The Graduate School at Eastern Kentucky University
THE GRADUATE QUARTERLY SUMMER 2021 Fourth Quarter – Q4 * AY 2020/2021 * April to June 2021
Congrats Dr. P!!!!!
Dr. Jerry Pogatshnik EKU Graduate School Dean (2005 – 2020)
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TABLE OF CONTENTS A.
Welcome and Overview: Graduate Student Mental Health…………………..……. 3
B.
Inside Look…3+2 Programs = SUCCESS………………..……………….…………… 6
C.
Graduate School Event Spotlight: Grad Blitz – Fall 2021…………………………… 7
D.
Systems Spotlight: Virtual Graduate Student Orientation …….……………….…… 8
E.
Fall 2021 Graduate Applications, Admissions and Enrollments...…………………. 9
F.
Spring 2021 Graduate Final Statistics……….………..…………..……….…….…..... 12
G.
EKU Graduate Council Update……………….…….………….……………..……….. 13
H.
Graduate School Communication Statistics...……………………..….……................ 18
I.
Graduation Statistics and Graduate Assistantships – Fall 2021….……….….…...… 19
J.
Social Media/Website Update…….………….…………..…………………………… 20
K.
Graduate Program Spotlight: Master of Science in Athletic Training .………...… 22
L.
Graduate Student Spotlight: Mr. Caleb Johnson…………………………………… 25
M.
Graduate School Staff Spotlight: Mr. Shaker Ezaizat…............................................... 26
N.
Upcoming Graduate School Dates of Interest………………………………………...27
O.
Graduate Program Faculty Coordinators…...................................................................29
P.
Graduate Staff Responsibilities & Contact Information…………............................... 32
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A. Welcome and Overview…Graduate Student Mental Health
“Everyone at EKU can make a positive and lasting impact on the well-being of graduate students and on the health and inclusiveness of program environments.” What keeps you up at night? What worries do you have in your life that continue to weigh you down each day? Unfortunately, graduate students are not immune to stress and in fact, recent studies have noted alarming statistics regarding the mental health crisis of this nation’s graduate students. From imposter syndrome and feelings of being out of place, to isolation and to constant short and long-term deadlines, graduate school presents serious challenges to students’ mental health. Not to mention financial challenges, relationships with advisors, faculty and colleagues, the impending job market and other life worries. According to a recent study involving a survey of 3500 graduate students at twelve public institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic, 67% of respondents scored low on wellbeing factors; 32% had symptoms of PTSD; 35% had moderate or higher levels of depression; and 33% had moderate or higher levels of anxiety (Ogilvie et al., 2020). Additionally, a 2018 Harvard University study found that 18% of doctoral students experience moderate or severe symptoms of depression and anxiety, which is more than three times the population average (Barreira et. al.).
While there is a dearth of research in this area, one study was managed approximately 30 minutes up I-75 at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Nathan Vanderford at the UK College of Medicine recognized the lack of research and collaborated with researchers at the University of Texas Health San Antonio. Their study is entitled, “Evidence for a Mental Health Crisis in Graduate Education,” and was published in the March 2018 issue of Nature Biotechnology. In short, the study found that 41 percent of graduate students scored in the moderate to severe range for anxiety and depression, respectively. Further, female and transgender students had higher rates of anxiety and depression while healthy work-life balance and positive mentoring relationships correlated with lower rates of anxiety and depression. This data indicates a need for mental health services that are focused on graduate students.
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Further, the Global Pandemic has encouraged researchers to further investigate graduate student mental health. A couple months ago (April 2021), the Council of Graduate Schools (in collaboration with the Jed Foundation) published, “Supporting Graduate Student Mental Health and Well-being: Evidence-Informed Recommendations for the Graduate Community.” The publication is effective in highlight several additional studies on graduate student mental health; however, the research outlines an evidence-based framework to guide the development of campus-wide, systematic approaches.
While the services of the outstanding EKU Counseling Center will be identified later in this article, as previously quoted, everyone at EKU can make a positive and lasting impact on the well-being of graduate students and on the mental health and inclusiveness of program environments. Supporting graduate student mental health and well-being must focus on the diversity of graduate students and their circumstances. For example, at EKU, 60% of our graduate students are online with the other 40% studying on-campus. Many work full-time or part-time jobs and rely on evenings and weekends to focus on their graduate studies. They range in age, socioeconomic status, and backgrounds. As such, a variety of strategies, practices and programs must be utilized to enable the challenging of assumptions about what graduate students look like, what their goals are, and what their stresses and challenges may be. The CGS report above gives many recommendations for different roles at the University, but a few key suggestions are identified below:
Administration and Graduate Deans: •
Ensure that campus strategic plans regarding mental health and well-being address the unique needs of graduate students.
