#Walter Rankin Ph.D.

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Be(com)ing a National Doctoral/Professional University

Walter Rankin, Ph.D.

Vice Provost for Graduate, Professional & Continuing Studies

Fairfield University was recently reclassified by the Carnegie Foundation, moving from the category of a regional, Master’s comprehensive institution into the category of national Doctoral/Professional university. This is an exciting move for Fairfield, and a part of the University’s larger strategy, but what does it really mean? This brief article provides a summary as we embark on this next phase of our evolution as an academic institution.

The Carnegie Foundation first developed its classification system for describing colleges and universities in 1971. As described by the Foundation, Carnegie “uses publicly available empirical data about characteristics of students and faculty as well as the work of the institutions to identify categories of like institutions based on function and mission, including doctoral-granting institutions, comprehensive universities and colleges, liberal arts colleges, two-year colleges and institutions, professional schools, and other specialized institutions.”

The Carnegie Foundation defines three types of doctoral institutions. These are not rankings; rather, they are broad descriptions based on (a) the number and type of doctoral degrees being offered and awarded by the institution and (b) the amount of research expenditures reported by each institution to the National Science Foundation. The three types include Research 1 (R1) institutions with “very high research activity” and Research 2 (R2) institutions with “high research activity.” The third type is the Doctoral/Professional University (DPU), like Fairfield, Gonzaga, Hofstra, Pepperdine, Santa Clara, and over 150 others that focus on professional doctoral programs. In addition to serving as a data resource on research expenditures, the National Science Foundation defines doctoral degrees as either research or professional doctorates with the latter designed to provide students with skills and expertise for a specific profession. Professional doctorates include the MD and JD, for example, preparing students to become medical doctors and attorneys, respectively.

Additional professional doctorates include those offered at Fairfield, the Doctor of Nursing Practice in Anesthesia, Midwifery, Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health; the Doctorate in Clinical Nutrition, and the Doctor of Education. The University is exploring other degree areas presently, including the Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) and the Doctorate in Public Health (Dr.PH) with the goal of creating a portfolio of doctoral programs that continue to prepare students using the best values of Jesuit pedagogy to care for the whole person and become leaders in the area of social justice.

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Finding a Summer School That Fits

Walter Rankin, Ph.D.

Vice Provost for Graduate, Continuing & Professional Studies

 As college students consider their summer plans, many are exploring classes they can take closer to home or online to help them get ahead in their studies without taking too much time away from their vacation plans. Summer School can be an ideal opportunity to complete a general education (core) requirement, explore a fun elective, have the time to focus on a more challenging course or even try out a new college or university.

Whatever your reason for wanting to take a course elsewhere, the process for getting approval from your home school can be a bit complicated. Here are a few tips to help guide you through this process:  

 1. Learn About Your School’s Policy: Every institution has its own rules for taking a course elsewhere. Some schools have a maximum lifetime credit limit. Others allow students to take a course for elective credit but not for a major. Some will approve a course at a four-year institution but not at a two-year community college. We recommend that you search your Academic Catalog or Handbook for phrases like “transfer credit,” “study elsewhere,” “courses elsewhere,” and “summer courses” to find out more about your home school’s policies.

 2. Contact Your Registrar’s Office or Dean’s Office: Approval to take a course elsewhere usually has to be granted in advance by your Registrar’s Office or Dean’s Office. These offices can also provide you with more guidance about your home school’s transfer policy (#1 above). Some schools require students to earn a minimum grade (usually “C” or higher for undergraduate courses) for the course credits to transfer back, for example.  

 3. Contact Your Academic Advisor: You want to select a course that works well with your degree, major, or minor plans. What kind of course should you take to help with your studies when you return to your home school in the fall? Are there any kinds of courses you should avoid taking?

 4. Contact Your Financial Aid Advisor: Financial aid does not always apply over the summer months (even at your home school), nor does it always apply from one institution to another. Make sure you understand what your financial commitments would be if you take a Summer School course.

