Dear Graduate Students,

Please join us for an online information session focused on the Graduate College, Monday, March 18, 12-1 PM or Wednesday, March 20, 7-8 PM. Sessions are open to all members of the UVM community, and your participation as a graduate student is especially important in anticipation of the upcoming unionization election. Links to join the information sessions are as follows (Microsoft Teams required):

March 18, 12 p.m.: https://go.uvm.edu/graduateqna1

March 20, 7 p.m.: https://go.uvm.edu/graduateqna2

While views on shared governance and union representation may differ, our commitment to ensuring every UVM graduate student feels welcome and is supported for success remains constant. Working together with the Graduate Student Senate (GSS) and with faculty and staff across the university, in just one semester since I joined UVM the Graduate College has made substantial further progress toward that goal. Highlights include:

  • Increased student representation on the Graduate Executive Committee from one member to nine, giving graduate students substantially greater voice in the shared governance process
  • Enhanced Graduate Student Parental Accommodations, including expanding the accommodation period to 8 weeks, removing limits to the frequency of such accommodations, increasing flexibility if both parents are eligible graduate students, and extending maximum time to degree by 1 year per childbirth/adoption;
  • Doubled financial support for graduate students presenting research at conferences through the Graduate College Conference Grant Program
  • Comprehensive Fee scholarships for all graduate students with academic appointments (starting fall 2024)

We are also focused on enhancing mental health and wellness, mentoring, and professional development support for all students, and on identifying additional resources to meet the distinctive needs of students historically underrepresented in their disciplines and of international students.

We are above all a community united in our dedication to inclusive excellence. Under no circumstances will our commitment to your wellbeing and success waver. Please reach out with any questions or thoughts (hhoock@uvm.edu).

Sincerely,

Holger Hoock
Dean of the Graduate College
University of Vermont