New book co-edited by Dr. David Nguyen offers insight to higher education professionals on ways to support graduate students

Associate Professor of Higher Education and Student Affairs, and incoming Dean of University College Dr. David Nguyen hopes to help graduate school administrators, student affairs professionals and faculty better understand and support their graduate students through the publication of a new book he has co-edited with Dr. Christina Yao of the University of South Carolina.

“A Handbook for Supporting Today’s Graduate Students” describes programs, initiatives, and interventions that lead to the overall student retention and success of graduate students. The book brings together student affairs and academic professionals to identify ways of supporting the whole student beyond just academic performance. Furthermore, much consideration has emphasized holistic conceptualizations for undergraduate students, but graduate students also compromise a sizeable proportion of campus populations and receive less attention. By highlighting this population of students, Nguyen aims to raise awareness for their specific needs as well.

The book offers ways to better support today’s graduate student population, addresses the needs of today’s changing student demography, and considers the challenges today’s graduate students face inside and outside of the classroom. A primary aim of the book is to highlight ways programs, departments, and institutions can support the academic, personal, and professional development of students. Throughout each chapter of the book, authors highlight different ways for supporting students at the individual or institutional level. Collectively, Nguyen and Yao’s volume highlights practical ways graduate educators can support students inside and outside the classroom. 

Nguyen and co-editor Yao also recently discussed graduate student mental health, well-being, and support on the Student Affairs Now podcast.