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Mission Statement
To provide an inspiring and supportive environment for MSU Denver graduate program professionals to learn, develop and integrate new skills and knowledge into building self-sustaining and thriving graduate programs.
Welcome to the Grad Lab
Grad Lab fosters collaborative and educational spaces that support each stage of development for graduate programs. Our primary goal is to help programs develop sustainable systems to support strategic graduate enrollment management across the student lifecycle. Grad Lab supports program-level design of tailored systems and processes that work in concert with the Office of Graduate Studies and other University partners.
With a focus on systems at the graduate program level, the Grad Lab fosters a team culture where strategic partnerships and intentional development of staff, resources, and systems provide graduate programs foundations upon which to grow and thrive.
As the founding director of the Grad Lab, I have been honored to receive support from the MSW Program, the College of Health and Applied Sciences and the Office of Graduate Students to bring this support to graduate programs in the same creative, collaborative and innovative spirit that shines in MSU Denver’s graduate programs and all of us that work at MSU Denver. This project is very close to my heart and it has been a privilege to leverage the expertise that is being developed across campus for graduate programs.
Sincerely,
Amy K Middleton, MS (she/her)
Grad Lab Director | Office of Graduate Studies
Director, Office of Social Work Student Services, Operations & Finance (OSWSS)
Department of Social Work | College of Health and Applied Sciences
You can learn more about the Grad Lab’s offerings and services below!
Grad Lab Services
Work-SHOP Series
These 90-minute sessions will include a brief overview that includes the basics/foundational elements of the topic followed by Q&A and hands-on demonstrations.
Our Fall Semester Work-SHOPs will focus on Strategic Graduate Enrollment Management (S-GEM) Basics and Goal Setting while our Spring Semester Work-SHOPs will focus on building systems and programming across the student lifespan (from prospect through alumni engagement).
All Work-SHOPs will be offered virtually, recorded, and available on this website.
Pit Stops
These are open forums for collaboration and problem solving, designed to provide focused skill building tailored to programs.
Tune Ups (One-on-One Consultations)
Fill out our one-on-one consultation request form and we will get you connected with the right person on our team to set up a meeting!
2022-2023 Events Coming Soon!
Grad Lab Content Contributors
Amy Middleton, M.S.
Director, Office of Social Work Student Services, Operations & Finance | Grad Lab Director & Data Architect
Full Cycle Strategy & Oversight
[email protected]
Bailee Bannon Murray, M.A.
Associate Director of Student Services, OSWSS | Grad Lab Content Contributor (2020-present)
Student Services Full Strategy & Oversight (from Marketing & Recruiting through Alumni Engagement)
[email protected]
Caitlin Plamp, M.S.
Marketing & Admissions Coordinator, OSWSS | Grad Lab Content Contributor (2020-present)
Marketing & Recruiting, Admissions, Enrollment Forecasting & Management
[email protected]
Claire Alfus, M.A.
Graduate Advising Services Coordinator, OSWSS | Grad Lab Content Contributor (2020-present)
Advising & Retention, Graduation, Alumni Engagement
[email protected]
Melissa Grogan Gore, M.A.
Associate Director of Operations and Finance, OSWSS | Grad Lab Content Contributor (2020-present)
Budget Forecasting & Management, Advising & Retention
[email protected]
AJ Alejano-Steele, Ph.D.
Interim Associate Vice President, Office of Graduate Studies
OGS Full Cycle Strategy & Oversight
[email protected]
Chip Hagan
Financial Analysis Manager, Office of Graduate Studies
OGS Budget Forecasting & Management, OGS Enrollment Forecasting & Management
[email protected]
Ben Caldwell, MA
Graduate Admissions Coordinator, Office of Graduate Studies
OGS Admissions
[email protected]
2022-23 Work-SHOP and Pit Stop Recordings
2022-2023 Work-SHOPs and Pit Stops
Work-SHOP 1 – An Introduction to Strategic Graduate Enrollment Management
Friday, November 19, 2021
Presented by: Amy Middleton, M.S., Director, OSWSS | Grad Lab Director & Data Architect
Work-SHOP 2 – An Intro to S-GEM, Part Two: Goal Setting & Strategic Planning
Friday, December 3, 2021
Presented by: Amy Middleton, M.S., Director, OSWSS | Grad Lab Director & Data Architect
Work-SHOP 3 – Marketing and Recruiting
Friday, February 11, 2022
Presented by: Caitlin Plamp, M.S., Marketing & Admissions Coordinator, OSWSS | Grad Lab Facilitator
Work-SHOP 4 – Identifying, Defining & Optimizing Your Admissions Funnel
Friday, February 25, 2022
Presented by: Caitlin Plamp, M.S., Marketing & Admissions Coordinator, OSWSS | Grad Lab Facilitator
Pit Stop: Using EDW, the Basics
Wednesday, March 2, 2022
Presented in collaboration with Kevin Polinski, Data Specialist in the College of Health & Applied Sciences.
