Graduate Admissions Quarterly NEWS LETTER Third Edition * February 2015 Graduate College Important Dates • e Dean’s Corner • Tips for Program Directors Advising • Students Ongoing Improvements in Admissions • Tips about GRADS Dashboard • Website/Catalog Discrepancies • FAQ’s from a Graduate Program • Director Changes in Grad Program Admission • Requirements Recent Issues Raised by a Program • Director Topics for Spring Directors’ Meetings • Recruiting Events for Spring 2015 • Notes from International Services • Grad Admissions Reminders • In This Issue
Transcript
Graduate Admissions Quarterly
NEWSLETTER
Third Edition * February 2015
Graduate College Important Dates•The Dean’s Corner•Tips for Program Directors Advising •StudentsOngoing Improvements in Admissions•Tips about GRADS Dashboard•Website/Catalog Discrepancies•FAQ’s from a Graduate Program •Director
Changes in Grad Program Admission •Requirements Recent Issues Raised by a Program •DirectorTopics for Spring Directors’ Meetings•Recruiting Events for Spring 2015•Notes from International Services•Grad Admissions Reminders•
In This Issue
Graduate College Important Dates to Remember
The Dean’s CornerMy first weeks in the Graduate College have been spectacular. I’ve been learning so much about what each person does, and I’ve discovered that they do a lot! During the coming months, I will meet with the director of each graduate program and department head. We will talk about strengths of the program, student research, future plans and dreams, and ways in which the Graduate College can offer optimal support. I also will be visiting college deans, campus administrators, and other constituents to gain their perspectives on graduate education. I know this “listening tour” will provide a great foundation as we plan for the future of graduate education at MSU. I look forward to getting to know each of you better!
February 24, 2015 • Program Directors’ Meeting discussing legal issues March 1, 2015 • Faculty International Travel Awards deadlineMarch 15, 2015 • Graduate College FellowshipsMarch 23, 2015 • Outstanding Graduate Assistant Awards Nomination DeadlineApril 1, 2015 • Graduate Recruitment Mini-Grants deadlineApril 1, 2015 • Graduate Scholarship for Enhancing Diversity deadlineApril 1, 2015 • McNair Graduate AssistantshipsApril 20, 2015 • Thesis DeadlineApril 25, 2015• Graduate Interdisciplinary Forum
Tips for Program Directors Advising Students
Reaching Out to New ApplicantsWhy not add a personal touch and reach out to the applicants to your program shortly after their MSU graduate application is submitted? As a program director you have access to an applicant’s contact information before the application has been sent to you for a decision by Graduate Admissions. Add that personal touch to further validate the applicant’s decision to attend MSU.
How to access a student’s contact information from GRADS Dashboard:Select the appropriate term of application in the 1. TERM column If you have acces to more than one program, you can select the appropriate program in the 2. PROGRAM column.Leave all other filters at 3. <All>.Click on 4. APPLY FILTERS.The names returned on the page will include all applicants that have applied for the 5. program for the term(s) selected. The date the application was submitted will appear in the APPL DATE column. The order of the applications can be arranged from first to last or reversed by clicking on the up/down arrow icon in the APPL DATE column header.Click on the 6. R (also used to view the Admission Recommendation) in the row for the student you have selected to view the contact information. The applicant’s contact information will be revealed in the header of the Admission Recommendation as shown below.
GRADS: Admission Recommendation
Applicant: Smith, John F Application Type: ST Term: Summer 2015BearPass #: M00001234 Address: 123 W Personal Touch Ave Program: CybersecurityPhone: 417-123-4567 Springfield,MO65806 Degree:GraduateCertificateEmail: [email protected]
Ongoing Improvements in Graduate AdmissionsWriting Sample / Statement of Purpose: By request, a Writing Sample/Personal Statement section has been added to the graduate application. This is available for your review in GRADS Dashboard by selecting the “V” to ‘View Application Materials’. The Document Type column—as highlighted below—should have a Writing Sample/Personal Statement document for your evaluation; click on the small document icon to view.
APPLDATE
2/11/2015
2/11/2015
2/10/2015
2/09/2015
GRE – Percentiles:GRE and GMAT Percentiles are now available in GRADS Dashboard under the ‘Admission Recommendation’ section and to the right of the Score column: the column titled Pct.
TEST SCORES
GRE Score 7/16/2014 GRE Combined-Revised Aug 2011 301GRE Score 7/16/2014 GRE Quantitative-Revised Aug 2011 146 25GRE Score 7/16/2014 GRE Verbal-Revised Aug 2011 155 67 GRE Score 7/16/2014 GRE Writing-Revised Aug 2011 4.0 56
Tips About GRADS Dashboard
Adding/Removing access to GRADS Dashboard
Question 1: Who is allowed access to GRADS Dashboard?Answer: The Graduate Program Director is not the only person who can have access to GRADS Dashboard. If you find yourself printing admission documents in order to share with your colleagues, consider requesting access for those colleagues to GRADS Dashboard so they can view them on their terminal or print it themselves. Support Staff and Graduate Assistants may also have access to GRADS and you may determine their level of access based on the criteria below.
