GPD LEAD
Leadership Enhancement for Graduate Program Directors
GPD LEAD is a professional development and support program for Graduate Program Directors and staff offered by The Graduate School. Workshops and discussion sessions offered twice monthly during the academic year on a variety of topics of common concern run by the Graduate School in collaboration with a variety of offices on campus.
The objectives of GPD LEAD include:
- Dissemination of key policies and procedures governing graduate education
- Skill building in leading and evaluating graduate programs and graduate student success
- Community building, support and practical advice from peers on managing the challenges of graduate education in your program
- Best practices in admissions, annual reviews, mentoring, and fostering cultures of excellence and inclusivity.
All GPD LEAD session will be 12:00 - 1:00 pm on Zoom.
Zoom sessions will be recorded and all resources from the sessions are available in a OneDrive folder.
Click here for access to “Best Practices for Graduate Degree Handbooks”.
Additional resources available in the OneDrive Folder can be found in the Table of Contents. If you need access to the folder please email grad-communications [at] grad [dot] umass [dot] edu (grad-communications[at]grad[dot]umass[dot]edu).
2024 Fall Events
Friday, Sept. 13 9:00 - 11:00am: Welcome Back Breakfast & Workshop
Room 163 at the Campus Center
Welcome 9:00 -10:00am
Introduction to leadership and resources of the Graduate School and other offices on campus
News from the Graduate School
10:00 - 11:00am - Workshop: What OPD can do for you and your program
Staff from OPD will review the array of resources provided and professional competencies cultivated through workshops and how they can incorporate these into your graduate program helping students to be more successful during their degree and after graduation.
Register Here
Friday Sept. 27 12:00 - 1:00pm: Graduate Students as Employees - the GEO contract
On Zoom
Mark Preble, Academic Labor Relations, Provost’s Office
Register Here
Friday, Oct. 11 12:00 - 1:00pm: Graduate School Funding
On Zoom
Sheilagh Hanley, Director of Finance
Heidi Bauer-Clapp, Associate Director, OPD
Register Here
Friday, Oct. 25 12:00 - 1:00pm: Graduate Appointments
On Zoom
Sheilagh Hanley, Director of Finance
Register Here
Friday, Nov. 8 12:00 - 1:00: Admissions: Understanding Statute of Limitations & Leaves
On Zoom
Jacqueline Urla, Graduate School Dean
Kate Woodmansee, Graduate Registrar, Graduate Student Service Center
Register Here
Friday, Nov. 22 12:00 - 1:00pm: Flagship Analytics: Data gathering on your graduate program.
On Zoom
Krisztina Filep, Director Operational Analytics
Note: this meeting will require a registration of at least 8 people. Sign up early if you wish to have the training.
Discussions around the data available to departments, specific to graduate students, and how it can be used for a variety of purposes (reporting, accreditation, strategic planning, etc.). The session will include training to familiarize you with the university’s dashboards to support data-driven decision-making, as well as guidance for equity-minded sense-making and analysis. After attending, you will have access to detailed dashboards about the university.
Note that all GPDs are required to complete FERPA and Flagship Analytics trainings. Please complete FERPA before the session if possible. The session will serve as Flagship Analytics training and an opportunity for a refresh or asking questions if you are already trained. You can visit the University Analytics and Institutional Research website for more on trainings or email oir [at] oirp [dot] umass [dot] edu (oir[at]oirp[dot]umass[dot]edu).
If you have any questions regarding GPD LEAD or access to the Resource Folder, please contact grad-communications [at] grad [dot] umass [dot] edu (grad-communications[at]grad[dot]umass[dot]edu).