Office of Recruitment and Retention

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The Office of Recruitment and Retention seeks to create and maintain a multicultural community at the Graduate School of Education by identifying and recruiting talented individuals to the field of education. Our office is staffed by a staff Coordinator and one current graduate student in the School of Education working toward the completion of their own degree program. We provide retention activities that academically, socially, and professionally support the educational and professional goals of graduate students, advocate faculty diversification, and promote Berkeley's commitment to excellence through diversity.

We fulfill this mission by.....

* providing relevant information to potential applicants, current students, and faculty which will promote the recruitment and retention of a diverse student population.
* coordinating recruitment and retention activities and resources within the Graduate School of Education.
* cooperating as an active participant in sharing pertinent retention and recruitment information which may emanate from other organizational sources within the campus and community.

Recruitment

Information Dissemination and Application Support: Part of our mission is to help prospective applicants with the application process. As such, the Office of Recruitment and Retention team provides individual consultation and advising throughout the application process. To ensure timely response, please note that our busiest recruitment travel season is during the months of September and October.Two resources that prospective students have found useful in the past and can be downloaded and printed Strengthening your Application (pdf) and Writing Statement of Purpose (pdf). The Recruitment and Retention Office also provides applications, program descriptions, and other materials involved in the application process, as well as facilitating faculty and graduate student contacts. All prospective students are both invited and recommended by the recruiters during the fall semester to meet with faculty, staff and current students. In addition, information regarding fellowships (pdf), internships, and job opportunities are disseminated throughout the year. Lastly, we maintain a current list of GSE students and their research interests.

Recruitment Fairs and Conferences: The Recruiters attend a variety of graduate fairs and conferences throughout the country to recruit a diverse pool of students to enter the admissions process and pursue a graduate degree and/or teaching credential. Each year we visit a wide variety of colleges and universities across California and the nation. Check our annual schedule to find out when we will be visiting a college or university near you.

Prospective Student Night (PSN): The annual 'open house' of the Graduate School of Education is usually held in early November, approximately one month prior to the application deadline. The purpose of this event is to welcome prospective students and to find out more about both the application process and experience of being a graduate student at the School of Ed. The agenda includes information session with faculty, current students and student services staff. The Office of Recruitment and Retention can also coordinate student-professor meetings for potential applicants according to staff availability.

The Office of Recruitment & Retention also host a prospective student night specifically for the MA Credential Programs (PCSN). The Graduate School of Education offers combined Masters and Credentialing programs in Elementary Education (DTE), Secondary English (MUSE) and Secondary Math/Science (MACSME). This year, the PCSN will be held on Friday, September 5, 2008 in Room 2515 Tolman Hall. If you wish to attend this information session, please RSVP by September 2nd, with your full name, email, undergraduate institution and program of interest to gserecruiters@berkeley.edu or call (510) 642-6335.

Graduate Student Diversity Day/Spring Visit Day: Held in conjunction with the U.C. Berkeley Graduate Division, the purpose of this annual event is to allow students recommended for admission to visit the campus and meet with faculty, staff, and current students. This invitation-only event is typically held during the second Sunday/Monday of March. The Office of Recruitment and Retention organizes meetings of accepted students with fellowship and academic advisors, sets up appointments with faculty and graduate students, and sponsors a school-wide reception and information session for participants. More details about the Department Visit Day will be posted in early spring.

Retention

New Student Orientation and Support: In conjunction with Student Services for the School of Education, the recruiters participate in the first year Fall Orientation program educating new students about resources (pdf) and support services available to them. The recruiters also hold limited office hours for peer advising throughout the academic year. In addition the Recruitment and Retention office co-organizes and sponsors a school-wide picnic for faculty, staff and students during the school year as a place for new and returning members of the Ed school to refoster a sense of community.

Peer Mentorship Program: The purpose of this program is to further the opportunity for new graduate students to find support from other graduate students in their specific program areas. Each year, new students can elect to be paired up with more senior graduate students and are then matched according to academic, research, and/or personal interests. An informal and organic process, the mentorship program hosts a luncheon each semester for the pairs to meet one another and discuss issues about their experiences at the Ed School. Furthermore, the office also co-sponsors many events campus-wide, providing opportunities for graduate students to meet and socialize with their peers and faculty.

For more information regarding the Office of Recruitment & Retention you can E-mail us or write to us at:

Graduate School of Education
University of California, Berkeley
1601 Tolman Hall
Berkeley, CA 94720-1670
(510) 642-6335 (510) 642-4808 fax
E-mail address: gserecruiters@berkeley.edu

The Office of Recruitment and Retention specializes in providing assistance regarding specific program and research interests. For all general application requests and admissions procedural questions email gse_info@berkeley.edu, call (510) 642-0841, or visit the Student Services Office at 1600 Tolman Hall. Also, three links are provided below including if you have submitted an application and are interested in checking the status of your file, if you want to learn more about the various programs offered at the Berkeley Graduate School of Education, and lastly, to return to the GSE home page.