The 鶹ӳ is delighted to note that the Graduate School’s GradFIT program has been selected as this year’s recipient of the Innovative Program Award.
GradFIT was developed to bring an awareness of the advantages that a graduate education can provide to first-generation and underrepresented students, who have historically had limited exposure to graduate school opportunities. The free-to-students, five-day, residential program introduces potential masters and doctoral students to the opportunities and expectations of graduate school and gives students tools to overcome the challenges of a graduate program.
Participants attend workshops, tour the 鶹ӳ campus and labs, meet with faculty and current graduate students and learn about the many varied career choices afforded by a graduate education. They receive tips on developing a competitive application, get advice on choosing and communicating with faculty and learn about assistantships, fellowships, and other financial assistance available to graduate students. As a result of attending GradFIT, students increase their awareness of the benefits of post-graduate education. They feel prepared to embark on graduate studies and build their confidence to be successful graduate students. This is all accomplished in one short week, setting this program uniquely apart from any others.
The work done in GradFIT benefits not only participants but also the wider graduate school community of enrolled students, future applicants and academic faculty. Across campus, recruitment and training events use the professional and educational development activities designed in programs like GradFIT to cultivate diversity, improve communication and build transferable skills among students and faculty alike. GradFIT provides training in technical and interpersonal skills and enables first-generation and underrepresented students to be competitive not only for graduate school but also for jobs requiring these skills. Thereby, the workforce needs of our state’s diversifying economy are addressed, helping to stem the "brain drain" that has plagued 鶹ӳ for so long.
To date, GradFIT has served more than 600 students through strategic partnerships with Minority Serving Institutions across 鶹ӳ and California. As a diversity recruitment program, the cohorts are about 40% Hispanic/Latino and roughly 60% of those reporting are first-generation college students.
The NASPA Innovative Program Award is conferred upon an institution or individual who has developed and implemented an outstanding program that furthers the growth of students and enhances life on campus. Reviewers look for new ideas, methods, or programs, which result in improved educational activities, services or management for an individual campus community or group of campus communities.
Director of Postdoctoral Affairs, Graduate Recruitment, and Diversity Initiatives, Loren Pietsch will accept the award on behalf of the Graduate School, at the NASPA Western Region V Conference in early November in San Diego, CA.
