LONGWOOD GRADUATE PROGRAM

POLICY STATEMENT

 

Part I.             Program History:

 

 

            Statement of Purpose:

 

The Longwood Graduate Program endeavors to produce leaders with a broad understanding of public gardens; their role and function.  The Longwood Fellows’ need for knowledge in plant science and related disciplines is understood.  While specialization is required in the research area, the Fellows are expected to become generally familiar with the basic principles and concepts involved in the operation of public horticultural enterprises.  To this end they will participate in the activities of Longwood Gardens, and the University of Delaware, go on field trips to related types of institutions and may attend seminars conducted by outstanding people in the field.  The Program helps students who want to pursue a PhD to conduct research and take classes that may enable entrance into a doctoral program.

 

 

            Date of Permanent Status:

 

The Longwood Graduate Program was established in 1967 by a grant from the Longwood Foundation, Inc.

 

 

Degrees Offered:

 

The Program offers one degree; the Masters of Science in Public Horticulture.

 

 

Part II.            Admission:

           

            Requirements are:

·        A minimum of 1050 (sum of the verbal and the quantitative) on the

GRE;

·        A minimum overall G. P. A. of 2.5 and a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in the major courses;

·        A bachelors degree in agriculture, biology, botany, horticulture, landscape architecture, landscape horticulture, plant science or related fields;

·        Technical experience in horticulture and public horticulture;

·        Submission of a completed University of Delaware graduate admission application;

·        Submission of a completed Longwood Fellowship application with a resume, self evaluation, statement of purpose, undergraduate transcripts of degrees/ courses/grades, and four letters of recommendation; and

·        Attending a five-day group interview period; making a five-minute oral presentation, completing a writing exercise, participating in a group case study, and a personal interview with the Selection Committee.

 

Application Deadline:

 

The application deadline is December 1, every year for the class that enters the following July 1.  The Interview Period is usually during the first week of February each year.

 

Special Competencies:

 

Special competencies that the ten-member Selection Committee looks for include:

 

·        excellent communication skills

·        excellent interpersonal skills

·        excellent organization skills

·        leadership potential

 

On the following page is a list of criteria that the Selection Committee uses.

 

Admission Categories:

 

The Selection Committee usually recommends “regular” admission, but occasionally does recommend “provisional” when the GRE Score is less than 1050 and the application packet and interview are excellent.  When a student is admitted “provisional” status, The Program requires acquiring and maintaining at least 3.0 GPA.

LONGWOOD GRADUATE PROGRAM

GUIDELINES FOR ADVANCEMENT FROM APPLICANT TO CANDIDATE

C            Bachelor’s Degree - Horticulture or related fields preferred

 

S                                            An Undergraduate level course in Plant Taxonomy must be successfully completed

C            minimum overall GPA of 2.50/4.00

C            minimum GPA in major courses of 3.00/4.00

C            minimum GRE score 1050 (sum of verbal and quantitative)

(verbal score must be a minimum of 500 for students when English is not the first language)

 

GUIDELINES FOR ADVANCEMENT FROM CANDIDATE TO INTERVIEWEE

The candidate’s application, transcripts, and references must demonstrate and document excellence in:

C            Organizational skills

C            Written communication skills

C            Technical knowledge in horticulture

C            Practical knowledge in horticulture

and indicate

C            Interest in public horticulture

and show

C            Leadership potential

C         

GUIDELINES FOR OFFERING A LONGWOOD FELLOWSHIP

The interviewee’s written exercise, case study performance, personal interview, and interaction with Current Fellows and Selection Committee Members must demonstrate excellence in:

C            Organizational skills

C            Communications skills

C            Technical knowledge in horticulture

C            Practical knowledge in horticulture

C            Interpersonal skills

and some

C            Supervisory experience

demonstrate

C            Interest in public horticulture

and

C            Leadership potential

C         

IN ADDITION THE INTERVIEWEE MUST POSSESS SOME APTITUDE/ EXPERIENCE/OR TALENT IN ONE OF THE THREE CATEGORIES

C            Business/financial

C            Creative

C            Mechanical


Part III.             Academic/Professional:

 

            A.            Academic (core requirements) and Professional Requirements:

 

             The “former” and “new” degree requirements and the professional

Leader’s Internship requirements follow (see Appendices A-D).

 

                        APPENDIX A - Curriculum Comparisons

                        APPENDIX B - Former Requirements

                        APPENDIX C - New Requirements (proposed)

                                    APPENDIX D - New course sequence (proposed)

 

Variances:

 

Exceptions are made from the core curriculum very seldom.  Occasionally a new course is offered.  When this occurs the student(s), Program Coordinator and members of the Program’s Executive Committee will discuss the new course contents in relationship to the goals of The Program and make a decision on variances. 

