GRAD REBEL MENTOR April 2019

A Message from Dean Kate Korgan Greetings! The spring season symbolizes rebirth and renewal, so it is an ideal time to review accomplishments and chart a course to nourish future growth. One way to do this is to review the results of two of our annual student surveys and kick off our annual Graduate Coordinator Report season. The student surveys help us understand the graduate student experience, review accomplishments, and provide opportunities to advance student success. The graduate coordinator survey is an opportunity for departments to reflect on annual accomplishments in their graduate programs, assess opportunities and challenges, and set goals for the future. Let’s take a closer look at these surveys below. Student Annual Review Report Supporting successful student progress is a priority for all units across campus. All graduate students complete a mandatory student annual review between December and March to assess students’ yearly progress and lay out goals for the year ahead. Reported student data are shared with their advisors and graduate coordinators so that they can acknowledge students’ strengths and accomplishments, note their progress, and identify any weaknesses. It’s also useful for establishing individual development plans (IDPs) for students’ successful program progression. If you have not received a progress report for each of your students, please contact Associate Dean Emily Lin (Emily.Lin@unlv.edu). Student Exit Survey As part of our ongoing initiative to better understand graduate student career pathways, and how best to align our programs to meet student needs, the Graduate College will be administering a Graduate Student Exit Survey again beginning this spring. Students will be invited to provide input about their graduate school experience and career preparation, as well as offer feedback about their program, mentorship, financial support, campus support, professional development opportunities, campus climate, technological support, etc. Survey results will be shared with students’ departments and colleges to ensure that together we are able to celebrate the positive feedback and close the loop on any challenges. This survey will also help us track our graduates’ job placement and build a relationship with them in their new role as UNLV graduate alumni. Annual Graduate Coordinator Program Report The Annual Graduate Coordinator Program Report offers a way to better support graduate coordinators and programs by documenting their yearly accomplishments and evaluating needs for graduate support. Results help us gain new insights into best practices and the ability to share those practices across campus, while also collecting important information about the status of graduate education on campus. Graduate coordinators are asked to complete the report by May 1. Climate Survey The 2018 Graduate/Professional Student Life & Climate Survey was administered to all currently active graduate and professional students in fall 2018. With a 40% response rate to this voluntary survey, we were able to capture data that help inform the campus about graduate students’ perceptions about their programs and experiences. Overall, 82% of the respondents reported that they are at least satisfied in being a graduate or professional student at UNLV and rated their graduate program as being good or better. Though only 42% of the respondents reported that they would choose to earn their degrees at UNLV if they had to do it again, on average, respondents rated the quality of faculty and advisors high and felt well supported. Diversity and inclusion were also highly rated, with very few individual concerns, and the high quality of teachers and curriculum were the most recurring themes among respondents. More complete results will be shared with campus by the end of this semester. If you have any questions about these surveys, please contact Associate Dean Emily Lin at Emily.Lin@unlv.edu. Thank you, Kate Korgan Dean, Graduate College