New Graduate Student Orientation

Held in the Maucker Union Ballrooms on August 28, the New Graduate Student Orientation included a panel of speakers and booths from 24 campus organizations, plus food and raffle prizes. The event began with time to browse the organizations' booths. Both on and off campus organizations were represented, providing students the opportunity to look into practical concerns, social networks, and entertainment options. Representatives from the Registrar's Office, International Student Services, the Writing Center, the Rod Library, and others provided practical information for planning, studying, and living. Groups such as the Alumni Association gave resources for networking and social activities. Panther Athletics, the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, and the UNI Museum had information on events and entertainment.

The attendees were welcomed by Dean Sue Joseph and Dr. Jim Lubker, Interim Executive Vice President & Provost. The panel of speakers included Dr. Michael Licari, Interim Associate Dean for Graduate Academic Affairs, Pam MacKay, Graduate Record Analyst, and David Zarifis, Director of Public Safety. Dr. Licari advised graduate students to stay connected with advisors and faculty. Noting that graduate students are junior colleagues to those professionals in the field. Keep those working relationships going. Pam McKay directed students to MyUNIverse as their link to the University. She emphasized paying especially close attention to the Program of Study link and using Student Requests to ask for changes in course classifications or adjustments to your Program of Study. Director of Public Safety, David Zarifis, stated that “we are a safe campus, but we are not crime free.” He stressed updating your contact information through MyUNIverse so you receive important notices. An outdoor Loud Speaker System will supplement the existing UNI Alert system soon to give weather and campus emergency alerts.

M.A. Geography Student Studies in Germany

Lucas Geadelmann overlooking the gorge of Luxembourg City, Luxembourg while on a weekend trip in June 2008. The walls are roughly one thousand years old.

This summer Lucas Geadelmann, a second year M.A. Geography student, studied at the University of Duisberg-Essen. He was looking for a chance to “study places and spatial relationships first-hand, as opposed to textbooks or Wikipedia.” Geadelmann earned a B.S. in Food Industries & Marketing. from the University of Minnesota in 2006. Several of his family members had attended UNI, so he was aware of the university. He chose UNI for his graduate work because it is “a smaller school with big school opportunities.”

The summer program Geadelmann attended offered “a new, European perspective on business and how countries work together for economic good.” He focused on the University of Duisburg-Essen because of their offerings of business courses related to economic geography. The university’s location served as a “good hub to travel from.” Geadelmann visited other parts of Germany as well as Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. He feels that is something “very unique about Europe; one can hop on a train from just about anywhere and be in another culture in less than an hour.” The students in Germany “were much the same [as in the United States]; eager to learn, willing to share ideas, and helpful to those in need.” German universities do not have on-campus housing. He missed being able to walk to class. Final exams there are all taken on the same day and in the same sitting.

Dr. Helen Harton

The Faculty Award for Outstanding Contribution to Graduate Education was recently created by the Graduate Council. Dr. Helen Harton, Professor of Psychology, is the first recipient of the award. The award's purpose “is to recognize faculty members who make exceptional, noteworthy contributions to graduate education that stand out relative to their peers or go beyond the usual expectations for faculty contributions.” Looking at Dr. Harton’s record, it is easy to see why she received this honor. She has done over two-hundred conference presentations, most with graduate and undergraduate students, and published five peer reviewed journal articles with graduate students. Of the twenty-four MA thesis committees she has chaired, five were award winners in the Outstanding Master’s Thesis competition.

Many collaborations between students and Dr. Harton begin with her research team, made up of both graduate and undergraduate students. In the beginning, Dr. Harton presents the research she is interested in and the students sign up for teams to work on a topic. The teams continue to meet with Dr. Harton to develop the ideas and design and implement studies. They all listen and critique each others’ developing ideas. According to Dr. Harton, "some projects wouldn’t have happened without a student initiating or being interested in the project.” Dr. Harton is quick to explain why she enjoys working with students in saying, “They come up with a lot of the most interesting ideas.” Developing ideas “with people who are excited about psychology and not tied into paradigms or particular theories” makes collaboration fun and rewarding. She likes assisting students as they develop as researchers and professionals and as they gain in confidence and skills. The connections continue even after graduation, at conferences, through collaborations, or by simply keeping in touch.