LONGWOOD GRADUATE PROGRAM

POLICY STATEMENT

 

Part I.             Program History:

 

 

            Statement of Purpose:

 

The Longwood Graduate Program endeavors to produce leaders with a broad understanding of public gardens; their role and function.  The Longwood Fellows’ need for knowledge in plant science and related disciplines is understood.  While specialization is required in the research area, the Fellows are expected to become generally familiar with the basic principles and concepts involved in the operation of public horticultural enterprises.  To this end they will participate in the activities of Longwood Gardens, and the University of Delaware, go on field trips to related types of institutions and may attend seminars conducted by outstanding people in the field.  The Program helps students who want to pursue a PhD to conduct research and take classes that may enable entrance into a doctoral program.

 

 

            Date of Permanent Status:

 

The Longwood Graduate Program was established in 1967 by a grant from the Longwood Foundation, Inc.

 

 

Degrees Offered:

 

The Program offers one degree; the Masters of Science in Public Horticulture.

 

 

Part II.            Admission:

           

            Requirements are:

·        A minimum of 1050 (sum of the verbal and the quantitative) on the

GRE;

·        A minimum overall G. P. A. of 2.5 and a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in the major courses;

·        A bachelors degree in agriculture, biology, botany, horticulture, landscape architecture, landscape horticulture, plant science or related fields;

·        Technical experience in horticulture and public horticulture;

·        Submission of a completed University of Delaware graduate admission application;

·        Submission of a completed Longwood Fellowship application with a resume, self evaluation, statement of purpose, undergraduate transcripts of degrees/ courses/grades, and four letters of recommendation; and

·        Attending a five-day group interview period; making a five-minute oral presentation, completing a writing exercise, participating in a group case study, and a personal interview with the Selection Committee.

 

Application Deadline:

 

The application deadline is December 1, every year for the class that enters the following July 1.  The Interview Period is usually during the first week of February each year.

 

Special Competencies:

 

Special competencies that the ten-member Selection Committee looks for include:

 

·        excellent communication skills

·        excellent interpersonal skills

·        excellent organization skills

·        leadership potential

 

On the following page is a list of criteria that the Selection Committee uses.

 

Admission Categories:

 

The Selection Committee usually recommends “regular” admission, but occasionally does recommend “provisional” when the GRE Score is less than 1050 and the application packet and interview are excellent.  When a student is admitted “provisional” status, The Program requires acquiring and maintaining at least 3.0 GPA.

LONGWOOD GRADUATE PROGRAM

GUIDELINES FOR ADVANCEMENT FROM APPLICANT TO CANDIDATE

C            Bachelor’s Degree - Horticulture or related fields preferred

 

S                                            An Undergraduate level course in Plant Taxonomy must be successfully completed

C            minimum overall GPA of 2.50/4.00

C            minimum GPA in major courses of 3.00/4.00

C            minimum GRE score 1050 (sum of verbal and quantitative)

(verbal score must be a minimum of 500 for students when English is not the first language)

 

GUIDELINES FOR ADVANCEMENT FROM CANDIDATE TO INTERVIEWEE

The candidate’s application, transcripts, and references must demonstrate and document excellence in:

C            Organizational skills

C            Written communication skills

C            Technical knowledge in horticulture

C            Practical knowledge in horticulture

and indicate

C            Interest in public horticulture

and show

C            Leadership potential

C         

GUIDELINES FOR OFFERING A LONGWOOD FELLOWSHIP

The interviewee’s written exercise, case study performance, personal interview, and interaction with Current Fellows and Selection Committee Members must demonstrate excellence in:

C            Organizational skills

C            Communications skills

C            Technical knowledge in horticulture

C            Practical knowledge in horticulture

C            Interpersonal skills

and some

C            Supervisory experience

demonstrate

C            Interest in public horticulture

and

C            Leadership potential

C         

IN ADDITION THE INTERVIEWEE MUST POSSESS SOME APTITUDE/ EXPERIENCE/OR TALENT IN ONE OF THE THREE CATEGORIES

C            Business/financial

C            Creative

C            Mechanical


Part III.             Academic/Professional:

 

            A.            Academic (core requirements) and Professional Requirements:

 

             The “former” and “new” degree requirements and the professional

Leader’s Internship requirements follow (see Appendices A-D).

 

                        APPENDIX A - Curriculum Comparisons

                        APPENDIX B - Former Requirements

                        APPENDIX C - New Requirements (proposed)

                                    APPENDIX D - New course sequence (proposed)

 

Variances:

 

Exceptions are made from the core curriculum very seldom.  Occasionally a new course is offered.  When this occurs the student(s), Program Coordinator and members of the Program’s Executive Committee will discuss the new course contents in relationship to the goals of The Program and make a decision on variances. 

