Investment in the Future: MSU Graduate Education

FRANK EINHELLIGAssociate Provost and

Dean of the Graduate College

September 10, 2008

President’s Themes for 2008-09• Foster our student’s success• Enrich our Public Affairs mission• Transform our campuses• Strengthen our competitiveness• Engage our communities• Advance our understanding

Key Graduate Connections to Themeso Strengthen Recruitment, Marketing, Enrollmento Further develop aspects of community engagement, cultural

competence, and ethical leadershipo Advance Research and External Funding

I. Then, Now, and Tomorrow

Graduate Programs

Graduate Students

Faculty &Mentoring

Environment

SustainableSolutions

MSU Graduate Enrollment History

Graduate ‘Access’ Opportunities

Fall 2005 Fall 2008

No. Degree Programs 43 48

No. Accelerated Master’s Program Options

11 16

No. Grad. Certificates 9 17

Degree Programs Online* 2 7

*At least 90% online. Prgs with multiple tracks may have online available.

Graduate Headcount & Credit Hour Production by College

Total Credit Hours = 23,729Total Enrollment = 3,273

FA08 - Largest Graduate Programs by Headcount

Program EnrollmentBusiness Administration (MBA) 438Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) 144Counseling (MS) 133Special Education (MSEd) 126Elementary Education (MSEd) 101Educational Administration (MSEd) 101Accountancy (MAcc) 98

Graduate Degrees Conferred

822

Fiscal Year (SU, FA, SP)

Graduate Enrollment:Comparison to Benchmark Peers

Headcount % of Total

MSU (Fall 07) 3,093* 16.0 Average of 11Benchmark Peers 3,138 17.3

Subset of 6 Peers /wGreater % Grad. 3,664 20.5_____*IPED-based data; not MSU Enrollment Services

FA08 Graduate Student Profile

75.8%From Missouri13.3%Out-of-State (41 states)10.8%International (46 countries) 4.9% Minority58.9% Female42.7%Full-time (9 or more hours)22.9%“First-time" degree-seeking students

As of 9/8/08

Minority and International Graduate Student Enrollments

Time-to-Degree: AY 02-07 Graduates (6 years)

Graduate Programs

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Geo

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1

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6 Masters Mean = 3.10

CHHS COALCNASCHPA COECOBA

Master’s Graduates: Time to Degree Snapshot

Quality Is Central to Success

• Accreditation standing• Licensure outcomes• Student placements

– Ph.D. programs– Career / positions

• Professional activity of students & faculty

• Faculty responsiveness and dedication to program

• External funding to support students

• Grants & contracts• Research achievement

– Thesis; publications– Presentations

• External perception – what others say

• Program completion rate

Each graduate program must highlight the strengths that establish their excellence!

Successes on Licensure Exams

No. StudentsProgram Rept. Period Pass Rate** Since Inception Pass Rate*

PT 2008 Class 95.8% 87 95.4%

PAS 2007 Class 100% 147 99%

FNP AY07-08 100% 68 100%

NA 2008 Class 77% 112 100%

CSD AY07-08 100% 20 100%

AuD AY07-08 95% Two prior years 90%

*Collective pass including retakes. Some have not yet sat for a retake!**First time pass rate.

Master’s Theses Completed

Graduate Assistantships

487

II. Graduate ERA: Enrollment, Retention, Advisement

Recruit

Respect Retain

Graduate

Mentor

Graduate Enrollment:Stated in the Long Range PlanGoals• 3,000 to 3,500 fall headcount students• Double the number of UG students in Accelerated

Master’s programsStrategies• Expansion of distance learning offerings• Add selected new graduate programs• Add more Accelerated Master’s options and extend

to other local colleges• Expand Graduate Certificate programs• Increase number of international students

Why? Further develop excellence Position MSU to meet student needs within the public

affairs mission, the state, and society Better achieve research and scholarship goals

Request to Colleges: Evaluate graduate enrollment targets for 2009, identifying

possible program increases ......and Put into action strategies to achieve the target

The Goal:Increase number and percent of graduate studentsIncrease applications and potential selectivity

Improve Marketing & Visibility

• Recast many program websites • Program brochure development • Targeted Feeder-School Contact – personal

faculty contacts and relationships

NOTE:

Some assistance will be available from the new Graduate Coordinator for Admissions and Recruitment

MSU Trends, Changing Assumptions, and Perspectives• Graduate credit hours have increased each year, even

though Fa03-05 headcounts declined.• Percentage of full-time graduate students has

increased over the last 5 years. [anticipate now more steady-state]

• Student demand for degree “access” continues to increase, and online courses have been well received. [expect this to continue.]

