Graduate School Newsblog

Panel Reviewer Tips on the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

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Sponsored Program Enhancement will be hosting the following panel session, Panel Reviewer Tips on the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program on Thursday, September 22nd from noon to 1:00 in Ballroom 3 of the Memorial Union. Panel speakers include:

Dr. Michele Miller, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics

Dr. Linda Ott, Computer Science

Dr. Aurenice Oliveira, Electrical Engineering Technology

Drinks and dessert will be served.  Registration for the panel session is available at: http://www.admin.mtu.edu/research/vpr/registration/index.php?session_id=57.  Please contact Jodi Lehman (jglehman@mtu.edu) with any questions.

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Tech among Four Michigan Schools Named Top National Universities

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Michigan Tech joins three other Michigan schools ranked among the top universities in the nation in US News & World Report’s 2012 edition of “Best Colleges.”

In addition to Michigan Tech, Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Western Michigan University were all included in US News’ list of the nation’s top national universities. Now ranked 115, Michigan Tech continues its climb on the list, a spot it shares with Washington State University, Howard University in Washington, DC, and the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota.

“We can’t infer too much from a small change in our ranking, but it is going in the right direction, from 121 in 2010, to 117 in 2011, to 115 today,” said Max Seel, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “We are making progress toward our goal of becoming a premier technological research university.” Among the nation’s public universities, Michigan Tech was ranked 57, the same as in 2011.

Also, Michigan Tech joins Michigan State and the University of Michigan on the “Best Colleges” list of top US engineering schools whose highest degree is a doctorate. Tech was ranked 66, up from 74 in 2011. “We’re in very good company,” said Dean Tim Schulz (COE). “It’s gratifying to be recognized by our peers as one of the leading engineering programs, both within Michigan and nationwide.”

In addition, Tech was included among the “A-Plus Schools for B Students,” a category comprising top-quality universities that also admit a significant proportion of students with ACT scores between 20 and 30. “This speaks to the attention our undergraduate students are receiving,” said Seel. “It highlights the level and quality of our education and is an important indicator of student satisfaction.”

Rankings don’t tell the whole story, he added. “While we appreciate the recognition from US News, we know that the best measure of our success is the success of our graduates,” Seel said. “Employers recognize the value of a Tech education. We already have 225 companies signed up to recruit our students during the upcoming fall Career Fair, up from 160 a year ago, so we can expect to surpass last year’s placement rate of 87.5 percent.”

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Spring 2012 Finishing Fellowship Nominations Open

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Nominations for spring Finishing Fellowships are now open. Applications must be submitted to the Graduate School no later than 4pm on October 26th.

Students are eligible if all of the following criteria are met:

  1. Must be a PhD student.
  2. Must expect to finish in spring.
  3. Must have submitted no more than one previous request for funding.
  4. Must be eligible for Research Only Mode in spring.

Previous recipients of a Finishing Fellowship are not eligible.

Please see our application page for details on the application procedure. Please direct any questions you have about the application or review process to Debra Charlesworth.

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AAHHE/USDA-NIFA/TAMUCC Outstanding Thesis Competition

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This competition is open to any Hispanic who has completed a thesis that focuses on Food and the Agricultural Sciences, between December 2010 and August 30, 2011.  Theses are eligible if they are in domains related to the USDA priority areas, including

  • Food Safety
  • Climate Change
  • Sustainable Energy
  • Childhood Obesity

The top three winners will be invited and sponsored to attend the 7th Annual AAHHE National Conference (March 8-10, 2012) in Costa Mesa, California to present their theses and receive their award, as well as participate in a Career Preparation Institute. The first place winner will receive an award of $3,000, the second place winner will receive $2,000, and the third place winner will receive $1,000.

Deadline to submit a thesis abstract for the competition:  September 30, 2011, 5pm CST.

For additional details concerning the requirements and regulations, please refer to the AAHHE website.

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Tech’s Enrollment Tops 7,000

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With well over 7,000 students, enrollment is at its second-highest point since 1983.

Data reported to the State Budget Office on Wednesday, Sept. 7, show total enrollment at 7,031, a 1 percent increase over fall 2010’s official figure of 6,976.

Female enrollment is up for the sixth straight year to an all-time high of 1,837, or 26.1 percent of the student body.

Graduate enrollment increased approximately 5 percent, with a record 1,303 students seeking master’s and PhD degrees, up from 1,256 in fall 2010. “We broke through 1,300 for the first time and processed 3,000 applications, another record number,” said Jacqueline Huntoon, dean of the Graduate School. “Graduate enrollment continues to increase in accordance with our strategic-plan goal of having 3,000 grad students by 2035.”

