New Graduate Student OrientationWinter 2014

Getting the Most Out of Your Graduate Education

Jeffrey Potteiger, PhD, FACSMDean of Graduate Studies

John Stevenson, PT, PhDAssociate Dean of Graduate Studies

What is graduate education about?

The opportunity to acquire deeper knowledge and develop advanced skills expected of an entry-level professional

Deeper, richer, high impact learning experiences

Prepares you for professional certification and licensure

Improves your chances of starting a meaningful career related to your field of study

What is the value of a graduate education?

What can you expect of yourgraduate education at GVSU?

Faculty are current in their discipline

Have broad and deep knowledge of their area(s) of scholarship

Are active in their professional organizations and societies

Share an ‘insider’s knowledge’ with their students

What are student expectations of faculty?

Faculty use instructional techniques that are age- and experience-appropriate for their students Make use of ‘adult learner’ strategies

and can facilitate deep learning Give prompt and meaningful feedback

that fosters professional development Are judicious in their critical appraisal of

student work

What are student expectations of faculty?

What other expectations do students have? Faculty are…

Approachable Understanding of a graduate student’s

life outside of class Others?

What are student expectations of faculty?

More initiative and self-directed learning More professional behaviors (in and out

of class) Communication Time management Feedback Responsibility Collegiality/cooperation with your peers

and faculty Integrity and honest effort Build on previous learning & experience

What are faculty expectations of

graduate students?

Faculty mentorship… being mentored by a graduate faculty member makes the graduate program

Faculty role(s) as mentors… Motivator … push/pull you to do your best Constructive critic… provide you honest feedback that

results in significant improvements Experienced colleague… can offer experiential wisdom

that is helpful Friendly guide… can help you safely & effectively

navigate a path Establish/support long-term relationships

What makes graduate education work?

Read faculty bios for your degree program Graduate program website & Student

Handbook Meet your program faculty at degree

program orientations Talk with existing students further through

the program Talk with your program director & faculty Talk with program alumni Other ways?

How do you find a mentor?

Lessons learned, From mentoring research… *Engage with multiple mentors *Mentoring relationships will change *Effective mentoring relationships are

organic *Everyone needs a mentor(s)!

What are some recommendations for success?

http://www.gvsu.edu/paces/register

Enriching Your Success and Professional Development

Support all aspects of Graduate Education Enforce the Graduate Education Policies Produce the Graduate Student Guidebook Fund opportunities for graduate students

Graduate Assistantships (stipend + tuition remission)

Presidential Research Grants Provide support for Graduate Student Association Award Graduate Dean’s Citations for Excellence

www.gvsu.edu/gs

How can the Office of Graduate Studies help?

What are some tips for getting started?

Identify an advisor/mentor

Know the program requirements

Get involved Establish a workable

timeline to finish your degree requirements

Best Wishes for a Successful Graduate

Education Experience at Grand Valley!