Welcome Message From Dean Susan Koch

I am delighted to welcome you to "The Graffito", UNI's new online newsletter for graduate students. When I became Dean of the UNI Graduate College this past year, I began to visit regularly with grad students. One of the issues that students mentioned most often was their interest in creating a more visible and vibrant graduate community here at UNI - a community that will better connect grad students and faculty (and even our nearly 13,000 graduate alums) across academic disciplines and campus-wide. "The Graffito’s" mission is to assist in making those connections. With 1,600 graduate students, a highly-committed graduate faculty, and many excellent graduate programs across the campus; the possibilities for engagement, both intellectually and socially are certainly exciting. I hope that you share our enthusiasm for enhancing the UNI graduate community and I look forward to the many connections that I know "The Graffito" will bring to your graduate experience. I encourage you to become involved in this new and exciting publication through offering ideas, giving suggestions on improvements and actively contributing to our graduate student community.

 

Hurricane Katrina Affects UNI Graduate Students.
Read the diary of Celeste, a student from New Orleans
...Continue to check in as the diary will update periodically...

Aug. 29, 2005
When I woke up on Monday, August 29, 2005, I immediately became attached to the TV. Hurricane Katrina had made landfall at 7am, by 8am the water was cresting over the levee and I immediately became concerned. I tried to contact my family; all had evacuated, except for one uncle, Uncle Joe and our dog, Ebony. Like most residents of Louisiana, he didn’t feel the need to leave because every year we are warned of storms and none ever hit or if they do, they never cause excessive damage.

Around 11am I started to hear reports of the 17 th street levee being breached. Again I became alarmed. Around 11:30am my friends came over to my apartment. The three of us sat in front of the TV watching CNN and in front of my computer, which was now tuned into a New Orleans TV station... Click HERE for more.

Aug. 30, 2005
I was a little on edge today because I still have not been able to get in contact with any of my family or friends in Louisiana. I am so concerned about Uncle Joe; we still don’t know where he is.

I sat and watched the news again all day today. I got dressed and went to Mr. Day’s class where I’m his GA. Again, I am physically there, but not mentally. Class was interrupted today. My friend Nicole came in with two cards, one for me and one for my friend Keena, they had passed it around the department and most of the people had signed it. Click HERE for more.

Graduate Student Symposium

The Graduate College will be sponsoring a scholarly symposium for all graduate students, combined with a reception honoring those who are receiving their graduate degree in December. The Symposium/ Reception will take place on Friday, December 16th from 3pm to 5pm in the Great Reading Room in Seerley Hall, room 116. Graduate students who wish to present their research, art or musical piece need not be graduating this fall. Presentations will be on personal laptops or poster boards, rather than lecture format. For more information, or to participate as a presenter, contact Michael Girsch at girschmp@uni.edu.
A PDF application is available by clicking here.

Estela Alvarado

What are your hobbies?

Working out at the WRC.

What's your favorite building/place on campus?

The area between Maucker Union and Rod Library because I love seeing all the various people.

International Profile

     

Both sisters are pursuing an MA degree in Spanish and anticipating to graduate in December 2006.

Interesting Fact: Rebeca and Estela's father is a wine producer on their family farm.

Rebeca Alvarado

What are your hobbies?

Working out, cooking, dancing, listening to music, driving.

What is the biggest change from Peru to Iowa?

The weather. Wearing warmer clothing. The very friendly people. Never having seen snow before Iowa.

Did You Know?

  • The very first recipient of a graduate degree from UNI was Mary Jane Thierman, in the Spring of 1953 in Education.
  • MA degrees in areas outside of Education were started in 1965.
  • The MBA was added in 1975.
  • Doctoral programs in Industrial Technology began in 1978 and Education in 1982.
  • Our newest graduate program, the Masters degree in Philanthropy and Non-Profit Development started this Fall (2005) and there are 18 students enrolled.

A challenge has been issued…

Dean Koch (with husband) and Associate Dean Joslyn (with daughter) have challenged any 4 graduate students and/or faculty to a best-score bowl-off! Lanes have been reserved at Valley Park Lanes in Cedar Falls for Wednesday, November 30th from 7 - 9 pm. Besides the good times, the victors win bragging rights and a homemade pie from Dean Koch's kitchen.

Games are $2.50 each with a $2.00 shoe rental.
 

Dining Dollars aren’t just for undergrads.

Simplify your life by using dining dollars at any of the 13 dining locations on campus. The dollars from the fall semester can carry over to the spring semester. To purchase Dining Dollars or for any other Department of Residence concern, visit their office in the Redeker Center, or visit online at: http://www.uni.edu/dor/.


An Invitation to Publish: Universitas

There is one specific aspect about UNI’s self-image that has continued to baffle me after I joined the faculty in 1991: Although our school, with more than 50 graduate programs, had a stronger commitment to graduate education than most other institutions of its size and mission, and although I personally knew dozens of faculty with stellar scholarly records, it was my distinct impression that we were hiding our light under the bushel. Whether this happened in keeping with a tradition of modesty or in order to signal to our two Iowa sister institutions that we were not about to challenge their status as research universities, I cannot say. What I do know, however, is that this needed to change...(read more)

 


Graduate College Tailgate:
Homecoming 2005

Click here to see tailgate pictures


Graduate Student and Faculty Awards

2004-2005 Graduate Student Awardees

2004-2005 Graduate Faculty Awardees

 

President Koob on Graduate Education

See President Koob speak about the value of Graduate Education of the University of Northern Iowa.
*Real player is needed to view this video*

Lunch with the Graduate College

Every Thursday from Noon to 1pm
Bring Your Own Lunch and Join Us in the Old Gold Room (map),
Maucker Student Union, lower level
No Agenda, Just Lunch...

 

 

Grievance

Problems with university procedures? Have a grievance? Visit UNI's procedures website.

 

 

50 Years of Rich Tradition

Read an article from the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier about the Graduate College's 50th birthday celebration.

  

Facebook

Meet other UNI Graduate Students. Hear about social events.

Help build the Graduate Student Community!!

Join the UNI "Graduate Student Social Network" on facebook!

Student Computing Advisory Committee

If you have any suggestions on how to utilize the student computing fees to best serve your graduate student needs, please email your grad student representative Michael Girsch at girschmp@uni.edu.

The Graffito is a publication of the UNI Graduate College. Any suggestions, feature ideas or comments, please email Editor Michael Girsch at girschmp@uni.edu.