Zero to Sixty:Tools for JumpstartingGraduate Student LifeMimi Beck, Nathan Elliot, Ann Moran, Priscilla WongUniversity of Notre Dame

OutlineIntroduction

Notre Dame, Student Affairs & Graduate Students

Graduate Student Life Principles, Priorities & Partnerships

3 Models of Success Graduate Residential Life Graduate Ministry Graduate Career Services

Discussion: How do YOU serve Grad Students?

Next Steps

Learning Objectives

1. Understand the needs of graduate students, and how they differ from those of undergrads.

2. Articulate the importance of serving graduate students through the lens of division-level and institutional mission.

3. Identify key campus partners for most effectively serving graduate students, as well as anticipating likely roadblocks to building those partnerships.

4. Create a strategy for turning advocacy on behalf of graduate students into meaningful action.

Notre Dame & Graduate Students• University of Notre Dame

Catholic University founded in 1842 by the Congregation of Holy CrossDedicated to Educating the Heart and Mind

• Division of Student AffairsStudent Services & Residential Life

• Graduate and Professional StudentsThe Graduate School (est. 1932)Professional Schools: Law, Business, Architecture

Graduate Student LifeGuiding Principles• Mission-Centered• Educating the Heart & Mind

• Intentional• Focusing on the specific needs, challenges, and contributions of a specific population

• Comprehensive• Holistic Approach• Universal Reach

• Collaborative• Building Partnerships• Graduate Student Life Team

Graduate Student Life Priorities•Assessment

• Understanding the needs of graduate students

Average Age of ND Grad Students: 26 Age Range: 20 - 65

Graduate Student Life Priorities

•Communication•Logo to create common identity•Newsletter to promote existing services•Website to provide accurate and relevant information•Marketing efforts to raise awareness

Graduate Student Life Priorities

•Programming•Grad Life Grants•Graduate Student Appreciation Week

Graduate Student Life Priorities

•Partnerships: Graduate Student Life Team

Campus ServicesFood ServicesRecSportsInternational Student Services and ActivitiesCenter for Social ConcernsUniversity Counseling CenterGraduate Student UnionUniversity Health ServicesStudent ActivitiesResidential CommunitiesCampus MinistryCareer Center

The AcademySociology (Social Science)Physics (Science)Theology (Humanities)Aerospace & Mechanical EngineeringHesburgh LibrariesThe Graduate School

Enhancing Graduate Student Life in a Graduate Residential Facility

Notre Dame Residential Mission

• “Residential life endeavors to develop that sense of community and of responsibility that prepares students for subsequent leadership in building a society that is at once more human and more divine.”

Who Lives at University Village?

Law13%

Business20%

Graduate67%

School

Architecture2%

Business20%

Engineering22%

Humanities17%

Law16%

Science15%

Social Science7%

Unknown2%

Program

Who Lives at University Village?

USA

China

Bangladesh

Canada

India

Chile

Tanzania

TurkeyIran

Kenya

CroatiaGhana

HungaryItaly

Kyrgyzstan

Nigeria

PeruSouth Korea Spain Taiwan Venezuela Zimbabwe ArmeniaEgypt Japan Mexico South Africa SwedenUK

Nationality

With Children

61%

With Out Children

39%

Families with Children vs. Without Children

How do we Fulfill Notre Dame’s Residential Mission in a Graduate Residential Facility?

The University Village Residential Staff

facilitates community at University Village

ConnectionConnect residents to Notre Dame, South

Bend and each other

AssistanceAssist residents and help them help each

other

Safety and Cleanliness

Strive for a safe and pleasant

environment and encourage residents

to be socially responsible

Programming

Purpose of programming is to

connect residents to ND, South Bend and

each other

How do we Fulfill Notre Dame’s Residential Mission in a Graduate Residential Facility?

•Advocacy•Patience•Partnerships•Communication

New Initiatives Since Formation of Notre Dame Graduate Student Life Team

Publicizing Student Family Mass at University VillageGraduate Life Grants and University Village Healthy Living

Committee WorkGrad Student Appreciation Week:

Family Dinner and Movie NightNew and Strengthened Relationships Across

Departments and DivisionsImproved Coordination Serving Students

Creating a Graduate Student Ministry ProgramCampus Ministry seeks to care for the spiritual needs of all students, regardless of denomination, faith tradition or level of education at the University.

Foundations: 3 Key Elements

• 1. The Spirit - The two greatest commandments

• 2. The Path - John Paul II: “The Gospel lives in conversation with culture. If the Church holds back culture, the Gospel itself falls silent.”

• 3. The Outcome - Building a community of homecoming for graduate students at ND.

Understanding graduate student ministryin 2 Steps: • Step 1 - Know Yourself• Working with the consultants and inventory our own experiences with the graduate

student population, past and current surveys and studies, and the list of faculty and administrators.

• Step 2 – Know the Students and Know the Campus • 1. Post-baccalaureate students and the academic environment • 2. Campus Ministry as a partnership in their journeys.

