Notices of the American Mathematical Society
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How Does Your Daily Life Change When You Become the Graduate Coordinator?
When I got tenured, I was recommended to become a graduate coordinator in my University (San Francisco State University, SFSU). This has been by far the most satisfying departmental service I have ever done. My life has become much busier after taking on this role in addition to doing research and teaching, but the experience and the outcome have been rewarding and unforgettable.
The ultimate degree that SFSU provides is a master’s in mathematics. Every year, we attract a diverse pool of applications from different ethnicities, geographic locations, and ages (even retired people apply to our graduate program!). The first job of the graduate coordinator is answering all the questions raised by these applicants. To save time in replying to these emails, it is important to make sure the department website is informative and attractive. The next major task is reviewing these applications after our first priority deadline (the deadline that we will start reviewing our first pool of applications, but we will still accept applications after this deadline), which could take a couple of days. All these applicants have different expectations and qualifications, but a common theme is that they have a passionate heart toward mathematics and mathematics teaching. They expect our program to fill their hearts. When I see them accept the offer and later come to my office in person, I regard them as joining our family. We will teach them advanced mathematics, but indeed their presence also changes how we deliver our lectures and shape our curriculum.
Another major task as graduate coordinator is to help them choose the right courses and find an advisor for their thesis. There are set courses our students can choose from and there are also flexible electives for our students to take. Whenever a student comes for advice, it is important to listen carefully to what they need. In particular, I will try to gain some insight into what their mathematical interest is. I then direct them to my colleagues whose interests overlap with theirs. It is also my job to make sure that they are on track to finish all required courses.
Graduate students in SFSU normally stay for only two years, some three years. They are like a close family doing homework together, talking about their research projects together, having fun together, and finally graduating together. After their graduation, some continue on to PhD programs, some become lecturers in community colleges, some work in industry and some continue to enjoy their retirement. We may or may not have time to get together again, but our students all leave with a satisfying memory of their life at SFSU. I have signed more than 50 graduation forms in my five years of service. Most of our students come in with minimal undergraduate mathematics background, but they graduate with a thesis on a cutting-edge research topic. Seeing their growth and their success is the most fulfilling experience in this position of graduate coordinator.
Chun-Kit Lai is an associate professor at San Francisco State University. His email address is cklai@sfsu.edu.
Article DOI: 10.1090/noti3010
Credits
Photo of Chun-Kit Lai is courtesy of Sin Yee Chau.