At ASU, we are committed to supporting the whole graduate student

Welcome back from a well-deserved winter break. For many of you, the new year is an opportunity to make a new commitment to improving your life, whether that means focusing on personal, academic, or professional goals. I understand that you often have competing demands in terms of your time and attention that may impede your academic progress.

The Graduate College is committed to supporting the whole student. That means we are committed to helping you navigate competing demands so you can achieve your goals and leave ASU prepared to take on the world.

Because the unique challenges graduate school poses for students, ASU provides several mental health service options for graduate students. Anikka Abbott, a recent graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, reports on the programs offered by Counseling Services, including a specific program for students taking online courses and Spanish-English bilingual counselors. 

The Graduate College also offers programs to support your academic and professional goals. Please visit our website to find out more about our professional development courses and workshops and the GradConnect mentoring program.

One of our goals for the new year is to upgrade our communications infrastructure so we can deliver the most relevant information to you when and how you need it. With that, we are thrilled to announce the launch of The Graduate Insider, our new blog and email product of the same name. Please let us know what you think. 

And lastly, we are hosting several big events to celebrate students and their mentors this semester. Here are just a few:

• February 24: Join us in celebrating student nominated faculty mentors at the Outstanding Faculty Mentor Awards. 
• March 4: Attend the Knowledge Mobilization Awards and learn more about the meaning of knowledge mobilization and how current research at ASU is being moved from the page and into action. 
• March 19: Celebrating Excellence is an afternoon reception hosted by ASU Graduate College to celebrate the achievement of graduate students who are recipients of fellowships and funding through the Graduate College for the 2019-20 academic year.

As the semester becomes more hectic, remember to take time for yourself. By taking care of your academic and personal life, you can begin the new year with strength and optimism for what's to come.

Alfredo J. Artiles

Dean

ASU Graduate College