Work-SHOP 5 – Developing Advising Services
Friday, March 18, 2022
Presented by: Bailee Bannon Murray, M.A., Associate Director of Student Services, OSWSS | Grad Lab Facilitator, and Claire Alfus, M.A., Graduate Advising Services Coordinator, OSWSS | Grad Lab Facilitator
Work-SHOP 6 – Academic Progress Monitoring and Management
Friday, April 8, 2022
Presented by: Amy Middleton, M.S., Director, OSWSS | Grad Lab Director & Data Architect, Bailee Bannon Murray, M.A., Associate Director of Student Services, OSWSS | Grad Lab Facilitator, and Claire Alfus, M.A., Graduate Advising Services Coordinator, OSWSS | Grad Lab Facilitator
Work-SHOP 7 – Budgeting and Resource Management
Friday, April 15, 2022
Presented by: Amy Middleton, M.S., Director, OSWSS | Grad Lab Director & Data Architect
- Watch the recording on YouTube
- Download the presentation (coming soon!)
- For copies of any of the tools referenced in this workshop, please email Amy at [email protected]
Pit Stop: Scope of Projects and Best Practices with Graduate Research Assistants
Friday, April 22, 2022
Presented in collaboration with Dr. Jessica Retrum, Chair of the Department of Social Work
- Watch the recording on YouTube
- For copies of any of the tools referenced in this pit stop, please email Dr. Retrum at [email protected]
Work-SHOP 8 – Accounting Practices
Friday, April 29, 2022
Presented by: Melissa Grogan Gore, M.A., Associate Director of Operations and Finance, OSWSS | Grad Lab Facilitator
- Watch the recording on YouTube
- Download the presentation (coming soon!)
Work-SHOP 9 – Developing Alumni Engagement & Community Partnerships
Thursday, June 9, 2022
Presented by: Amanda Campbell, MSW, LCSW, Assistant Director of Field Education in the Department of Social Work and Brandi Rideout, M.Ed., Senior Director of Alumni Relations at MSU Denver
- Watch the recording on YouTube (coming soon!)
Integrated Operations Across the Student Lifespan
Strategic Graduate Enrollment Management (S-GEM) is an integrated, interdependent model that spans across the complete student lifecycle and is strategically linked to budget management (Connor, LaFave & Balayen, 2011). At the graduate level, creating a full-service graduate enrollment management (GEM) student lifecycle support operation team with knowledge-based expertise in enrollment planning, data analytics, budgeting, advising, registering students, and financial aid is critical to both programmatic and institutional viability (Williams, 2008). Staff are cross-trained in multiple areas of the student lifecycle such as career counseling, academic advising, financial aid and degree audits while strategically analyzing data on current, prospective, and developing markets (Connor, LaFave, Balayen, 2011).
2020-2021 Open Lab Recordings
Contribute to the Grad Lab Jamboard to let share your ideas about how the Grad Lab can support your graduate program.
Tuesday, May 4, 2021 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM (Mountain Time)
Presented by:
Amy Middleton, MS, Director, Office of Social Work Student Services, Finance & Administration
Annjanette R. Alejano-Steele, Ph.D., Associate Dean, College of Health & Applied Science
Integrated Operations Across the Lifespan Phase(s): Marketing & Recruiting, Admissions, Advising & Retention, Graduation, Alumni Engagement, Budget Management, Enrollment Management
In this Open Lab Session we will:
- Review major themes and takeaways from 2020-21 Open Lab series.
- Examine the integrated operations approach in relation to Open Lab themes and topics.
- Brainstorm future needs for graduate program operations.
Handouts and Resources
Open Lab Presentation: May the 4th Be With You, Jedi Masters
Thursday, October 22 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM (Mountain Time)
Presented by:
Amy Middleton, MS, Director, Office of Social Work Student Services, Finance & Administration
Integrated Operations Across the Lifespan Phase(s): Enrollment Management
In this open lab, we will explore strategic graduate enrollment management (S-GEM) from an integrated operations lens that spans across the entire student life cycle. Participants will examine why an S-GEM approach is critical to graduate program development and viability and explore tools and frameworks for goals setting, monitoring, adjusting, and reporting. Participants also will examine the staffing needs required to develop a strong S-GEM system and team.