•
Include training on graduate student mental health and well-being in orientations for new graduate students.
Graduate Program Coordinators: •
Identify points of stress around major program milestones (comprehensive examinations or thesis / dissertation processes) and develop mechanisms for supporting / mentoring students through those transitions.
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THE GRADUATE SCHOOL @ EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
•
Discuss and plan graduate student mentoring with faculty and staff. Work to establish a shared expectation that faculty will consider the whole student – not just their academic performance – in their mentoring.
Graduate Faculty: •
Be transparent and clear about expectations, including expectations that students will take the time needed to rest and care of their health and well-being.
•
Express concern and care for students who appear to be struggling and prepare to connect them to appropriate campus resources.
Graduate Students: •
Reach out to faculty and staff if they observe students in distress.
•
Embody principles of self-care and compassionate mentoring.
As previously mentioned, EKU is home to many wonderful student support service offices. One of the key offices in assisting with graduate student mental health and well-being is the EKU Counseling Center. The Center, under the direction of Dr. Melissa Bartsch, seeks to provide a safe, welcoming, and affirming environment for all persons that seek services. Those counseling services are provided at no-cost to all currently enrolled EKU students. Further, the services are confidential as delineated by Kentucky State Law and American Psychological Association (APA) Code of Ethics. Finally, there are a wide variety of services offered to EKU students to include psychotherapy and other psychological services as well as the provision of psychoeducational events and programs to increase mental health awareness within the EKU community through prevention, education, and stigma reduction. Check out their website for more information. An aspect of “One Eastern” means that we must all do our part to carry each other’s burdens. EKU will rise by lifting others. Ensure that your students understand the many resources available to them at this institution of higher education. Make sure to model the importance of work/life balance and self-care. With everyone working towards common goals, EKU will be unstoppable.
Dr. Ryan Baggett Dean, EKU Graduate School Professor, EKU Homeland Security
THE GRADUATE QUARTERLY – Q4 – AY 2020/2021
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B. INSIDE LOOK: 3+2 Programs = Student Success Eastern Kentucky University currently offers undergraduate students the opportunity to complete nine (9) graduate hours that will count towards their undergraduate degree requirement. Our 3+2 programs are geared to accelerate the student’s graduate degree completion rate while allowing students to receive the undergraduate tuition rate for the graduate courses. To be eligible, the student must be a junior or senior in standing, have a cumulative 3.0 undergraduate GPA and be enrolled in one of the following programs: 1. B.A. in English 2. B.A. in History 3. B.A. in Political Science 4. B.S. in Chemistry 5. B.S. in Cyber Systems Technology 6. B.S. in Engineering Technology Management 7. B.S. in Forensic Science 8. B.S. in Network Security & Electronics 9. B.S. in Public Health 10. B.S. in Recreation & Park Administration 3+2 enrollment forms must be completed by the student and their undergraduate advisor. The form needs the approval of the graduate program advisor, department chair and the Graduate School. No change of major form is required! Click here to access the 3+2 enrollment form. The approval process is slated to move to an electronic format during the Fall 2021 semester. For students to remain eligible, they must maintain a 3.0 GPA in both their undergraduate and graduate programs and the Graduate School will review their status at the end of each term. If you feel your students may benefit from a 3+2 program, the Graduate School is prepared to assist you with planning and implementation. Please reach out to Dr. Ryan Baggett or Holly Argo for more information.
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THE GRADUATE SCHOOL @ EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
C. EVENT SPOTLIGHT: Fall 2021 EKU Grad Blitz (Graduate Recruiting Fair)
In fall 2017, the EKU Graduate School began hosting Grad Blitz to showcase EKU’s graduate programs and provide an opportunity for students to engage with our faculty and staff. The recruiting fair is designed to potential graduate students with the ability to make an informed decision on the possibility of graduate education in their futures. Unfortunately, the Global Pandemic cancelled the event 2020, shifting the event to a completely virtual format. However, the EKU Graduate School is pleased to announce the
return of Grad Blitz to the EKU campus on Thursday, 16 September from 11 AM – 2 PM on the second floor of the Powell Building. A few exciting changes are in store this year to increase student participation and subsequent interaction. Participants will receive a punch card that that directs them to visit with a graduate program coordinator, several support service departments, on-site application assistance, and addresses aspects of graduate studies from program selection to financial resources available. Participants who complete the required sections on the card to earn an EKU “Swag Bag” with information materials on EKU’s Graduate School and a variety of box lunch options. If you are interested in having a booth at Grad Blitz, please complete the registration form, accessible at https://application.eku.edu/register/Gradblitzinvite. Additional information will be distributed in the coming months.
WHAT?
2021 EKU Grad Blitz – Graduate School Recruitment Fair
WHO?
All Students interested in Graduate Education at EKU
WHEN?
