Academic Excellence Goals for the University of Vermont

Goal 8: Increase enrollments in graduate and professional programs

A Presentation to the Educational Policy and Institutional Resources Committee

David V. Rosowsky, Provost and Senior Vice PresidentCindy Forehand, Dean of the Graduate College

May 15, 2015

1. Increase the percentage of undergraduate students graduating in four years

2. Improve undergraduate student retention, years 1-43. Improve student advising, both academic and pre-professional/career4. Increase interdisciplinary teaching, research

and scholarship5. Expand programmatic offerings to include distance and hybrid modes

of instructional delivery6. Increase research and scholarship in areas that generate high impact,

recognition and visibility7. Increase domestic diversity and grow international student enrollments across the University

8. Increase enrollments in graduate and professional programs

The Academic Excellence Goals

Objectives

• Describe taxonomy of graduate degrees• Describe landscape of UVM graduate programs• Discuss why UVM should increase its graduate

population• Discuss how UVM can increase its graduate

population

Considering the Options

Professional or Research Intensive

• Professional degrees prepare the graduate to practice a specific profession

• Research intensive degrees prepare the graduate to create new knowledge– More flexible in training and career opportunities– Doctoral level students typically supported by

assistantships

• Either can be at the masters or doctoral level, reflecting different degrees of training and/or independence

UVM Graduate Degree Programs• Masters programs

– Thesis-based– Project-based– Course-based– Professional Masters– Online Masters– Accelerated Masters Programs – early graduate program

entrance and double counting 6-9 credits for UVM undergraduate students

• Doctoral programs– Dissertation-based– Practice-based professional programs

Graduate Student Roles

• Student• Scholar• Teacher• Mentor• Professional• Ambassador• Creator of new knowledge• And Key to Faculty Success!

PhD

DNP, EdD, DPT

MS

MA

Professional Mas-ter's

PhD, MS, MA

Professional Degrees

DPT, DNP, EdD, MAcc, MAT, MBA,MEd, MPA, MPH, MS, MSD, MST, MSW

PhD, MS, MA

Professional Degrees includ-ing MD

PhD

DNP, EdD, DPT

MS

MA

Professional Mas-ter's

MD

UVM Graduate Enrollment Distribution

• Key component of President's Strategic Action Plan and Provost's Academic Excellence Goals

• Enhance intellectual vibrancy (good mix at research universities is 3-4:1 UG/G; UVM is 5.4:1 including MD, 7.2:1 without MD)

• Enhance UVM reputation in research and scholarship• Enhance faculty productivity• Increase community of graduate (and postdoctoral) students• Provide role models and mentors for undergraduates• Meet student need• Vermont workforce development (64% of master’s students are

Vermont residents)• Increase revenue

Growing UVM’s Graduate Population - Why?

2012. Hard Times, College Majors, Unemployment and Earnings: Not All College Degrees Are Created Equal http://cew.georgetown.edu/report/hard-times/

Workforce Development, Economic Growth & Student Need

Workforce Development, Economic Growth & Student Need

• Goal for May 2020: Increase the graduate student population by 400 students, 140 of whom are international

• 30% growth in graduate student number• Percentage of international graduate students increases from 10% to 15%• Brings UG/G to 5.5:1 (or 4.4:1 with MD students included)

• Realizing the goal• Increase international enrollment• Increase accelerated masters options and recruitment • Increase capacity in existing programs – IBB provides the opportunity• Develop new high quality programs consistent with UVM vision and

mission and that meet student need – IBB provides the opportunity• Enhance recruitment and student support

Growing UVM’s Graduate Population - How?

Percent Change in International Applications From 2013 to 2104 by Geographic Region

Change in International Enrollments from 2013 to 2014

UVM -5%National 8%

Average Annual % Change in international enrollments from 2008-2013

UVM 1%National 2.9%

Increase International Enrollment

National trends show greatest current growth opportunity in masters programs.

Increase International Enrollment

• Active recruitment - be visible– Raised language proficiency standard for direct

admits to facilitate success

• Global Gateway Program (GGP)– Advertise accelerated masters programs to

successful GGP undergraduates– Develop a Pre-masters Program (PMP)

Increasing Capacity

• Increase capacity in current and new programs– IBB allows program growth and quality enhancement with a

clear understanding of the balance between revenues and expenses

• Develop new programs– Respond to national trends/needs

• MS in Medical Science• Complex Systems and Data Science MS• PhD in Food Systems

– Distance education • Public Health programs (MPH, CPH, CEPH)• Concentration in Leadership for Sustainability, MS in Natural Resources

Enhance Recruitment and Student Support

• Active recruitment– Publicize our strengths– Target international students– Target domestic diversity– Customer relationship management approach to

admissions

• Enhance graduate student professional development– Writing Center

• Dissertation writing boot camps• Grant writing workshops

– Teaching certificate– Career services

Enhance Recruitment and Student Support

• Enhance research doctoral student support - stipend level and number– Stipend levels must be competitive to attract the best

students – Tuition on grants– Training grants– Philanthropy

• Professional student support – Decrease out of state tuition – Scholarships– Philanthropy

• Key component of President's Strategic Action Plan and Provost's Academic Excellence Goals

• Enhance intellectual vibrancy • Enhance UVM reputation in research and scholarship• Enhance faculty productivity• Increase community of graduate (and postdoctoral) students• Provide role models and mentors for undergraduate students• Meet student need• Vermont workforce development• Increase revenue

Growing UVM’s Graduate Population - Why?