New program will help grad students adjust to campus

IU's Graduate and Professional Student Organization will kick off a new program Friday geared toward building a stronger community and work environment for those in graduate school. The program, called "Breaking and Entering," a tongue-in-cheek reference to the film "Breaking Away," was created to help students "break" into everyday life on the IU campus as they enter a new phase in their lives.\nGPSO Campus Liason John Scott explained that the program was created to help students in graduate school meet people outside of their departments for both professional and social purposes.\n"Students come in and get caught up in their work so quickly they never get a chance to reach outside of their department," Scott said. "Now they can exchange methods and interests. ... It really touches on what a university should be."\nGPSO Moderator Paul Rohwer said graduate students have expressed for years their desire to meet with people outside of their area of study.\n"The isolation in the graduate school has been a problem for years," Rohwer said. "Now students will be able to mingle outside of their department, which will benefit them socially and professionally."\nThe first "Breaking and Entering" program will convene Friday for a reception in the Grad Pad of the Indiana Memorial Union. Incoming students who showed interest in the program were randomly selected and will be placed into groups of six composed of one faculty member, one older grad student and four incoming students. All six people will represent different departments at the University.\nAssistant Dean of Research and the University Graduate School Yolanda Treviño said this will help incoming graduate students settle on campus, introduce them to different methods of doing research and help them cope with stress.\n"When they get connected to older folks outside of their department, they will be exposed to different styles and research methods, which will help them in their work." Treviño said. "Meeting with older students, someone who has lived and survived the first year, will help these incoming students cope with stress."\nThe meetings give the incoming students a chance to step away from their work and have social interaction with people who have been through, or are going through, what they are going through. These relaxed settings will give everyone involved an opportunity to share ideas and suggestions to improve their work. Departments will have the chance to collaborate on research that will benefit all fields in the graduate school.\nTreviño said the more ideas students have surrounding them, the better opportunity there is to enjoy success in whatever they do.\n"The best research I have is when I interact outside of my department," Treviño said.\nScott hopes the social aspect of the program will provide the graduate students with the support they need to excel in their work at IU.\n"The more social circles you have, the more legs you have to stand on," Scott said. "This program will ultimately improve the experience these students have at IU"