• Students with UG degrees from MSU are a significant component of the graduate population. [hope to increase this source]

Keys to Graduate Student Recruitment and Attending MSU

• Location – proximity to them• Program availability – must have the program

of interest; need availability of a diversity of programs

• Access – time, place, mode of delivery• Excellence of program; faculty reputation• Financial – cost; assistance available…

New Programs Since Fall 05 (As of Fall 2008)

Degree Programs• MS, Early Childhood &

Family Development• MS, Student Affairs• MS, Project Mgmt.• MS, Criminology• MS, Applied

Anthropology• DPT (replacing MPT)

Accelerated Master’s• Religious Studies• Theatre• Project Management• Communications• Plant Science

Prior Education of MSU Graduate Students

Number with Prior MSU DegreeAssociates……… 6Bachelors………. 1,314Masters…………. 76

Total 1,396 (44.3%)

Fa07 DataGraduate Enrollment 3,150

Recruitment Suggestions and Discussion Points: I

• Increase linkages with MSU UG Programs– Market health-care graduate programs to UG– Increase utilization of Accelerated Master’s we have, and

expand these program options for students.– Utilize Senior permission effectively in advising– Better connections to MSU Honor’s program– Make connections between UG & Grad research– Enhance infusion of graduate information into Master

Advisor training and Career Center

Accelerated Program Enrollments

As of 9/8/08

MSU Accelerated Programs - Fall 2008Program Total Students Total Accelerated % of TotalM.Acc. 98 46 47%M.B.A. 403 32 8%M.N.A.S. 26 5 19%M.S. Geospatial Sci. 34 4 12%M.S. Chemistry 15 3 20%M.S. Mathematics 17 2 12%M.P.A. 29 2 7%M.S. Cell/Molec. Biology 11 1 9%M.S. Project Mgmt. 28 1 4%M.S. Biology 40 0 -M.S. Materials Science 13 0 -M.S. Nursing 36 0 -M.S. Religious Studies 29 0 -As of 9/8/08

Recruitment Suggestions and Discussion Points: II• Expand program offerings

– Online (complete the Fa07-approved online courses for degree programs and certificates)

– Expand non-traditional time, place, and mode-of-delivery

• Recruit with Financial Help Opportunities– Graduate Assistantship opportunities– MOGO– Utilize Incentives Effectively (available Fa08 only)

Graduate Student Credit Hours Generated by Non-Traditional Course Method

9,123

8,199

Graduate Online Available*

Degree Programs• M.S., Admin. Studies• M.S., CIS• M.A., History (American

Studies Track)• M.S., Project Mgt.• M.S. Nursing, (Nurse Educ.

Specialization)• MSED, Elem. Educ.• MSED, Special Educ.

– Visual Impairment– Orientation and Mobility

Graduate Certificates• Instructional Technology• Post Master’s Nurse Educator• Project Management• Sports Management• Homeland SecurityTeacher Certification• Blind and Partially Sighted

Approved for Development**• Courses for Theatre MA• Conflict & Dispute Resolution• Fire Service Leadership*Some at approx. 90% online

**In progress

Financial Incentives

Graduate Assistantships 493 (as of 9/8/08) Stipends of $7340 or $9730

(up 4%) A few quarter-time GA’s

with 10 hr/wk & 6 hr maximum fee waivers

Needed: More recruitment done

with our GA availability More grant-funded GA’s

Fa08 Incentives G.I.F.T = 10 Graduate ‘Complete

Your Degree’ = 21

MOGO (Fa08) 75 awarded

Enrollment Suggestions and Discussion Points: IIIExpand Research Mentoring• Can we increase use of qualified individuals in Centers and

organizations beyond MSU?

I will ask the Graduate Council this year to review the required structure of thesis committees!

• Integrate internships into selected programs where this opportunity does not currently exist.

Expand Program & Research Collaborations• Degree program collaboration extend our resources• Research collaborations should further strengthen graduate

work.

Existing Formal CollaborationsSOME EXAMPLES

Degree Programs• MAT offered jointly with

MSSU; new group at West Plains

• Plant Science dual-master’s with China Agric. U (could work for other programs)

• MBA “Twinning” with ISMS• Contracts for MBA cohorts

from China business personnel

• Library Science coop. program with UM-C

Research • JVIC partners• Plant Science partnerships

with Danforth Foundation, UMC, China Agric., etc.

• National Park Service– Great Rivers Coop

Ecosystem Studies Unit– Vital Signs Monitoring

• Missouri Archeological Soc.• Ozarks Educ. Res. Initiative

funded by 10 school district• Southwest Area Health Educ.

Center (SwAHEC)

Enrollment Suggestions IV: Targeted Opportunities

• MAT – offer a spring cohort, evening classes; consider a non-cohort approach for classes

• Theatre – focus on teacher market with online program

• Secondary Education – develop and market a planned cycle of course offerings according to discipline

• MPA -- consider market and feasibility of program delivery to a targeted distance-learning site, weekend and other format

Success: Program Completion

All Grad Students Starting Programs• 1998-1999 70% graduated• 1999-2000 71% graduated• Date on completion by program varies widely --

40 to 100% in these years• Based on a subset of the data, few complete after

4 years.

Open QuestionsWhat is an acceptable rate in your program?Program steps to improve completion?

III. Creating a Public Affairs Environment

“Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable. We are faced now with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history there is such a thing as being too late….We may cry out desperately for time to pause in her passage, but time is deaf to every plea and rushes on. Over the bleached bones and jumbled residues of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words: Too late.”

