Today's Update: Tuesday, April 4, 2023

April 4, 2023

Dear Student Life team, 

This is Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation week, and I want to take a few moments to express how Scarlet and Grateful I am for, and to, them.  

They are often the hardest working students on campus, balancing classwork, research and life. Grad/Prof students make countless contributions to the Ohio State community, and I didn’t want to wait until Friday to offer them a collective High Five. 

I want to especially express my gratitude to our Student Life Graduate Teaching Associates. They are each an integral part of our operation and set us up for success in the years to come. GTAs work toward getting their degree while working on the front lines of student affairs. Many serve on important committees across Student Life and are critical to the programs and services we offer.  

Many of our GTAs are part of the Higher Education Student Affairs (HESA) program in the College of Education and Human Ecology. Student Life has a strong partnership with the program that dates back more than 70 years, and together we are developing the next generation of leaders in our profession. 

As important as grad/prof students are to the Buckeye community, it is equally important to Student Life that we support them. It’s why we provide a number of programs and services designed specifically for these students. Many of these programs can be found on the Ohio Union Activities Board on their Grad/Prof website. There are also many student organizations geared toward grad/prof students.   

If you have a GTA in your area, or know a student in a graduate program, take a few moments to show them your appreciation and support. You can even use the Kudos feature found on the Kindness at Ohio State website.  

It’s a Scarlet and Great way to celebrate Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation week.  

 

Melissa S. Shivers, PhD  
Senior Vice President for Student Life  
The Ohio State University