News: Announcements

In spring 2023, the Graduate School launched the Graduate Student Experience Survey, the first comprehensive survey of its kind in over five years. I am thrilled to share with you today that the results are now available to the Ohio State community! 

We’ve crafted a dedicated page on the Graduate School website where you’ll find the video of the high-level overview presentation I delivered in November 2023, along with its accompanying PowerPoint. You’ll also discover a link to a data dashboard that lets you dive deep into the data at the university, college and program levels, by demographics, provided that there are a minimum of 10 respondents. 

The survey results are enlightening and provide invaluable information for leadership and programs that are looking for ways to improve the graduate student experience. In general, student respondents are very satisfied with the quality of instruction and the knowledge they gain at Ohio State. Within the overall satisfaction sections of the survey, respondents were extremely positive about the quality of library resources and support with a rating of 95% satisfied. Student respondents also provided positive results for questions about sense of belonging, demonstrating a 93% satisfaction rate when asked about fair treatment from faculty members in their programs and an 88% satisfaction rate when asked if they are proud to be part of their program. While most respondents are generally happy with the support they receive from their programs, the survey data illuminates areas we can improve, and I look forward to working with you to do so.

Just so you know, I’ve been actively engaging with individual college leadership this spring to discuss the survey results at the college and program levels. I’m excited to partner with your colleges on initiatives to support and improve graduate student experiences where needed. 

As a final word of encouragement, I urge all of you to explore the dashboard and use the data to share successes and develop actionable steps to achieve positive experiences for your graduate students. If you have any questions about navigating the dashboard, Andrew Blatter at the Graduate School is ready and willing to assist.

We’re delighted to share this treasure trove of information with you finally! We believe it will be a powerful tool to support your graduate students now and into the future. 

Sincerely,

Mary Stromberger
Vice Provost and Dean for Graduate Education

The Ohio State University
Graduate School
 

“The Scarlet & Gay LGBTQ Alumni Society is dedicated to making studying at The Ohio State University a financial reality for more LGBTQ students and their allies. Realizing that the financial demands placed on students and families because of the rising cost of higher education is often multiplied for LGBTQ students, fundraising efforts by the society has made these scholarships a reality. We hope to reach students who have been turned away by their family for “coming out,” and help LGBTQ students address other unique financial issues. Ohio State is dedicated to diversity, and these scholarships become one more tool for the University to recruit a diverse student body. These funds encourage students to choose Ohio State, and make it easier for more students to continue pursuing academic excellence at Ohio State.” (Scarlet & Gay LGBTQ Alumni Society)

The Scarlet and Gay Leadership & Service Scholarships are dedicated to undergraduate or graduate students who have demonstrated leadership through service, research, advocacy, or other contributions to the LGBTQ community. This year, we are dedicating these scholarships in honor of civil rights pioneer Marsha P. Johnson. Accordingly, we strongly encourage applications from students who demonstrate civic leadership and a commitment to protecting and promoting human dignity.

This and many other scholarships are available through ScholarshipUniverse. Create an account and apply by March 15, 2024.

Apply today through Scholarship Universe

Stephen John Quaye, the Graduate School’s first associate dean for excellence in graduate and postdoctoral training recently participated in the Faculty Affairs, Faculty Stories - Tell Me Your Why podcast, where faculty answer the question " What is your “Why?”

Listen now to Episode 6

Podcast Topic:

"Focus on the work that matters. Don't get sidetracked by the allure. the prestige, or the publications. All of those are potential rewards of the work, but it's the work that ultimately matters. Work that matters is often work that is deeply personal and deeply connected to who you are."

Stephen John Quaye, professor in the Higher Education and Student Affairs Program, talks about his journey to Ohio State, the importance of support from colleagues in processing impactful situations and working through significant feelings and events, and how he has blended personal interest with broader impact in his research.

Learn more about the podcast and hear more faculty stories through the Office of Faculty Affairs.

REACH for Commercialization is a year-round, cohort-based resource and network designed to encourage women across the university-- graduate students, postdocs, staff and faculty--to explore commercialization and entrepreneurship as a means to amplify the impact of their research. 

 Workshops are held monthly on Friday afternoons, 3:00-5:00. Introductory workshops include (1) Visioning Impact from Research, (2) Learning the Landscape, (3) Building a Team, and (4) Understanding the Funding Continuum.  Additional workshops and opportunities are offered throughout the year tailored to the needs and interests of the cohort.  In addition to providing an overview of commercialization and entrepreneurship, the goal is to provide relatable role models, mentors and to build professional networks. 

 The program starts next month, February 16. Additional information and registration are available through the Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship.

The Center for the Study of Student Life (CSSL) anticipates hiring one (1) 20-hour per week Graduate Research Associate (GRA) for the 2024-2025 academic year. Examples of GRA job duties for the 2024-2025 academic year include, but are not limited to, implementing data collection efforts, analyzing datasets ranging in size from 50 cases to 15,000 cases, writing informal reports for committees and producing formal reports. Projects will focus on student experiences outside of the classroom at Ohio State, such as student employment, student leadership, student wellness, career outcomes and sense of belonging on campus, with a particular focus on mental health and wellness.

This GRA will specifically lead our department’s work on the Buckeye Insights program. They will assist in coordinating this program by recruiting students to participate, managing project workflows and conducting data collection and reporting for both quantitative and qualitative projects. They will also support data management and analysis for other projects, such as the Student Life Survey, creating reports on their analyses that are shared with university stakeholders.

The GRA will:

• Coordinate project management efforts related to the Buckeye Insights program
• Communicate with partners across Student Life about their collaborations with Buckeye Insights
• Coordinate and perform quantitative analysis on multiple datasets
• Coordinate and perform qualitative analyses on multiple qualitative data collection projects
• Perform literature reviews
• Prepare reports, presentations and visual representations of data
• Prepare Institutional Review Board applications and amendments
• Participate in CSSL staff meetings, activities and retreats
• Complete ad hoc requests as assigned

Qualifications

Required:

• Enrolled in a Master’s or PhD program in higher education, the social sciences, human resources, public health or a related field.
• Knowledge of statistical analyses, including multivariate regression, and social science research methods
• Experience using statistical programming software such as STATA and/or R
• Data management skills, including ability to clean and recode large datasets
• Strong writing skills

Desired:

• Experience writing surveys and experience with survey software, such as Qualtrics
• Experience writing protocols for the Institutional Review Board
• Demonstrated experience publishing and/or presenting research
• Knowledge of higher education and/or student development theories

Applications:

Applications are due by Friday, February 22, 2024. Please submit a cover letter, curricula vita/resume, a writing sample (preferably including an empirical analysis) and two professional references.

 Applications may be submitted to Dr. Chrisse Edmunds at the email below. With questions, please contact:

Chrisse Edmunds, PhD

Associate Director

Center for the Study of Student Life Email: edmunds.32@osu.edu