Description of GSLIS
From GSLISWiki
This is a page which attempts to describe GSLIS as richly as possible. It is an attempt at capturing what we love about the department, and what we find frustrating, so that new students can get a good picture of how we feel about the department. I also hope that it will serve as a resource when people consider making changes in how the department is run, so that the good stuff is kept, and the bad stuff is identified and remedied.
Currently, I've been soliciting feedback on why people like GSLIS, so this page currently is a bit one-sided. -Ingbert
Contents |
[edit] The Atmosphere at GSLIS
This is such a community of "yes". People are always thinking, interested, open to opportunities. When issues arise, they look for win-win situations, nobody seems interested in scoring points off anyone else.
Having a cohort of children's lit/services people to work with, both in and outside my cohort, is amazing because everyone really works together in a team effort. There's no competition. People sincerely want to help each other.
If you're ever confused about anything (whether Gutenberg or someone in China created the first moveable type, where to buy Asian groceries, etc.), someone in the doc study (read: Cameron and Jinha) will find the answer and draw some kind of visual for you on the whiteboard.
What I like is to find that Students are happy and satisfied enough at GSLIS to want to explore what is so good about it to share it with others.
I recall the LEEP retreat when a technology person chimed in with his biggest concern. I braced myself for complaints about being overwhelmed with faculty requests, dealing with staff shortages, unprepared faculty…but his response blew me away. His biggest concern was that the faculty faced challenges that could be overcome with ITO support, but weren’t being addressed because we didn’t have the confidence to ask. That commitment to†helpfulness†was foreign to me in the world of academia, but very welcome! GSLIS staff, advisors, faculty, administrators, etc. are the most welcoming, supportive bunch of individuals I’ve ever encountered.
GSLIS is the most collaborative group of individuals who deeply care about the program and each other that I’ve ever witnessed. As an adjunct faculty, I’ve never felt like one who is low on the hierarchy. I’ve always been welcomed as someone who has something to contribute. I think that this culture also extends to the students. They are equal partners in this learning organization. GSLIS is not a group of experts imparting knowledge. It is a culture that promotes research, recognizes the rich background of its students, promotes professionalism, engages the students in improving the program, and emulates the highest standards I’ve seem in distance education. When I describe our LEEP program to others, they are blown away. They can’t begin to imagine the way we use technology so effectively. They are even more blown away when I describe the supportive culture that we enjoy.
It’s special and I can’t describe it, but I know that I’m fortunate to be a part of this grand and successful experiment.
[edit] The People at GSLIS
The technology people at GSLIS are beyond great - Matt, Jill, Martin, the group that sits by Martin (yes, all of you!) - and probably the people who's names I don't know, too.
The list could go on and on ... the faculty, the students, the knowledgeable crew in the Front Office, the CCB ... where to stop?
The faculty are amazing. They are hard working, well respected, and yet human: kind, and very real. Groups of them work together very well.
Dave Dubin. He is brilliant. Research Writing Group and Board Game Nights add so much to GSLIS.
Our Adjunct Faculty are amazing. We are so lucky to have people like Fred Schlipf and Linda Bial as instructors.
The current phd students. They are all amazing.
From Things I like about GSLIS
Humbly submitted by
- Karen Medina
When I came for the Research Showcase last year, I was really impressed with the ambience and camaraderie of the Ph.D. students. It felt like a family. Definitely one of the biggest reasons (among many big reasons) I decided to come.
The professors I've worked with have been very gracious in sharing their time, energy, resources, knowledge, etc. They're phenomenal at what they do and sincerely want to help you be phenomenal in what you're trying to do.
The program attracts such an amazingly diverse group of people who have a lot of experience in their respective fields: Cindy Welch in anything and everything YA, Kate McDowell in public libraries, etc.
[edit] Work Experience
Assistantships in the library. Masters students have some really fantastic opportunities to have hands on experience at one of the world's best libraries.
From Things I like about GSLIS
Humbly submitted by
- Karen Medina
[edit] Research Environment
The thing I like best about GSLIS is how open the faculty are to new ideas, and how open they are to allowing you to work with whoever you think is best to work with. There is incredible flexibility and freedom to move between professors, compared with other graduate programs I have seen. I remember at MIT that the way most students moved to the graduate level was by finding a professor to work for, and committing themselves to working for that professor until they obtained their degree. Here, on the other hand, professors are quite flexible. You can get working experience with several different professors, and learn from each of their strengths. I think this is one of the things which makes our students so capable.
[edit] Resources at GSLIS and UIUC
The LIS Library. I know it is not officially part of GSLIS, but GSLIS would not be the same without it.
The library! As an undergrad, I fell in love with the UIUC collections. They are truly a fantastic resource for the world.
I think the LRL is fantastic. We are so lucky as a department to have the LRL for the students.
The teaching opportunities are fantastic. The students are fantastic.
The LEEP Bulletin Boards are very helpful.
The LEEP technology adds discussion space for non-LEEP classes.
The Wiki (thanks Cameron!!!!).
From Things I like about GSLIS
Humbly submitted by
- Karen Medina
The CCB has a ton of resources - both books and people. Deborah Stevenson and Betsy Hearne and Christine Jenkins - WOW.
Some may complain about the printing quota, but having printing at all has been extremely convenient for me.
[edit] Funding
The funding at GSLIS is very generous. Currently they guarentee every person who is accepted into the PhD program 4 years of funding: 3 years of TA-, RA-, or GA-ships, 1 year of Fellowship (no work requirements). And I don't know of a person who took longer than 4 years who was unable to find funding after their guarenteed funding ran out.
There has been some talk that starting next year they will accept as many applicants as they feel are qualified to be in the program. They will give money to as many students as they can, given the funds they have available. The others will be admitted, but forced to find their own funding if they want to attend. I, personally, think this is a fair policy, but some have pointed out that there is a strong possibility that this will encourage the school not to find more funding for PhD students, but instead put the burden on the PhD students to find their own funding, especially when money is tight in the future. I think this is an important concern, and have not heard of any policies created which will address it.
[edit] Other Aspects of the Program
Our close ties to other departments like Computer Science, Education, Communication,
I think the faculty diet is a fantastic thing. I don't know the specifics of what happens, but the faculty all come back in a great mood, enthused and united.
From Things I like about GSLIS
Humbly submitted by
- Karen Medina
A diploma from this program is an unparalleled seal of approval.
Having decided to come to GSLIS, I've never for a single moment regretted the decision, and I'm more and more convinced that I made the right decision as each day goes by.
[edit] Other Comments
I completely agree with everything Karen and Cindy have said so far. Although there are many *great* things about GSLIS, what is posted here are just a few of my own thoughts.