Question 2: What types of Access to GRADS exist?Answer: There are three levels of access to GRADS dashboard.
Allows individuals to access 1. GRADS Dashboard to view the applicants information and also receive emails when Graduate Admissions sends applications for departmental evaluation.
Allows individual to access 2. GRADS Dashboard to view applicants information and to make changes to the Admission Recommendation—admit/deny applicants—for applicants within the specific department; and also receive emails when Graduate Admissions sends application for departmental evaluation.
Allows individual to access 3. GRADS Dashboard to view applicants information and to make changes to the Admission Recommendation--admit/deny applicants-- for applicants within the specific department; but not receive emails when Graduate Admissions sends applications for departmental evaluation and permission
Test Score Pct
Beware of Discrepancies Between Graduate Catalog & Department WebsiteThe Graduate Catalog is the ultimate authority.Example: A graduate program moves the deadline to October 1st from December 1st and updates the department webpage to reflect this but never formally goes through the process of updating the Graduate Catalog. An applicant files a complaint because the Graduate Catalog indicates he has until December 1st to submit his admission material but he has been denied before December 1st. The deadline in the Graduate Catalog will take precedence over the deadline on the departmental webpage every time. The Graduate Catalog is the ultimate authority. Make sure there aren’t any discrepancies by double checking and do not make changes on the departmental webpage until the change has gone through the process and actually appeared in the Graduate Catalog. For questions as to the process please contact Christy Graham at [email protected] or (417) 836-4220.
Frequently Asked Questions from a Program DirectorQuestion 1: Why is this newly admitted student not appearing as my advisee? I just admitted an applicant in GRADS Dashboard but the student isn’t on my advisee list and it won’t let me provide an advisor release for the student.
Answer: When you click Submit in GRADS Dashboard to admit a student, the only thing that happens is an email is sent to Graduate Admissions to alert our office that you want this student admitted to your program. Our office still must admit the student in the Banner system which is when the student’s status is changed to an admitted student. Part of the admission process is to also add your name as the advisor. Once this process is complete you will be able to see the student’s name on your advisee list and access the advisor release. We try to make this process happen within a few hours and at most 24 hours (except over the weekend or holidays).
Question 2: What is the process after I select “Reapply” as an admission decision on the Admission Recommendation form in GRADS Dashboard?
Answer: The admission recommendation for the applicant is printed (with or without any notes you have written on it). We deny the applicant in the BANNER system and a “Reapply” letter—different from the denial letter—is prepared and mailed to the applicant via USPS. An email is not sent to the applicant from our office. This being the case, it is best for you to add instructions in the Admission Recommendation for the applicant to follow. Indicate which admission requirements he/she is missing or needs to improve upon and indicate the semester when he/she should reapply.
Changes in Grad Admission Requirements Around Campus:
The TOEFL/IELTS are now an admission requirement for the MACC, effective fall 2014.• The restriction has been lifted on earning both the Graduate Certificate in Teaching English to • Speakers of Other Languages and the Master of Arts in English TESOL track, effective fall 2014.The GRE has been removed as an admission requirement for the Master of Social Work program, • effective fall 2014.
Recent Issues Raised by a Program Director
Moving Advisees to a new Program Director’s Adivsee List:When there is a change or addition of advisor(s) for a program, it is important to remember that the Banner system must be updated to reflect that change so that the new advisor has access to all system features and documentation and so that they will receive all messages/updates pertaining to the program and the students applying to the program. Changing the designated advisor for students must be done through the Internet Native Banner (INB) system. The responsibility for making this change is the Administrative Assistant in your department. Instructions are available in Experts Documentation. Graduate Admissions can provide a short step-by-step manual for making the change; however, questions or issues should be directed to Shannon Holt in the Office of the Registrar. She can be reached at [email protected] or (417) 836-4308. Out-of-date GRE and GMAT Scores (5 years or more):Question: Who is responsible for determining whether an older GRE or GMAT score will be accepted?Answer: The Graduate Catalog states “GRE and GMAT scores are acceptable for 5 years. Scores more than 5 years old are accepted only with the recommendation of the program director” (33).
Topics to be Discussed at Upcoming Program Directors’ Meetings
Tuesday, February 24, 2015 Plaster Student Union Rm 313
9:00 AM to 10:30 AM
Legal Session: A discussion centered on the legal side of actions taken in your role as a Graduate Program Director. Rachael Dockery who is General Counsel for Missouri State University will be presenting and answering questions.