Thursday, 16 September 2021 from 11 AM to 2 PM
WHERE?
2nd Floor of the Powell Building on the EKU Campus
WHY?
Learn everything you ever wanted to know about graduate school at EKU, learn how to advance your career with a graduate education, earn a free lunch, EKU gear and enter a drawing for more prizes!!
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D. SYSTEMS SPOTLIGHT: Virtual Graduate Student Orientation
During spring 2021 and this summer, the Graduate School has been working diligently on a new and improved virtual graduate student orientation. The orientation will use EKU’s existing Blackboard infrastructure to deliver seven important modules to new and existing graduate students. As can be seen in the figure below, the modules range from overview information about graduate school and EKU campus / virtual resources, all the way to graduation.
Rather than recreate content, the orientation will rely on existing information from offices throughout the campus. This information will be supplemented with a variety of multimedia elements and web links. Additionally, the previous Graduate Assistantship site will be incorporated into the orientation for those students holding GA positions. This incorporation is intended to reduce the confusion around multiple courses. The blackboard site will go live in early August of 2021 and will include all currently enrolled graduate students at EKU. For more information on the EKU Graduate School Virtual, please contact Kelly Fox (Kelly.Fox@eku.edu) – EKU Graduate School Graduation Coordinator.
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THE GRADUATE SCHOOL @ EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
E. PRELIMINARY FALL 2021 Graduate Applications, Admissions and Enrollments Following the student life cycle, statistics for the Admissions phase of the EKU Graduate Student Life Cycle are presented in three primary categories: 1) Applications (Prospect), 2) Admissions, and 3) Enrollments (Academic Experience).
1) APPLICATIONS While some EKU graduate programs have specific program deadlines, others offer rolling admissions. Please find program specific application deadlines at the following URL: https://gradschool.eku.edu/graduate-applicationdeadlines
PRELIMINARY FALL 2021 Graduate Application Statistics: Total Applications Submitted – EKU Graduate School:
1,002
Total Applications by Level/Modality: A.
Masters/On-Campus:
336
B.
Masters/eCampus (online):
510
C.
Doctoral:
125
Total Applications by Student Type: A.
New First-Time Graduate Applicant:
921
B.
Returning:
63
C.
Non-Degree:
18
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2) ADMISSIONS At EKU, graduate students can be granted one of three types of admissions (for a list of the restrictions/requirements for provisional and probationary admits, please visit gradschool.eku.edu/admission-types): o Clear Admission: applicants who meet all the general graduate requirements and specific requirements for their program. o Provisional Admission: applicants unable to supply all the required application materials prior to admission consideration, but who otherwise meets the admission requirements, may be granted provisional admission. These students may not enroll for more than one semester without supplying complete and satisfactory credentials to move them to clear admission status. o Probationary Admission: applicants who do not meet conditions two or three of the admission requirements for clear admission (see website noted above), but who show promise for successful graduate study, may be granted probationary admission.
PRELIMINARY FALL 2021 NEW Admissions:
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o Clear Admission:
352
Students Admitted
o Provisional Admission:
195
Students Admitted
o Probationary Admission:
6
Students Admitted
THE GRADUATE SCHOOL @ EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
3) ENROLLMENTS The last statistic recorded in the admissions phase of the graduate student lifecycle is the number of students who enroll in graduate courses for the specific semester. The following graphic displays preliminary enrollment statistics for the fall 2021 semester.
PRELIMINARY FALL 2021 EKU GRADUATE ENROLLMENT DASHBOARD
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F. SPRING AND SUMMER 2021 FINAL ENROLLMENT STATISTICS SPRING 2021 - Graduate Enrollment Spring 2020:
Spring 2021:
Difference:
Percent Change:
2,326
2,371
45
2%
Graduate Full-Time:
597
631
34
6%
Graduate Part-Time:
1,729
1,740
11
1%
Graduate Applicant / Admit
316
331
15
5%
College of Business and Technology
71
76
5
7%
College of Education
650
656
6
1%
College of Health Sciences
838
854
16
2%
College of Justice and Safety
371
314
-57
15%
College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences
300
371
71
24%
College of Science
50
59
9
18%
URM
260
309
49
19%
GRADUATE TOTAL:
Summer 2021 - Graduate Enrollment Summer 2020:
Summer 2021:
Difference:
Percent Change:
1,733
1,634
-99
6%
1,371
1,395
24
2%
Graduate – First Time Applicant
272
186
-86
32%
Graduate – Returning
38
28
-10
26%
Graduate – Non-Degree
48
23
-25
52%
URM
198
214
16
8%
Graduate Enrollment: Graduate – Continuing
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THE GRADUATE SCHOOL @ EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
G.