 

 

 

B.            Professional (Leader’s Internship):

 

All Fellows are required to successfully complete two Leader’s Internships (one each summer) at Longwood Gardens.  Al but one component of the Leader’s Internship components are evaluated and graded in MSST 802-Museum Internship (for First-year Fellows) or in PLSC 832-Botanic Garden Management (for Second-year Fellows).  The one component not evaluated this way is “plan a symposium” that is evaluated and graded in PLSC 864-Symposium Planning, Design and Presentation.

 

The components of the First Leader’s Internship (MSST 802 and PLSC 864) are:

•                                             complete an orientation/rotation,

•                                             maintain a daily/weekly log,

•                                             attend four field trips and write reports,

•                                             complete a First-year Project (1st year students only),

•                                             complete a Group Project (1st and 2nd year students),

•                                             develop/promote team work,

•                                             develop/strengthen leadership skills, and

•                                             plan a symposium.

 

The components of the Second Leader’s Internship (PLSC 832 and PLSC 864) are:

 

•                                             complete an individual project (2nd year students only),

•                                             complete a Group Project (1st and 2nd year students),

•                                             participate in Longwood Horticultural Informatoin Duty,

•                                             mentor the First-year Fellows and develop and promote team work,

•                                             strengthen leadership skills, and

•                                             plan a symposium.

 

Grade Minimums and Evaluation Criteria:

 

Please see the following evaluation criteria and criteria for maintaining and continuing a Longwood Fellowship (taken from Policy Manual, pages 2-7)

 

EVALUATION PROCESS AND FELLOWSHIP CONTINUATION

 

                        A.            Two-Month Discussion and Evaluation (after Leader’s Internship)(first year):

 

The Coordinator will discuss individual leadership and professional growth progress with each First-year Fellow at the end of the first summer.  This discussion will include strengths and weaknesses in the criteria listed on the checklist which follows.           

 

 

The Coordinator will make recommendations for improvement and, with the student, will establish an action plan during this discussion.  If all areas being evaluated “need improvement”, and upon approval of the Program’s Executive Committee, the Coordinator may recommend termination of the student to the Graduate Office.  A copy of the discussion results is sent to the Office of Graduate Studies.

 

 

                        B.            Six-Month Discussion and Evaluation (December)(first year):

 

                        The Coordinator will discuss progress with courses and research in addition to professional growth and leadership.  Issues that were identified as “needing improvement” at the “Two-Month Discussion and Evaluation” will be reviewed during this evaluation. 

 

                        If a student has not made satisfactory progress in the professional leadership and growth areas, or if the progress in the academic courses and research are not satisfactory, the student’s fellowship may not be continued for the spring semester.  Satisfactory progress in the former will be based upon the action plan established in September.  A GPA less than 3.00 indicates less than satisfactory progress in courses.  Not meeting the criteria listed in the research section indicates less than satisfactory progress in that area.  If appropriate, the Coordinator will make recommendations for improvement and, with the student, will establish an action plan during this discussion.  If the potential for the Fellow in The Program is not strong, and upon approval of The Program’s Executive Committee, the Coordinator may recommend to the Graduate Office that the student’s Fellowship be terminated.  A copy of the discussion/evaluation results will be sent to the Office of Graduate Studies.

 

            C.            Annual Report and Evaluation:

 

First-year Fellows will submit a report to the Coordinator by 1 April in which they present their academic and professional growth since the entering The Program.  Students also will include results of any action plan(s) established during the year.  The required format for the report follows. 

 

The Coordinator will schedule a meeting with each student in April to review, discuss, and evaluate student’s leadership and professional growth and performance.  After the student/coordinator meeting, and an Executive Committee Meeting, a recommendation on Fellowship renewal will be made to the Graduate Office.  A copy of the annual report results will be sent to the Office of Graduate Studies.  The specific criteria for renewal/continuation are:

 

                        Academic:

            Courses:

 

            -            all required courses must be completed satisfactorily or waived;

            -            a minimum of 9 credits per semester is required;

            -            a minimum cumulative index (GPA) of 3.0 must be achieved and maintained;

            -            no grade of “C” or below will be counted toward graduate credit.

            Research:

            -            the research committee must be satisfied that satisfactory progress is being made.  Among the guidelines for demonstrating satisfactory progress:

                        -            topic selected, committee selected, proposal written, and first meeting held by 31 December of first year.

                        -            proposal refined, experimental design identified, data collection procedures outlined and 2nd research committee meeting held by 30 April of first year.   Adequate progress must be made so that data collection will commence in late spring or early summer.

                        -            data collection completed or nearly completed,  general understanding and preliminary analysis of the data completed and 3rd research committee meeting held by 30 November of second year.

                        -            thesis written and distributed to the research committee members so the thesis defense and oral examination can occur and the final thesis copy can be submitted to the Graduate Office  by the 3rd Monday in April of the second year.

