I am delighted to share some updates from the UNLV Graduate College. I assumed my role as the vice provost for graduate education and dean of the Graduate College at UNLV approximately one year ago, and what a year it’s been!
One of the most exciting things to happen over the past year was an increase in state funding to strengthen our graduate assistant (GA) program. GAs are critical to our mission at UNLV. They perform a variety of duties ranging from teaching undergraduate classes to grading exams and papers, conducting research, and engaging in professional activities in various campus units. They are a central component of UNLV being classified as a Carnegie “R1” or “Very High Research” university, putting us in the top 3% of universities in the nation! This funding will allow us to better support our graduate students who are doing such important work here at the university, in our community, and around the world.
As we work to better support our GAs, we are also working to better serve all of our graduate students. Recent initiatives over the past year have focused on access, working to make post-baccalaureate degrees within reach for anyone who wants one. This initiative includes increasing fundraising for scholarships across all disciplines, expanding our Community Internship Graduate Assistantship program, and increasing support for students who find themselves experiencing food insecurity.
If you would like to get involved or support any of these initiatives, please visit our support page or contact our new Director of Development Katherine Freund.
I invite you to read about some of our students' accomplishments below, and I hope they inspire you like they do me. I am so proud to be part of this university and am looking forward to the academic year ahead.
It is such a pleasure to connect with you.
Graduate College Launches My Professional Origin Story Speaker Series
UNLV President Keith E. Whitfield helped the Graduate College on Oct. 4 launch its new My Professional Origin Story speaker series, which highlights the professional journeys of UNLV faculty and administrators.
UNLV Receives State Funding to Strengthen Graduate Assistant Program
Beginning in fall 2023, graduate assistant (GA) stipends as well as the total number of doctoral graduate assistantships at UNLV increased after the Nevada Legislature approved funding during its 82nd session.
“Graduate assistants make significant contributions to our university’s teaching and research missions every day, and this legislation is an important step forward in helping us to recruit and retain these talented professionals,” said UNLV President Keith E. Whitfield.
Over the next two fiscal years, UNLV will receive more than $8 million to boost state-funded GA stipends and more than $6 million to increase the number of state-funded doctoral GAs.
The funding from the state does not include stipend increases for extramurally funded GA positions; but, each unit has been made responsible for bringing all stipends up to the new mandatory minimums, regardless of the funding source. This includes all campus-funded GAs, grant-funded GAs, as well as those funded by gift or program accounts.
Graduate College to Launch Foundations of a Grant Lifecycle Badge
To lead research, students need to fund their ideas. Grant writing is an essential skill necessary to secure financial support. While anyone can apply for a grant, even the best researchers need guidance to create compelling and competitive proposals.
That’s why the Graduate College is launching the Foundations of a Grant Lifecycle Badge, a free program with research- and expert-informed content to help graduate and professional students learn about researching funding opportunities, assessing fit, crafting winning proposals, and managing awarded grants.
