School of Graduate Studies Strategic Plan
The School of Graduate Studies is dedicated to fostering an environment of academic excellence and innovation.
Our strategic plan is the result of a comprehensive and collaborative effort, created by a committee of dedicated individuals who have developed a roadmap for the next five years.
Numerous focus groups were held to gather insights from stakeholders, including faculty, staff, students, and external employers. These insights are reflective of the needs and aspirations of our community and helped us align our plan with the objectives of UND.
Mission
To provide exceptional graduate education through excellence in teaching, research and scholarship that enhances students’ professional and personal success and service to community from local to global.
Vision
To lead in the training and education of graduate students across the diversity of academic and professional disciplines to produce the next generation of scientists, engineers, humanitie scholars, and professionals.
Core Values
Our strategic plan provides initiatives and goals for each pillar of the UND LEADS Strategic Plan and provides a pathway for growth, innovation, and excellence in graduate education. It is designed to enhance our academic programs, support research initiatives, and foster a vibrant and inclusive academic community.
Learning
Initiative
The School of Graduate Studies prepares students for success in graduate education by providing a range of training, educational, collaborative, and social opportunities that will enhance their experience.
Goals
- Provide training and resource support to faculty to enhance faculty and student success and satisfaction.
- Deliver broad orientation training and information for students where appropriate and needed to enhance new student readiness and preparedness for rigorous expectations of graduate school.
- Foster partnerships within and external to UND to enable student access to a range of co-curricular, experiential, and internship opportunities.
- Offer professional development opportunities to students to fill skills needs.
- Advocate for and provide structural support for interdisciplinary collaboration, research, training, and educational opportunities necessary to solve complex problems.
Equity
Initiative
The School of Graduate Studies embraces the diversity of human experiences, perspectives, peoples, and ideas. We support actions that are inclusive of all members of the UND community and promote fair and equitable living, learning, and working environments. We value differences among people and promote the benefits of recruiting diverse students and employees by establishing programs that help them succeed at UND.
Goals
- Provide a welcoming environment for all students and faculty, including space for civil
dialogue and social opportunities, that shares diverse perspectives and inclusive worldviews. - Recognize the goals and aspirations of all students and faculty, eliminate bias in all forms,
and respect the needs of the whole student. - Reduce barriers and ensure equitable access to community resources and opportunities
for all students. - Advocate for and ensure equitable opportunity, training, and access to resources among
on-campus and online students. - Offer regular opportunities for feedback from all students on the quality of their graduate
education experience.
Affinity
Initiative
The School of Graduate Studies promotes an environment in which graduate students, employees, alumni, and external partners can connect, collaborate, be supported, and know they belong to the graduate school experience.
Goals
- Improve communication that highlights achievements, events, and activities in our
graduate fields, teaching, learning, research, and/or creative activities. - Provide easy access to resources and forms that allow students, faculty, and staff to
monitor student progress efficiently. - Celebrate the accomplishments of graduate students, faculty, and alumni.
- Establish cooperative partnerships with internal and external stakeholders that foster a sense of community and belonging among and between groups.
- Offer engagement sessions for both online and campus-based students in workshops,
learning sessions, and social events.
Discovery
Initiative
The School of Graduate Studies fosters a culture of creativity, research and innovation, preparing students for the workplace through hands-on research, inspiring collaboration and cross-disciplinary work, and uniting UND with partners in the community, state, and beyond.
Goals
- Promote and advocate for the significance and value of graduate research to the research mission of UND and the greater community.
- Provide opportunities for graduate students to showcase their research to the campus and wider community.
- Support interdisciplinary programs and collaborative curricula across campus and with external partners including government and the private sector.
- Offer support to graduate students in conducting research, disseminating research, and/or engaging in networking opportunities.
Service
Initiative
The School of Graduate Studies encourages and advocates for collaborations and engagement within and external to UND that serves the evolving needs of our programs, staff, faculty, and students as well as the people, tribal nations, the state of North Dakota, and our local, regional, national and global communities.
Goals
- Advocate for networking opportunities for programs, students, faculty, and alumni both within UND and with external stakeholders.
- Develop programs with internal and external stakeholders to promote local, state, and regional workforce development and talent retention.
- Facilitate opportunities for graduate programs, students, and faculty to engage in community service activities that enhance the health of our communities.
- Offer training and advocate for a positive culture of mentorship that supports program, student and faculty success, achievement, and satisfaction.
- Provide training and activities that foster mental health and well-being in our programs, students, and faculty.