episode transcript
Erin Fields: Alright, well hello and happy time zones to those listening, no matter where you may be!
Welcome to The Summit Ahead, a podcast for future graduate students brought to you by the West Virginia University Office of Graduate Admissions.
I’m your host Erin Fields and I invite you to join me over the course of the show’s season as I chat with higher education professionals here at West Virginia University, who will be giving their best tips, tricks, and insights on topics important to consider when applying for graduate school.
I am happy to have Shelly Quance, the director of graduate admissions and recruitment, here with me again today for a special episode. Shelly asked to join our podcast to share news about a new opportunity for future minority WVU graduate students, and I said, “Heck yeah! Absolutely!” So, hello Shelly, what’s up? How are you? Sounds like you’ve got some exciting news to share!
Shelly Quance: Hey, Erin, thanks for having me back! And yes, I do have some really exciting news on a new initiative we’re undertaking.
Erin Fields: Ooh, so what is this new opportunity that you’re excited to announce?
Shelly Quance: Thanks, Erin! I'm super excited to introduce our inaugural WVU Aspiring Doctoral Scholars Research Colloquium. This opportunity replaces our previous WVU colloquium on-campus event, and will now give our underrepresented, minority students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. an even greater understanding of what it’s like to conduct research and be a doctorate student here at WVU!
Erin Fields: That’s super exciting. So how does this differ from the previous colloquium of events that we have put on in the past years?
Shelly Quance: So previously, they’d be two and a half day campus visits, and attendees would hear from guest speakers and talk with folks in their doctoral program of interest. But with our new Aspiring Doctoral Scholars Research Colloquium, attendees are going to spend eight weeks on-campus, and join hands-on research projects with our WVU faculty and other Ph.D. students. They’ll actually spend time in the research trenches to see if a future in academic research is really right for them!
They’ll also participate in professional development sessions that will help prepare them for what is needed to be a successful Ph.D. student. And finally, they’ll get to present their research at a WVU research symposium that will be held at the end of their eight weeks on campus.
Erin Fields: So we’re not talking about a little change here, this is a major change, with quite an enhanced experience for attendees. I have to ask, what brought on this change? Why did you make this change?
Shelly Quance: We know that deciding to pursue a doctorate degree is a really huge decision. We want to attract as many bright and aspiring underrepresented minority students as possible to come to WVU and earn their Ph.D. What better way to do that than to actually allow them to conduct research and network with the faculty and other students they would encounter as doctorate students here? It is the opportunity that they can dip their toe in the water and see if WVU is right for them, while also giving our faculty a chance to meet some really bright and talented professional future students.
Erin Fields: That’s really great to be able to have that opportunity to be able to network, because that is such a big thing in academia, especially when you are in those research fields and building connections. So, coming to Morgantown to spend the summer sounds really awesome! I might be biased there, but it also sounds like it could be expensive. While it’s a great opportunity, many students likely and potentially couldn’t pay that.
Shelly Quance: We certainly understand the financial strains of being a student. Part of the Aspiring Doctoral Scholars Research Colloquium provides complimentary room and board while they’re here, access to university services like our PRT and bus transportation systems, as well as a $4,000 stipend.
Erin Fields: Whooo, that sounds pretty good! So, they gain experience and they get paid to do it?
Shelly Quance: Yep! What better way to spend the summer if you think academic research and a Ph.D. program might be in your future?
Erin Fields: And also, I would recommend taking a ride on the PRT while you’re here, in case anyone listening applies to our colloquium and is accepted. So, can anyone do this, how do they sign up? What does that entail?
Shelly Quance: This opportunity is specifically for underrepresented minorities including Black or African American students, Hispanic or Latino students, and Native American or American Indian students. Because it’s such a great opportunity, we do have limited spaces and it is a competitive process. Those who are interested have to complete an application by March 16th. To find out more information about how to apply, just visit our website at www.graduateadmissions.wvu.edu. It’s all there in one place.
Erin Fields: Great! Anything else you’d like to share about this opportunity?
Shelly Quance: One thing to keep in mind is that those students who participate in our aspiring doctoral scholars research colloquium and later decide to apply and are admitted as WVU Ph.D. students are actually eligible for our Chancellor’s Scholars Program.
Erin Fields: What is that, the Chancellor’s Scholars Program?
Shelly Quance: The Chancellor’s Scholars Program is an initiative that is supported by the West Virginia higher education policy commission, designed to increase the number of underrepresented students pursuing and achieving doctoral degrees. The hope is that these scholars who earn their doctorate at WVU will then move into faculty roles at higher edition institutions across all of West Virginia. Tuition, stipends, and research assistant funding are all used to support those to become chancellor scholars. These students also receive mentoring and guidance from university leadership, access to research opportunities, as well as professional development opportunities.
Erin Fields: Well, to me it sounds like a very valuable and worthwhile opportunity. Something that aspiring doctoral students and candidates should definitely keep on their radar and take the step to apply for. You weren’t kidding, that really was an exciting announcement! When did you say the deadline to apply was again?
Shelly Quance: The deadline to apply is March 16th. And just so folks have an idea of when the eight-week colloquium actually takes place, it runs from May 31st to July 29th. That’s the eight-week time period that folks would be on campus doing research.
Erin Fields: Alright, well wonderful. Thank you so much, Shelly, for sharing that amazing announcement and I’m glad that I could have you again on the podcast to share it! Not just an announcement, but also just a stellar opportunity.
Today’s episode was brought to you by the West Virginia University office of graduate admissions. For more information on graduate education at West Virginia University, please visit our website at www.graduateadmissions.wvu.edu. If you enjoyed or found value in anything you heard today, we recommend you leave a review on your favorite listening platform, follow us on social media, and subscribe to be notified of our new episodes coming out once a month.
Thanks for listening, and until next time, let’s go Mountaineers!
