Becoming a nationally competitive research university requires graduating successful graduate students. A recent survey of University of Arkansas doctoral students shows that we do just that. In fact, about 88 percent of University of Arkansas doctoral alumni who responded to a recent survey feel their degree programs prepared them well for their careers.

Our doctoral graduates work in 42 of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as in South Korea, China, Taiwan and England. More importantly, one-fourth of the graduates remained in Arkansas to pursue careers and contribute to strengthening the state's economy.

Nearly 60 percent of doctoral graduates work at educational institutions. About 20 percent work in industry or government. And about 8 percent have pursued additional education since graduating from the University.

The doctoral survey was sent to all doctoral alumni from 1996 to 2000 for whom addresses were available. Forty-six percent of those contacted responded. In less than a decade, these alumni have already amassed patents, research awards and an array of recognition, publications and federal and private grants.

Further, these doctoral alumni cited high-quality advisers and programs, research, course work and the university library as having prepared them well for their jobs. Eighty percent of respondents said they would attend the University of Arkansas for their doctorate if they had to do it again. And about 85 percent of doctoral alumni reported that they were satisfied with their current careers.

This satisfaction bodes well for the future of graduate research at the University of Arkansas. With the generous gift of the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation of a $100 million endowment for the graduate school, we will be able to ensure that our graduate students continue to receive a high-caliber education and continue to put University of Arkansas research on the map.

We have just approved proposals from academic departments across the University for 250 Distinguished Doctoral Fellowships and Doctoral Academy Fellowships, which are being established and endowed with proceeds from the Walton gift. Distinguished Doctoral Fellowships offer stipends of $30,000 per year, and we have authorized 41 of these for the academic year 2003-04. Doctoral Academy Fellowships are variable, consisting of $3,000 to $5,000 supplements to existing assistantships to make them competitive. We have authorized 209 Doctoral Academy Fellowships for next fall.

Building on the success of the graduate education experience at the University of Arkansas, as our survey confirms, these endowed fellowships will fuel the growth of our graduate school, from 3,106 this year to 5,500 by 2010. The increasing numbers of outstanding doctoral candidates will expand the capacity of our research programs and also deepen the pool of advanced degree recipients our state needs to compete in the global economy.

Happy reading,

John A. White

Chancellor, University of Arkansas