February 2008

Congratulations to these members of the UT Graduate Community

Congratulations to all graduate students who have been nominated by their departments for a Graduate School Continuing Fellowship.

 

Important Graduate Links

Graduate School Home Page
Graduate Student Assembly
Dean of Students Office
Libraries
DIIA
ITS
UHS
OSFS

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Supporting Graduate Education

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Suggestions

If you have opinions on other topics that you would like to see offered in these newsletters, we would love to hear them.  Please send ideas to Elisabeth McKetta or Kathleen Mabley

 

Message from the Dean

I am delighted to tell you about Come to Texas, a new program that is a partnership between the Graduate School, the Office of the President and the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement.  On March 6 and 7, we will host a number of top under-represented students who have been admitted to graduate programs at The University of Texas at Austin, but have not yet committed to enrolling at the university.

During the two days the students spend with us, they will be introduced to the best the university has to offer.  They will learn about the resources and services available on campus and see highlights of our outstanding academic programs.  Most importantly, they will be given a chance to interact with current graduate students and hear about the university from the student perspective.

If you are interested in encouraging diversity in our graduate population, there are opportunities for you to volunteer your time and insights. By volunteering, you can make a difference in a prospective student’s choice of a university and plans for his or her future.

Should you meet some of the prospective students at the event or in your department, I know you will be sure to show them the welcoming spirit of our campus.

Best wishes,
Victoria E. Rodríguez
Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies

Everyday Excellence

Lori Schneider is a doctoral student in the College of Education as well as the principal of Kiker Elementary in Austin. As a young teacher at Summitt Elementary, Schneider discovered and cultivated her talent of working with ADHD students and emotionally disturbed students. Using high expectations and positive reinforcement, Schneider created an environment where the students were empowered and supported, and where they learned to support each other. Read more >>

Professional Development/Skills

Tips, tools and advice from Tommy Darwin, Director of Professional Development and Community Engagement for the Graduate School

"You are a Writer and Writers Write"

Writing is the life-blood of research and scholarship.  Regardless of your field, your career path, or the type of work you produce, your success depends on your ability engage multiple audiences with your writing.  Writing, of course, is never easy.  It is made more difficult, though, by the fact that with all the writing you do as a student, you often forget to be a writer.  Some thoughts, then, on being a writer (and not just writing). Read more >>

Spotlight on Faculty

Communications School Professor Michael Mackert talks about community service, learning new fields in order to teach them, and coming to The University of Texas straight out of graduate school. Read more >>

Graduate Research at Work

Robert Pruitt, who graduated in May 2003 with an MFA in Studio Art from The
University of Texas, was recently selected as a Creative Capital Visual Artist for
2008. In addition to that honor, he has had his work featured in the Clementine
Gallery in New York City in 2004; in the Whitney Biennial in 2006; in Aljira: A
Center for Contemporary Art in Newark, New Jersey, in 2007; and he was the
artist-in-residence at ArtPace in San Antonio during the spring of 2007. During
his MFA at UT, he spent a summer at Skowhegan, an intensive nine-week summer residency program for emerging visual artists. He currently teaches painting at Texas Southern University.

Featured Graduate School Resource

GradLife can help you make the most of your experience as a graduate student at The University of Texas at Austin. GradLife is for the "whole" student - here to answer your questions, solve your challenges and connect you to the people and places that will enhance your life throughout your time at UT Austin. GradLife offers resources for your success in five categories: Academics, Living, Money Matters, Professional Prep, and On Campus. Enjoy exploring!

Getting a Life

Okay, so this is not a life-life, per se, but it has been one of the most emailed article topics in the New York Times since January first: Deal with your clutter! One writer notes that you won’t go for a run if you can’t find your running shoes, and the same logic holds for finding old notes, files, and books in order to write theses and dissertations. Give yourself the luxury of knowing all of the items in your domain. Whether your campus cubicle or your home, clear it out and relish the order. Spend a weekend throwing away, categorizing, filing, organizing, and then go out into the world and know that YOUR space in the world is at peace.