• The Latino Graduate Student Organization (LGSO) Is Coming!
• Graduate Degree Hiring Trends 2004-2005
• Graduate Council Actions
• Fall 2004 Historically Black Institution Program (HBI) Visitation Program
• Combined PharmD/MSIA Degree Program Approved
• Child Care Issues?
• New Recruitment Initiative Award Summaries Online
• Post Your Recruitment Events to the Recruitment Calendar
• Need Assistance With Your Research Project?
• Just Published—Graduate Education at Purdue University
• Admissions Update
• Martin Award Bestowed On Eberle
• WorkLife Programs for Graduate Staff!
• Reminders...
• Important Dates

The Latino Graduate Student Organization (LGSO) Is Coming!

The Latino Graduate Student Organization (LGSO) is going to be a recognized organization in the near future. Ramiro Cabral, a graduate student in the Krannert School of Management, is working very hard to make it happen.

LGSO will be an educational organization committed to the recruitment, retention, and academic/professional development of domestic and international Latino graduate students at Purdue University. The LGSO strives to accomplish this mission through a variety of activities including:

• Soliciting support and assistance to foster a more nurturing and supportive environment for domestic and international Latino graduate students;
  
• Coordinating programs and workshops for networking opportunities between domestic and international Latino graduate students, and University faculty and staff;
  
• Enhancing Purdue domestic and international Latino graduate students recruitment and retention efforts;
  
• Identifying and utilizing information and resources that may contribute to the success of domestic and international Latino graduate students at Purdue.
  

In order to accomplish this mission, LGSO plans to host a variety of programs and events focused not only on graduate students, but also on their families and friends.

BOTTON LINE = The LGSO plans to improve the Purdue experience for Latino Graduate Students.

Membership will be open to all students pursuing a Masters or Doctoral degree through the Graduate School at Purdue and who are in good standing in accordance with University regulations. Please see the Web site for details.

Graduate Degree Hiring Trends 2004-2005

Comments, the Commission on Professionals in Science and Technology publication, reported in its December 2004 issue (vol. 41, no. 8, p. 3) that “at the graduate level, hiring is projected to increase 25% for master’s graduates, but decrease 10% for PhDs. At the master’s level, hiring increases will the greatest for computer science (+82%), humanities (+32%) and engineering majors (+29%). At the PhD level, hiring is projected to increase 12% for computer science majors, but decrease for biological/physical sciences (-4%), engineering (-5%), allied health (-8%) and business (-9%). MBAs will experience their first increase in hiring in four years, with a modest increase of 7% projected.”

Graduate Council Actions

At its January 20, 2005, meeting, the Graduate Council recommended approval of a Doctor of Nursing Practice, to be offered at the West Lafayette campus. Also nine new courses in the areas of Behavioral Sciences, Engineering and Physical Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, Life Sciences, and Management Sciences were approved. For the full list of approved courses, please click here.

Fall 2004 Historically Black Institution Program (HBI) Visitation Program

This past November, the Graduate School's Office of Minority Programs hosted the 17th annual Historically Black Institution (HBI) Visitation Program. Over 40 underrepresented students from HBCU’s across the country participated in three days of events designed to acquaint them with graduate programs on the West Lafayette campus. Of the many disciplines represented, some of the visiting student’s areas of interest were: Chemistry, Philosophy, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Psychology, Technology, and Pharmacy Practice. Students spent their time visiting laboratories and meeting faculty and graduate students in their prospective departments. Of the many positive comments received from the participants, one student said of the trip, “All considered this was one of the best, if not the best, visitation program I have been on.”

With currently around 70 students from HBCU’s enrolled in Purdue’s Graduate School, the HBI Visitation Program continues a strong tradition of recruiting and enrolling talented underrepresented students from a wide variety of backgrounds. We look forward to greeting the next crop of HBI students this coming November.

Combined PharmD/MSIA Degree Program Approved

At its November 18, 2004, meeting the Graduate Council recommended approval of a combined PharmD/MSIA degree program. The combined degree has been approved by Provost Sally Mason and President Martin Jischke. The combined PharmD and MSIA will be offered through collaboration between Purdue’s College of Pharmacy and the Krannert Graduate School of Management. The combined PharmD/MSIA program will advance Purdue University’s mission of strengthening the Indiana workforce by producing individuals uniquely prepared to meet the needs of existing health care related companies and will assist in attracting additional companies in those industries to Indiana.

Child Care Issues?

We have heard mention of issues surrounding child care for graduate student’s children in relation to several events during the current year. One possible place for help is through the Purdue Association for the Education of Young Children (PAEYC). PAEYC is the student chapter of a national organization of specialists in early childhood education. PAEYC maintains a list of its members who are interested in finding babysitting jobs. You can obtain a copy of the list from the Purdue Child Development Laboratories office (49-42945) in the CDFS building. This is a good way to find skilled care for your children and to help out a fellow student.

