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 “Template 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, 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, Deferrals, Application Fee Waivers, SLATE questions
On Zoom
Kate Woodmansee, Graduate Registrar, Graduate Student Service Center
Lindsay De Santis, Director Graduate Admissions, GSSC
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).
Register Here
GPD LEAD Session that have passed
Friday, Sept. 13 8:45 - 11:00am: Welcome Back Breakfast & Workshop
Room 163 at the Campus Center
8:45-9:00 am
Check-in and Grab Light Breakfast
9:00-9:15 am
Welcome to GPD LEAD
Jacqueline Urla, Graduate Dean
Fouad Abd-El-Khalick, Provost
9:15-9:40 am
Graduate School Offices Panel
Beth Jakob, Associate Dean, Student Success
Sofiya Alhassan, Associate Dean, Office of Inclusion & Engagement
Kate Woodmansee, Senior Associate Registrar, Graduate Student Service Center
Sheilagh Hanley, Director of Finance & Administration, Dean's Office
9:40-10:05 am
Campus Offices Panel
Ken Reade, Executive Director of Immigration Services, International Programs Office
Summer Cable, International Student and Scholar Success Advisor, International Programs Office
Patricia Cardoso-Erase, Interim Dean of Students, Dean of Students Office
John Arigbede, President, Graduate Student Senate
Jules Purnell, Title IX Training Specialist, Equal Opportunity & Access Office
10:05-10:10 am
Break
10:10-11:00 am
Workshop: GPDs & the Office of Professional Development
Shana Passonno, Assistant Dean, Office of Professional Development
Heidi Bauer-Clapp, Associate Director, Office of Professional Development
Bryan Monesson-Olson, Associate Director, Office of Professional Development
Johanna Yunker, Associate Director, Office of Professional Development
Friday Sept. 27 12:00 - 1:00pm: Graduate Students as Employees - the GEO contract
On Zoom
Mark Preble, Academic Labor Relations, Provost’s Office