Dr. Jane Robison and other individuals from around campus who regularly recruit domestically and internationally to come together in one place for questions from you. In this way we hope that you will share more information about your Graduate Program in order to better sell the programs on recruitment trips.
Monday,April 13, 2015Plaster Student Union Rm 313
9-10:30AM
Recruitment Session: A discussion centered on graduate recruitment. We hope to arrange for Misty Stewart, Steven Robinette,
Recruiting Events for Spring 2015
Feb. 11 ......................................................................................... University of Kansas Career Fair
Feb. 12 ............................................................................ Central Methodist University Career Expo
Feb. 18 .......................................................... Washburn University Spring Career & Grad School Fair
Feb. 18 ................................................................. University of Central Missouri Spring Career Expo
Feb. 25 ............................................................................................................. MSU Career Expo
Feb. 25 ..........................................................................Truman State University Spring Career Fair
March 4...........................................................Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville Career Fair
March 4............................................................................................University of Central Arkansas
March 5.......................................................... Ouachita Baptist University Career & Networking Expo
March 12 ...............................................................Missouri Southern State University Education Day
March 12 .....................................................................................University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
March 17 .......................................................................................... Harris-Stowe State University
March 19 ..........................................................................................................Harding University
March 25 ....................................................................................................Missouri Valley College
March 31 ..........................................................................................................................MOJOE
Notes from International Services
April 7 ............................................................................................................ MSU Education Day
April 8 ...................................................................... Missouri Southern State University Career Fair
April 8 .....................................................................................Arkansas Tech University Career Fair
April 14 ............................................................................. College of the Ozarks Spring Career Day
April 15 ....................................................................Henderson State Spring Career & Graduate Fair
Apr. 16-17 ............................................................................................NCUR Graduate School Fair
May 14 ..................................................................... Pacific Northwest McNair Research Conference
If you know of any other events which may be good to attend to recruit students, please contact Misty Stewart by email at [email protected] or call (417) 836-6079.
Reminder: This is the time of year when students may wish to drop below the required number of hours mandated for international students (9hrs). There are good reasons and not-so-good reasons, but regardless, all students must submit a request for Reduced Course Load (RCL) to the Office of International Services if they plan not to enroll full-time or need to drop below the mandated 9 credit hours. The form can be found here: http://international.missouristate.edu/services/66521.htm
Internal Policy Updates: The Office of International Services will consider the following when allowing international students to enroll under Post-Baccalaureate (PB)/Graduate Undecided (GRUC) status:
International Services will not issue I-20s for PB status or GRUC status to students for longer than 1 academic semester. For all students who are granted a PB or GRUC I-20 for study, they will need to meet the requirements asked of them by the department within one academic semester. Who is eligible to apply to apply for an I-20 in the nondegree-seeking status?
students who are transferring from another institution in the United States, • students who are doing a change of degree level at MSU• students who have completed the English Language Institute and wish to matriculate to • MSU.
Exceptions to this policy will be considered in the event that an academic department supports a student’s PB/GRUC status outside of the conditions thus stated.
International Services does not issue PB or GRUC I-20s for students applying for admission from outside of the University who do not meet the minimum admission requirements.
StaffingUpdate: Joanna Mendez has joined our office as the International Admissions Coordinator. Please direct questions to Joanna by email at [email protected].
Grad Admissions RemindersGraduate Program Webpages: • Graduate Programs are responsible for keeping their graduate program webpage as up to date as possible, but Graduate Admissions is trying to help as much as we can If you receive an email from us pointing out an error we found but do not know who updates/fixes your program’s webpage please let us know and we can contact the Office of Web & New Media to help figure out who updates your webpage in order to resolve the issue.
Suggestions: • Graduate Admissions always accepts suggestions on the admissions process as well as suggestions to make GRADS Dashboard more user-friendly. Send suggestions to Michael Edwards at [email protected]. Training: • The Graduate College offers two options for new Program Directors:
Make an appointment with Michael Edwards (1. [email protected]) to have him come to your office to give you a run down on GRADS Dashboard and the admissions’ process.Make an appointment with Michael Edwards for you to come to the Graduate College (Carrington 2. Hall, Rm. 308) to have a sit down with Christy Graham (Degree Audit, Graduation), Misty Stewart (Recruitment), Carla Coorts (C Grade Letters), Tom Tomasi (Associate Dean) and Michael Edwards (Admissions).
Graduate College Admissions OfficeAdmissions Coordinator: Michael Edwards 836-5330Admissions Evaluator: Sue Dover 836-5331Graduate Assistant: Ed Keohane 836-5331
Graduate College Admissions Email: [email protected] College Web page: http://graduate.missouristate.edu/GRADS Dashboard: https://www.secure.missouristate.edu/AuthPin/Signon.asp
