Graduate School turns 100
Ruth Stevens
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
That's one example of how the school has dealt with changes in the field of graduate education in its 100-year existence.
"When you look at the history of the Graduate School, it's always been dynamic and changing in response to challenges and opportunities," said Dean John Wilson. "We've demonstrated a readiness to adapt while holding firm to our basic commitments. I believe that the Graduate School will continue to have that sort of profile -- not to remake itself, but to adjust to times as they are changing."
A share of this year's growth is attributed to more students enrolling in one-year master's degree programs designed for mid-career professionals. Because the programs are relatively short in duration, the Graduate School can admit more students each year without dramatically increasing the overall size of the school. It is able to accommodate the expansion of master's programs while maintaining its primary focus on research doctoral programs.
"The hallmark of Princeton is that its Graduate School is primarily one of doctoral work," Wilson said.
According to preliminary figures, there are 289 master's degree students and 1,587 doctoral degree students enrolled this fall.
As the school celebrates its centennial this year, Wilson took a few moments to reflect on where the school has been and what the future holds.
The end of an era
"We're at the end of an era," Wilson said.
It's an era that began following World War II, when policymakers decided fundamental research in the sciences and engineering should be funded by the federal government through contracts with universities. As faculty members undertake sponsored research, they need graduate students to assist them.
"That era really gave rise to tremendous growth in graduate education," Wilson said. "It led to the transformation of our Graduate School."
Similar growth occurred in the humanities and social sciences, where outside funding came from a mix of federal grants and support from foundations.
Expanding undergraduate enrollments also led to increased opportunities for graduate students to move on to faculty positions.
Although these funding mechanisms for research were called into question during the late 1980s and early 1990s, the last few years have seen a settling of that issue.
"What's happened over the last decade is the recognition that this funding pattern is one that will basically continue," Wilson said.
Funding sources
Graduate students receive support as assistants in research under research contracts and as assistants in instruction when they help with teaching undergraduate courses. In addition, in many instances, providing funding for fellowships is the key to attracting high quality graduate students. Fellowships can augment funding from other sources, or can allow students to concentrate full time on their studies.
In the last several decades, Princeton has developed an extensive program of fellowships for students in the humanities and social sciences.
"We're able to compete effectively against other institutions in this area," Wilson said. "What we're trying to do now is provide greater support for these students in the summers when they can devote their full attention to their research."
In the natural sciences and engineering, fellowships in the first year can allow students to wait before joining a particular research project, thereby permitting a more informed choice. The Graduate School has started offering some first-year awards, but hopes to be able to offer more.
Overall, Princeton's ability to provide financial support for graduate students has been enhanced by the recently completed Anniversary Campaign. The campaign enabled the University to pump $170 million into its financial aid programs for undergraduate and graduate students.
"I'm delighted that this line item was written into the campaign, and very pleased that the objective was fulfilled," Wilson said.
Glut of Ph.D.s?
As enrollment in graduate education has increased at U.S. universities over the years, media reports have cautioned about a glut of Ph.D.s -- a large contingent of doctoral recipients who cannot find jobs in their field.
"The glut of Ph.D.'s is too global an analysis," Wilson said. "Throughout the 20th century, there have been more careers available to Ph.D. recipients than simply replacing their mentors. The Ph.D. is the highest degree awarded on the basis of original research. People trained in this way went on to a variety of careers from the early years of this century and they have continued to do that. In addition to pursuing careers in the academy, they have been named to administrative positions within foundations, corporations, government and beyond."
A soon-to-be-released study shows that the unemployment rate among Ph.D.s is virtually zero, Wilson said. Furthermore, it suggests that those who ended up outside the academy indicated they were slightly more satisfied with their careers.
One of the challenges facing Princeton's Graduate School is how best to make students aware of the variety of opportunities available to them. In the future, Wilson sees Graduate School staff members working more closely with Career Services staff members to achieve this goal. He also hopes to encourage more networking between current students and graduate alumni. The Association of Princeton Graduate Alumni already has been involved in this effort.
New programs
"On the whole, Princeton is committed to a small-scale graduate school, largely because of our commitment to research doctoral programs," Wilson said. "At the same time, our ideal size is always being calibrated and recalibrated as disciplines develop or emerge."
A case in point is the short-term master's program for mid-career professionals. Princeton has developed such offerings in engineering and public policy over the last three years, and will begin admitting students for a master's degree in finance this spring.
"The goal is to find ways of using resources more efficiently to serve the needs of society without losing the fundamental character of the University," Wilson said.
"Finance, for example, has emerged as a new, specialized field of research," he continued. "Princeton has assembled a faculty at the Bendheim Center for Finance that is world class in this particular discipline. The degree will be offered to a select few applicants who decide to focus on this field of study rather than pursue a master of business administration."
Celebrating synergy
While most of his comments focused on graduate education, Wilson pointed out that the synergy between graduate and undergraduate programs is of paramount importance.
"A single faculty, engaged in research at the frontiers of knowledge, works with first-year students as well as doctoral candidates," he said. "Interaction among undergraduates, graduate students, post-docs and faculty provides the stimulation critical for all -- and gives us a unique profile among the great research universities."
|
September 18, 2000 Contents • Shapiro:
Take advantage of new beginnings • Fuchs
selected for leadership prize • Graduate
School turns 100 • Language
program hits home run with international
students • Coach
choreographs new game plan • Alumna
uses music to touch lives • By
the numbers
|