New Recruitment Initiative Award Summaries Online

For a complete listing of successful proposals for New Recruitment Initiative Awards for fall 2004, visit the program’s Web page.

Post Your Recruitment Events to the Recruitment Calendar

Is your program attending a recruitment event this spring? If so, let other graduate programs and prospective students know about it by posting it on the Recruitment Calendar. Just email the details, such as the event’s name, time, date, and location, to Recruitment Services at cfugate@purdue.edu.

Need Assistance With Your Research Project?

Purdue University’s agreement with QSR International Pty Ltd. permits us to offer two qualitative data analysis software products: NVivo and N6. These products are available for personal use to any faculty, staff, or student affiliated with Purdue University.

Each individual must submit the provided agreement form, as well as a handling fee to QSR, the software developer for NVivo and N6. QSR will then provide the individual with the software media and the personal license code. The license extension costs US $100 per year versus the educational version which costs US $445 plus US $85 for the maintenance agreement. Contact itap-licensing@purdue.edu for the agreement form.

The personal license extension is valid for 12 months. After expiration of the personal license, the software will become a demo version, allowing read-only access to created projects until the license is renewed through QSR.

A complete description and comparison of both products is available at http://www.qsr.com.au/products/productoverview/product_overview.htm

Just Published—Graduate Education at Purdue University

Graduate Education at Purdue University, originally published in 1997, has been revised and is now being distributed to all graduate students and graduate faculty. The guide provides information and suggestions to both graduate students and their faculty mentors. The publication will help students to know what to expect and help advisors and graduate programs provide an environment for success during their students’ graduate studies.

The revision was recommended by a 2003 Graduate Council Taskforce on Ethics in Graduate Education. Graduate Education at Purdue University is also available electronically:
http://www.gradschool.purdue.edu/downloads/stud2/Graduate-booklet.pdf

Admissions Update

The Graduate School's admissions staff has been processing most graduate program recommendations with a one-day turnaround. Early to mid-February is a great time to submit your recommendations for Fall 2005 admission to the Graduate School. Come March, processing times are expected to lengthen. While applications are markedly off -- especially from international prospects -- from one year ago, it's encouraging to note an increase of 146 domestic students admitted as of February 4.

Martin Award Bestowed On Eberle
This story originally appeared in the Dec. 14, 2004 issue of Inside Purdue.

Nancy Eberle has, she says, literally “grown up” in the math department’s graduate office.
“When I started working here, I was younger than any of our graduate students and now I have three grandchildren,” says Eberle, who began working as a secretary in the math department graduate program just before her high school graduation 36 years ago.

Eberle, now the graduate program coordinator for the math department, was honored Thursday, Dec. 9, with the Eudoxia Girard Martin Memorial Staff Recognition Award. The award was presented during the annual Clerical and Service Staff Recognition Luncheon in Purdue Memorial Union.

Read More

WorkLife Programs for Graduate Staff!

Did you know that graduate staff and their spouses have access to physical activity, smoking cessation, nutrition, parenting, and stress management resources through WorkLife Programs? Each semester WorkLife Programs offers a variety of free classes, discussion groups and wellness screenings to help Purdue faculty and staff achieve their wellness goals and balance the demands of their personal and professional lives. Take advantage of this month’s offerings:

• Monday, Feb. 14. “Menu Planning” Nutrition class; 2/14 & 2/21; STEW 320; 12-1 p.m.
  
• Tuesday, Feb. 15. Parenting Discussion Group – “Blending Families”; FREH 1-1; 12-1 p.m.
  
• Tuesday, Feb. 22. Freedom From Smoking; 2/22-4/5; PMU & STEW;
  Session I: 12-1 p.m.
  Session II: 5:15-6:15 p.m.
  
• Tuesday, March 1. I Know I Should Exercise, But…; STEW 313; 11:10-11:50 a.m.
  

For more information or to register, visit us at www.purdue.edu/worklife or call us at 49-66334.

1. Now is a great time to submit your plan of study, if you have not done so. Graduate students must file their plans of study (and they must arrive at the Graduate School) prior to the beginning of the session in which they plan to graduate. Avoid the rush and last minute problems by submitting your plan of study during the first year of your graduate program! For more graduation-related deadlines this spring, next summer, and next fall, please see: http://www.gradschool.purdue.edu/calendar/calendar.cfm?type=Deadlines
2. Reminder for post-baccalaureate graduate students: A maximum of twelve graduate credits, taken in postbaccalaureate status, may be applied toward a degree. If you are approaching this threshold, we encourage you to apply for a master's or doctoral degree program!

eGrad is produced by The Graduate School, delivered to graduate students and departments by e-mail, and archived on the Web (http://www.gradschool.purdue.edu/publications/newsletters/archive.cfm). Graduate students, faculty, and staff are invited to submit news and announcements to Jeff Göecker, editor, at jgoecker@purdue.edu.