Four MSU units were selected to collaborate with an independent research center to improve their graduate programs.
Departments in math, English, natural science and history were selected by California-based Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching to participate in the Carnegie Initiative on the Doctorate.
Cheryl Sisk, director of MSU's neuroscience program, which is within the College of Natural Science, said MSU was one of only nine neuroscience programs in the country chosen to work with the Carnegie Foundation.
"This gives us a chance to ask what kind of careers we are preparing students for and how to know if we're being successful," Sisk said. "We hope not only to improve science here at MSU but to contribute a better understanding in ways of accomplishing doctoral education in neural science nationwide."
Chris Golde, senior scholar at the Carnegie Foundation, said this is the first year of the program, which will run until the summer of 2006.
"We hope, with encouragement and collaboration, to make doctorate programs as strong as they can be," Golde said.
Golde said MSU was one of 45 universities selected to participate in the initiative. The program focused on improving graduate programs in six fields: chemistry, education, English, history, mathematics and neuroscience.
Golde added that there were other Big Ten schools selected including the University of Michigan, Indiana University and the University of Minnesota.
Selected schools were placed into two categories called partnership departments or allied departments. The only difference between the categories is that partnernship departments get to participate in an annual conference at Carnegie's headquarters.
Golde said MSU's neuroscience program and two programs within the education department, focusing on math and teacher education, were chosen as partnership programs.
Lewis Siegelbaum, history department chairman, said working with an independent research center might bring new insight to graduate programs that currently are not available.
"This is an opportunity for departments to have the Carnegie Foundation assist them in identifying areas of strength within those programs and work out strategies for enhancing them," Siegelbaum said.
Golde said Carnegie representatives will stay in contact with MSU department leaders throughout the three-year program via phone calls, e-mails and conference meetings. Carnegie officials are scheduled to meet MSU representatives from all department recipients in mid-November.
She added that having multiple departments selected for the program bodes well for MSU.
"It's a good opportunity for departments to work with each other and for there to be benefits to other departments in other fields at MSU," she said.
