MULTIDISCIPLINARY STUDIES PROGRAM: THE NEED FOR SUPPORT
The Multidisciplinary Studies program is a relatively new endeavor at West Virginia University and one of the first successful MDS programs nationwide. The conception that students should be allowed the freedom to choose their own plan of study and that they should be rewarded for doing so is unique to our degree. The breadth of study available to our students empowers them to be successful in any field they choose. Multidisciplinary Studies degree holders are flourishing in business, law school, and public administration. They are earning advanced degrees in social work, business administration, and teaching. Some are even striving to succeed as sports agents and play in the NFL.
However, our program’s strongest traits are its breadth and distinctiveness also make the need for alumni support especially critical. There are no established institutions where we can apply for money to support Multidisciplinary Studies. There is no equivalent to the American Historical Association or National Science Foundation for MDS. To improve the program and increase public recognition of the extraordinary capabilities of MDS graduates, need your support.
Because this program is fundamentally about students, we are grateful for any amount of support you can give. A little goes a long way in our discipline. You can be assured that any support you can offer will go directly to what is most important: improving the program, increasing name recognition on and off campus, and contributing to the continued success of our students.
Multidisciplinary Studies Priorities
- Funds for a yearly award ceremony and banquet to celebrate the best community service learning projects of the year and the accomplishments of all our MDS graduates.
- An endowment to support student attendance at job fairs, placements, internships, and interview opportunities
- Support for the faculty to travel to workshops and conferences to improve teaching and advising.
- Support for the development of new Multidisciplinary Studies courses to further increase the marketability of our students.
- Funds to improve the MDS website in order to increase the program’s visibility and accessibility.
- Resources to sponsor on-campus events which would publicize the academic strengths and value of this degree.
