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Vice President and Dean for Graduate Education

Karen DePauw

Karen DePauw

The Vice President and Dean for Graduate Education is responsible for:

  • Growth of graduate school, both in graduate student numbers and an increase in the quality of graduate students and programs of study;
  • Streamlining graduate admissions;
  • Expanding diversity in graduate school;
  • The development, administration, and evaluation of graduate education throughout the university;
  • Working in partnership with the faculty, program chairs, and department heads, the deans, graduate students (particularly through the Graduate Student Association), and the Commission on Graduate Studies & Policies (CGS&P) to further graduate education at Virginia Tech;
  • Developing academic policies and procedures;
  • Assisting with the preparation of new graduate degree options and programs;
  • Implementing enrollment management strategies at the graduate level;
  • Overseeing the admission of graduate students;
  • Monitoring graduate students’ progress toward degrees;
  • Accepting and approving theses and dissertations;
  • Certifying the successful completion of graduation requirements;
  • Certifying eligibility of graduate students to hold assistantships (GTAs, GRAs, GAs);
  • Managing tuition remissions and scholarship and fellowship programs;
  • Implementing health insurance subsidy program;
  • Coordinating university-wide graduate recruitment efforts;
  • Advocating and promoting a nurturing climate for graduate education;
  • Mentoring of graduate students;
  • Coordinating university-wide graduate student orientation;
  • Coordinating GTA training;
  • Processing documentation for international students;
  • Assuring federally mandated compliance;
  • Administering the honor system;
  • Facilitating interdisciplinary programs.

Offices

Information and Registration

  • B. Harris
    (540) 231-8306

Graduate Student Recruiting

  • M. D. Kershaw | Director
    (540) 231-2494

Graduate Student Records

  • J. Nottingham | Director, Graduate Admissions and Academic Progress
    (540) 231-3092

Graduate Student Services

  • M. Gibson | Director
    (540) 231-4558

Administrative Staff

  • N. Feuerbach | Administrative Staff Assistant
    (540) 231-7581

Contact Info

Mailing Address
Graduate Life Center (0325)
Blacksburg, VA  24061

Phone
(540) 231-7581
(540) 231-1670 (fax)

Administration and Governance Links

University Policies and Other Resources