 

 

 

B.            Professional (Leader’s Internship):

 

All Fellows are required to successfully complete two Leader’s Internships (one each summer) at Longwood Gardens.  Al but one component of the Leader’s Internship components are evaluated and graded in MSST 802-Museum Internship (for First-year Fellows) or in PLSC 832-Botanic Garden Management (for Second-year Fellows).  The one component not evaluated this way is “plan a symposium” that is evaluated and graded in PLSC 864-Symposium Planning, Design and Presentation.

 

The components of the First Leader’s Internship (MSST 802 and PLSC 864) are:

•                                             complete an orientation/rotation,

•                                             maintain a daily/weekly log,

•                                             attend four field trips and write reports,

•                                             complete a First-year Project (1st year students only),

•                                             complete a Group Project (1st and 2nd year students),

•                                             develop/promote team work,

•                                             develop/strengthen leadership skills, and

•                                             plan a symposium.

 

The components of the Second Leader’s Internship (PLSC 832 and PLSC 864) are:

 

•                                             complete an individual project (2nd year students only),

•                                             complete a Group Project (1st and 2nd year students),

•                                             participate in Longwood Horticultural Informatoin Duty,

•                                             mentor the First-year Fellows and develop and promote team work,

•                                             strengthen leadership skills, and

•                                             plan a symposium.

 

Grade Minimums and Evaluation Criteria:

 

Please see the following evaluation criteria and criteria for maintaining and continuing a Longwood Fellowship (taken from Policy Manual, pages 2-7)

 

EVALUATION PROCESS AND FELLOWSHIP CONTINUATION

 

                        A.            Two-Month Discussion and Evaluation (after Leader’s Internship)(first year):

 

The Coordinator will discuss individual leadership and professional growth progress with each First-year Fellow at the end of the first summer.  This discussion will include strengths and weaknesses in the criteria listed on the checklist which follows.           

 

 

The Coordinator will make recommendations for improvement and, with the student, will establish an action plan during this discussion.  If all areas being evaluated “need improvement”, and upon approval of the Program’s Executive Committee, the Coordinator may recommend termination of the student to the Graduate Office.  A copy of the discussion results is sent to the Office of Graduate Studies.

 

 

                        B.            Six-Month Discussion and Evaluation (December)(first year):

 

                        The Coordinator will discuss progress with courses and research in addition to professional growth and leadership.  Issues that were identified as “needing improvement” at the “Two-Month Discussion and Evaluation” will be reviewed during this evaluation. 

 

                        If a student has not made satisfactory progress in the professional leadership and growth areas, or if the progress in the academic courses and research are not satisfactory, the student’s fellowship may not be continued for the spring semester.  Satisfactory progress in the former will be based upon the action plan established in September.  A GPA less than 3.00 indicates less than satisfactory progress in courses.  Not meeting the criteria listed in the research section indicates less than satisfactory progress in that area.  If appropriate, the Coordinator will make recommendations for improvement and, with the student, will establish an action plan during this discussion.  If the potential for the Fellow in The Program is not strong, and upon approval of The Program’s Executive Committee, the Coordinator may recommend to the Graduate Office that the student’s Fellowship be terminated.  A copy of the discussion/evaluation results will be sent to the Office of Graduate Studies.

 

            C.            Annual Report and Evaluation:

 

First-year Fellows will submit a report to the Coordinator by 1 April in which they present their academic and professional growth since the entering The Program.  Students also will include results of any action plan(s) established during the year.  The required format for the report follows. 

 

The Coordinator will schedule a meeting with each student in April to review, discuss, and evaluate student’s leadership and professional growth and performance.  After the student/coordinator meeting, and an Executive Committee Meeting, a recommendation on Fellowship renewal will be made to the Graduate Office.  A copy of the annual report results will be sent to the Office of Graduate Studies.  The specific criteria for renewal/continuation are:

 

                        Academic:

            Courses:

 

            -            all required courses must be completed satisfactorily or waived;

            -            a minimum of 9 credits per semester is required;

            -            a minimum cumulative index (GPA) of 3.0 must be achieved and maintained;

            -            no grade of “C” or below will be counted toward graduate credit.

            Research:

            -            the research committee must be satisfied that satisfactory progress is being made.  Among the guidelines for demonstrating satisfactory progress:

                        -            topic selected, committee selected, proposal written, and first meeting held by 31 December of first year.