Outcome• Formation of the Graduate Student Ministry Partnership Team• a unified community with representatives from

• Catholic Graduate Community• Muslim Students Association• Graduate Interdenominational Bible Study• Indian Association at ND• Law School• Business School• Graduate Student Union

• Through the Team, they have become more aware of what goes on in the faith lives of other graduate students. They know that they are not alone.

Activities• Monthly GSMPT meeting to share idea and support• A visible community at the University Opening Mass, with graduate student-inclusive prayer and

reading by one of their own• GSU and CM sponsored Faith Fair with 38 local worship communities represented• Weekly graduate student Basilica mass attendance and social • Weekly Interdenominational Bible Study and social• Organized regular community service to Dismas House• Promotion of activities initiated by student organizations:• Muslim Student Association Fast-A-Thon & Eid Dinner• Catholic Graduate Student Dinner Discussions• Dorm Chapel Crawl• Zen Meditation• Hindu Prayer• Theology Graduate Student Retreat

• Monthly First Friday Fellowship Dinners • January Moreau Day Getting To Know ND Dinner on Holy Cross Charism

Campus Partners: • Graduate Student Life (with all the team members) representing the Graduate School

and Student Affairs• University Village and FOG• International Student Services and Activities• GSU• Mendoza and Law communities

Communication Strategies: • Campus Ministry communication network facilitated by the Director of

Communications and the Graduate Student Assistant Blogger:• Website, Social Media, e-newsletter subscribers and target group contact lists.

Building relationship with students:Two guiding principles

•Think Global, Act Local

•Be Real. Be Believable.

Graduate Career Services

Philosophy of Graduate Career Program

Our Professional Development Career ModelPreparation begins on the same road for all career paths: academia, industry, non-profit and

governmentStudents make a choiceFaculty and Graduate Career Services work together, pooling resources to help students achieve

their career goals.

Ann Amico Moran, former Program Director- Graduate

Career Services

Graduate School

Professional Development TeamCenter for Social Concerns

Graduate Student Union (TREC)

Kaneb Center

Writing Center

Institute for Scholarships in Liberal Arts

Center for Study of Languages & Cultures

Library

Graduate School TeamCareer Counseling

Employer Development

Programming

Interview Preparation

Job Search Technology

Faculty Development Office

Mendoza Business School Corporation Relations

Alumni Association The Career Center

Advisory Council for the Graduate School and Office of Research

Graduate Career Services

GRADUATE SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT TEAM

Other University Units

Student Examples• Meet with students in a variety of disciplines and points in their academic career

• Looking for help and guidance:• CV• resume • mock interviews • preparation for interview • self assessment • job search

Graduate Career Services helps with inclusion:

1. Providing Career Counseling : Someone outside their discipline who will listen and provide direction

2. Ambassador Program3. Conduct presentations and workshops specifically for Grad Students

Where do They Go After ND?

Post Doc: Univ. of Iowa, Univ. of Notre Dame, Harvard Medical School, MIT, Univ. of TX Austin, IU School of Medicine, Grand Valley State, VA Tech, Rice, Loyola Medical, GA State, …

Academic Other (administrative or other posts) Western KY Univ. Honors Program, OR State Program Director, Univ. of Notre Dame, …

Non-Profit: St. Nicholas Orthodox Church,…

Industry: Intel, GE, Zimmer, Navistar, Cummins, DMC Assoc., First Solar, WA Post, Amazon, Start-Up, LSI, Texas Instruments, Qualcomm, IBM,…

Adjunct Prof/Visiting Asst. Prof: Univ. of Portland, ND, RIT, Duke, Mt. Holyoke, Wheaton College, Univ. of SF, ….

Asst. Prof/Tenure Track: Villanova, Univ. of GA, Univ. of Rochester, Syracuse, DePaul, Universidad de Pontificia, Miami of Ohio, Univ. of MN Duluth, Providence, …

Government: USDA-U.S Dept. of Agricultural Statistics,…

AY 2011-12 Overall Ph.D. Graduate Placement as of May 1, 2012 (Aug., Jan. & May)

Total # of graduates = 208 Total # of degrees = 209 N= 160 for data in pie chart excluding 48 unknown placements

9%

9%

18%

1%19%

1%

44%

It’s not just about the CV…• Work – Life Balance• Job Search• Counseling Session• Visas• Just a warm body to listen!

Connecting the DotsWorking together to better serve our students.

Questions for Discussion• Who are your graduate students and how are they served on your campus?

• What if any roadblocks exist that prevent you from serving graduate students?

• What ideas do you have for better reaching this population?

• With whom might you partner to better reach graduate students?

• How does your institutional or departmental mission apply to supporting graduate students?

Things to do that won’t cost a penny…• Add graduate students to existing advisory boards and committees

• Proof-read and edit existing websites for grad inclusive language

• Ask programming offices to be explicit in welcoming grad students when appropriate

• Talk to your human resources department about family support services that are equally available to student families

• Communicate & Collaborate!

• Be patient yet persistent

• Join the AGAPSS Knowledge Community

Thank you!

Contact Us• Mimi Beck mbeck1@nd.edu

• Nathan Elliot nelliot1@nd.edu

• Ann Moran amoran2@nd.edu

• Priscilla Wong pwong@nd.edu