EKU Graduate Council Update
There was only one monthly meeting of the EKU Graduate Council convened in the FY 21 4th quarter, which was held on Friday, April 16, 2021. The Graduate Council does not meet in the summer. The following section will highlight Graduate Council updates in four categories: 1) Graduate Faculty Nominations and 2) Graduate Curriculum Reviews, 3) Leadership Transitions, and 4) the EKU Graduate Council AY 2021/2022 Schedule.
1.
Graduate Faculty Nominations The Faculty Affairs Subcommittee (chaired by Dr. Ida Slusher) nominated the following individuals to their respective graduate faculty categories during the Q4 Graduate Council Meetings. The nominations were approved by the Graduate Council. College of Education: Krista Adams College of Health Sciences: Mary Sciaraffa College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences: Christina Carrucci, Jennifer Fairchild, Matthew Johnson, Lawrence Nelson, Nathan Siler and Rachel Taylor Congratulations to these EKU faculty members!
2.
Graduate Curriculum Reviews The Graduate Curriculum Subcommittee (chaired by Dr. Ann Burns) earned a well-deserved break during the April meeting and had no curriculum to review. We thank them for their hard work this semester.
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3. Graduate Council Leadership Transitions The Council was fortunate to have an exceptional chair and subcommittee chairs. We thank them for their work to advance graduate education at EKU. The table below shows the leadership transition from AY 2020/2021 to AY 2021/2022. We look forward to another productive year on the EKU Graduate Council!
AY 2020 / 2021
AY 2021 / 2022
Chair – EKU Graduate Council
Dr. Matthew Sabin
Dr. Ann Burns
College of Health Sciences
College of Education
Chair – Curriculum Subcommittee
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Dr. Ann Burns
Dr. Casey Humphrey
College of Education
College of Health Sciences
THE GRADUATE SCHOOL @ EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
AY 2020/2021
AY 2021/2022
Chair – Faculty Affairs Subcommittee
Dr. Ida Slusher
Dr. Julie Rutland
College of Health Sciences
College of Education
Chair – Student Affairs Subcommittee
Dr. Olly Oakley
Dr. Eileen Shanahan
College of Science
College of Education
COLLEGE STAFF CURRICULUM POINTS OF CONTACT College of Business College of Education College of Health Sciences College of Justice, Safety, and Military Science College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences College of Science
Heather Morris Rita Downing Anna Dixon Melinda Jones Glenda McCoy Sarah Adams
THE GRADUATE QUARTERLY – Q4 – AY 2020/2021
Heather.Morris@eku.edu Rita.Downing@eku.edu Anna.Dixon@eku.edu Melinda.Jones@eku.edu Glenda.McCoy@eku.edu Sarah.Adams@eku.edu
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4) EKU Graduate Council AY 2021/2022 Schedule *Graduate Council DOES NOT Meet in December**
AUGUST 2021 DAY: FRIDAY
DATE: 27-Aug
TIME: 11:15 AM
MEETING: INFORMATIONAL KICKOFF
LOCATION: Whitlock 549
ACTION ITEM / MEETING: September Agenda Items Due GC Executive Committee Meeting Graduate Council Meeting
LOCATION: TO: Grad.Council@eku.edu Whitlock 310 Whitlock 549
ACTION ITEM / MEETING: October Agenda Items Due GC Executive Committee Meeting Graduate Council Meeting
LOCATION: TO: Grad.Council@eku.edu Whitlock 310 Whitlock 549
ACTION ITEM / MEETING: November Agenda Items Due GC Executive Committee Meeting Graduate Council Meeting
LOCATION: TO: Grad.Council@eku.edu Whitlock 310 Whitlock 549
SEPTEMBER 2021 DAY: FRIDAY FRIDAY FRIDAY
DATE: 3-Sep 10-Sep 17-Sep
TIME: 4:00 PM 11:15 AM 11:15 AM
OCTOBER 2021 DAY: FRIDAY FRIDAY FRIDAY
DATE: 8-Oct 15-Oct 22-Oct
TIME: 4:00 PM 11:15 AM 11:15 AM
NOVEMBER 2021 DAY: FRIDAY FRIDAY FRIDAY
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DATE: 5-Nov 12-Nov 19-Nov
TIME: 4:00 PM 11:15 AM 11:15 AM
THE GRADUATE SCHOOL @ EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
JANUARY 2022 DAY: FRIDAY FRIDAY
DATE: 7-Jan 14-Jan
TIME: 4:00 PM 11:15 AM
ACTION ITEM / MEETING: LOCATION: January Agenda Items Due TO: Grad.Council@eku.edu GC Executive Committee Meeting Whitlock 310
FRIDAY
21-Jan
11:15 AM
Graduate Council Meeting
Whitlock 549
FEBRUARY 2022 DAY: FRIDAY FRIDAY
DATE: 4-Feb 11-Feb
TIME: 4:00 PM 11:15 AM
ACTION ITEM / MEETING: LOCATION: February Agenda Items Due TO: Grad.Council@eku.edu GC Executive Committee Meeting Whitlock 310
FRIDAY
18-Feb
11:15 AM
Graduate Council Meeting
Whitlock 549
MARCH 2022 DAY: FRIDAY FRIDAY
DATE: 4-Mar 11-Mar
TIME: 4:00 PM 11:15 AM
ACTION ITEM / MEETING: LOCATION: March Agenda Items Due TO: Grad.Council@eku.edu GC Executive Committee Meeting Whitlock 310
FRIDAY
25-Mar
11:15 AM
Graduate Council Meeting
Whitlock 549
APRIL 2022 DAY: FRIDAY FRIDAY
DATE: 8-Apr 15-Apr
TIME: ACTION ITEM / MEETING: LOCATION: 4:00 PM April Agenda Items Due TO: Grad.Council@eku.edu 11:15 AM GC Executive Committee Meeting Whitlock 310
FRIDAY
22-Apr
11:15 AM Graduate Council Meeting
THE GRADUATE QUARTERLY – Q4 – AY 2020/2021
Whitlock 549
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H.
