Herbert appoints board to review graduate program

IU President Adam Herbert has appointed a graduate school task force to re-evaluate graduate education at the University for the first time in 15 years, according to an e-mail sent to faculty late last week.\n"So much has changed at the University since then that a reassessment of the philosophy, structure and administrative processes of our graduate education programs is essential," the e-mail stated. "An optimally designed and well-functioning structure for the oversight of graduate education is fundamental to our ability to attract and retain outstanding faculty."\nIn his e-mail, Herbert specifically charged the task force with finding the proper administrative structure for the graduate school, more effective ways of communicating with graduate programs at other campuses and identifying emerging challenges to graduate education at the University.\nDean of Graduate Studies John Slattery, who will serve on the task force, said the group has been formed to review decisions by former IU President Myles Brand.\n"President Herbert is reviewing such decisions, (and) in this case, he is asking what responsibilities should be assigned to the graduate school and to whom it should report," Slattery said.\nJournalism School Dean Trevor Brown, who will chair the task force, is looking to get a wide variety of opinions on graduate education at the University.\n"I want to be sure that as many people as possible in the University-wide community who are involved in graduate education have an opportunity to communicate to the task force their thoughts and concerns in response to the charge President Herbert has given the task force," Brown said.\nHe said the task force was not far enough along in its work to identify any of the challenges facing the graduate school, but Slattery identified low assistant instructor compensation and low fellowship amounts as two of the more pressing problems.\n"There are (also) broader issues about how it will best contribute to the climate for graduate study, support AIs in their duties and contribute most effectively to academic excellence at IU," Slattery said.\nPresident Herbert has asked the faculty to send their suggestions to the task force before March 12 and has requested a preliminary report by April 1 "to facilitate implementation actions ... so that we have time to share their conclusions with faculty governance, appropriate University officials and, as necessary, with the board of trustees," Herbert said. \n-- Contact senior writer Chris Freiberg at wfreiber@indiana.edu.