Recruiting and Training Future Scientists: How Policy Shapes the Mission of Graduate Education

The Barn, Valley Falls, KS 

June 25-27, 2003

This year was the seventh year of the Merrill Center regional retreat series, The Research Mission of Public Universities. This annual retreat has become an important vehicle for university administrators who want to develop policies to propel their research labs to new levels and enhance their institutional rankings. Prominent faculty share their experiences in graduate education, product marketing, and grantsmanship, including tips for productivity and successful collaboration. These lively dialogues are captured in the publication of a white paper each year.

Pictured standing, left to right: Jim Guikema, Jim Coleman, Kim Wilcox, Ron Trewyn, Keith Yehle, Dan Monaghan, Bob Woody, Jeffrey Katz, James Bloedel, John Colombo, John Mayfield, Janet Murguia, David Kensinger, Janice Buss, John David, Diandra Leslie-Pelecky, Ellen Weissinger, Joy Simpson. Seated: David Shulenburger, Robert Barnhill, Kathleen McCluskey-Fawcett, Mabel Rice, Martha Crago, Debra Stewart, Diane Carlin, Steve Warren, Donald Hagan, Dick Schiefelbusch 

Resource

Standing, left to right: Jim Guikema, Jim Coleman, Kim Wilcox, Ron Trewyn, Keith Yehle, Dan Monaghan, Bob Woody, Jeffrey Katz, James Bloedel, John Colombo, John Mayfield, Janet Murguia, David Kensinger, Janice Buss, John David, Diandra Leslie-Pelecky, Ellen Weissinger, Joy Simpson. Seated: David Shulenburger, Robert Barnhill, Kathleen McCluskey-Fawcett, Mabel Rice, Martha Crago, Debra Stewart, Diane Carlin, Steve Warren, Donald Hagan, Dick Schiefelbusch

Retreat Participants 

Keynote Speakers 

  • Debra Stewart, President, Council of Graduate Schools, USA 
  • Martha Crago, President of the Canadian Association of Graduate Studies, Associate Vice Principal of Teaching Programs, and Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies at McGill 

University of Nebraska 

  • Dan Monaghan, Professor of Pharmacology, Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha  
  • Ellen Weissinger, Executive Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, Lincoln campus  
  • Diandra Leslie-Pelecky, Associate Professor of Physics, Lincoln campus 

Iowa State University 

  • James Bloedel, Vice Provost for Research and Advanced Studies  
  • John Mayfield, Associate Dean of the Graduate School 
  • Janice Buss, Associate Professor, Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology 

Kansas State University 

  • Ron W. Trewyn, Vice Provost for Research and Dean of the Graduate School  
  • James Guikema, Associate Vice Provost for Graduate Research 
  • Jeffrey Katz, Professor of Management & the Payless Shoe Source Professor of Business 

University of Missouri - Columbia 

  • Jim Coleman, Vice Provost for Research 
  • Suzanne Ortega, Vice Provost for Advanced Studies & Dean of the Graduate School  
  • John David, Associate Professor and Director of Biological Sciences 

University of Kansas 

  • Donald Hagen, Executive Vice Chancellor, Medical Center in Kansas City  
  • David Shulenburger, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost, Lawrence campus  
  • Janet Murguia, Executive Vice Chancellor for University Relations 
  • Kathleen McCluskey-Fawcett, Senior Vice Provost 
  • Robert Barnhill, Vice Provost for Research and President, KU Center for Research  
  • Mabel Rice, Director of the Merrill Center and the Child Language Doctoral Program  
  • Diana Carlin, Dean of the Graduate School 
  • John Colombo, Associate Dean of the Graduate School and Professor of Psychology  
  • Kim Wilcox, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 
  • Steve Warren, Director of the Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies  
  • Richard Schiefelbusch, Director Emeritus, Life Span Institute & the Merrill Center 

Legislative Liaisons 

  • Keith Yehle, Legislative Director, Office of Senator Pat Roberts  
  • David Kensinger, Chief of Staff, Office of Senator Sam Brownback  
  • Robert Woody, KU Counsel in Washington, D.C. 
  • Jon Josserand, Legislative Liaison, Chancellor's Office, University of Kansas 

Agenda 

The Barn Bed and Breakfast Inn, Valley Falls, Kansas 

June 25-27, 2003 

Wednesday, June 25 

Opening reception 

Dinner 

  • Welcome by Mabel Rice, Director of the Merrill Center at KU 

Thursday, June 26 

Breakfast 

Introductory Remarks – Mabel Rice, Director of the Merrill Center 

Keynote Address 

  • Debra Stewart, President of the Council of Graduate Schools – USA, “Policy Issues and Institutional Responses: The Graduate Dean as the 21st-century Janus” 

Response 

  • Robert Barnhill, Vice Chancellor for Research and President of the KU Center for Research, “Is Academic Research Sustainable?” 
  • Discussion – Moderator, Robert Barnhill 

Break 

Researchers Panel 

  • Dan Monaghan, Professor of Pharmacology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, “Recruiting while Unselling Graduate School” 
  • Jan Buss, Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Director of the Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, Iowa State University, “Why Interdisciplinary Programs Attract Great Graduate Students” 
  • John Colombo, Professor of Psychology and Associate Dean of the Graduate School, University of Kansas, “Efficiency in Doctoral Training” 
  • Discussion – Moderator, John David  

Lunch 

Research/Graduate Administrators Panel 

  • Ron W. Trewyn, Vice Provost for Research and Dean of the Graduate School, Kansas State University, “Recruiting and Training Future Scientists: Converting Intellectual Capital into Intellectual Property” 
  • Jim Coleman, Vice Provost for Research, University of Missouri at Columbia, “Creating Waves of Change: How Might the Bayle-Dole Act be Shaping the Landscape of Graduate Education?” 
  • Ellen Weissinger, Executive Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, University of Nebraska – Lincoln, “Diffusing Graduate Reform Initiatives in the Sciences: How Might ‘Institutionalization’ Really Work?” 
  • Discussion – Moderator, James Bloedel  

Break 

Graduate School Administrators Panel 

  • Suzanne Ortega, Vice Provost for Advanced Studies and Dean of the Graduate School, University of Missouri – Columbia, “Projects, Process and Pipelines: Challenges to Enhancing the Scientific Laborforce” 
  • Diana Carlin, Dean of the Graduate School, University of Kansas, “Graduate Education in the Global Era: Threats, Challenges and Impacts” 
  • John Mayfield, Associate Dean of the Graduate College, Iowa State University, “The Impact of Policy on Interdisciplinary Graduate Education at Iowa State University” 
  • Discussion – Moderator, James Guikema  

Break 

Dinner 

Friday, June 27 

Breakfast 

Group Photo 

Opening Remarks – Mabel Rice 

Keynote Address 

  • Martha Crago, President of the Canadian Association of Graduate Studies, “Good News, Bad News: Graduate Studies and Research in the Canadian Context” 
  • Discussion – Moderator, Kathleen McCluskey-Fawcett 

Break 

Researchers/Mentors Panel 

  • Jeff Katz, Professor of Management, Kansas State University, “Recruiting and Training Business-Savvy Scientists: A Reflection on the Changing Policy of Graduate Education” 
  • Diandra Leslie-Pelecky, Associate Professor of Physics, University of Nebraska – Lincoln, “Integrating Research and Education: Addressing Faculty and Institutional Responsibilities” 
  • Kim Wilcox, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, University of Kansas, “Victim of Success: A Disciplinary Case Study” 
  • Discussion – Moderator, Donald Hagen 

Conference Summary and Comments – Martha Crago 

Discussion – Moderator, David Shulenburger 

Lunch