EKU Graduate School Communication Statistics
Effective communication with former, current, and future EKU graduate school students, faculty and staff is vitally important to overall operations, especially during a pandemic. Graduate School staff answer hundreds of emails and phone calls each month. Additionally, they process hundreds of transcripts and supporting documents for graduate admissions. (The following data does not account for supporting documents, test scores, English language proficiency scores or walk-ins.)
Emails to GraduateSchool@eku.edu APRIL 2021 243
MAY 2021 234
JUNE 2021
294
Phone Calls to 859-622-1742 (Main EKU Graduate School Phone Line)
APRIL 2021
MAY 2021
JUNE 2021
135 Calls
109 Calls
81 Calls
APRIL 2021
MAY 2021
JUNE 2021
140 Transcripts
185 Transcripts
192 Transcripts
Official Transcripts
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THE GRADUATE SCHOOL @ EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
I.
Graduation Statistics and Graduate Assistantships
Graduation is the culmination of years of hard work and leads students into the last phase of the graduate student lifecycle, Alumni. Over the past six years (from AY 2015/16 to AY 2020/2021), 5,522 students have graduated from EKU with a graduate degree. These numbers have remained somewhat consistent throughout the five-year period, with a slight decrease due to the Worldwide Pandemic in AY 2019/2020. The chart below displays the total graduates per academic year with a breakdown of graduates each semester.
1000
977
917
949
913
944 822
900 800 700 600
487
457
500
459
447
417
411
400 300
231
228
244
245
248
218
241
246
226
185
245
275
200 100
1
1
2015 - 2016
2016 - 2017
7
3
0
TOTAL
2017 - 2018 FALL
WINTER
2018 - 2019 SPRING
2019 - 2020
2020 - 2021
SUMMER
Graduate Assistantships (GA) GA Allocations for AY 2021/2022 have been disseminated to College Deans and Unit Heads. Additionally, the updated EKU GA Hiring Guide was emailed in May. The guide provides detailed information on most, if not all, aspects of hiring a GA. As noted in the guide (and in previous editions of the Graduate Quarterly), programs should be utilizing the PENGUIN to either renew graduate assistants or nominate new ones for the Fall 2021 semester. The Graduate School cautions programs to strictly adhere to college/program GA allocations that will be funded by the Graduate School. If colleges/programs have any questions regarding their allocations, please contact Mrs. Kelly Fox.
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J.
Website/Social Media Update
The EKU Graduate School website, www.gradschool.eku.edu, continues to receive thousands of page views each month according to the site’s Google™ Analytics. Overwhelmingly, the most popular page on the site is www.gradschool.eku.edu/graduate-programs that provides information on EKU’s graduate programs. The apply page, deadlines and graduate assistantship pages also receive significant activity.
EKU Graduate School Social Media From a recruiting, retention, and information dissemination mechanism perspective, the EKU Graduate School continues to utilize social media to connect with past, current, and future stakeholders. As new generations become college-aged (and other generations become more technologically savvy with social media), its use is critical for institutions of higher education. Social Media Platform: August 2020 Followers:
June 2021 Followers:
Percent Increase:
1,050
1,110
6%
415
1,364
229%
432
1,604
271%
Page 21 provides a glimpse of a few of the most popular social media posts from the fourth quarter.
