11:34 a.m., March 11, 2008--In addition to its strengths in undergraduate education, the University of Delaware is a major graduate education institution, offering 110 master's and 43 doctoral degree programs. Currently, more than 3,500 graduate students are enrolled at UD.

To strengthen and support UD graduate education, the Office of the Provost created a fund for Graduate Program Improvement and Innovation Grants last year. Administered through the Research and Graduate Studies Office, these grants, typically ranging from $10,000 to $50,000, are offered to academic units for innovative initiatives and projects designed to improve the graduate experience and graduate student success at UD.

To date, 13 grants have been awarded to programs in four UD colleges, according to Suzanne Austin, faculty director for graduate program policy and innovation in the Research and Graduate Studies Office and professor of history and Latin American studies in the College of Arts and Sciences. Austin is administering the new grant program.

“We received a number of very strong proposals last year, and we were pleased to be able to fund 13 of them for a total of over $500,000,” Austin said. “As a result of these awards, all of the recipients are now engaged in implementing initiatives that will enhance the success of graduate students in their programs. We are looking forward to receiving another set of equally strong and innovative proposals during this second round of submissions.”

Priority will be given to proposals that seek to enhance educational, interdisciplinary and cultural experiences, ensure faculty mentoring and student-adviser accountability, strengthen degree completion and time to completion, and improve graduate program policies and practices. High priority will be given to graduate program improvement plans that address the need to increase the racial and cultural diversity of UD's graduate student population.

In preparation for the second round of proposal submissions, department chairs, program directors and graduate coordinators are invited to attend an information session on the intent of the awards and the proposal-writing process from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Thursday, April 10, in 209 Trabant University Center. Lunch will be provided.

As part of this session, chairpersons, program directors and graduate coordinators from colleges and departments that received awards in 2007 will be present to talk with those who are interested in submitting proposals this year. Register by e-mailing [dawn@udel.edu]. The registration deadline is Thursday, April 3.

For more information, see the proposal guidelines on the Graduate Studies Web site. Proposals are due no later than June 2. It is anticipated that initial awards will be announced by Aug. 1 for initiatives beginning in September.

Article by Tracey Bryant