Marin Luther King Jr.

How does MSU graduate education and the graduate programs reflect the public affairs elements of ethical leadership, community engagement, and cultural competency?

Answers are many and varied.

One Element: RESEARCH

- research of our students

- research can improve the future for community

- challenge to stimulate student involvement

- external funding helps support our research and outreach

Research Collaborations -- Support Graduate Programs and Public AffairsExamples:• 2 China-based Ph.D. students will do their doctoral research

and some class work at MSU for the next 18 months, supported by China scholarships (1 with Dr. Barnhart; 1 with Dr. Qiu)

• 2 China Agricultural U. faculty members will spend a 3 month professional development period at Mountain Grove this fall term.

• 1 China Agricultural U. faculty member will spend a sabbatical in the spring term at Mountain Grove.

• 1 senior-level student from Poland spent an 08 summer internship doing research at Mountain Grove.

Necessities for Good Research

FACULTY – with ideas, creativity, focus

Infrastructure – space, equipment, support systems

Time

Work Expectations -- motivation, incentives, rewards

FY # of Proposals Millions of DollarsSubmitted Awards Request Awarded

04 329 252 $38.9 $15.405 313 239 $49.8 $16.606 198 151 $32.3 $18.107 226 154 $41.2 $21.708 252 142 $39.1 $22.5

Sponsored Program ActivityFY 2004 - 2008

Incentives for Grants and Research:University Level• Proposal Development Funding

– Course reassignment Funding– Travel Grant funding to consult with Agencies– Equipment Grant matching funds

• Summer Faculty Fellowships• Faculty Research Grants• Faculty Grant Supplemental Pay Awards• Indirect Cost sharing with Dept and PI• GA Fee Waiver provided by MSU for grants• Graduate student research assistance

– Thesis Funding– Travel for Research Presentations

Grant Infrastructure: University

• Pre-Award Service Highlights– Identification of funding sources– Proposal Development Specialists (reinstated position

after a year’s absence)– Workshops on competitive proposal development– Proposal submission, tracking, negotiation

• Research Compliance Infrastructure –IRB, IACUC, Biosafety, Radiation, Export Control, Misconduct, etc.

• Post-Award Accounting and Financial Reporting

College Grant & Research Initiatives: All Colleges• Provide summer research fellowships for new

faculty the year following hire– $6,000 minimum fellowships– Dedicated to developing research agenda

• Basic computer facilities• Selective --- equipment start-up funds

– Negotiated: Varies according to faculty need & funds available

– Start up funds also come from other sources

MSU Research Awards: 5-Yr Distribution by College

Sum. Fellowships 02-06 Rsch. Grants Fa02-Sp07

Awards Faculty Awards Faculty

COAL 31 27 15 14COBA 15 13 4 3CHHS 8 8 21 21CHPA 20 20 22 20COED 5 5 7 7CNAS 39 36 43 34LIB 3 3 0 0

Total 121 112 112 99

Deadlines: SFF = October 14, 2008 / FRG = October 6, 2008

Correlation of Internal Grants and External Grants: 2002-07

Faculty Research GrantsFaculty Awarded….99Faculty* from above that applied for external funding… 63%Faculty receiving an external grant ….. 36%

Summer FellowshipsFaculty awarded…112Faculty* from above who applied for external funding….46%Faculty receiving an external grant…….33%

*Named as PI or Co-PI (OSRP records)

Summer Fellowship Faculty applied for 352 grants

Research Grant Faculty applied for 500 grants

IV. Shared Decisions and Responsibility: The Year Ahead

Educating graduate students is at the very heart of why our institution was designated Missouri State University! We must do no less than engage in that work with enthusiasm…and do it well.

Transition to New Operational Systems

Banner• Admissions• Registration• Pre-requisites• Course Renumbering• Advising processes

Senate Actions• Review +/- grading

effects on graduate policies (Grievance Committee)

• Repeat Policy (no actions appear

necessary)

Program & Policy Issues on the Horizon

Curriculum• Possible Accelerated

Master’s programs– CSD’s EDHH; … others?

• MSAS option in Fire Service Leadership

• COED ‘curriculum & instruction’ master’s

• Program collaboration efforts underway– MBA collaboration with

Tsinghua U, China– PharmD with UMKC

(information updates)

Policy to Review• Thesis Committee

makeup• Faculty Handbook “clinical

faculty” – consider effects on Graduate Faculty (Membership Committee assignment)

• Requirement for half of a Program of Study to be at a 600 or above number

External Evaluations: AY 2008-09

Accreditation• Nursing – CCNE site

visit in March 09• Theatre – NAST site

visit in November 08

Progress Reports• DPT ….to HLC• NA …. on licensure

Grad. Program Reviews• Applied Anthropology• Criminology• Physician Assistant• Psychology• Theatre (as part of

accreditation)

Acce

ss Recruitment

Enrollment

Student Success

Graduate Marketing

Ethical Leadership

Comm

unity Engagement

Cultura

l Competence

Excellence

Quality

Resea

rch