Outreach to Non-Degree Seeking Graduate Students: Aspects of Student Focused Critical Librarianship and Fostering an Inclusive Research Community

Abstract

Librarianship and Fostering an Inclusive Research Community In this presentation, we aim to demonstrate the importance of instructional outreach and programming to non-degree seeking graduate students. This population has been largely ignored by university administrators and librarians because of their unique and challenging classifications. Non-degree seeking students at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) can be classified as Golden ID students which are retired residents of the State who wish to take courses, and students enrolled in singular courses for professional development or other professional accreditation requirements. Importantly, however, non-degree seeking students can also be students taking courses towards graduate certificates, students enrolled in order to gauge interest and aptitude in a program, or students looking to gain experience in a program to aid in admissions decisions. In Spring 2018, we distributed a survey to students at our institution to gauge their motivations for enrolling as non-degree seeking students, as well as their familiarity with library spaces and services, both at UMD and at their previous institutions. As our data show, students within this classification have multiple goals; all of which can be assisted by the university library to varying degrees. We will argue that these students present a conduit to aid in university graduate matriculation, student success, and a potentially influential alumni network. Our goals for this study are to assess the needs and gaps in knowledge of non-degree seeking students and determine an appropriate and beneficial library intervention to aid in their work, to establish a closer connection between the Graduate School administration, and to market library services to both traditional and non-traditional graduate students. Our presentation will share our findings from our survey, as well as our recommendations for serving this unique student population at UMD moving forward.

Goals: Assess the needs and gaps in knowledge of non-degree seeking students and determine an appropriate and beneficial library intervention to aid in their work. Establish a closer connection between the Graduate School administration Market library services to both traditional and non-traditional graduate students