Colleagues: I am writing to give you a few updates on issues of ...

have been working on this. We are taking a <strong>few</strong> weeks in April <strong>to</strong> consult with deans across c<strong>am</strong>pus, <strong>to</strong>show them the data we are reporting, and thus <strong>to</strong> make sure we are reporting accurately.National Research Council evaluation of doc<strong>to</strong>ral progr<strong>am</strong>s. After many delays, the NRC report may bereleased this spring. communications <strong>to</strong> deans, direc<strong>to</strong>rs, chairs, and staff across c<strong>am</strong>pus, reminding everyone of the NRCproject and how we gathered data in 2006. Last summer, the NRC published a 181-­‐page methodologyreport, <strong>to</strong> explain the complex weightings used in the analysis of progr<strong>am</strong>s. We recruited Professor BillZumeta (Evans School, Education) <strong>to</strong> write a short, focused explanation of the methodology; wecirculat When the NRC releases its work, we will have about 72 hours <strong>to</strong>analyze the data before public release. During that time, we will create a short set of talking points forthe president and provost, and provide a short overview <strong>to</strong> c<strong>am</strong>pus. After the public release, we alsoplan <strong>to</strong> hold a c<strong>am</strong>pus information session (with John Drew, Bill Zumeta, and me explaining the NRCreport).-­‐-­‐-­‐ or, <strong>give</strong>n the pattern for thepast 2 years, it might be some time from now. When we get it, we will need <strong>to</strong> work quickly <strong>to</strong> digest asmuch as we can and <strong>to</strong> be prepared for media coverage and c<strong>am</strong>pus conversations.Bonderman I think every one of us wishes we could win a Bonderman Fellowship and spend eightmonths traveling the world on $20,000. But, alas, a <strong>few</strong> of us will have <strong>to</strong> be satisfied with being theones <strong>to</strong> choose the lucky fellows. The rest of us will have <strong>to</strong> live vicariously through the winners and fundour own travels.Thank <strong>you</strong> <strong>to</strong> the group of Graduate School staff who sifted through 135 applications from graduatestudents and selected 24 finalists. Our staff who selected the finalists include Jan Harrison, Julia Carlson,Jeannette Reynolds, Jerry Pangilinan, David Canfield-­‐Budde, Augustine McCaffery, Mary Fetterly,Cynthia Morales, Marilyn Gray and Helene Obradovich.Another selection committee will meet this month <strong>to</strong> choose seven graduate student and sevenundergraduates <strong>to</strong> win the fellowships. Each fellowship is worth $20,000 for eight months of travel.Fellows are instructed <strong>to</strong> travel <strong>to</strong> at least six countries in two regions. Because Bonderman Fellowshipsare intended <strong>to</strong> foster independence, fellows may not conduct research, pursue an academic project, orparticipate in a progr<strong>am</strong>, organization, or formal study at a foreign university.The fellowship winners will be announced around mid-­‐April. For more information on Bonderman:http://grad.washing<strong>to</strong>n.edu/students/fa/bonderman/index.shtmlGO MAP prospective student days. More than 170 potential graduate students got a closer look atthe UW and GO-­‐MAP last week during Prospective Student Days. The event continues <strong>to</strong> grow with 171prospective students attending this year, compared <strong>to</strong> 98 just two years ago. To better serveparticipants -­‐-­‐ and save paper and money in the process -­‐-­‐ the GO-­‐MAP staff created a web site withinformation about c<strong>am</strong>pus resources and the Seattle community.Salazar, Sophia Agtarap, Cynthia Morales and Kelly Ward, Prospective Student Days gave minoritystudents a chance <strong>to</strong> get <strong>to</strong> know the c<strong>am</strong>pus and learn about GO-­‐MAP and the support it provides.Fifteen volunteers (all graduate students) and eight speakers represented housing, financial aid, GPSS