Spring 2008

From Suzanne T. Ortega, Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School
 
On March 25, I announced that I had accepted the position of Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.  I will start there in August 2008.  Decisions and announcements are pending about interim Graduate School leadership and a search process.  It has been a great pleasure to work with so many of you, and I will carry many wonderful memories and lessons with me to my new role.  Of course, new leadership is a time for renewal and fresh perspectives, and I have the fondest expectation that the future will be bright for graduate education at the UW.  All the best to you as you continue to serve students.

Guidelines and Reminders About Certificate Programs

Graduate students may pursue UW certificates not reflected on transcripts, such as those offered by UW Educational Outreach that are not supervised by the Graduate School.  These certificates contrast with Regents-approved graduate certificates that appear on transcripts.  Academic units offering Regents-approved graduate certificates must notify the Graduate School:
 
*  when students are admitted to and complete the certificate program
*  changes to who serves as lead faculty member and primary staff coordinator
*  significant changes to certificate program curriculum
 
For more information, visit http://grad.washington.edu/Acad/GradCertificate.htm

TOEFLiBT Passing Score Changed

The passing score for the speaking portion of the Internet-Based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFLiBT) has changed from 28 to 26 for International Teaching Assistants.  Graduate School Memo 15 (“Conditions of appointment for TAs who are not U.S. citizens”) now reflects this change in section 2a (http://www.grad.washington.edu/Acad/gsmemos/gsmemo15.htm).  Also, this memo provides written information about the appeal process for students who do not meet the required score of 230 on the SPEAK (Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit) but have achieved a score of 200, 210, or 220.  To arrange for a SPEAK appeal test, contact Marilyn Gray at megray@u.washington.edu and include the student’s name and e-mail address.

Opportunities/Clarification for Combined Undergraduate/Graduate Degree Programs
 
The Graduate School Council has approved new guidelines for academic units to create programs that accommodate exceptional undergraduate students transitioning into select graduate programs.  The new guidelines will allow up to six hours of 500-level coursework, taken as an undergraduate, to count toward both the undergraduate and masters degree.  In addition, undergraduates may enroll in up to 12 hours of 500-level coursework that can be applied toward the masters component of a formally approved Bachelors/Masters degree program.  These credits must be taken after admission to a Sequential Combined Undergraduate/Graduate (CUG) Degree program approved by the Graduate School and must fulfill regular graduate degree requirements.  A new Graduate School memo (policy) and additional information will be available in Spring 2008.

Enhancing the Classification of Doctoral Students

To better define and count doctoral students, the Graduate School is proposing the following:  if, at the time of the offer of admission, the mutual goal/expectation of both the department and the applicant is to earn a UW doctoral degree even if the student must first earn a master’s degree in the program, a newly admitted student should be coded as “predoctoral” from the first quarter of attendance.  Departments must notify the Graduate School to change the coding to “predoctoral” for students who are admitted as master’s students but are subsequently admitted to doctoral study in the program.  This procedure will help identify students whose goal is to earn a doctoral degree, whether or not it is eventually earned.  However, this procedure does not obligate departments to allow students to establish Supervisory Committees and thus be coded as “doctoral” if they fail to qualify.  Applicants admitted to programs that offer only master’s degrees will, of course, be coded as master’s students.  For questions, contact Joan Abe, jabe@u.washington.ed or 206-543-5815.

Human Subjects and Animal Care Online Resources
 
A new form and related links are now online to help academic units implement recent changes to human and animal subjects approval documentation necessary for theses and dissertations.  Beginning with committees established in Autumn 2007, graduate students and chairs of all newly formed committees are required to sign a form documenting that the student has been advised of human and animal subjects guidelines.  More information is available at http://www.grad.washington.edu/stsv/human-animal-certif.htm.
  
News and Notes You Need to Know
 
Graduate School Staff Updates
The Graduate School Fellowships and Awards Office has been reorganized to enhance efficiency and responsiveness.  Following the retirement of two long-time employees, a Director of Fellowships and Awards position was created.  Helene Obradovich, formerly in Electrical Engineering, has been hired in this new role.  She will be helping create an overall fellowships and awards management system and adding staff.  Wayne Jacobson has been appointed Interim Director of the Center for Instructional Development & Research (CIDR) and Assistant Dean in the Graduate School; Jennie Dorman has been appointed CIDR Interim Associate Director.  Joe Cravens is working as a Counseling Services Coordinator in Graduate Student Services filling in for Carol Wagener, who is on extended medical leave; Sheila Giltzow, formerly of Northwest Hospital, has been hired to serve as Senior Computing Specialist in the position formerly held by John Mobley.