                        Professional Growth and Leadership:

                        The Fellows will be evaluated on their professional growth, leadership and team skills by using the following criteria:

                        -            excellent organizational skills,

                        -            excellent communication skills(writing, speaking, listening),

                        -            excellent interpersonal skills,

                        -            excellent time management skills,

                        -            initiative,

                        -            motivation,

                        -            responsibility,

                        -            decision-making,

                        -            leading,

                        -            following,

                        -            promoting team work,

                        The Fellows will be expected to understand and follow Personnel Policies of the University of Delaware and Longwood Gardens.

FIRST-YEAR LEADER’S INTERNSHIP PERFORMANCE EVALUATION CHECKLIST

 

Listed below are the areas in which First-year Fellows will be evaluated. These areas have specific guidelines, formats, criteria, evaluation forms* etc. to aid in evaluating performance and ultimately a grade for MSST 804 - Museum Internship.  The evaluation process is spelled out in the sections describing each item.

 

 

•                                             daily/weekly logs                                                            (10% of the course grade)

•                                             field trip reports                                                            (10% of the course grade)

•                                             professional growth, leadership, and team promotion during the orientation and field trip activities, but not during the First-year Project and Group Project           

                                                                                                            (30% of the course grade)

 

•                                             First-year Project (including professional growth, leadership, and team promotion related to the project)                                                            (25% of the course grade)

•                                             Group Project (including professional growth, leadership, and team promotion related to the project                                                             (25% of the course grade)

           

Since an overall goal of the Leader’s Internship is to develop and strengthen the Fellows’ leadership and team building skills and to help them grow professionally, each Fellow will be evaluated during the summer orientation activities, field trips and projects using the criteria** below:

 

•                                             communication skills

•                                             decision-making

•                                             organizational and time management skills

•                                             interpersonal relations

•                                             responsibility

•                                             leadership

•                                             team promotion

•                                             planning ability

•                                             plan implementation

•                                             initiative

•                                             motivation

            *            Evaluation Forms can be found in APPENDIX E

            **            (these criteria are not listed in any particular order of importance)

 

 

ANNUAL REPORT

2002-2003

 

Name:                                                                            

 

 

A.                                         Academic:

           

1.                  Course Grades:                        GPA = ___________            (end of fall semester)

           

Fall 2002

 

                        List Courses                                                             Credits          Grade         

 

Spring 2003

 

                        List Courses                                                             Credits          Grade         

 

2.                  Research:

                                    Research Title:

                                    Committee Members/Title/Affiliation:

                                    Two-hundred word (maximum) summary of progress to date

 

B.                                         Professional/Leadership:

           

1.                  Group Project:

                                                Responsibility

                                                Leadership skill learned/strengthened

 

2.                  Public Service:

                                                Activity/organization

 

3.                  Student Position:

                                                Title

                                                Leadership skill learned/strengthened

 

4.                  Symposium:

                                                Responsibility

                                                Leadership skill learned/strengthened

 

5.                  Miscellaneous: (includes all other activities including recruitment)

           

C.                                         (If appropriate) Action Plan Progress.  If the student and Coordinator established an action plan for improvement during the year, explain action(s) taken and the results.

           

D.                    Goals for Second Year

           


SECOND-YEAR LEADER’S INTERNSHIP PERFORMANCE EVALUATION CHECKLIST

 

            Listed below are the two projects on which Second-year Fellows will be evaluated. These projects have specific guidelines, formats, criteria, evaluation forms*, etc. to aid in evaluating performance and ultimately a grade for PLSC 832, sec. 11 - Botanic Garden Management.  The evaluation process is spelled out in the sections describing each item.

 

 

•                                             Individual Project                                                            (30% of the course grade)

•                                             Group Project                                                                        (70% of the course grade)

           

            Since an overall goal of the Leader’s Internship is to develop and strengthen the Fellows’ leadership and team building skills and to help them grow professionally, each Fellow will be evaluated during the Individual Project and the Group Project using the criteria** below:

 

 

•                                             communication skills

•                                             decision-making skills

•                                             organizational and time-management skills

•                                             interpersonal and working relation skills

•                                             responsibility

•                                             leadership

•                                             team promotion

•                                             planning ability

•                                             plan implementation

•                                             initiative

•                                             motivation

 

*            Evaluation Forms can be found in APPENDIX E

**            (these criteria are not listed in any particular order of importance).

 

Courses Not Used Toward Degree:

 

Occasionally an undergraduate-level course has appropriate and relevant material for the Longwood Fellows.  They are allowed to take the course for the information but are not allowed credit toward the degree.  They are required to make up the graduate credits by taking a graduate-level course.   An example might be a leadership course such as FREC 305 - Management and Leadership Development.