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THE GRADUATE SCHOOL @ EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
THE GRADUATE QUARTERLY – Q4 – AY 2020/2021
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K. GRADUATE PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT: Master of Science in Athletic Training The Master of Science in Athletic Training program started in 2016 as part of an accreditation requirement that all accredited athletic training programs be taught at the graduate level. Undergraduate Athletic Training has been at EKU since 1971 and the program has been recognized formally as a professional program since 1977. Since starting at a graduate level in 2016, the Athletic Training program has slowly been increasing enrollment per cohort to around 10 students. The Master of Science in Athletic Training is a full-time, two-year program, including summers, that provides athletic training students with an effective blend of evidence-based didactic information, clinical experiences for skill and theory integration, and exposure to a variety of practice settings for athletic trainers. The program relies heavily on student clinical experiences where students get to apply knowledge to different patient populations in multiple settings. Students get an even mix of clinicals and classroom in the first year as they build skills in patient care and then get to experience two semester long, full-immersion experiences with a supervising preceptor. Students enrolled in the program are taught by a team of four graduate faculty members with a variety of clinical, professional backgrounds and educational interests that include management of concussions, emergency medicine, upper extremity injury management and epidemiology. The EKU Athletic Training program thoroughly addresses compliance with Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) accreditation standards, from which the program is accredited, and Board of Certification (BOC) requirements. After completing the EKU AT Program, a student is eligible to take the BOC examination (one semester prior to graduation). Passing the certification exam will broaden employment possibilities at the secondary school, college, university, professional, performing arts, and private/clinical settings.
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THE GRADUATE SCHOOL @ EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
The Athletic Training program is for students who are interested in becoming an athletic trainer. Athletic trainers work as allied
PROGRAM AT-A-GLANCE:
healthcare providers, providing point-of-care services to a variety of patients; including preventative medicine, acute injury
Master of Science in Athletic Training
evaluation and management, and rehabilitation as patients increase function and are able to either return to activity or perform at a higher level. The program exists to educate each student about the theoretical and clinical skills necessary to work as part of an interprofessional, patient-centered healthcare team
College: Health Sciences Coordinator: Dr. Matthew Sabin Program Began: 2016 Current Enrollments: 13
to prevent, evaluate, diagnose, and treat all aspects of injury and illness. After passing their national exam, many graduates of the Athletic Training program choose to continue gaining experience in a setting they hope to work in through paid internships. Typically, these are in collegiate or professional
Credit Hours Required: 59 Semesters to Complete Program: 6
Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education
settings with Division l sports medicine staffs or professional sports organizations (which account for roughly 40% of graduates). Another popular setting (about 40% of graduates),
Yearly Application Period: Rolling Admission – All Year
are working in clinic/outreach positions where they are contracted to work with secondary/middle school programs providing healthcare to student athletes. The remaining 20% of graduates seem to gravitate towards the industrial setting where they provide healthcare services to individuals who may get injured while working at their jobs. Corporations such as Toyota, Delta and Amazon have teams of athletic trainers working with their employees to improve healthcare, address injuries and help prevent injuries through preventative medicine and ergonomic assessments. The Athletic Training program is constantly being evaluated on how it meets, exceeds, and adapts to accreditation standards. Graduate Program Coordinator, Dr. Matthew Sabin, shares “the program was originally set up as a stand-alone master’s program and we hope in the near future to create a 3+2 option for students interested in the program who start at EKU as undergraduate students.”
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Contact the Master of Science in Athletic Training Program
Mailing Address: 521 Lancaster Avenue Moberly Building, Room 108 Website: https://athletictraining.eku.edu/master-science-athletic-training Phone: (859) 622-8149 Program Coordinator Email: matthew.sabin@eku.edu Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ekuathletictraining Twitter: https://twitter.com/EKUATEP Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ekuathletictraining/
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THE GRADUATE SCHOOL @ EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
L.
EKU Graduate Student Spotlight – Mr. Caleb Johnson
Caleb Johnson is enrolled in the Master of Science in Athletic Training program and plans to graduate in May 2022. Caleb obtained his bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from the University of Kentucky in Spring 2020. During his undergraduate studies, Caleb gained valuable experience by working with campus recreation at University of Kentucky. His career aspirations upon completing the Athletic Training program include to work for a high-level basketball Collegiate Division l or ll team or even a professional basketball team within the National Basketball Association. When Caleb was asked what he likes most about the Athletic Training program and why he chose EKU, Caleb responded “The Athletic Training program at EKU is great for me because of the respect they treat the students. They remind us that in two years we can possibly be their colleagues/work partners and treat us as such. The faculty/staff care about the student’s learning but also care about their well-being.” He would also like to recognize Dr. Aaron Sciascia and Dr. Matthew Sabin as they have been most helpful to him throughout the program. In his free time, Caleb enjoys weightlifting, watching/playing basketball, and video games.