Handouts and Resources:
Open Lab Presentation: An Introduction to Graduate Enrollment Management
Breaking It Down: S-GEM Basics
Supporting Students Across the Lifespan (Worksheet)
NAGAP Webinar: From Invisible to Invaluable – Reimagining Your Internal GEM Marketing
Coming Soon – CHP/FTE tracker template, Historical Data Tracker template, Accept Calculator template, Registration Monday Email example
Thursday, September 10, 2020 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM (Mountain Time)
Presented by:
Bailee Bannon Murray, MA, Associate Director for Social Work Student Services
Amy Middleton, MS, Director, Office of Social Work Student Services, Finance & Administration
Integrated Operations Across the Lifespan Phase(s): Marketing & Recruiting, Admissions, Advising & Retention
In this open lab, we will explore the necessary steps to establish both merit based and need based graduate student scholarships that are funded by tuition revenue. We will discuss budgeting for scholarships as well as guidelines for creating scholarships that help you recruit and retain students. We will share effective timeline establishment and identify key partners in the Office of Financial Aid.
Handouts and Resources:
Open Lab Presentation: Developing Scholarships with Grad Program Revenue Funds
Thursday, October 8 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM (Mountain Time)
Presented by:
Caitlin Plamp, MS, Marketing and Admissions Coordinator
Content Contributor:
Amy Middleton, MS, Director, Office of Social Work Student Services, Finance & Administration
Integrated Operations Across the Lifespan Phase(s): Marketing & Recruiting, Admissions, Advising & Retention
In this open lab, we will explore systems and resources for developing a strong admissions funnel. Topics include graduate enrollment management basics, the importance of the admissions funnel, admissions funnel personalization and optimization, resources and tools to support the admissions funnel, and utilizing the admissions funnel to inform predictive analytic enrollment management.
Handouts and Resources:
Open Lab Presentation: Grad Admissions for Grad Programs
Grad Admissions for Grad Programs Definitions
GEM Resources (from NAGAP)
Successful Strategies for Recruiting Adult, Online, and Graduate Students (presented at the 2019 NAGAP Annual Conference by Brian Connelly, Kayla Manning, and Stephanie L. Franks Helwich)
The 5 Key Stages of College Enrollment (from EAB)
The Enrollment Funnel: Better Results Start with the Prospects You Already Have (from ICEF Monitor)
Overlooked Inefficiencies in Admissions That Can Impact Yield (from AACRAO)
Recording coming soon!
Tuesday, April 6, 2021 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM (Mountain Time)
Presented by:
Claire Alfus, MA, Graduate Advising Services Coordinator
Jo Bailey, Ph.D., MSW, MSW Program Director/Professor
Amy Middleton, MS, Director, Office of Social Work Student Services, Finance & Administration
Content Contributor:
Bailee Bannon Murray, MA, Associate Director for Social Work Student Services
Integrated Operations Across the Lifespan Phase(s): Admissions, Advising & Retention, Enrollment Management
Goals:
- Explore effective approaches to fostering a collaborative environment that facilitates integrated operational enrollment management, student success, and retention efforts.
- Identify programming strategies that foster collaborative student, faculty, and staff interactions.
- Examine processes and tools that support enrollment management, student success, and retention on a day to day basis.
Handouts and Resources:
Monday, September 21 from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM (Mountain Time)
Presented by:
Claire Alfus, MA, Graduate Advising Services Coordinator
Bailee Bannon Murray, MA, Associate Director for Social Work Student Services
Content Contributor:
Amy Middleton, MS, Director, Office of Social Work Student Services, Finance & Administration
Integrated Operations Across the Lifespan Phase(s): Advising & Retention, Graduation
In this open lab, we will explore advising tools and resources that foster graduate student success. We will present a potential check list of items graduate students need (advising sheets, assigned advisor, registration support, mentors, website resources, etc) and support participants to make a customized advising plan for their program. We will also provide an overview of SSC Navigate, Degree Progress Reports, and benefits of internal tracking systems to support data management.
Handouts and Resources:
Open Lab Presentation: Advising and Advising Systems
Example MSW Program Advising Snapshots:
Monday, December 14 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM (Mountain Time)
Presented by:
Melissa Grogan Gore, MA, Administrative and Financial Services Coordinator
Kayla Duensing, Welcome Desk Coordinator
Content Contributors:
Amy Middleton, MS, Director, Office of Social Work Student Services, Finance & Administration
Bailee Bannon Murray, MA, Associate Director for Social Work Student Services
Integrated Operations Across the Lifespan Phase(s): Marketing & Recruiting, Admissions, Advising & Retention
In this open lab, we will explore how graduate student employment can be used as a high impact practice within your program.
