The Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

Office for Graduate Student Development and Diversity (OGSDD) Fellows Program

2016-2017

Mission and Goals

The Office for Graduate Student Development and Diversity (OGSDD) Fellows Program aims to provide graduate students with the opportunity to work in partnership with the OGSDD assisting in the fulfillment of its mission as stated below:

OGSDD Mission: The Office for Graduate Student Development and Diversity is committed to building a supportive and inclusive graduate school community where diverse students (including students of color, women, LGBTQ and other underrepresented groups) are supported in their professional, social and intellectual goals and pursuits.

A primary mission of the OGSDD Fellows Program is to address the particular needs of graduate students of color. OGSDD Fellows are doctoral students themselves who develop programming and serve as peer advisors, mentors, and advocates. OGSDD Fellows help graduate students access resources and programs that focus on their specific needs and assist undergraduate students interested in applying to graduate school. Typically up to ten fellows are chosen each year by a selection committee to plan and implement recruitment and retention programs within the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, particularly for those who have historically been underrepresented in the various disciplines and fields within the Humanities, Social Sciences and Natural Sciences.

OGSDD Fellows must have strong interpersonal, writing and oral communication skills, the ability to work as a team, and experience to serve as peer advisors, mentors, and advocates for graduate students of color and other underrepresented students. OGSDD Fellows also need to have the knowledge, skills, and understanding of the issues pertaining to diversity within higher education and with the needs of graduate students of color in particular. OGSDD Fellows must also be prepared to diplomatically educate students, faculty, administrators and other constituencies on a wide variety of diversity issues in graduate education.

A selection committee reviews applications and conducts interviews with prospective OGSDD Fellow applicants.

OGSDD Fellows are current full-time graduate students hired for nine-month appointments (averaging 5 - 8 hours per week), which may be extended typically to a total of two years at the discretion of the Associate Dean. OGSDD Fellows have the primary responsibility of working together with other OGSDD Fellows to develop recruitment and/or retention programs including the : (1) mentoring program; (2) the peer-to-peer advising program; (3) the Navigating Graduate Life Seminar Series; (4) the Bouchet Seminar Series; and (5) the Diversity Recruitment Days activities for newly admitted students. Topics of programs coordinated by OGSDD Fellows have included finding appropriate research labs, community and university resources for students of color, ways to find mentors in one’s field, life as a minority graduate student, grant writing, fellowship applications, how to relieve stress, understanding the tenure process, and concerns of junior faculty of color. In addition to developing such programs and working with their graduate peers, the fellows also attend diversity recruitment events throughout the country.

APPLICATION FOR 2016-2017 Office for Graduate Student Development and Diversity

Graduate Student Fellows Program

YaleUniversityGraduateSchool of Arts & Sciences

DEADLINE: Must be received by Wednesday, June 1, 2016 by 5 PM

Deliver to: Dr. Michelle Nearon,Associate Dean for Graduate Student Development and Diversity

1 Hillhouse Ave., Office 206

New Haven, CT 06511

E-mail: Phone 436-1301

The Office for Graduate Student Development and Diversity (OGSDD) is pleased to announce opportunities for involvement in recruitment and retention programs targeting, but not limited to, underrepresented students at the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

Eligibility:

  • All students who are registered full-time and in good standing in a PhD degree program in the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences for the 2015-2016 academic year are eligible to apply.
  • Preference is given to continuing students who will be in years 2 through 5 of their degree programs, given the nature of the commitment and the knowledge of the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences needed.
  • Fellows must be in residence in the New Haven area for the term of their appointment.
  • Diversity Fellows typically serve up to 2 years. Current or previous Fellows must be re-appointed for an additional year.

