Florida A&M University
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University’s (FAMU)
School of Graduate Studies and Research sponsored Graduate Student Appreciation
Week, March 13-17.
Terrance McNeil, academic program specialist and coordinator
of the Graduate Feeder Scholars Program, served as the primary facilitator of
the week’s activities.
“We have graduate student appreciation week because it’s our
way of acknowledging the outstanding contributions and academic achievements of
our students. We’re very proud of them, Florida A&M University’s graduate
programs are by far some of the strongest among all HBCUs,” McNeil said.
McNeil, who is also a graduate student at the University, has taken advantage of the multiple opportunities available to him, including being nominated and selected as a FAMU White House Commission for HBCU’s All-Star.
“I’m very proud of that achievement and everything else I’ve
been able to accomplish as a graduate student at FAMU. I want to share that information with
undergraduate students and others who may think about coming to FAMU for
graduate school,” McNeil said.
From a “Graduate School 101” Workshop to a Graduate School
Recruitment Seminar on the “Set,” participants learned more about the benefits
of earning a graduate degree. Erica J. Childs, a graduate mental health
counseling student, said the information provided during the week was very
beneficial.
“I think graduate appreciation week went very well. We
actually passed out student waivers that they were able to complete to waive
the application fee,” Childs said.
Nicole Moltimore, vice president of the Graduate Student
Association, said many of the University’s students are unaware of the graduate
degree programs available at FAMU and through the Graduate Feeder Program. An
official agreement arranged by FAMU with more than 40 participating
universities in the United States, the Graduate Feeder Scholars Program (GFSP)
enrolls 75-100 FAMU graduates annually in feeder institutions.
“We did very well as far as reaching out to the students,”
Moltimore said. “The programs here are amazing, but we also have schools that
will come recruit our students, and pay their way to attend their schools,” she
added.
Ultimately, McNeil believes a graduate education is a wise
investment.
“The research is out there, which suggests that those who go
on after their undergraduate education will receive a higher quality of life in
general, and in terms of work attainment and salary,” McNeil said.