Recent Graduate Education Improvements Since 2018
The below timeline highlights improvements to graduate student education at the University of Chicago that have been made since 2018, in addition to annual funding increases. Many of these improvements were the result of recommendations from the Report of the Committee on Graduate Education, along with suggestions from other key stakeholders including graduate students, faculty, and staff. The University continues seeking opportunities to improve and enhance graduate education and engages with graduate students and others on a regular basis to generate feedback.
2022
- New position of Associate Director of Graduate Student Affairs in UChicagoGRAD created to focus on grievance policies, education and trainings, and grievance reporting in response to the Graduate Grievance Policies and Process Committee recommendations.
- All graduate divisions and schools implemented new grievance policies that align with the University Grievance Policy for Graduate Students.
- Student Services Fee funding expanded to all enrolled PhD students.
2021
- New Graduate Student Lounge opened (after COVID-19 delay), carrying out a recommendation of the Graduate Student Space Working Group.
- International Graduate Student Advisory Board created.
- Student payments process improved with transition to a single payment system for most student payments.
- Student Wellness Center renovated and restructured to provide medical, mental health, and wellness services in one location.
- Connectivity between campus and the Red and Green Line “L” trains improved and Lyft Ride Smart at UChicago program created in line with recommendations of the Graduate Student Housing and Transportation Committee.
- Individual Student Health Insurance Plan (U-SHIP) premium coverage expanded to include all enrolled PhD students at no cost to them beginning in Autumn 2022.
2020
- Graduate Course Evaluation Committee created.
- New graduate-level feedback forms launched along with an online database of quantitative and qualitative feedback provided by students enrolled in graduate courses.
- Mentoring resources for faculty and graduate students created.
2019
- Report of Committee on Graduate Education submitted to the Provost. Based on the recommendations of the Committee:
- Graduate Grievance Policies and Process Committee created.
- Graduate Student Housing and Transportation Committee created.
- Associate Director of Graduate Administrative Services at UChicagoGRAD hired and gradhelp@uchicago.edu created as a new resource for graduate students experiencing payment issues.
- Internal student payments review conducted with recommendations regarding graduate student payments.
- Graduate Student Space Working Group created.
- Tailored sexual misconduct trainings for graduate students improved.
- Data on PhD programs and student outcomes published.
- Multiple food security programs expanded.
- New funding model announced for PhD students in the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice; the Divinity School; and the Divisions of Humanities and Social Sciences, ensuring funding for PhD students for the duration of their degree programs.
- Maroon Mates, a peer mentoring program for-self identified underrepresented minority PhD students, created by UChicagoGRAD’s Diversity Advisory Board.
2018
- Committee on Graduate Education created to assess graduate education at the University of Chicago, including graduate students as committee members—a first for such a comprehensive, University-wide review process.
- Mellon-funded PATHS initiative launched by UChicagoGRAD to support PhD students in the humanities and humanistic social sciences with short courses and internships for launching careers in academia, industry, nonprofits, and government.