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M. GRADUATE SCHOOL STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Mr. Shaker Ezaizat Shaker Saleh Ezaizat started working at the Graduate School on November 1st, 2020 as a Graduate Admissions Coordinator. Shaker is a proud First-Generation American and a First-Generation College Graduate. Shaker graduated from EKU in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Homeland Security, a minor in Disaster Resilience, and a university certificate in Security Operations. Shaker, growing up in Garrard County, Kentucky, was always familiar with EKU. Once he stepped foot on campus, he was in love. When he saw the position for the Graduate Admissions Coordinator become available, he knew he had a chance to give back to this great University. Prior to the Graduate School, Shaker has worn many hats throughout his young career. He was a Patient Clerical Assistant for the University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit. He worked alongside his mother and father at their family owned business for over 15 years, where they made fresh donuts daily. He also was an intern for the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and a Transportation Security Officer for the Transportation Security Administration. Shaker notes that “being a son of immigrant parents taught me to take the opportunities that life gives you. While the outcome of the opportunity is never set in stone, the journey, the experiences, and the lessons learned along the way, will always be worth it. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity that EKU has given me and I am thrilled to be back at this wonderful University.” Shaker is a family-first type of person with four older sisters, no brothers, and is the baby of the family. He has three nieces and will have another niece and his first nephew later this year! Shaker and his girlfriend Kelsey have been together for three years and met while at EKU. They have a dog together named Shakira and a cat named Kimba. In his free time, Shaker enjoys watching sports, seeing a movie, and hanging out with his family.
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THE GRADUATE SCHOOL @ EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
N. Graduate School Dates of Interest – July to September 2021 JULY 2021 DATE:
DAY:
ACTIVITY: Deadline to submit thesis and dissertations for August Degree
2 JULY
Friday
9 JULY
Friday
Eight Week – First Session Summer Term End Date
15 JULY
Thursday
Fall 2021 Application Deadline: On-Campus Master of Business Administration
31 JULY
Saturday
Award
Last Day to Apply for Summer Degree Award – $100 Late Fee Applies
AUGUST 2021 Deadline to submit GA nominations to PENGUIN without delays and possible loss of funds/benefits 1 AUG
Sunday
Fall 2021 Application Deadline: Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (MFA)
Friday
Eight Week – SECOND Session Summer Term End Date Six Week – SECOND Session Summer Term End Date
Fridays
Degree Rolls for Summer 2021 by Registrar
16 AUG
Monday
Fall Semester Courses Begin
22 AUG
Sunday
Last Day to Register for Full Semester Courses
22 AUG
Sunday
Last Day to Drop Full Semester Courses
27 AUG
Friday
Informational Meeting of the Graduate Council
29 AUG
Sunday
Last day for 75% Refund (Full Term Course)
6 AUG 13 AUG 20 AUG 27 AUG
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SEPTEMBER 2021 5 SEP
Sunday
Last day for 50% Refund (Full Term Course)
6 SEP
Monday
University is Closed for Labor Day
12 SEP
Sunday
Last day for 25% Refund (Full Term Course)
16 SEP
Thursday
Grad Blitz – 2nd Floor – Powell Building
*Application deadlines for other programs may be accepted continuously (rolling admissions). Please consult the full list of programs and specific deadlines at: https://gradschool.eku.edu/graduate-applicationdeadlines
Reminder: Exception for Time Requirements
EKU Policy notes the following time restrictions for previously taken graduate courses: • Degrees with less than 40 hours required, courses need to have been taken in the previous 7 years. • Degrees with more than 40 hours required, courses need to be taken in the previous 10 years. However, if students have work-related experiences, professional development activities, etc. that demonstrate how they maintained currency in the content knowledge for the older courses, a “Request for Exception to Time Requirements Form” may be completed and sent to the graduate school. This form is available at: https://gradschool.eku.edu/graduate-school-forms . DegreeWorks petitions for old courses do not replace completion of the form since documentation of currency is not included. Any degreework petitions for time requirements will unfortunately be denied. Exception for Time Requirement forms can be sent to Kelly.Fox@eku.edu.
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THE GRADUATE SCHOOL @ EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
O.