Term of Appointment:

  • 2016-2017 Office for Graduate Student Development and Diversity Graduate Fellows must be available beginning August 22, 2016 through May 20, 2017. The term of appointment is for the academic year.
  • A Fellow can be dismissed prior to the end of the appointment for conduct, which is considered detrimental to the Office for Graduate Student Development and Diversity or for failure to live up to his/her responsibilities as a Fellow. Should a Fellow be dismissed, the payment of his/her honorarium will cease.
  • Graduate Fellows will receive an honorarium for their involvement with recruitment and retention programs. The total honorarium in 2016-2017 is $4,800 for the 9-month period. Fellows will have access to office equipment and supplies within the Office for Graduate Student Development and Diversity.

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Fellows should expect to spend approximately 5 - 8 hours a week in their duties during the academic term. Fellows are required to spend about 4 hours each week in the Office for Graduate Student Development and Diversity, either attending meetings with the Associate Dean or working on Office programs and activities.
  • Work in collaboration with the Associate Dean and other Fellows to develop and implement recruitment and retention programs. Each fellow will be required to have primary responsibility for one of the following as specified by the Associate Dean and agreed upon by the Fellow: developing Navigating Graduate Life seminars, developing Bouchet Seminars, developing Black History Month and MLK Day seminars and activities, working with the Yale cultural centers on collaborative recruitment and/or retention activities, developing mentoring programs (i.e. undergraduate/graduate, graduate/graduate, graduate/postdoc, postdoc, graduate/faculty), writing the OGSDD Newsletter, and other tasks as specified by the Associate Dean relating to diversity recruitment and/or retention program activities for the 2016-2017 academic term.
  • Possibly attending at least one recruitment trip to be identified in collaboration with the Associate Dean.
  • Assist in the planning and implementation of Diversity Recruitment Days and the Bouchet Conference in spring 2017.
  • Communicate with prospective students regarding the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
  • Communicate regularly with graduate students, faculty and staff to gather program ideas and publicize events.
  • Compile information pertaining to issues of diversity and equal opportunity, especially as it relates to specific programs and publications for the Office for Graduate Student Development and Diversity.
  • Attend biweekly group meetings with the Associate Dean and other OGSDD Fellows.

Selection Process:

Shortly after the June1st deadline, selected applicants will be required to participate in a brief in-person interview with the Selection Committee. We anticipate completion of the selection process and appointments of the 2016-2017 Graduate Student Fellows by mid-July 2016.

APPLICATION FOR 2016-2017 Office for Graduate Student Development and DiversityFellows Program

YaleUniversityGraduateSchool of Arts & Sciences

APPLICATION FORM

Personal and Academic Information:

Name: ______

Gender (optional): ______Marital Status (optional):______Citizenship (optional) ______

Ethnicity (optional):______

Department/Program: ______Year:______

Status in Degree Program for 2016-2017 (check one):

_____ Course work _____Studying for qualifying exams _____Writing prospectus

_____ Dissertation research & writing _____Other: (describe) ______

Academic responsibilities for 2016-2017 (check all that apply)

_____ TF: Level______Research Assistant _____PTAI

_____Tutor:______Other (specify):______

Campus Address: ______

Home Address: ______

______

E-mail:______Phone :______( home) ______(dept office/lab)______

Additional Information Required:

  • Please enclose a copy of your curriculum vitae or resume.
  • Please list on a separate page any graduate or undergraduate involvement in programs and activities related to diversity issues, especially for minorities and women. Include date of involvement, sponsoring organization, and brief description of your involvement.
  • Please answer the following questions (no more than two typed pages total):
  1. Why are you interested in becoming a Fellow within the Office for Graduate Student Development and Diversity?
  2. What particular strengths do you bring to the position as a Fellow within the Office for Graduate Student Development and Diversity?
  3. What skills and knowledge do you hope to gain through your experience as a Fellow?
  4. Specify at least one student recruitment, or retention, program activity you are interested in developing to help build and encourage a supportive Graduate School of Arts and Sciences community for underrepresented minority students and women.
  5. Provide an example of when you have worked collaboratively to organize and implement a set of goals decided upon as a team.