THE STUDENTS BECOME THE ADVISERS

WRITTEN BY KATIE TIMMERMAN

AS THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA Jackson College of Graduate Studies (JCGS) explores the best ways to retain exceptional graduate students, the college started at its core purpose – the students. What works within the college? How can the college connect better with its students?

Who better to ask than the students themselves?

In early spring 2019, JCGS established the Graduate Student Advisory Board, with 20 graduate students named to the inaugural board for the 2019-20 academic year. The advisory board allows graduate students to provide feedback directly to Jeanetta Sims, Ph.D., Central’s JCGS dean.

“The Graduate Student Advisory Board was established last year as a mechanism for privileging and foregrounding graduate student voices directly to the dean,” Sims said.

“We anticipate receiving valuable insights from this group for fostering a stronger graduate community at UCO.”

The board meets once in the fall and once in the spring, with board members consisting of full-time graduate students. Members also must have a minimum overall GPA of 3.70.

The inaugural board has already provided helpful insights, including feedback on graduate tuition and fees, ideas for future networking opportunities and desired services to better support the pursuit of graduate education.

For the 2020-21 academic year, 21 graduate students were named to the board, welcoming 18 new members, two returning members and one student appointed by the dean. Members represent the full spectrum of disciplines, from psychology and education to business analytics and forensic science. In addition to serving on the advisory board, each member has a faculty mentor.

For more information about the UCO Graduate Student Advisory Board, visit uco.edu/graduate.