GRAD REBEL MENTOR September 2019

Welcome to the new academic year! Below please find a number of important projects to augment and support the mentorship that you provide to your graduate students. Graduate Faculty Commons in the New Gateway Building The Graduate College is moving to the second floor of the new University Gateway Building located on the east side of Maryland Parkway. Our new space will not only house our Professional Development Academy Commons, a computer lab and collaborative workspace for graduate students, but also the Graduate Faculty Commons. We invite you to visit our new faculty hub where we will offer a community meeting place designed for the exchange and stimulation of ideas that can positively impact graduate education. We hope to see you using this space later this fall. Also, please mark your calendar for Nov. 8 from 3-5 p.m. for a Grand Opening happy hour at the Graduate Faculty Commons with fellow graduate faculty members! Curriculum As you may have seen in the UNLV Official message distributed on Aug. 8, we have made improvements to the graduate curricular approval process. We’ve added new forms and provided clarity on approval steps in the Curriculog system. Additionally, we’ve provided a schedule for the 2019-20 academic year that outlines the meeting dates and final submission deadlines. Please view the schedule on the Graduate Programs Committee webpage and the Graduate Course Review Committee webpage. Please work collectively with your colleagues and do some early planning for any curricular changes/proposals that promote high quality preparation of graduate students for career success. Our final Graduate College technical review deadline before the end of the academic year will be held on April 7, 2020 at 5 p.m. We cannot guarantee that any new proposals submitted after this time will be included in the final Graduate Programs or Course Review meeting. For more information, please see the Graduate Programs Committee webpage and the Graduate Course Review Committee webpage. Graduate College Awards In recognition and celebration of outstanding achievements and contributions to graduate education at UNLV, the Graduate College sponsors a number of awards programs annually. These include the Faculty Leadership Award, Faculty Mentorship Award, Graduate Teaching Award, and the Outstanding Thesis and Dissertation Award among other student scholarships and fellowships. Award nominations are due Dec. 1. Please consider nominating both outstanding colleagues and students for the awards. For more information about the awards, please visit the Graduate Faculty Resources webpage. Student Surveys The Graduate College administers a number of mandatory campus-wide student surveys annually to formally assess different aspects of graduate students’ experiences. The data serves to inform and enhance UNLV’s ability to evaluate, improve and set goals and objectives that promote the highest standards of quality for graduate education. Graduate/Professional Student Life & Climate Survey: This survey is administered to all active and enrolled graduate students between Oct. 1 and Nov. 25 and focuses on the different aspects of graduate student experiences, general expectancy, quality of academic life on campus, community engagement, and emotional perceptions. Annual Student Evaluation/Individual Development Plan (IDP): This mandatory student annual report is administered to all active graduate students via their Rebelmail account between December and February. This IDP documents student progress, program engagement, student milestones, and student accomplishments. The review covers the prior calendar year and assesses student progress while setting goals for the year ahead. Faculty mentors and advisors are a critical part of this process. Students who are not progressing sufficiently and not meeting agreed-upon goals set by faculty since last year should be placed on probation to lay out clear expectations and deadlines. Probation is not punitive; it is a supportive step to encourage and support student progression and completion. Reported student data from these reports is aggregated and disseminated to department/school/college faculty advisors, graduate coordinators, faculty and administrators, which allows for mentorship opportunities for student progression, retention and completion. Exit Survey: The Student Exit Survey is administered to students who apply for graduation in a graduate degree program each semester, including summer. This survey asks graduating students about their overall satisfaction, preparation of their academic and professional development, quality of experiences, and career plans. Doctoral students also are required to complete the federally mandated Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) as part of the exit survey. Survey results will be shared with the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) annually, as well as academic departments and Schools/Colleges. Ph.D. Career Pathways Survey: The Graduate College is a member of the Ph.D. Career Pathways project, part of a network of 64 universities working with the Council of Graduate Schools to collect data on the career pathways of STEM and humanities Ph.D.s with support from the NSF and Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. This grant allows for UNLV to survey Ph.D. students and alumni about their career preferences and outcomes at the program level focused on the improvement of mentorship, professional development, and career services. Various student cohorts are administered the surveys during the fall and spring semesters. Have a great year! The staff and faculty in the Graduate College offer the deepest gratitude for your support of graduate students and wish you a successful and productive year. Please see some inspirational quotes that may spur continued advancement for all. Emily Lin Associate Dean UNLV Graduate College