                        -            proposal refined, experimental design identified, data collection procedures outlined and 2nd research committee meeting held by 30 April of first year.   Adequate progress must be made so that data collection will commence in late spring or early summer.

                        -            data collection completed or nearly completed,  general understanding and preliminary analysis of the data completed and 3rd research committee meeting held by 30 November of second year.

                        -            thesis written and distributed to the research committee members so the thesis defense and oral examination can occur and the final thesis copy can be submitted to the Graduate Office  by the 3rd Monday in April of the second year.

                        Professional Growth and Leadership:

                        The Fellows will be evaluated on their professional growth, leadership and team skills by using the following criteria:

                        -            excellent organizational skills,

                        -            excellent communication skills(writing, speaking, listening),

                        -            excellent interpersonal skills,

                        -            excellent time management skills,

                        -            initiative,

                        -            motivation,

                        -            responsibility,

                        -            decision-making,

                        -            leading,

                        -            following,

                        -            promoting team work,

                        The Fellows will be expected to understand and follow Personnel Policies of the University of Delaware and Longwood Gardens.

FIRST-YEAR LEADER’S INTERNSHIP PERFORMANCE EVALUATION CHECKLIST

 

Listed below are the areas in which First-year Fellows will be evaluated. These areas have specific guidelines, formats, criteria, evaluation forms* etc. to aid in evaluating performance and ultimately a grade for MSST 804 - Museum Internship.  The evaluation process is spelled out in the sections describing each item.

 

 

•                                             daily/weekly logs                                                            (10% of the course grade)

•                                             field trip reports                                                            (10% of the course grade)

•                                             professional growth, leadership, and team promotion during the orientation and field trip activities, but not during the First-year Project and Group Project           

                                                                                                            (30% of the course grade)

 

•                                             First-year Project (including professional growth, leadership, and team promotion related to the project)                                                            (25% of the course grade)

•                                             Group Project (including professional growth, leadership, and team promotion related to the project                                                             (25% of the course grade)

           

Since an overall goal of the Leader’s Internship is to develop and strengthen the Fellows’ leadership and team building skills and to help them grow professionally, each Fellow will be evaluated during the summer orientation activities, field trips and projects using the criteria** below:

 

•                                             communication skills

•                                             decision-making

•                                             organizational and time management skills

•                                             interpersonal relations

•                                             responsibility

•                                             leadership

•                                             team promotion

•                                             planning ability

•                                             plan implementation

•                                             initiative

•                                             motivation

            *            Evaluation Forms can be found in APPENDIX E

            **            (these criteria are not listed in any particular order of importance)

 

 

ANNUAL REPORT

2002-2003

 

Name:                                                                            

 

 

A.                                         Academic:

           

1.                  Course Grades:                        GPA = ___________            (end of fall semester)

           

Fall 2002

 

                        List Courses                                                             Credits          Grade         

 

Spring 2003

 

                        List Courses                                                             Credits          Grade         

 

2.                  Research:

                                    Research Title:

                                    Committee Members/Title/Affiliation:

                                    Two-hundred word (maximum) summary of progress to date

 

B.                                         Professional/Leadership:

           

1.                  Group Project:

                                                Responsibility

                                                Leadership skill learned/strengthened

 

2.                  Public Service:

                                                Activity/organization

 

3.                  Student Position:

                                                Title

                                                Leadership skill learned/strengthened

 

4.                  Symposium:

                                                Responsibility

                                                Leadership skill learned/strengthened

 

5.                  Miscellaneous: (includes all other activities including recruitment)

           

C.                                         (If appropriate) Action Plan Progress.  If the student and Coordinator established an action plan for improvement during the year, explain action(s) taken and the results.

           

D.                    Goals for Second Year

           


SECOND-YEAR LEADER’S INTERNSHIP PERFORMANCE EVALUATION CHECKLIST

 

            Listed below are the two projects on which Second-year Fellows will be evaluated. These projects have specific guidelines, formats, criteria, evaluation forms*, etc. to aid in evaluating performance and ultimately a grade for PLSC 832, sec. 11 - Botanic Garden Management.  The evaluation process is spelled out in the sections describing each item.