“Of our on-campus enrollment, growth is strongest among international students, and we are very pleased that students are drawn here from all over the world to pursue a graduate degree,” she said. Many are self-supporting or are supported by their employers or home countries, she noted. “They provide an economic boost both to the University and to the local community.”

Another area of growth is distance learning. The number of students seeking a graduate degree online is up markedly, from 58 to 106.

Undergraduate enrollment is up as well, with 5,728 students compared to last year’s 5,720. The number of new first-year students grew from 1,115 to 1,161, an increase of approximately 4 percent. The freshman class will also include more women: 288 as compared to 273 in 2010.

In addition, the academic credentials of the entering freshman class are up for the sixth straight year, with a record-setting average ACT composite score of 26.4, compared to last year’s 26.1.

“Smart, adventurous students want to study with other smart, adventurous students,” explained John Lehman, assistant vice president of enrollment services.

The enrollment count also reflects the fact that more students are staying at the University. The retention rate from undergraduates’ first to second year of study has risen to 83.3 percent, approximately 2.5 percent higher than 2010’s 80.9 percent.

The COMPASS program employs a variety of strategies to improve student retention. “Our orientation program helps new students acclimate to the community and learn about the resources that can make them successful,” said Director Susan Liebau. The office offers special services for transfer and commuter students, along with the ExSEL program, which combines leadership development with tips for improving academic performance.

In addition, the University tracks first-year students’ mid-term grades and has stepped up efforts to reach out to those who are struggling. “That’s been one of our most effective efforts to ensure the success of students,” Liebau said.

Published in Tech Today
by Marcia Goodrich, senior writer

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BRC Travel Grants for Fall Semester

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The BRC travel grants provide financial assistance to graduate students, undergraduate students and postdoctoral scientists who present their research at scientific meetings. The BRC travel grants promote biotechnological research and achievement.

The awards are merit-based and are offered twice per year. The fall deadline is Friday, Oct. 14, and the spring deadline is April 13.

To apply, complete the application form available at Biotech. Provide all the necessary documentation as specified in the application instructions. Send application materials to Mary Tassava via email. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Awards will be announced near the end of the award month.

For more information, contact Tassava at 487-2959 or mltassav@mtu.edu .

Published in Tech Today

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Seminar on Competitive Fellowships

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Many federal agencies solicit highly competitive graduate fellowship/scholarship applications. In particular, Michigan Tech students have had success with the following:

The Sponsored Program Enhancement office is offering a series of seminars/workshops to help eligible domestic first-year graduate students and senior undergraduate students understand what opportunities are available and help them develop a competitive application.

  • Overview of Funding Opportunities
    Sept. 8, 4 to 5 p.m., Memorial Union Peninsula Room
  • Writing the Personal Essay and References
    Sept. 15, noon to 1 p.m., Memorial Union Peninsula Room
  • Tips from Real Panel Reviewers
    Sept. 22, noon to 1 p.m., Memorial Union Ballroom B3
  • Writing Research Essays
    Sept. 6, 4 to 5 p.m., Memorial Union Peninsula Room
  • Peer Review Workshop
    Sept. 13, 4 to 5 p.m., Memorial Union Peninsula Room
  • Peer Review Workshop
    Sept. 20, noon to 1 p.m., Memorial Union Ballroom A2

For more information, contact Jodi Lehman at jglehman@mtu.edu .

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Boren Fellowships

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Boren Fellowships provide up to $30,000 to U.S. graduate students to add an important international and language component to their graduate education through specialization in area study, language study, or increased language proficiency. Boren Fellowships support study and research in areas of the world that are critical to U.S. interests, including Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East. The countries of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are excluded.  For a complete list of countries, click here.

To find out more about Boren Fellowships please, click here.

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DOD SMART and NDSEG scholarships

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The Science, Mathematics And Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program has been established by the Department of Defense (DoD) to support undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines.  Find out more about this opportunity at:

http://smart.asee.org/

The National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship is a highly competitive, portable fellowship that is awarded to U.S. citizens and nationals who intend to pursue a doctoral degree in one of fifteen supported disciplines. NDSEG confers high honors upon its recipients, and allows them to attend whichever U.S. institution they choose.

Find out more about this opportunity at:

http://ndseg.asee.org/about_ndseg

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Nominations sought for MAGS Thesis Award

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The Executive Committee of the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools (MAGS) is soliciting nominations for the 2012 MAGS Distinguished Master’s Thesis Awards to recognize and reward distinguished scholarship and research at the master’s level.  Michigan Tech may nominate one candidate.

Eligible students will have earned a master of science degree between October 1, 2010 to September 30, 2011.

Please see our web page for complete details on eligibility and application procedures.  Nominations are due no later than 4pm, October 10th to Debra Charlesworth in the Graduate School.

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