 5. Research Host Summer School Options: Make sure you find a regionally accredited college or university with a good reputation. Call or email their Summer School office. Do they respond quickly? Do you feel welcome and included? Can they provide you with syllabi of the courses so that your home school can do a pre-approval? Can they help guide you through the registration process? What kinds of academic supports (Library, Disability Support, Writing Center) are available over the summer to visiting students? Are the courses online or on campus? And if they are online, what kind of technical requirements do you need to complete those courses?

 6. Explore and Enjoy Your Host School: Once you have decided on a host school and registered for a summer class, take some time to explore other parts of the institution. You might be visiting for the summer, but you are still a member of the host school and should take advantage of all of the resources and events offered there. Who knows, you might even want to pursue a graduate degree there in the future.

 7. Request a Transcript After Completing Your Course: Your home school cannot transfer the credits back until you provide them with an official transcript showing the course completed and final grade earned. You will need to contact the host school Registrar to request a copy of the transcript be sent to your home school Registrar. Do this as soon as you have completed the class to ensure the credits can be applied quickly to your academic record.

For information about Summer Programs at Fairfield University click here.

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So You Want to Go to Grad School: 6 Questions to Guide Your Journey

Walter Rankin, Ph.D. Vice Provost for Graduate, Continuing & Professional Education Fairfield University

The start of a new year and decade is the perfect time to set some personal and professional goals. For some of us, that means signing up and training for our first marathon. For others, it might mean applying to graduate school. Before choosing a graduate program (or running a marathon), it’s important to do your research. This checklist of questions might help you plan out your educational journey:

1. What goals do you hope to achieve through earning a graduate degree? Do you want to change careers and enter a new professional field? Do you have a passion for a certain area and just want to learn more about it? Simon Sinek’s TedTalk “Start with Why” is primarily for a corporate audience but applies here as well, particularly when he asks, “What’s your purpose? What’s your cause? What’s your belief?” Answering these questions will help you narrow down the many available fields of study.

2. What kind of program fits you best? Do you work and study best independently and with little supervision? In that case, you might want an online or low-residency program that allows you to work more at your own pace. Do you thrive with a group? You might instead look into a cohort-based program. This is a program that admits students as a group, and you take courses and work on projects together throughout the entire program. Try a self-assessment tool, like Myers-Briggs or Big Five to help you better understand your own style. Monster.com has collected a good variety of free self-assessment tools that you can explore.  

3. Does your employer offer any education benefits? According to a survey conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), 49% of employers offer graduate educational assistance but fewer than 10% of workers at those companies actually take advantage of it. This same article notes that some companies are also researching ways that they might be able to assist with student-loan repayment. There might be tax implications for employees and employers that you will want to review with your human resources department.  

4. In looking at specific schools and programs, ask what kinds of regional and specialized accreditations do they have? Accreditation is a voluntary, peer-review review process that institutions complete in order to provide evidence that they meet certain standards and offer a high-quality education to students. Federal financial aid such as grants and some student loans are available only to students who attend an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Additionally, some programs like business and nursing are accredited separately (see AACSB and CCNE).

5. How long will it take you to finish your degree? This is an important but sometimes tough question to answer. Unlike undergraduate degrees that are minimally 60 credits (associate’s degrees) or 120 credits (bachelor’s degrees), graduate degrees vary in the total number of credits and, therefore, time needed to complete the program. Some are 30 credits, while others might be 36, 42, 60, or more credits, depending on the field and curriculum. Will you be attending school full-time (9+ credits a semester) or part-time (fewer than 9 credits)? And does your program have any required clinical hours or field work? Financial aid packages are often tied to credit hours, so you will want to be mindful of any restrictions.

6. What are the faculty like? The faculty will be your most important resource, acting as mentors, advisors, and possible references in addition to being experts in the field. Have they worked in the industry you’re pursuing? Do they have presentations and publications that demonstrate their expertise and passion for the field? Does the institution have published teaching and research awards or other ways of recognizing faculty excellence? At Fairfield University, for example, you can view full lectures given by recipients of the University’s most prestigious faculty award, the Robert E. Wall Award, which fosters “faculty scholarly research or artistic creativity.” 

Continuing your education is a big decision. There are, of course, dozens of other questions that you (and your family) will have as you explore your options. Wishing you great success, regardless of where this journey takes you.