 

 

•                                             Individual Project                                                            (30% of the course grade)

•                                             Group Project                                                                        (70% of the course grade)

           

            Since an overall goal of the Leader’s Internship is to develop and strengthen the Fellows’ leadership and team building skills and to help them grow professionally, each Fellow will be evaluated during the Individual Project and the Group Project using the criteria** below:

 

 

•                                             communication skills

•                                             decision-making skills

•                                             organizational and time-management skills

•                                             interpersonal and working relation skills

•                                             responsibility

•                                             leadership

•                                             team promotion

•                                             planning ability

•                                             plan implementation

•                                             initiative

•                                             motivation

 

*            Evaluation Forms can be found in APPENDIX E

**            (these criteria are not listed in any particular order of importance).

 

Courses Not Used Toward Degree:

 

Occasionally an undergraduate-level course has appropriate and relevant material for the Longwood Fellows.  They are allowed to take the course for the information but are not allowed credit toward the degree.  They are required to make up the graduate credits by taking a graduate-level course.   An example might be a leadership course such as FREC 305 - Management and Leadership Development.

 

Expectations:

 

The Program expectations are that the Longwood Fellows will perform at a high level in oral and written English.

 

            B.            Research/Thesis:

 

                        See the following guidelines and minimum requirements for research/thesis.

RESEARCH/THESIS

 

            The Longwood Graduate Program's approach to research is different from most graduate programs in that the primary considerations in selecting a topic are the student's abilities, needs and wishes.  A secondary consideration is the appropriateness of the study to the stated aims of the Program, the value to the field of public horticulture and specifically to Longwood Gardens.

 

            The burden is on the student to suggest a topic which meets these considerations.  The topic selected could be the basis for future professional growth and might determine the direction of a career.  The decision is worth a lot of thought and there are many people at the University, Longwood Gardens and at other institutions who will be happy to help you.  Use all the resources available to you.  A student considering a PhD program after the Longwood Graduate Program should complete a quantitative research/thesis rather than a qualitative one.  This option should be explored early by the student.

 

            The usual course of events sees the student arrive with only a vague notion in which area he/she might wish to concentrate.  The preferred procedure which you may choose to use is set out below.

 

Topic Selection

 

C                                             The student enters the Program with a general research area in mind.

C                                             The student should determine early whether he/she wants to pursue qualitative research or quantitative research as this dictates the type of experimental design course he/she takes

 

C                                             The student confers with Coordinator throughout the summer about potential topics.

 

C                                             If the student plans to go on for a PhD after the Longwood Graduate Program, it is important to let the Coordinator know early on.

 

C                                             Thesis topic workshop/brainstorming session or sessions are held during the summer/fall.

 

C                                             The student does literature research on 2-3 topics and confers with many people throughout the summer and fall and the selection process begins to focus on a single topic.

 

C                                             The student registers for 1 credit of PLSC 868--Research–the first Fall Semester.

 

Committee Members

 

C                                             3 - 5 members is common

 

C                                             The majority of the members must be University faculty (Program Coordinator counts as one of the University members on the Committee)

 

C                                             Other members should be professionals with expertise in the research area and should hold a master's degree

 

Committee Meetings

 

C                                             First meeting must be held by the end of December (1st year).  At the meeting the student will present a research proposal to the committee members.  At this time a determination regarding proposal review by Human Subject's Protection Committee will be made.

 

C                                             The student will prepare a thesis proposal for that meeting which includes:

                        -            justification

                        -            objectives of research

                        -            specific goals

                        -            procedure for research

                        -            outline of the thesis document

                        -            preliminary literature review

                        -            time line for research and thesis development

                        -            budget for the research/thesis (up to $2,000 is paid by the Program)

                        -            specific courses to be taken

 

C                                             The Committee will help the student focus the topic

 

C                                             A minimum number of subsequent thesis meetings will be held in April - May (1st year), October - November (2nd year) and March (oral exam)

 

C                                             The student should have completed an extensive literature review by the second research committee meeting.

 

Publications

Requirements for graduation will be considered “Incomplete” if the following two publications are not submitted before the end of the final semester.  This may mean that the Fellow involved will not be considered a May graduate and will have to pay a “Sustaining Fee” (currently $265 each semester) in order to be cleared for graduation during a later semester.

            1.            The Committee members will work with the student helping to prepare a manuscript for submission to a periodical and possible publication. 

            2.            The Coordinator will work with the student in preparing the manuscript for the Seminar Proceedings.  This manuscript must be formatted in Word.

                        Any publications should recognize the contributions of the research committee.

            3.            Requirements:

·        each 2nd Year Fellow will present his/her research at Longwood Gardens, provide an abstract with selective bibliography and a proceeding manuscript;

·        each 1st Year Fellow will be responsible for introducing the 2nd Year Fellows and for handling their audio/visual needs at the seminar presentations.

                        Some specific responsibilities include:

·        greet registrants

·        write and submit an abstract and and manuscript

·        make a presentation

·        participate in discussion

·        operate audio/visual equipment.

