UCGE Meeting Minutes – September –November 2008
Anderson Hall - Medford Campus
The first three meetings of the UCGE in the 2008-9 Academic Year centered around updating and adding a supplemental to the Structuring PhD Program document, now posted on the Council’s website, and preparing for a meeting with Provost Bharucha held on November 24, 2008. The meeting was a broad and substantive discussion of the following topics.
1) Recent documents from this Council have attempted to provide guidance on actions that can be taken to promote excellence in scholarship and graduate training at Tufts University. In moving forward to implement some of these recommendations what are the major structural impediments? How do we go from a vision to an operational implementation in a medium (3-5 years) to long (7-10 years) time frame with outcomes that are measurable and have tangible feedback ?
2) The University currently finds itself in a challenging economic climate. Although this constrains access to resources, a time of flux can also facilitate change. As Tufts moves forward this could be an excellent opportunity to identify how we distinguish ourselves in graduate training. What are Tufts’ unique areas of strength?
3) Can we identify the role of “Centers for Research” in Tufts mission? Some of these centers employ the structures and philosophy outlined in our recent documents and they could form a basis for some future graduate training constructs. Is there merit in helping to coordinate such centers and how might similar structures be initiated, developed and supported?
4) The President and Provost can steer the University by setting distinct goals and priorities. A strong and often repeated message can have profound influence on the operational environment within the schools and departments. How are graduate programs being prioritized in Tufts mission?
5) Where can the Council be most effective in supporting Tufts’ Graduate training and scholarship?
The UCGE’s next meeting will be December 19 on the Boston campus (2-5PM in Jaharis 611) during which the Council will develop an action plan based on the discussions with the Provost. (Note: ACE Fellow Nancy Aries joined the UCGE for its October and November 2008 meetings).
