Almost exactly one year ago I made the decision to become the Associate Dean of Student and Faculty Development in the Graduate School. I still remember how surprised many of my faculty colleagues were when I made the announcement. Indeed, I heard one question over and over: “why would you ever leave the classroom?”
I didn’t leave the classroom–my classroom just got bigger. I am still teaching one History class a year and mentoring graduate students. But I am also now part of a larger teaching network at Baylor focused on helping graduate students take ownership of their academic journey and equipping graduate students in every area of their professional lives.
Indeed, this is why we started Bear Tracks: Easy to Follow Guides for Graduate Students–to help graduate students succeed. Every Monday you will find here a new post tailored specifically for graduate school. Already we have offered advice for new graduate students, given tips for surviving summer in STEM, and recommended how to be a better presenter at conferences. We also have highlighted some of our remarkable students.
This year you can expect to find posts from graduate faculty as well as graduate students. You will celebrate the accomplishments and research of your fellow students. You will learn the difference between hard science and soft science, what to do when you receive your first failing grade for a seminar paper, and even how to apply for external grants.
So stay tuned! It will be worth your time. And, maybe, you will even write for us.
Welcome to a new year at Baylor–our future in graduate education just keeps getting brighter!
(The map shows the job placement locations of our 103 doctoral graduates in 2017-2018 who received full-time employment. Last year, Baylor University graduate programs placed 95% of our known, job-seeking doctoral graduates in full-time positions.)