            4.            Evaluation and Grades:

                        Fellows will be evaluated and graded by the Coordinator using the following criteria:

·        quality of research/thesis

·        organization

·        leadership

·        communication

·        responsibility

·        interpersonal skills

·        participation

·        presentation skills

·        team builder.

 

Presentations

·        Each Fellow must orally present the research results, summary and recommendations at the end of the second/Spring Semester.  This is usually in conjunction with the University’s Commencement/Convocation.  All students in the graduating class will make the presentations the same day. The Coordinator will work with the student in preparing and rehearsing the presentation.  An abstract and publication are needed for this event.

·        The student must provide the Coordinator a written outline of any public presentation based on thesis research at least 30 days prior to presentation.  This includes oral and poster presentations.  The student is then required to present the actual talk or poster to the Coordinator no less than 2 weeks prior to scheduled presentation.

 

Minimum Requirements

 

·        topic selection with focus by end of December first year

 

·        thesis proposal by end of December of first year

 

·        approval of any research involving human subjects by Human Subjects Review Board (sample letters follow - additional details and sample format in Program Office)(see also http://www.udel.edu/OVPR/humans/humans.html  Before data collection begins

 

·        thesis committee (3 - 5 members) by end of December of first year

 

·        minimum of 4 meetings including thesis defense/oral exam

 

·        extensive literature review by second research committee meeting

 

·        frequent and regular communication with committee

 

·        analyze data and synthesize information into a clear result and conclusion by late Fall of second year

 

·        write thesis by spring of second year

 

·        defend thesis by spring of second year

 

·        submit 2 manuscripts based on thesis research by spring of second year

                                    -            seminar manuscript to Program Coordinator for publication in Proceedings

                                    -            thesis  manuscript to appropriate periodical formatted appropriately (this manuscript does not necessarily have to be accepted and published but must be submitted in correct format for selected publication)

           

·        make one oral presentation in spring of second year

 

·        attend College Convocation at the end of the 2nd year

 

 

Part IV.             Financial Aid:

                                                           

All students in the Longwood Graduate Program are on a Longwood  Fellowship.  No one is in The Program unless they are on a Longwood Fellowship.  See the following guidelines about Longwood Fellowships (taken from the Policy Manual)

 

Longwood  Fellowships

            Ten Longwood Fellowships are normally available to applicants who are admitted to The Program.  A Fellowship is granted for a one-year period and may be renewed for an additional year for the students who maintain high standards of scholarship, professional conduct, and personal behavior and who are judged by Longwood Gardens and the University of Delaware to merit a renewal.  Normally, and when available, five (5) Fellowships are renewed and five (5) are given to new students entering The Program each year.  No student is in The Program unless funded by a Longwood Fellowship.

 

            In addition to paying the student a specified bi-monthly Fellowship stipend, the University covers tuition costs for a maximum of four semesters together with those costs for research, field trips, and professional meetings that Longwood Gardens and the University of Delaware determine reasonable.  The Program requires and funds a tropical internship.  The University provides for basic medical coverage at a group rate for all funded graduate students. 

 

            Longwood Fellows must achieve and maintain high academic standing and excellent research progress, demonstrate strong and positive professional growth, leadership and team building/promotion skills in order to continue receiving a Longwood Fellowship.  A continuing evaluation program helps insure a student maintains the high standards expected of a Longwood Fellow. 

 

Executive Committee

 

            A ten member Executive Committee advises the Coordinator on academic, budgetary, personnel, professional, and visionary issues.  The Committee serves as a Selection Committee once a year to recommend those people who should be offered a Longwood Fellowship.  The Committee is compromised of academic and professional people from the University of Delaware, Longwood Gardens, and the public horticultural community.  The Committee meets about six times per year.  The positions represented are:

 

            University of Delaware:            Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

            Director, Museum Studies Program

            Faculty Member, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences

            Longwood Gardens:               Director

                                                            Head, Horticulture Department

                                                            Manager, Human Resources Division

                                                            Manager, Education and Visitor Services Division

Other:                                      Graduate of The Program who is a Leader and Member of the Public Horticultural Community

                                                            Member of the Longwood Gardens’ Board of Trustees

 

Part V.            Program Operations:

 

                        The Fellows are provided a Longwood Graduate Program Policy Book

(Blue Book) that explains the operations/policies/expectations/procedures while they are  in The Program.  The book provides information for the University of Delaware and Longwood Gardens.

 

Professor Swasey brought a copy of the Blue Book at the review on December 3, 2002.