UM Graduate School Strategic Plan

Three Ways the Graduate School at the University of Mississippi Supports Graduate Student Success

Graduate students are preparing for the careers of the future, and we are committed to expanding access to educational opportunities and professional development to help students achieve their goals.

Through strategic initiatives, we aim to enhance career readiness, streamline processes, and foster a supportive academic environment.

From increasing funding opportunities to improving recruitment efforts and strengthening student well-being, our focus is on empowering graduate students at every stage of their journey.

Continuing reading to learn three ways the Graduate School at UM is supporting our graduate students.

1. Empower graduate students for their future careers

The Graduate School empowers graduate students for careers of the future through increased educational access and professional development opportunities.

• Increase access to and support of student professional development activities for diverse careers, including support for students with need to convey their unique skillset/expertise in non-academic contexts and to attain experience in applied work.
• Systematically evaluate professional development offerings, students' interests and students' needs to ensure ongoing alignment.
• Gather and use data to guide efforts to increase access and funding for graduate students.
• Facilitate growth/availability of quality, in-demand online master's programs and of interdisciplinary graduate programs in collaboration with academic units.
• Increase the number of graduate students funded through prestigious external fellowships
• Continue Travel Grants and Research Grants programs.  

2. Increase recruitment of new graduate students

The Graduate School works tirelessly to increase efficiency through streamlined processes and infrastructure with emphasis on recruitment processes and infrastructure.

• Implement and leverage new ERP platform.
• Leverage CRM and Graduate School staff expertise to increase recruitment support for academic programs.
  Transition to the new website platform and leverage layout to increase usability.
• Provide professional development workshops to support faculty and staff that work with graduate students within the academic units across campus.
• Increase recruitment efforts of students at HBCUs in the state and region.
• Support development and success of bridge programs.

3. Support our graduate student community

The Graduate School supports our graduate student community through robust and sustained initiatives.

• Increase access to opportunities for graduate students to focus on mental health and well-being.
• Continue to provide and grow networking opportunities for graduate students.
• Establish processes to recognize and incentivize major milestones for doctoral students.
• Facilitate increased doctoral degree completion.