[nabs-l] funding graduate school, was: young professionals division?

Greg Aikens gpaikens at gmail.com
Sat Jun 15 23:54:51 UTC 2013 

My university had a grant from the Department of Education to train TVIs.  3 of the 4 full time students in my cohort received funding for their degrees through this program.  I was funded by a similar but separate source through a Dean's honors scholarship for the college of education.  The department of ed money came with some caveats--that you had to teach as a TVI for 4 years in the U.S. and if you were not already a certified teacher, you had to pay for the extra 3 to 4 foundational education classes that you need.  

It is my understanding that the department of ed is funding several similar teacher prep programs across the country in the area of teaching blind students.  If it is an area that is under served, chances are there is government money out there.  When I made an attempt at doing a masters in computer science at Arizona State, I was also fully funded through a research assistanceship.  

I know it isn't true for every field of study. It is generally not true for masters degrees in theology and religion.  But for many areas, there is money out there to attend graduate school if you look hard enough.  Even though masters level students may not share as much of the teaching load, they are often used to support research grants and doctoral level research.  This is still mutually beneficial because most masters programs require some form of research thesis.  

I'm not trying to put anybody down who isn't fully funded.  I know finding funding can be a real struggle.  I just want to encourage people to think outside the box when it comes to graduate school funding because in my experience, the money is out there.  

