The second annual Fully Inclusive Training for Diverse Graduate Students (GradFIT2), a collaboration between the University of Nevada, Reno and Nevada State College, is underway June 1 - 4. This year, prospective graduate students from both schools are joined by students from California State University, Chico and Sacramento State University for a four-day immersive visit to introduce them to the campus and the graduate-student experience. 

"GradFIT was created to increase the participation of diverse students from historically underrepresented backgrounds in graduate education," Reginald Chhen Stewart, the University's Chief Diversity Officer, said.  "Diversity is the goal and the objective of GradFIT." 

Graduate and medical students of underrepresented backgrounds made up approximately 34 percent of the 2014 graduate student headcount, according to The Center for Student Cultural Diversity Annual Report 2014. 

Stewart said the University is committed to increasing the number of students pursing graduate degrees, and more specifically, the Ph.D., in pursuit of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching "Research University Very High" (RU/VH) classification. 

"GradFIT is aimed at helping the University in this endeavor while simultaneously increasing the numbers of underrepresented students in the graduate student body," Stewart said. 

The Carnegie Foundation classifies more than 4,000 colleges and universities in the United States. Currently, the University is classified as "Research University/High," which places it among the top 200 research colleges and universities in the United States. Moving to the RU/VH designation would classify the University among the 100 colleges and universities with the most productive research portfolios in the country. 

"Ascension to RU/VH will help cement the University's position as a pillar for economic development and innovation in the region and the state, helping to catalyze a knowledge-based, education-driven economy," Johnson said in a message to faculty and staff in February. "It will inform how we invest in our research capabilities and infrastructure, including bringing more grant-based employees and graduate students to Reno." 

The GradFIT program has grown significantly this year. Last year's pilot program included eight students from two disciplines - biology and psychology from NSC and the University. This year, 33 students from a wide variety of studies including the life sciences, psychology and behavioral and social sciences, as well as creative and liberal arts are participating. 

"The program was conceptualized to serve approximately 50 students per cohort," Stewart said. "The plan this year was for 30 students, and 33 were selected. We had enough interest for 50 [students], but we want to manage the growth of the program to ensure quality." 

Similar to last year's event, GradFIT2 participants will attend preparation courses for the Graduate Record Exam, tour the University's science labs and the greater campus, and can opt to take a boat tour of Lake Tahoe. In addition, participants will make site visits to the Desert Research Institute and graduate student housing, and attend a presentation by the Reno Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority called   "Cracking Reno." 

"This is a true scale-up approach," Stewart said. "We kept all the elements of last year's pilot but coordinated them to address a larger audience. We expanded the academic majors participating. We added the mini-lecture component as we wanted to get more faculty involved with meeting prospective graduate students. We added tours of the Ponderosa Village, which was still under construction last year, and we incorporated the RSCVA to help us share how wonderful living in Reno can be." 

Stewart credits Matt Aguirre, GradFIT program coordinator and graduate assistant for Diversity Initiatives at the University, for doing the vast majority of the legwork to make GradFIT a reality. 

"I am a first-generation college student myself and had so many questions when applying to the University as an undergraduate, but even more as a graduate student," Aguirre said.  "I was fortunate enough to have help from excellent mentors and staff to apply, so when creating the GradFIT program I had to think about what would be good for students to know before applying for graduate school in order for them to succeed." 

Aguirre used student feedback from last year's program to include more workshops on reviewing the graduate applications, graduate assistantships and networking with faculty to this year's event. 

David Zeh, University vice provost of graduate education and dean of the Graduate School, secured the necessary funds to accommodate this year's significantly larger group of students and volunteers. 

Zeh welcomed GradFIT participants at the opening ceremony Monday, June 1, by sharing the University's goals to diversify the graduate school population and to help all students recognize that graduate school is an option for everyone. 

"We have a responsibility to make opportunities available for the changing demographic landscape," he said. "Even if you don't decide to come here, we hope you'll go on to grad school somewhere."