University of Arkansas Graduate School. Todd Shields Interim Dean of the Graduate School and International Education Ph.D. in Political Science tshield@uark.edu.

University of ArkansasUniversity of Arkansas

Graduate School

Todd ShieldsInterim Dean of the Graduate School and

International Education

Ph.D. in Political Science

tshield@uark.edu

Patricia Koski

Associate Dean of the Graduate School and

International Education

Ph.D. in Sociology

pkoski@uark.edu

To Contact or Find UsTo Contact or Find Us

http://grad.uark.edu Graduate School Dean’s Office

119 Ozark Hall / 575-4401 Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs Office

119 Ozark Hall / 575-4401

To Contact or Find Us (con’t.) To Contact or Find Us (con’t.)

International and Graduate Admissions OfficeStone House North (346 N. Arkansas Avenue)/ 575-6246 

Office of Graduate and International RecruitmentStone House North (346 N. Arkansas Avenue)/ 575-5869

The Graduate SchoolThe Graduate School

Provides information to students, faculty and staff Involves students in decision making Creates and enforces policies Monitors student progress Advocates for the student Ensures quality of degrees Seeks and celebrates diversity

REMEMBERREMEMBER

THE GRADUATE SCHOOL IS YOUR DEAN’S OFFICE

Being SuccessfulBeing Successful

To be successful in graduate school, you must be proactive. You have certain rights as a member of our community, but you also have certain responsibilities.

Being Successful: Rights & Being Successful: Rights & ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

Work Social

Formal

Informal

Source: Lovitts, Leaving the Ivory Tower, 2001

Formal/WorkFormal/Work

Be sure to find:University policies on academic misconductUniversity policies on research misconductUniversity policies on sexual harassmentGraduate School Student HandbookDepartmental/program Student Handbook Program policies on gpa, comprehensive or candidacy exams, probation, etc.

RightsRights

As a graduate student, you have the right: To be treated with respect and dignity To expect competent instruction and a high-

quality degree To be free from sexual harassment

ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

As a graduate student, you have the responsibility to:

Refrain from academic misconduct Refrain from research misconduct Report instances of academic or research

misconduct Strive for your best

Remember the Honor Code Remember the Honor Code You SignedYou Signed

The Graduate School mission is only possible when intellectual honesty and individual integrity are basic norms which are not violated.

The pledge of the Honor Code is this: “On my honor as a graduate student at the University of Arkansas, I certify that I will neither give nor receive inappropriate assistance on the work I do for my degree.”

Being Successful: Rights & Being Successful: Rights & ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

Work Social

Formal

Informal

Source: Lovitts, Leaving the Ivory Tower, 2001

Informal/WorkInformal/Work

Know the organizational structure of the university and of your department/program

Find both an advisor and a mentorSeek out other students in your program for

networking Know the unwritten “rules” and

assumptions of your department/program

RightsRights

You have the right to be respected as part

of a diverse, multi-cultural community

with many voices.

ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

As a member of a diverse community, you have the responsibility to respect and honor differences. This is what makes our community strong and provides the best possible educational experience.

What’s Wrong With This E-What’s Wrong With This E-mail?mail?

This is an e-mail from a student to a female faculty member. The student wants an over-ride into her class:

“Dear Mrs. University: ……PLEASE allow me to have an override for your Race, Class and Gender in America Class…”

Being Successful: Rights & Being Successful: Rights & ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

Work Social

Formal

Informal

Source: Lovitts, Leaving the Ivory Tower, 2001

Formal/SocialFormal/Social

Do not underestimate the importance of formal social events in your department/program…..

Informal/SocialInformal/Social

…Nor the importance of the informal social networks.

Rights and ResponsibilitiesRights and Responsibilities

Again, expect to be respected for your unique contribution to the University of Arkansas experience, but recognize that..

This requires that you function as an ethical member of that community.

Which brings us to e-mail……..

A Special Caution About A Special Caution About E-mailsE-mails

Please remember that e-mails are never private.

If you say something in an e-mail, be comfortable with seeing it on the front page of your local newspaper or the Chronicle of Higher Education!

Remember that e-mails get their inflection from the reader, not the sender

Never use an e-mail to convey a negative emotion!

From a faculty member to a student: “I cannot afford paying a student or putting any of my time with a student who is not contributing to the project and complaining about almost everything in my Lab and my instructions to my group.”

Always maintain professionalism.

From a student to a faculty member reviewing the student’s paper for submission to a journal edited by the faculty member: “The ‘weaknesses’ in the paper occur because of the [journal’s] length requirement. In order to meet the requirement only about 35% of the paper was submitted. If the entire paper had been allowed to be submitted, many of the questions the reviewers posed would have been answered. I do not wish to resubmit any work.”

Let me re-emphasize professionalism.

From a faculty member to a student: “Uh, couple of things, I have no clue who you are. You did not sign your message, and your username tells me nothing….”

Don’t make illegal offers.

From a student to a faculty member: “…I’ll do anything I can to get that grade back…All I’m asking is another chance, but I learned that in this world nothing is free…just tell me how much you need for your books or for your needs and we can make a secret agreement between you and me. Nobody has to know about this….”

… or threats.

From a student to me: “Since Dr. *** was unable to help me graduate this May, I decided to take an honorable job in Palestine with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Organization to pursue a more noble cause – freedom, justice and peace for Palestinians and to fight the Israel terrorism.” (This e-mail ended up in federal court on a charge of terrorism.)

… or even threats you don’t really mean.

From a faculty member to a colleague about a student: “..I am going to kill him.”

A Final WordA Final Word

Being a successful graduate student requires you to think and act like a member of your profession, be proactive on your own behalf, and ask for help when you need it.

Remember that

the Graduate School is your

Dean’s Office!

Welcome to the University of Welcome to the University of Arkansas Graduate School!Arkansas Graduate School!

http://grad.uark.edu

Graduate School Dean’s Office119 Ozark Hall / 575-4401

Dr. Patricia Koski (pkoski@uark.edu)