Vanderbilt University Register: 'Faculty Forum' to discuss graduate education

'Faculty Forum' to discuss graduate education

Event is first in series co-sponsored by Faculty Senate, University

The current and future state of graduate education, particularly at Vanderbilt, is the focus of Vanderbilt Faculty Senate's first Faculty Forum of the academic year, which will be held Thursday, Oct. 11 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the Vanderbilt Law School.

Titled "Graduate Education and its Administration," the roundtable discussion will allow participants the opportunity to present their perspectives on graduate education today and their suggestions for its development.

Serving as the forum's distinguished panel are members of the Vanderbilt community, who will each offer their own unique viewpoints on graduation education. Russell Hamilton, professor of Spanish and Portuguese who recently stepped down from his long-held position as dean of the Graduate School, will discuss his personal experiences implementing a graduate education program. Howard Sandler, professor of psychology at Peabody College, will present and analyze the findings of a Vanderbilt committee that recently studied graduate education and its administration. Sandler will attempt to discover whether a consensus exists on the most beneficial methods of providing graduate education. Camilla Benbow, dean of Peabody College, will provide her unique perspective as a current Vanderbilt dean on how graduate education is run today. Finally, Roger Chalkley, senior associate dean of the School of Medicine, will provide a particular view regarding how the School of Medicine relates to the rest of the University, and how graduate programs may best be implemented in medical schools. James Blumstein, the Centennial Professor of Law and chair of the Faculty Senate, will serve as moderator.

The Faculty Forums, which are new initiatives of the Faculty Senate and University this year, are designed to encourage campus-wide faculty participation in discussions about the administration of the University. The two remaining Faculty Forums scheduled to take place this academic year will focus on undergraduate education and professional education. All members of the Vanderbilt faculty are encouraged to attend.