A draft white paper on the establishment of a graduate school or college at the University of Delaware is now available for review by the UD community. Download the PDF from this webpage.

In his first meeting with the University Faculty Senate on Sept. 12, 2016, UD President Dennis Assanis expressed his interest in establishing a graduate school or college in accord with the Delaware Will Shine strategic planning document and doubling graduate enrollment at UD over the next 10 years, noting as well that “we need to take our graduate and professional education programs to the next level.”

The white paper has been developed by a working group composed of faculty and administrators across the University, charged by the president and provost. It was formed following a series of presentations to senior University leadership and key constituents in fall 2016. The working group is led by Ann Ardis, senior vice provost for graduate and professional education.

“We’re pleased to share this draft white paper with the University community for review and feedback,” Ardis said. “The draft is the result of hours of effort by our working group, which has reviewed and considered a variety of reports, studies, data and historical material. The input we receive will help us to strengthen and shape the plan for the future growth of graduate and professional education at the University.”

The working group was asked to address the following key questions:

• What is the optimal centralized organizational structure for graduate and professional education at UD?

• What is the optimal leadership and governance structure? What are the advantages/disadvantages of “college” vs. “school” vs. “office” or “division” nomenclature?

• Should UD have a “graduate faculty”?

• Should online graduate education (blended/hybrid as well as fully online; degree programs as well as non-credit professional education) be managed through a graduate school/college organizational structure, or through a separate reporting structure?

• Would interdisciplinary graduate programs be managed more efficiently by a graduate school/college? Should all other programs continue to be managed by their current colleges?

• Should both academic and non-academic support services (e.g., career services, housing, Graduate Student Government) be coordinated through a graduate school/college, or should non-academic student support services for graduate students be provided by units that report to the vice president for student life?

• What is the optimal organization of staff and staff/student ratio?

• What resources are required to launch a graduate school/college at UD?

• How will the anticipated growth in graduate enrollment impact existing staff in other units or initiate other university-level reorganizations?

To provide feedback on the plan, submit comments through the link on the webpage.

A final proposal for the future graduate college/school is expected to be ready for submission to University Faculty Senate and the Board of Trustees by September 2017, with implementation starting July 1, 2018.