EKU Graduate Programs and Faculty Coordinators
College of Business Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Dr. Trish Isaacs
Trish.Isaacs@eku.edu
College of Education Master of Arts (MA) Communication Disorders
Dr. Kellie Ellis
Kellie.Ellis@eku.edu
Dr. Eileen Shanahan
Eileen.Shanahan@eku.edu
Master of Arts in Education (MAED) School Librarian
Dr. Ralph Turner
Ralph.Turner@eku.edu
Master of Arts in Education (MAED) Special Education
Dr. Michelle Gremp
Michelle.Gremp@eku.edu
Dr. Sonya Yow
Sonya.Yow@eku.edu
Dr. Mi-Hee Jeon
Mi-hee.Jeon@eku.edu
Master of Arts in Education (MAED) Instructional Leadership
Dr. Raymond Lauk
Raymond.Lauk@eku.edu
Doctor of Education (Ed.D) Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
Dr. Todd McCardle
Todd.McCardle@eku.edu
Doctor of Education (Ed.D) Counselor Education and Supervision
Dr. Carol Sommer
Carol.Sommer@eku.edu
Educational Specialist (Ed.S) Educational Administration and Supervision
Dr. Raymond Lauk
Raymond.Lauk@eku.edu
Master of Arts in Education (MAED) Elementary Education Master of Arts in Education (MAED) Gifted Education Master of Arts in Education (MAED) Literacy P-12 Master of Arts in Education (MAED) Middle Grades Education Master of Arts in Education (MAED) Secondary Education
Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Teacher Education Master of Arts (MA) Clinical Mental Health Counseling Master of Arts in Education (MAED) School Counseling
THE GRADUATE QUARTERLY – Q4 – AY 2020/2021
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College of Health Sciences Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Dr. Rachael Hovermale
Rachael.Hovermale@eku.edu
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Family Nurse Practitioner
Dr. Margaret Zoellers
Margaret.Zoellers@eku.edu
Dr. Molly Bradshaw
Molly.Bradshaw@eku.edu
Dr. Mary Ellen Thompson
MaryEllen.Thompson@eku.edu
Dr. Shirley O’Brien
Shirley.Obrien@eku.edu
Dr. Clint Pinion
Clint.Pinion@eku.edu
Dr. Matthew Sabin
Matthew.Sabin@eku.edu
Dr. Heather Adams-Blair
Heather.Adams-Blair@eku.edu
Dr. Jon McChesney
Jon.McChesney@eku.edu
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Organizational Leadership Master of Science (MS) Occupational Therapy Doctor of Occupational Therapy (DOT)
Master of Public Health (MPH) Master of Science (MS) Athletic Training Master of Science (MS) Exercise and Sport Science Master of Science (MS) Recreation and Park Administration
College of Justice, Safety and Military Science Master of Science (MS) Criminology and Criminal Justice
Dr. Victoria Collins Dr. Scott Hunt
Victoria.Collins@eku.edu Scott.Hunt@eku.edu
Master of Science (MS) Justice and Policy Leadership
Dr. Peter Kraska
Peter.Kraska@eku.edu
Master of Science (MS) Safety, Security and Emergency Management
Dr. Tom Schneid
Tom.Schneid@eku.edu
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THE GRADUATE SCHOOL @ EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Master of Arts (MA) Applied Mathematics
Dr. Lisa Kay
Lisa.Kay@eku.edu
Master of Science (MS) Biology
Dr. Luke Dodd
Luke.Dodd@eku.edu
Master of Science (MS) Computer Science
Dr. Mengkun Yang
Mengkun.Yang@eku.edu
Master of Science (MS) Chemistry
Dr. Karim Abdelhay
Karim.Abdelhay@eku.edu
Dr. Dennis Field
Dennis.Field@eku.edu
Master of Science (MS) Technology Management
College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) Master of Science (MS) General Psychology – Applied Behavior Analysis Master of Science (MS) General Psychology – Experimental Psychology Master of Science (MS) Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Dr. Myra Beth Bundy
MyraBeth.Bundy@eku.edu
Dr. Robert Mitchell
Robert.Mitchell@eku.edu
Dr. Jaime Henning
Jamie.Henning@eku.edu
Dr. Dustin Wygant
Dustin.Wygant@eku.edu
Dr. Gerald Nachtwey
Gerald.Nachtwey@eku.edu
Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Creative Writing
R. Dean Johnson
R-Dean.Johnson@eku.edu
Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Dr. Anne Cizmar
Anne.Cizmar@eku.edu
Master of Arts (MA) History
Dr. Brad Wood
Brad.Wood@eku.edu
Dr. Nathan Jasinski
Nathan.Jasinski@eku.edu
Dr. Ann Callahan
Ann.Callahan@eku.edu
Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) Clinical Psychology Master of Arts (MA) English
Master of Music (MM)
Master of Social Work (MSW)
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P. EKU Graduate School Staff Responsibilities / Contact Information
Photos/Images Courtesy of: Eastern Kentucky University Eastern Kentucky University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and educational institution and does not discriminate on the basis of age (40 and over), race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, ethnicity, disability, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information in the admission to, or participation in, any educational program or activity (e.g., athletics, academics, and housing) which it conducts, or in any employment policy or practice. Any complaint arising by reason of alleged discrimination should be directed to the Equal Opportunity Office, Coates CPO 37A, Jones Building Room 106, Eastern Kentucky University, 521 Lancaster Avenue, Richmond, Kentucky 40475-3102, (859)622-8020 (V/TDD), or the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20202 1-800-421-3481 (V), 1-800-877-8339
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THE GRADUATE SCHOOL @ EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
