Tag: Graduate School

Zhang Yue, an international graduate student in electrical engineering, died Wednesday, Dec. 14, in a car accident in Ontonagon County. He leaves behind a wife and young child, currently residing in Minnesota, and family in China.

The Office of International Programs and Services is working with the Chinese Students and Scholars Association to ensure that Zhang Yue’s memory is properly honored. If you would like additional information about how you can offer your sympathy or condolences to Zhang Yue’s family, please contact Thy Yang, IPS director, at thyy@mtu.edu.

Published in Tech Today.

Across the United States, enrollment of new graduate students has declined somewhat, while the overall graduate school enrollment has increased only slightly (1.1 percent). However, those newest numbers, reported by the Council of Graduate Schools, are not reflected at Tech.

Bucking the national trend, graduate student enrollment here has increased nearly everywhere on campus. Total graduate enrollment sits at a new record of 1,303, while new master’s students have increased 6.9 percent, and new doctoral students have increased 4.3 percent.

So, why the difference?

“Students are interested in coming to our campus because of the quality of our faculty,” says Graduate School Dean Jackie Huntoon. “Many hear about us from friends and relatives who tell them that we provide great education opportunities in a wonderful place.”

According to Jacque Smith, director of graduate marketing and advancement for the Graduate School, there are other reasons.  “Of course, we provide a quality education,” he says, “and we combine a lot of resources with smaller numbers, so it’s a highly personalized graduate education.”

And research experiences at Tech are different, according to Smith. “We’ve always been known for hands-on, real-life research and lab experiences.” Less debt and more job offers are also incentives for students to seek education beyond the bachelor’s degree, he says.  “And, although it’s especially true for the STEM [science, technology, engineering, and math] disciplines, we are experiencing growth in most areas,” he says.

See enrollment for further breakdown of program enrollment data for fall.

Story originally published in Tech Today.

Lorentyna Baldus, a science teacher in Grand Rapids who went through special training with Michigan Tech faculty and graduate students in a National Science Foundation-funded program MiTEP (Michigan Teaching Excellence Program), was laid off this summer by Grand Rapids Public Schools. After being recommended by Graduate School Dean Jacqueline Huntoon, Baldus was chosen by the National Science Teachers Association to meet President Barack Obama and tell her story.

“I was able to stand on the steps of the Rose Garden during President Obama’s speech!” she wrote to Huntoon. “What an experience to meet the president and vice president!”

The dean, who described Baldus as “awesome,” said that MiTEP promotes not only better science education, but leadership among teachers.

Michigan Tech’s $4 million grant was one of only four awarded nationwide to establish math and science teacher institutes. The institutes are part of a larger NSF program called Math and Science Partnership.

Baldus said she is hoping to be called back to work soon.

by Jennifer Donovan, director of public relations
Published in Tech Today