Handouts and Resources:
Open Lab Presentation: Graduate Student Employment as a High Impact Practice
Contact Information
- Gabe Christie (Accessibility Training)
- Instructional Accessibility Manager
- Email: [email protected]
- Ramona Morris (HR)
- Student Employment Program Manager
- Email: [email protected]
- Carlos Alcala (HR)
- HR Representative – Student Employment/Temporary Hourly Employees
- Email: [email protected]
Tuesday, March 9, 2021 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Presented by:
Amy Middleton, MS, Director, Office of Social Work Student Services, Finance & Administration
Bailee Bannon Murray, MA, Associate Director for Social Work Student Services
Claire Alfus, MA, Graduate Advising Services Coordinator
Integrated Operations Across the Lifespan Phase(s): Advising & Retention
In this Open Lab, we will:
- Explore University and MSW Program academic policies and explore the purpose and meaning behind each one.
- Examine MSW Program systems and procedures designed to uphold these policies and track students.
- Explore student centered strategies designed to inform and support students.
Handouts and Resources:
Recorded on Monday, November 30
Presented by:
Amy Middleton, MS, Director, Office of Social Work Student Services, Finance & Administration
Integrated Operations Across the Lifespan Phase(s): Budget Management
In this open lab, we will explore high level budgeting practices for cash-funded graduate programs at MSU Denver.
Handouts and Resources:
Open Lab Presentation: Budgeting for Graduate Programs at MSU Denver
To request a one-on-one consult to discuss your budget, fill out our Grad Lab One-on-One Consult Request form.
Thursday, February 4, 2021 from 10:00 AM -11:00 AM (Mountain Time)
Presented by:
Amy Middleton, MS, Director, Office of Social Work Student Services, Finance & Administration
Melissa Grogan Gore, MA, Administrative and Financial Services Coordinator
Integrated Operations Across the Lifespan Phase(s): Budget Management
In this open lab, we will explore accounting practices for managing graduate program funds at MSU Denver.
Handouts and Resources:
Open Lab Presentation: Accounting Practices for Managing Graduate Program Funds
Program Faculty Salary Calculator: Standard Operating Procedure
Faculty Calculator Template – please contact the Grad Lab team to be emailed a copy of the template!
Program Development & Integrated Operations Toolkit
Grad Lab Current State Profile (Program Development & Integrated Operations)
Grad Admissions for Grad Programs Definitions (Admissions)
Breaking It Down: S-GEM Basics (Enrollment Management)
Supporting Students Across the Lifespan (Enrollment Management)
Resource Library
GEM Resources (Enrollment Management)
Source: NAGAP
Referenced in Open Lab: Grad Admissions for Grad Programs
Successful Strategies for Recruiting Adult, Online, and Graduate Students (Marketing & Recruiting, Admissions, Enrollment Management)
Source: Presented at the 2019 NAGAP Annual Conference by Brian Connelly, Kayla Manning, and Stephanie L. Franks Helwich
Referenced in Open Lab: Grad Admissions for Grad Programs
The 5 Key Stages of College Enrollment (Marketing & Recruiting, Admissions, Enrollment Management)
Source: EAB
Referenced in Open Lab: Grad Admissions for Grad Programs
The Enrollment Funnel: Better Results Start with the Prospects You Already Have (Marketing & Recruiting, Admissions, Enrollment Management)
Source: ICEF Monitor
Referenced in Open Lab: Grad Admissions for Grad Programs
Overlooked Inefficiencies in Admissions That Can Impact Yield (Marketing & Recruiting, Admissions, S-GEM)
Source: AACRAO
Referenced in Open Lab: Grad Admissions for Grad Programs
Webinar: From Invisible to Invaluable – Reimagining Your Internal GEM Marketing (Program Development & Integrated Operations)
Source: NAGAP
Referenced in Open Lab: An Introduction to Graduate Enrollment Management
Webinar: Houston, We Have A Problem… Using Lean Methods to Create Efficiencies and Find Solutions in Higher Education (Program Development & Integrated Operations)
Source: NAGAP
Presented by Grad Lab team members Amy Middleton, Bailee Bannon Murray, Caitlin Plamp, and Claire Alfus
References
Connor, C.S., LaFave, J. and Balayan, A. (2017). Integrated interdependence: The emergence of graduate enrollment management (GEM). NAGAP’s Research and Global Issues Committee, NAGAP White Paper. Retrieved August 2018 from https://www.nagap.org/gem
Williams, K. (2008). Graduate enrollment management: Leading the way to EM’s future. College and University, 83(4), 55-58.