Graduate Education Week February 4-8

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Graduate students present their projects during last year’s Graduate Education Week competition. Students will compete from prizes again this year.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas will celebrate the contributions of its graduate students during Graduate Education Week, Monday, Feb. 4 through Friday, Feb 8. Events include a reception for current and past distinguished doctoral fellows; a Graduate School fair and town hall meeting, workshops for graduate students, and seminars for undergraduates interested in applying to graduate school; and a graduate student competition.

 “As a research university and the Arkansas land-grant university, graduate students are vital to the University of Arkansas,” said Sharon Gaber, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. “They teach courses and labs, they do research alongside our faculty, and they serve the university in many other ways. They are essential to us as a Carnegie very high research university. We really could not run an institution of this size and quality without talented and dedicated graduate students.”

Graduate Education Week kicks off Monday Feb. 4 with the Graduate School fair in the Union International Connections Lounge from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  The Graduate School town hall meeting for students will follow at 3:30 pm in the Multicultural Center. Workshops for graduate students throughout the week will cover topics such as applying for federal grants, preparing a thesis or dissertation for submission, and the importance of mentoring.  

On Thursday evening, Feb. 7, the university will host a reception for current and alumni distinguished doctoral fellows, doctoral academy fellows, and their faculty mentors. On Friday, Feb. 8, Graduate Education Week culminates with a graduate student competition titled “From Abstract to Contract: Graduate Student Research and Creative Expression Competition.” More than 120 graduate students from all academic areas will present results of their research and creative work and compete for prizes.

“We’re looking forward to seeing the work our graduate students will display this year,” said James Rankin, vice provost for research and economic development. “By participating, our graduate students prepare to present at national conferences. Pre- and post-competition workshops and seminars give students the presentation skills and confidence to successfully interact with professionals they will meet at those conferences.”

The public viewing and judging portion of the competition will be from 1 to 3 p.m. at Mullins Library. Refreshments will be served.

Many of the academic colleges and departments will host activities to recognize their graduate students throughout Graduate Education Week. Graduate students should check with their departments for events. The university will also host graduate school deans from around the state for an Arkansas graduate education meeting.

For more information about Graduate Education Week, visit http://grad.uark.edu/gradedweek or contact Diane Cook, director of graduate student activities at the University of Arkansas, 479-575-2350 or dlcook@uark.edu.