Hopkins GRO named best grad student group in
nation
The Johns Hopkins
Graduate Representative
Organization was recently named the
graduate/professional student organization of the year by
the National Association of Graduate-Professional Students.
GRO received the award during the recent annual NAGPS
conference in Tucson, Ariz. The award is given annually to a
graduate organization that has provided exemplary service to
graduate and professional students during the past year.
"We have a great staff of graduate students who really
care about the graduate community at Hopkins," said Mary
Berk, chairwoman of GRO. "The award is a completely
unexpected acknowledgment that we've actually made a
difference."
GRO's 2001 accomplishments include prompting the
university to change health insurance providers, making
better coverage available to grad students. The group also
initiated a graduate student orientation program for the
first time in Hopkins history.
"The initiatives that we have developed have led to a
further strengthening of the organization as well as a
strengthening of our communication and working ability with
the administration," said Anthony Stapon, GRO chairman from
1999 to 2001. "It's a real honor to be recognized."
Officials from the national group also applauded GRO
for establishing an endowment fund that will provide health
insurance subsidies and travel grants to graduate students
in need.
"Our evaluation committee was very impressed with their
innovations and programming, including their recent
endowment to fund health care for graduate and professional
students," said Kimberly Suedkamp Wells, president and
executive coordinator of NAGPS. "We received several
supporting letters from administrators at Johns Hopkins
University, which made it clear that the leadership of the
GRO provided exemplary service to their members."
IPS students to present findings on Baltimore
neighborhoods
Much has been made of Baltimore's shrinking population.
But contrary to conventional wisdom, population decline is
not always bad.
"Population Dynamics in Baltimore Neighborhoods: The
Good, the Bad and the Neutral" is the title of a study that
students from the Institute for Policy
Studies will present this week on the Homewood campus
to City Council members, neighborhood leaders and others
concerned about the city's future.
As part of a graduate course in public policy taught by
IPS Director Sandra Newman, student teams fanned out across
selected neighborhoods, conducted analyses of multiple
sources of data and studied theories of neighborhood choice.
Their findings offer insights into neighborhood dynamics and
reveal where decline and loss of population can be a good
barometer of a neighborhood's health. They also suggest new
opportunities presented by the profound shifts in population
and lifestyles that have occurred in the city over the past
three decades.
'Research Guide for Search Committees' is now
available
The Provost's Office has distributed to deans and
directors the third edition of its "Research Guide for
Search Committees." Ray Gillian, assistant provost and
director of the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative
Action programs, said the document "provides guidance on
enhancing the candidate pool and reflects the belief that
excellence and diversity are complementary standards in the
recruitment process."
Search committees requiring copies should contact the
Provost's Office.