The first workshops of the year aimed at improving graduate school education and solving conflicts between MSU graduate students and professors were held Monday and Tuesday.
The Conflict Resolution Workshop was created by Karen Klomparens, dean of the Graduate School, and John Beck, associate director of the School of Labor and Industrial Relations, in 1997 after receiving a grant from the National Department of Education and the Hewlett Foundation.
“The workshops train students and faculty in using an interest-based approach to conflict management,” Klomparens said.
Klomparens said the first thing she did upon becoming dean in 1994 was ask the graduate students what they wanted - and the answer was a way to solve conflicts with faculty members.
Beck said he hopes the workshops serve as a way for MSU to help offset nationwide statistics that show about half of students entering doctoral programs do not obtain their degrees.
“A large percentage don’t finish because of a combination of two things - conflicts with professors and not feeling as at home with their departments as they should,” he said.
Beck said communication is crucial for successful student-faculty relations.
“Once you understand what’s behind what someone is saying, you’re more likely to craft solutions that meet the needs of both parties,” he said.
There are two back-to-back workshops each semester, including two next semester. The workshops are presented by Antonio Nunez, associate dean of the Graduate School, and Julie Brockman, a higher adult and lifelong education doctoral student.
Nunez said he was pleased with the turnout of the workshops.
“It was a chance to answer a lot of questions and go through our regular exercises,” he said. “Part of the value of the workshops is for the participants to bring in experience and questions related to student-faculty relationships.”
Brockman said faculty members should set their expectations with their students.
“As a presenter of the program as well as a graduate student, I am most excited when graduate students who are new to graduate education can begin practicing these skills early on,” she said.
