Graduate program yields indirect benefits

Participants in the 2007 WSU Summer Doctoral Fellows Program were sold on the program even before President Elson S. Floyd met with them for an hour to discuss a myriad of higher education issues. But Floyd’s follow-up invitation to a private dinner at the Lewis Alumni Center sealed the deal.

 
“That said a lot,” said Temika Michael, a doctoral student from Howard University and a summer fellow.

Perhaps the only one of its kind, the WSU program offers a $3,000 stipend and room and board to all-but-dissertation (ABD) doctoral students from universities across the country. This summer nine doctoral students, mostly from the East Coast and Midwest, came to WSU for six weeks to participate in professional development seminars, meet with a WSU mentor and work on their dissertations.


Give and get
 
According to a recent survey by the Council of Graduate Schools, lack of financial support and lack of advising during the ABD phase are two of the biggest obstacles to completing a doctoral program. WSU’s summer doctoral program addresses both those issues and looks past doctoral completion to preparing students for their future profession.
Steve Burkett, associate dean of the Graduate School, said the program is intended as a service to the academy, but it does benefit
WSU indirectly through increased visibility.
 
“Over the years,” he said, “several former fellows have referred prospective graduate students to WSU. We have, in effect, a network of individuals who think and speak highly of WSU as a place to live, work and study.”
Faculty see benefits

Julie Kmec, an assistant professor of sociology, was a mentor two years ago and this summer led a seminar on gender issues in higher education. “I had a really great mentor,” she said, “and I want to share that with anyone else I can.”

Working with a graduate student who shares her research interests is invigorating, she said. Being a summer mentor is a short-term commitment, but it can lead to a long-term relationship.

“Having access to a graduate degree is not enough,” said Carmen Lugo-Lugo, an assistant professor in the department of comparative ethnic studies. “Students need to be guided and mentored so they can obtain all the benefits of a graduate education and, finally, their degrees.”

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