University of Notre DameGraduate School

From Student to ScholarAugust 19, 2011

Dr. Gregory E. Sterling Dean, The Graduate School

Welcome to the University of Notre Dame

From a Student to a Scholar• From a student researcher to a

scientist

• From a solver of problems posed by a professor to an engineer who solves the problems posed by the larger world

• From a student of the arts to an artist whose stage is the world

A Contrast Between the Undergraduate and Graduate Experience

Institution Specialization

Existential Professional

DependenceIndependence

Social Experience

Central Work Central

Ten Ways that You Know You’re a Graduate Student

10. You discuss academic matters at a sporting event.

11. You consider caffeine to be a major food group.

12. You look forward to taking some time off to do laundry.

13. The professor does not show up for class and you discuss the material anyway.

14. You have difficulty reading anything that does not have footnotes.15. You rate coffee shops by the availability of wireless connections

for your laptop.

16. Saturday nights studying no longer seem weird.

17. You take scholarly articles into bars.

18. You consider spring break a time to get some work done on a paper that you want to submit.

1. You have every minute of the next four months planned but have no idea what you are going to do for the rest of your life.

PrinciplesInnovation or creativity

Skepticism

Academic freedom

Universal or meritocratic standards

Disinterestedness

International Perspective

Ethical Responsibility

Holistic Education

Expertise

Intellectual Breadth

Ethical Perspective

Professionally Prepared

The Graduate School

Introducing . . .

Laura Carlson

Associate Dean

Professional Development

Brian Flaherty

Associate Director

Budget & Operations

John Lubker

Associate Dean of Students

Ed Maginn

Associate Dean

Academic Programs

Nyrée McDonald Associate

Dean Recruitment

& Admissions