GRAD Connect Q&A: The Inclusive Graduate School Experience

I'm excited and you all are excited, but OK. You all tell me what happens.

'cause I've gotta go?

Yeah.

Angry with her.

And then having the perception of all, they're just gonna let this happen. I can say what I want to say, then wait a minute that is not with anyone said.

Short

Camera.

English.

Bye.

About 10%.

Do you hear me now?

You sound horrible. Hang on.

OK, can you hear me?

Oh, it sounds fine.

Hello.

Let me see if he can. I'll type it in.

Do I have well let me say a few things? Can you hear me OK?

Alright, that's why I can you hear me OK?

Oh, OK.

Now I can't.

Yeah.

Thanks.

It was tough.

Oh, much better.

Hi.

OK.

Yes.

Hello everyone, my name is Latoya Scott Ann. I am currently the assistant vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion but I am currently a PhD student here at the University of Alabama. I've had the pleasure of obtaining all of my degrees from the University of Alabama first generation college student. I have a bachelors and Masters in pursuing a PhD from the University of Alabama and the hospitality was the first thing that I noticed.

Being originally from Chicago was a clear culture shock sort of navigating the arena figuring out where to go who to talk to how to sort of engage but we have a strong support system at the University of Alabama, specifically with the faculty and staff. I still keep in contact with the faculty members after gaining my masters and going to pursue a PhD they're always accessible and available.

Speaking on panels such as this, I'm doing this in terms of my professional position, but as a student I have the opportunity to speak on panels into travel regionally, nationally, internationally pursuing my research interests. Even even having this position, I had the opportunity of the faculty member in a staff member sort of helping me guide me through those steps of if you want to go into administration and higher education. This is how you would do it so that step by step sort of guiding you and giving you advice.

The other thing about the University of Alabama, it's great campus engagement. Even from a graduate level. A lot of times as a graduate student, you know you sort of here. You just focus on your studies. Now we're not saying that you don't focus on your studies, but we're also saying that you're a holistic person. There are other things you may want to do, so you may want to engage in events. Having a family, maybe something in terms of connecting with the Tuscaloosa community, which are all things that we have here at the University of Alabama.

If you choose to come there.

You're welcome.

So living in Tuscaloosa is a great experience, you know. Oftentimes people think of Tuscaloosa is is being a small town and sort of a small place an I would have initially agreed, but I also think it's full of big personalities and big character within the city itself. There are a plethora of festivals and activities that you can be apart of, whether it's yourself whether you have a family, whether you have friends that you want to engage with.

As well as being a part of the Tuscaloosa community, there's always something happening I'm going. It's where you're going to meet those lifelong friends. You're going to graduate. You're going to call them. You're going to be in each other's weddings, hanging out, having fun. It really creates that community. The great thing about Tuscaloosa is that information is constantly flowing, and what I mean by that is, once you become a student and you get you CW ID, and you've got emails coming in.

We are in in dating you with different ways of connecting A and being a part of this campus. So if there's ever a moment where you're like, I was just a small town. It's not really what I want to do I feel like I want something a little bit more excitement. We pack a punch here at Alabama in terms of there is excitement. It's just in a wide variety of ways. Whether it's sports. Of course we have the sports arena fully sort of secure until the football. However, there are these wonderful opportunities that you can connect with. Like I said, in terms of festivals.

But also conferences, symposiums. There are a plethora of things to do here.

Yeah, from what I understand, if as long as your inner old student you can still be apart of any student organization. However, once you go to the source, if it's not there, like we sort of shared before, feel free to start that organization. They have a plethora of resources that can help you start that organization within the source.

So the sound.

No.

And some of the other resources as we sort of outlined a little bit earlier our graduate assistantship so graduate teaching assistantships and graduate assistantships, most departments within the University of Alabama has some type of graduate assistantship. So for example, the Ferguson Center Student Union, it is a union within our institution. But the jobs that the students have there a lot of them are graduate students.

And they're doing research for the Ferguson Center Student Union within our own division of diversity, equity and inclusion. We have some graduate assistantship positions as well. The other thing is becoming a McNair scholar is an option. I'm actually a mcnears Tyler in that afforded me the opportunity to have my program paid for for Masters as well as a PhD.

So when you first come in one of the things is you do need to talk to your program chair director, but also going on that website and then calling and asking follow-up questions. If your Department doesn't have the resources that are necessarily looking for, there may be some things that are more broad based and the graduate assistantships and teaching assistantships are huge at the institution. I wouldn't have been able to go to Graduate School if I didn't have those from a masters and PhD level.

So the one that just came in, I'm now making connections.

And navigating a new campus.

I'll take that one if anybody. If no one else wants to.

Yet, so that's one that was one of my largest concerns. Being away from home for the first time, leaving my entire family to come to Alabama and making those connections can be challenging, but really, it starts with you going out and putting yourself out there and being vulnerable. Whether it's meeting your faculty members, introducing yourself the first day, and then following up, and having those conversations going to the organizations, joining groups, going out.

I'm inviting people within your cohort or class to really hang out with you and connect, and the campus is one of those things where it really does seem large. I'm not going to take that away by any means, but it really can be pared down. So, for example, the University has several resources, whether it's the physical understanding of how to get to classes and things of that nature, we have apps. We have Maps, and every faculty member and staff member is a resident expert about navigating on campus, I promise you.

They will tell you where things are located. The best restaurants are the best shopping areas, but really putting yourself out there is going to be the first thing in being connected to those organizations and groups. The hospitality is unreal here. I would not believe it in less. I actually experienced it for myself and you can quote me on that. And when you come to Alabama, if you have any trouble, you know where to find us and you can say hey, I met this woman named the toy and she said at the hospitality was huge.

I mean, you can hold me to that. It's one of those things that you will be pleasantly surprised. You will make connections here.

I don't think so at all I came in.

Undergraduate directly into a program and it was intimidating at first sitting in classrooms with professional sort of staff members individuals ahead 2030 years experience. But some of those individuals became some of my best friends I mean, it very much is a welcoming environment when you're in class your advisor. I mean, you're a professor will make sure everyone's voice is heard it won't be one of those things where you feel like I'm the newbie arm. The youngest one in the in the class and I'm not going to.

Necessarily get my voice heard. The great thing also is that you learn from each other. I agree with that 100% that it's one of those environments will you Willie will take something from each other and it really helps you take those next steps. So please don't think that you wouldn't have a great time with in the class. But then also looking at the applications I know for a fact because of the two degrees that just for your authentic self when you're applying.

I'll make sure that you're outlining who you are and what you want to learn and how you can contribute to the institution, and it will be seen.

I.

OK.

I'm not a scientist.