Student Resources — Music, University at Buffalo

Professional skills such as writing, teaching and data presentation are integral to many careers. The opportunity to develop these skills may improve a student's prosects for later success. Formal reviews and other oversight mechanisms promote clear communication between students, faculty advisers and program administrators.

The program collects data about employment outcomes for all of its doctoral graduates that it can use to refine student training.

An annual review helps ensure that expectations are clearly communicated among students, faculty advisers and program administrators.

The ability to prepare and present an engaging, memorable lecture can be developed with instruction and practice. The skill is valuable in academic settings, obviously, but it is also relevant to non-academic careers, many of which require strong written and oral communication skills.

The ability to write a compelling proposal improves your chances of winning support for your research. This skill is particularly important if you plan to pursue an academic career.

International graduate students receive English-language screening or support prior to teaching.

Two key measures of academic success—publications and grants—both require the ability to skillfully express complex ideas. This skill can be developed with practice, and better writing may improve your prospects for later success.

A working knowledge of statistics is necessary in every quantitative field.

Ethical issues are critically important and ubiquitous in academic settings, and the ethically correct response to certain circumstances is not always obvious. Formal training prepares students to deal with a variety of issues, including authorship, conflict of interest, financial reporting, mentoring, human and animal research, data hygiene and whistleblowing.

A formal orientation accelerates social integration and helps ensure that administrative and logistical issues have been addressed.

A separate orientation for international graduate students can help mitigate cultural stresses and provide a forum to address concerns specific to students from outside the U.S.

The judging process in award competitions can be a source of important feedback from faculty members who are not directly involved in the research or course development. Prizes reward exceptional work, highlight best practices, and provide recognition that can help students distinguish themselves in a competitive job market.

Local research conferences provide a low-stakes environment in which to develop the skill of presenting your research.

Professional meetings provide opportunities to interact with others in your field, to learn about their work, and to present your own. They are an important, if sometimes expensive, part of graduate education.

Students in the program have work space for their exclusive use.

Graduate student associations provide a collective voice for graduate students. They advocate on behalf of student concerns and often improve communication between students and administrators.

Financial support for a graduate student association can improve the stability and productivity of this representative body. Over time, this support may translate to policies that better reflect student needs.

Staff support for a graduate student association can improve the stability and productivity of this representative body. Over time, this support may translate to policies that better reflect student needs.

Academic grievances include conflicts over grades, course credit, authorship, attribution and similar issues. A formal grievance procedure helps resolve such conflicts quickly and equitably.

A sanctioned procedure for dispute resolution helps students, faculty and staff settle conflicts that cannot be solved informally. Such procedures provide a blueprint for communication, mediation, negotiation and the development of pragmatic solutions.

By meeting regularly, program administrators may be more likely to standardize policies and practices between programs.