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Grad Lab | College of Health and Applied Sciences

Mission Statement

To provide an inspiring and supportive environment for MSU Denver College of Health and Applied Sciences graduate program professionals to learn, develop and integrate new skills and knowledge into building self-sustaining and thriving graduate programs.

Strategic Graduate Enrollment Management (S-GEM)

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).

Image depicting the integrated interdependent approach of strategic graduate enrollment management, depicting the phases of the student lifecycle and their connection to enrollment management and budget management

Grad Lab Services

Open Labs

These 60-minute sessions will include a brief overview that includes the basics/foundational elements of the topic and will then be opened for Q&A. Grad program reps can bring specific questions or problems they wish to consult and brainstorm with the group on. These sessions will be held in Zoom, recorded, and uploaded to the resources section of this website.

Workshops

These 90-120 minute sessions will provide resources, skill development, and group consultation. Guests from our University partners may be invited as relevant.

Direct Support & One-on-One Consultations

To request a one-on-one consultation with a grad lab team member, please fill out the form below. We will get you connected with the right person on our team to set up a meeting.


Upcoming Events

Open Lab: Accounting Practices for Managing Graduate Program Funds | Thursday, February 4 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM (Mountain Time)

Open Lab: Establishing Emergency Funds for Graduate Students | Monday, February 22 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM (Mountain Time)

Past Event Recordings

After attending an Open Lab or watching a recording, we invite you to fill out an Open Lab Feedback Survey


Open Lab: Developing Scholarships with Grad Program Revenue Funds

Thursday, September 10, 2020 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM (Mountain Time)

Facilitated by: Bailee Bannon Murray, Associate Director for Social Work Student Services & Amy Middleton, Director of OSWSSFA

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

Open Lab: Advising & Advising Systems

Monday, September 21 from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM (Mountain Time)

Facilitated by: Claire Alfus, Graduate Advising Services Coordinator & Bailee Bannon Murray, Associate Director for Social Work Student Services

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:

 

Open Lab: Grad Admissions for Grad Programs

Thursday, October 8 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM (Mountain Time)

Facilitated by: Caitlin Plamp, Marketing and Admissions Coordinator

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)

Open Lab: An Introduction to Graduate Enrollment Management

Thursday, October 22 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM (Mountain Time)

Facilitated by: Amy Middleton, Director of OSWSSFA

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

Open Lab: Budgeting for Graduate Programs at MSU Denver

Recorded on Monday, November 30

Presented by: Amy Middleton, Director of OSWSSFA

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.

Open Lab: Graduate Student Employment as a High Impact Practice

Monday, December 14 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM (Mountain Time)

Presented by: Melissa Grogan Gore, Administrative and Financial Services Coordinator, and Kayla Duensing, Welcome Desk Coordinator

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) 
  • Ramona Morris (HR) 
  • Carlos Alcala (HR)

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

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-resources

Williams, K. (2008). Graduate enrollment management: Leading the way to EM’s future. College and University, 83(4), 55-58.


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Contact Information

Main Office Phone:

303-615-0555

Location:

Main Office
Central Classroom Suite 201

Office of Field Education
Central Classroom Suite 202

Office of Social Work Student Services
Central Classroom Suite 206

Maps and Parking

Mailing Address:

Metropolitan State University of Denver
Department of Social Work
PO Box 173362 CB 70
Denver, CO 80217-3362


Accreditation

Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accreditation logo

Our MSW and BSSW Programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education - the sole accrediting body for social work education.