Associate Dean Search
The search continues and is on schedule for a new 50-75% time Associate Dean for Academic Programs.  The position closed Feb. 29 and interviews are completed.  Tom Gething is serving as acting associate dean for Academic Programs following Melissa Austin’s resignation from this role in January.  She coordinated program reviews for more than 40 academic units, facilitated approval of several new graduate degrees, and provided leadership for interdisciplinary programs across campus.  She has returned full-time to the School of Public Health and Community Medicine, serving as Director of the Institute for Public Health Genetics and continuing her research on the genetic epidemiology of cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
 
Graduate Student Lunch Meetings
Several informal lunchtime conversations with diverse groups of graduate students have been highlights of Suzanne Ortega’s calendar in the past few months.  Dozens of international students, Top Scholars recipients and underrepresented minority students, among others, have talked about their experiences at the UW to help inform decision-making.
 
GPE Week 2008
Many thanks to those of you who attended, helped promote, and otherwise supported events commemorating Graduate and Professional Education (GPE) Week 2008, March 31–April 5, as declared by both Gov. Christine Gregoire and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels.  Events celebrated the impact and contributions of graduate education across many disciplines, while addressing the trends, issues, innovations and accomplishments of UW graduate and professional students and faculty. 
 
Events of Interest – Spring Quarter 2008
 
Graduate School Council meetings are generally held the first and third Thursdays of the month (except when the academic quarter begins during the first week of the month), from 2:30 to 4:30 pm.  For meeting dates, times, locations and agenda, see http://www.grad.washington.edu/Acad/graduate_school_council.htm
 
 
Thurs., April 10, 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. – Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA) workshop:  “Technology Transfer,” South Campus Center, Rm. 316R - Angela Loihl and Kelly Fitzgerald of UW TechTransfer

Tues., April 15, 6:30 p.m. – Danz Lecture Series – “Organism and Environment:  The Organism as Subject and Object of Evolution,” Richard Lewontin, Kane Hall, Rm. 130

Tues., April 22, 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. – Graduate Program Assistant (GPA) Appreciation Breakfast – UW Club (sponsored by the Graduate School/hosted by Suzanne Ortega)

Thurs., April 24 – deadline for submitting preliminary proposals to the NSF Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) program

Thurs., April 24, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. – “The Informed Gardener:  An Evening with Linda Chalker-Scott” – UW Press event; Center for Urban Horticulture, Miller Hall

Fri., April 25, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Sat., April 26, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – 2008 UW Health Sciences Open House; contact Tammy Maez, 206-543-5070
 
Tues., April 29, 6:30 p.m. – Walker-Ames Lecture Series – “Green Space and Public Health:  Restorative Landscapes in Healthcare Facilities and Residential Neighborhoods,” Claire Cooper Marcus, Kane Hall, Rm. 120

Wed., April 30, 4:30–6:00 p.m. – Annual Graduate School Fellowship Reception; UW Club

Thurs., May  1 – deadline for submission of new graduate program proposals to the Graduate School Office of Academic Programs (other deadlines are Feb. 1 and Nov. 1)

Thurs., May 1, 6:30 p.m. – Danz Lecture Series – “Evolution of Darwin’s Finches” – Peter and Rosemary Grant, Kane Hall, Rm. 120

Mon., May 5, 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.  – Spring Graduate Program Coordinators (GPC) meeting, HUB 200ABC

Wed., May 7, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. – “Brain Drain, Brain Gain or Brain Circulation:  Doctoral Education and the Global Divide” Panel Discussion, Kane Hall, Walker-Ames Rm.; concluding event in the Graduate School’s year-long series on the internationalization of Graduate Education; reception and book launch following at 6:00 p.m.; contact Maren McDaniel for more information, 206-616-6794; mm22@u.washington.edu

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