberal Arts and by the College. I encourage you to use this great source of information. If you have something that you would like posted to the calendar for your department, please send entry submissions to Louise Sharrar at lsharrar@psu.edu. If you need to obtain or exchange parking permits, please come to Room 111 Sparks Building, Monday through Friday, from 9 to 11 a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. only. Please remember to bring your license plate number(s) with you when you register for your permit. Once you have a permit, please be sure you report new or changed license plate numbers to Louise Sharrar at lsharrar@psu.edu or 865-7691. As a reminder, if you are leaving the College, you will need to return your parking permit to 111 Sparks Building. Thank you to all of the wonderful staff people whose donated vacation time allowed me to have surgery in December. Your kindness and generosity mean more than I can say. Terry McGrail Staff Awards Reception Scheduled Support your staff by attending the annual staff awards reception. Almost every area nominated at least one person for an award. This year the Dean will announce the winners at the ceremony and will acknowledge all nominees. Please come and cheer on your staff on Tuesday, February 15 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. in Ballroom C of the Nittany Lion Inn. The new award categories are: Career Achievement, Client Service, Esprit, Innovator, Leadership, and Rising Star.
New Staff Professional Development Workshops Many have already attended monthly workshops offered by the LA Office of Human Resources. The workshops are held in Room 124 Sparks from 8:30 to10:30 a.m. and offer staff members the opportunity for professional development. Each topic includes discussions of best practices, pitfalls to avoid, resource lists for additional help, and opportunities to share experiences and solutions. Future topics include: January 19: Staff Review and Development Plans for Supervisors February 16: Staff Review and Development Plans for Staff March 15: Workplace Climate April 20: Employment Law-Hiring and Firing May 18: Dealing with Harassment June 15: Job Classification July 20: Managing Change in the Work Place Interested staff members may register by contacting Betsy Will at ejw5@psu.edu or 865-6487. If you have suggestions for additional 2005/06 workshops, please let us know. Emma Ford, staff assistant VI, African and African American Studies, labor studies and industrial relations, and women's studies Laura Gelety, research technician, psychology Kevin Wehnau, microcomputer information specialist, Liberal Arts Computer Support Services (LACSS) Miesha Marzell-Arnold, advising programs coordinator, undergraduate studies Rebecca Bressler, administrative assistant IV, French and Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese Elizabeth Brown, advising programs coordinator, undergraduate studies Karen Connelly, administrative assistant II, dean's office Amy Dietz, administrative assistant IV, African and African American Studies, labor studies and industrial relations, and women's studies Nancy Fogelman, administrative assistant IV, anthropology Alice Fogg, manager of facilities, dean's office Charlene Harpster, staff assistant VI, undergraduate studies Colleen Heckard, academic counselor, psychology Brent Hurley, advising programs coordinator, undergraduate studies Kimberly Keller, administrative assistant IV, English Robin Kephart, administrative assistant IV, communication arts and sciences and philosophy Naomi McNulty, administrative assistant IV, economics Tracey Melnick, advising programs coordinator, undergraduate studies Ramona Muzzio, administrative assistant IV, languages and literatures Katelyn Perry, advising programs coordinator, sociology and crime, law, and justice Jeremy Poletto, system administrator, Liberal Arts Computer Support Services (LACSS) Jodi Ripka, administrative assistant IV, sociology, PA Commission on Sentencing Arlene Smith, academic counselor, African and African American Studies, labor studies and industrial relations, and women's studies Karen Sones, advising programs coordinator, sociology and crime, law, and justice Linda Spangler, administrative assistant IV, political science Marie Straka, administrative assistant IV, dean's office Denise Surovec, manager financial support, finance office Cathy Thompson, business coordinator, associate dean for research and graduate studies Jan Wallace, administrative assistant IV, sociology and crime, law, and justice Karin Weaver, administrative assistant IV, history, religious studies, and classics and ancient Mediterranean studies, and Jewish studies Elizabeth Will, human resource generalist, dean's office Gloria McCambridge, administrative assistant I, psychology Ruth Parson, staff assistant VI, undergraduate studies Aaron Settlemyer, system administrator, level 3, Liberal Arts Computer Support Services (LACSS) JoAnn Wilson, assistant coordinator contracts and grants management, associate dean for research and graduate studies LA Times is compiled by Louise Sharrar, Dean’s Office, 111 Sparks, 865-7691, lsharrar@psu.edu LA Times is also available on the Web at: http://www.la.psu.edu/ This publication is available in alternative media on request. Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please consult Louise Sharrar 814-865-7691 in advance of your participation or visit. The Pennsylvania State University is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to programs, facilities, admission, and employment without regard to personal characteristics not related to ability, performance, or qualifications as determined by University policy or by state or federal authorities. It is the policy of the University to maintain an academic and work environment free of discrimination, including harassment. The Pennsylvania State University prohibits discrimination and harassment against any person because of age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, national origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. Discrimination or harassment against faculty, staff, or students will not be tolerated at The Pennsylvania State University. Direct all inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policy to the Affirmative Action Director, The Pennsylvania State University, 328 Boucke Building, University Park, PA 16802-5901; Tel 814-865-4700/V, 814-863-1150/TTY U. Ed. LBA 05-134 |
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