Greeting from the Dean

Welcome to ETSU Graduate School. For over 70 years, East Tennessee State University has been a leader in graduate education in the state and region. What began with one Master of Arts degree in education has grown into master’s and doctoral degrees and certificates in over 60 majors and concentrations in more than 200 different program choices across 11 schools and colleges.

Graduate education changes lives. Graduate-prepared professionals change their workplaces and communities. Our faculty are committed to helping students achieve their full potential whether in face-to-face or online programs.

I am a proud alumna of East Tennessee State University, earning my Master’s degree in English before going on to a top doctoral program in my field. Whether you are a prospective or current student, alumni, or community member, welcome to this website.

Sharon James McGee, Ph.D.
Vice Provost & Dean of the Graduate School 

Our Vision

To advance knowledge and innovation through graduate education while preparing leaders who create positive change, improve lives, and enhance economic vitality across our region and beyond.

Our Mission

The Graduate School advances excellence in graduate education through scholarship, research, creative activity, and evidence-based practice. We prepare ethical leaders, practitioner-scholars, and innovators to solve real-world challenges and strengthen their professions and communities. Through collaborative partnerships across the university, we support student success, workforce readiness, and meaningful contributions that improve lives in our region and beyond.

Our Values

The Graduate School’s work is guided by these values:

• • Relationships – We foster a welcoming community and cultivate meaningful connections with students, faculty, programs, colleges and other internal and external partners.
  • Integrity – We act with honesty, fairness, accountability, and trust. We practice transparent, proactive engagement.
  • Scholarship – We support discovery, research, scholarship, and creative activity that improves quality of life for our campus and beyond.
  • Excellence – We pursue high academic and professional standards through teamwork, creativity, innovation, and a strong work ethic.
  • Resilience – We promote well-being and long-term student success.
  • Stewardship – We use resources wisely, engage in continual process improvement, and uphold policies that ensure fairness and compliance in graduate education.

 

What We Do

The Graduate School serves as the central hub for graduate education at ETSU and fulfills both aspirational and operational roles. The Graduate School is responsible for:

• • Supporting graduate programs and faculty in partnership with academic units and the Graduate Council to ensure high quality and continuous improvement.
  • Leading graduate programs in best practices, trends, and approaches in all aspects of graduate education.
  • Promoting graduate student research, scholarship, and creative activity and cultivating strong graduate faculty mentoring.
  • Supporting the graduate student lifecycle—from recruitment and admission through enrollment and graduation—across on-ground, hybrid, and online modalities.
  • Ensuring fairness, integrity, due process, and accountability in graduate education, including policy guidance and compliance.
  • Overseeing Graduate Assistantship awards, policies, and processes.
  • Representing graduate students and graduate faculty across the university.
  • Advancing student success and well-being, including professional development and leadership preparation for an evolving workplace.
  • Supporting graduate faculty success through mentorship resources, guidance, and collaboration.
  • Advocating for graduate education at the university, state, regional, and national levels.