[phas-faculty_staff_others] Best practices in hiring grad students and undergrad students

[Kurtis Williams]

Good morning everyone,

We have had several requests from several faculty over the last few weeks about summer (and fall) positions for GARs, undergraduate researchers, task workers, etc.  In this email, I have a few requests I would like you to keep in mind going forward.  Note I am not asking for justifications for these recent requests!  I just want to plant some thoughts in your mind going forward.


  *   If at all possible, please try and submit all requests to pay students from your accounts at least two months prior to the start of a semester; for GARs, this request will be even earlier.
     *   This will be even more important for the next year as we have will have a new admin who will need to be learning the ropes at the same time that the ropes are changing.
  *   If you have money for summer researchers, please consider prioritizing grad students who have just completed their first year and undergraduates who have not graduated over second year grad students and graduated students.
     *   Our department goal continues to be that grad students complete their thesis by spring of their second year, and that students who take longer would not be eligible for a second summer of support except in extraordinary circumstances.
     *   This will be very important next summer, as we have a large incoming class and I am not quite sure yet how we can cover them next summer - the number of summer GATs provided by the college is shrinking as summer enrollment numbers shrink.
  *   I don't think it is wise for our department to normalize the concept of hiring task workers (graduated students).  Even though these students are probably well-suited to complete research projects quickly and correctly, I would argue we need to keep our focus on providing opportunities for enrolled students and helping our students find positions elsewhere after their graduation.
     *   I know that PhD programs are admitting many fewer students now than they normally have, and I think it is naïve of us to expect that admissions will return to normal anytime in the next few years.  I strongly urge you to talk to and mentor your students this summer and beyond about non-PhD careers and how to prepare for those alongside grad school applications.
  *   Again, I am not asking you to justify any requests you've made in the last few months.  We are all trying to help our students, which is a very positive thing and reflects well on you as individuals and our department as a whole.  I just want to try and avoid us slipping into an unsustainable norm.

Thanks!
Kurtis

Dr. Kurtis A. Williams (he/him/his)

Professor and Department Head

Department of Physics & Astronomy<https://www.etamu.edu/physics>


P: 903.886.5488



[East Texas A&M logo]<https://www.etamu.edu/>



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