2005 - Smb.wsu.edu - Washington State University

Graduate Recruiting Committee report
Three accomplishments:
1. Generation of outreach tools to aid in recruitment: CD with slides, tri-fold brochure
2. Good success rate on NIH Biotech offers (2/3) and scholarship worthy applicants (3/6)
3. Incoming class of 15 students
2 M.S. Biotech, ave GPA = 3.76
6 thesis M.S., ave GPA = 3.10
7 Ph.D. (6 will rotate), ave GPA = 3/70
Includes two transfers from other departments
Three challenges:
1) Increase number of high quality applicants
Approach: Increase appreciation of the SMB graduate program and its strengths by
communication with our colleagues at other institutions.
Methods to address:
A) Encourage faculty to use materials of CD and tri-fold brochure when they travel to give
seminars or attend meetings.
B) Provide faculty and graduate students with a “Dear colleague/alma mater” letter to send
to faculty and friends at other institutions. Draft in progress.
C) Make and enhance contacts with faculty at four year colleges in Washington, Idaho,
Montana, etc, including sending faculty to institutions to give seminars or guest
lectures. Need to establish catalog of contacts.
D) Maintain connections with institutions that have sent us students. Initiate a process of
sending letters to those who write letters of reference keeping them apprised of
student’s progress (ala U. Oregon). Initially focus on most successful students.
2) Identify top candidates faster and recruit more effectively
Approach:
A) Move application deadline to mid-Dec, and begin reviewing files over Xmas break.
B) Use triage procedure to focus on best files first, as currently done for international files.
C) Contact best candidates quickly to get visitation weekend on their calendar. Eventually,
consider having visitation weekend for such candidates in early to mid Feb.
3) Improve Ph.D. to M.S. ratio
Approach: Current ratio reflects necessary caution for successful implementation of RA-TA
shift (minimizing attrition). Improved ratio is natural result of improving candidate pool.
Goal for next year
Overcome the challenges described above by the approaches and methods noted.