General Information and Best Practices for DGSs and DGAs
This general information and best practices guide was developed in large part from the 2009-10 annual DGS/DGA faculty retreat discussion. It also includes advice from the Graduate School and other offices on campus who work on graduate student needs. If there are suggestions or clarifications to the information presented here, please be in touch with the Graduate School.
Benefits and Personal Considerations for Both the DGS and DGA Roles
DGSs and DGAs will often be more experienced faculty within the graduate program. Many (but not all) programs provide some type of incentive for faculty serving in administrative roles, such as course release time or salary supplements (flat amount or percentage of salary). Such responsibilities are sometimes considered in performance reviews.
Establishing a percentage of time expected to devote to these responsibilities, as balanced with your own research and teaching, is common. The percentage of time will fluctuate depending on the time of year and students' needs.
If course releases are provided in your program, consider the best timing for the release depending on your own program's cycle of activities. For example, the fall may be busy with new students and checkpoint meetings and the spring may be busier with admissions activities.
Understand critical times for these responsibilities so that you can plan for some administratively-heavy weeks, especially near the beginning and end of semesters.
Timing | Events or Key Deadlines |
---|---|
Early August | Graduate admissions opens for the following academic year cycle |
Mid August | Graduate School and program orientations |
Late August | Graduate School Breakfast meetings for Chairs, DGSs and DGAs |
Late August/ Early September | Deadline for application for in-state residency for fall semester |
September | Deadline for submitting students for fall semester tuition benefits |
September-February | Deadlines for nominating enrolled students for various Graduate School fellowships and awards |
October | Application deadline for December graduation |
Mid October | No spring term applications accepted beyond this date (program dates may be earlier) |
Mid fall | Graduate School Retreat for DGSs and DGAs |
Mid to Late November | Due date for submission of theses and dissertations for December graduation |
November-February | Bulk of the admission application activity and closing deadline dates |
Mid December | Mid-Year University Commencement Ceremony |
Mid December | Recommended application date for full consideration of Graduate School funding eligibility |
January | Deadline for submitting students for spring semester tuition benefits |
Mid January | Deadline for application for in-state residency for spring semester |
January-April | Critical period for admissions selection and recruitment |
Late January | Deadline for nominating applicants for Graduate School recruitment fellowships and assistantships |
February | Application deadline for May graduation |
Mid March | No summer term applications accepted beyond this date (program dates may be earlier) |
April | Graduate School's Annual Graduate Student Recognition Celebration |
Mid April | Submission deadline of theses and dissertations for May graduation |
April 15 | Council of Graduate Schools' deadline for applicants' acceptance of financial award offers (earlier deadlines cannot be imposed on applicants) |
April-May | Finalize entering cohort and funding offers |
Early May | Doctoral Hooding Ceremony; Spring University Commencement Ceremony |
Mid June | No fall term applications accepted beyond this date (program dates may be earlier) |
July | Application deadline for August graduation |
Late July | Submission deadline of theses and dissertations for August graduation |