Best,
Greg

On Jun 15, 2013, at 2:56 PM, Arielle Silverman <arielle71 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Greg, I'm curious how your TVI degree was funded? Did the program
> offer fellowships to all grad students or did you apply for and get a
> scholarship from another source?
> 
> My experience with the Ph.D. is exactly what you described; the
> department's fellowships pay tuition and stipend in exchange for
> either teaching or research support. Students in my program do not
> work much outside of school and teaching/research duties assigned to
> them. However, I think this doesn't happen much with master's degrees
> since master's students are generally not being trained for academic
> careers. So hiring a master's student to help with teaching is less
> justified by the university. I'd love to be wrong about this though.
> 
> Arielle
> 
> On 6/14/13, justin williams <justin.williams2 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> That is not true with grad school; it depends.  The p h d is going to  have
>> more funding available.
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Greg Aikens
>> Sent: Friday, June 14, 2013 7:31 AM
>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] funding graduate school, was: young professionals
>> division?
>> 
>> Hi Ashley,
>> Not to go too far afield from the main topic, but I paid for my degrees
>> mostly with scholarships, grants, assistance ships, and some student loans.
>> The thing about graduate school is that in most fields, you should be able
>> to find a program that will pay for your degree.  I have heard some people
>> say that if you are paying to go to grad school, you aren't doing it right.
>> This is mostly true on the masters level and even more so if you are
>> pursuing a Ph.D.  This is because on the graduate level, you are engaging
>> in
>> research/sharing some of the teaching load for professors.  It is a
>> mutually
>> beneficial arrangement for both parties.  This is also the dynamic that
>> makes graduate school more like a career than other levels of education.
>> 
>> Also, I graduated last August with a degree in teaching blind students and
>> was extremely fortunate to find a job as a TVI in the Atlanta area within 2
>> weeks of completing my degree.  I just finished my first year as a teacher
>> and it feels wonderful.  Woohoo!  There is hope after school. :)
>> 
>> -Greg
>> 
>> On Jun 14, 2013, at 12:46 AM, "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> Greg,
>>> wow, two degrees. I wonder how you can afford that. VR may pay for one
>> degree, but not two.
>>> What did you study in grad and undergrad?
>>> I assume you're looking for work.
>>> 
>>> Justin, Greg is right. If you identify as a young professional, then go
>>> to
>> that group.
>>> Grad students are usually mature and studying something specific to their
>> careers or have a full or part time job while in school.
>>> So, they are more like professionals given the seriousness and
>> intensiveness of their school studies.
>>> Graduate school prepares you for a profession as well so this IMO fits
>> into a young professionals group; after all, you cannot get to be that
>> professional without good grades, a masters degree, and often times passing
>> other licensing exams.
>>> 
>>> Ashley
>>> -----Original Message----- From: Greg Aikens
>>> Sent: Friday, June 14, 2013 12:22 AM
>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] young professionals division?
>>> 
>>> I would definitely think that graduate students fit under the "young
>> professionals" umbrella.  Having completed two graduate degrees, it was my
>> experience that the further you go in higher ed, the more like a career and
>> the less like traditional school it is.
>>> 
>>> I don't see any reason for real clear cut lines as to who fits into what
>> group.  If you consider yourself a young professional, then participate in
>> the young professional stuff.  If you aren't sure, connect with others who
>> do identify themselves that way and see if you fit.
>>> 
>>> -Greg
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On Jun 13, 2013, at 11:05 PM, Arielle Silverman <arielle71 at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> Hi ,
>>>> 
>>>> It sounds like there is lots of interest in organizing something for
>>>> young professionals, and several ways to go about it. I think a
>>>> formal division may not be necessary or appropriate, but a group may
>>>> be. One option is for young professionals to get together, form a
>>>> group and plan programming for national convention. Another option is
>>>> for NABS to appoint a committee for graduate students, young
>>>> professionals and non-traditional students, and have it chaired by a
>>>> grad student/young professional/nontrad (perhaps someone on the
>>>> board, but wouldn't have to be). This committee could then plan
>>>> programming such as conference calls, happy hours or other
>>>> get-togethers just for "mature" students and those who have recently
>>>> graduated to network and discuss common issues. I think NABS still
>>>> has a high school committee and this would be like the other side of
>>>> that coin. It wouldn't detract from regular NABS programming, but
>>>> just develop some supplementary programming for mature students. When
>>>> I was NABS president I was open to the formation of almost any
>>>> committee as long as there was at least one individual willing to
>>>> head it up. I was approached by a few folks about starting a nontrad
>>>> committee, but it hasn't happened yet. If one or two individuals are
>>>> willing to take the lead on this, and the NABS board would be
>>>> comfortable with the idea of adding a NABS committee to focus on the
>>>> young professional/grad student/nontrad population, it could be a great
>> thing.
>>>> 
>>>> Arielle
>>>> 
>>>> On 6/13/13, Ashley Bramlett <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
>>>>> greg,
>>>>> I agree. Young professionals have different challenges and interests
>>>>> than students.
>>>>> Inclusion in the workplace, access to technology and securing
>>>>> accomodations
>>>>> 
>>>>> are just some issues that come to mind.
>>>>> So I think a separate division would be better for this purpose than
>>>>> expanding nabs.
>>>>> Mentoring is a great idea  and the groups can work together on some
>>>>> stuff, but yet I believe you need a separate division to meet and
>>>>> attract young professionals.
>>>>> 
>>>>> I won't be at convention, but those of you expressing interest, I
>>>>> hope you gather and further discuss it.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Ashley
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: Greg Aikens
>>>>> Sent: Thursday, June 13, 2013 10:29 PM
>>>>> To: jsoro620 at gmail.com ; National Association of Blind Students
>>>>> mailing list
>>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] young professionals division?
>>>>> 
>>>>> I agree that young professionals have different challenges and
>>>>> interests than most of your student population.  That doesn't mean
>>>>> we can't still act
>>>>> 
>>>>> as mentors and have a good relationship with NABS, I just think
>>>>> there is enough of a difference in need and purpose to make a
>>>>> separate group better for all involved.
>>>>> 
>>>>> I'm also not sure that a full blown division would really be
>>>>> necessary, but
>>>>> 
>>>>> maybe so.  I like the idea of opportunities to network and mentor
>>>>> one another.  I really like the sense of camaraderie I see in older
>>>>> generations
>>>>> 
>>>>> of NFBers who have worked together for decades.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Anybody interested in doing a brown bag lunch at convention this
>>>>> year to brainstorm and talk about what this might look like?  I know
>>>>> convention time
>>>>> 
>>>>> is busy, so if lunch doesn't work, maybe another format would be
>>>>> better.
>>>>> 
>>>>> I really like this idea and if others do too, I would love to keep
>>>>> the conversation going.  Those of you who are interested and will be
>>>>> at convention, let's get together.
>>>>> 
>>>>> -Greg
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> On Jun 13, 2013, at 8:36 PM, "Joe" <jsoro620 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>>> I see the rationale for expanding NABS, but one, it would make the
>>>>>> scope of the organization that much broader than it already is, and
>>>>>> two, NABS still has to get in the weeds of the philosophy
>>>>>> fundamentals: training centers, disability offices, the importance
>>>>>> of self-advocacy, etc. When I think of
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> a
>>>>>> professional organization, I'm thinking concrete items like
>>>>>> accessibility
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> in
>>>>>> the workplace, a measure of mentorship for people working in
>>>>>> similar fields such as federal employees, and yes, a means of
>>>>>> enabling otherwise busy professionals to lend a hand with advocacy.
>>>>>> I'm a busy guy but still like signing petitions and calling up
>>>>>> congress people in favor of or in protest to some measure or
>>>>>> another. Having opened this can of worms, I want to be clear that
>>>>>> I'm not saying the NFB should dramatically change itself to meet
>>>>>> every unique need of a young professional, but to an extend there
>>>>>> needs to be a cool factor that overrides a person's sense of
>>>>>> apathy. I get up at
>>>>>> 4:00
>>>>>> in the morning to be at my office by 6:00. I get home more or less
>>>>>> around 5:00, and I need something to make me want to go to a chapter
>> meeting.
>>>>>> Yes,
>>>>>> it's only once a month, but you active chapter members know there
>>>>>> is a lot more activity than just the one gathering. Yes, there are
>>>>>> dozens of divisions that cater to specific interests, hence my
>>>>>> opposition to most divisions in general, but having too many
>>>>>> choices makes people like me not want to participate in any of it.
>>>>>> If I don't make it to the national convention and can't make
>>>>>> Washington Seminar, where does that leave people like me? Perhaps
>>>>>> an alternative organization, but being burned out on the Federation
>>>>>> does not mean I think the organization is a bad one. Anyway, enough
>>>>>> babble from me. If I express these sentiments at all, it is because
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> I
>>>>>> think NABS could be in the position to generate some possibilities.
>>>>>> Maybe
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> a
>>>>>> happy hour for professionals next year in Washington? It'd be a start.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Joe
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Wasif,
>>>>>> Zunaira
>>>>>> Sent: Thursday, June 13, 2013 2:37 PM
>>>>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] young professionals division?
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Maybe NABS should simply be extended to  include young
>>>>>> professionals as well as students.  We can all be in the same
>>>>>> division.  That way mentoring can take place with ease.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Greg
>>>>>> Aikens
>>>>>> Sent: Thursday, June 13, 2013 1:08 PM
>>>>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] young professionals division?
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> I would also be interested in having a place to network with other
>>>>>> young professionals.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Jun 13, 2013, at 10:13 AM, "Stephanie H. DeLuca"
>>>>>> <sjhhirst at gmail.com>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Hi, I was reading through the NABS digest, and someone had
>>>>>>> mentioned an NFB young professionals division ..... that it
>>>>>>> doesn't exist lol Is this something people would be interested in?
>>>>>>> Perhaps we can put it on the agenda for the NABS meeting at
>>>>>>> National Convention. ~ Stephanie
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> In the field of observation, chance favors only the prepared mind.
>>>>>>> ~Louis Pasteur, lecture 1854
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>>>>>> 
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