Graduate Student Organizations: An Essential Piece of the Graduate Education Puzzle

• In Event: Roundtable Session 15
  In Roundtable Session: Innovative Dialogue in Doctoral Education

Abstract

In response to the growth of graduate education, this research project explores one aspect of graduate education, graduate student organizations. Through this investigation, we explore the purpose of graduate student organizations within the greater context of socialization. Socialization during postgraduate work involves preparing students to contribute to the learning environment as well as their professional fields. During the three stages of the doctoral journey, graduate student organizations provide students with educational, social, and professional development opportunities that enhance students’ in-class learning and assimilation into the scholarly community. Ultimately, we propose that graduate student organizations play a crucial role in graduate student socialization, the process by which students are prepared for roles in their professional communities.

Authors

• Karley Riffe, Auburn University

• Sarah Steele Roar, Widener University