GEE, I HOPE THIS HELPS

Many decisions are made about our graduate program by the program, 
College, and the Graduate School. Few of these decisions are communicated 
to students directly and systematically. Most of these decisions do not get 
entered into official University documents such as the Graduate Bulletin in 
any timely fashion.

Therefore, I am publishing this newsletter, The Rackley Irregular, for my 
graduate advisees and other students. The mission of this newsletter is to 
communicate and archive important information and official decisions 
affecting graduate programming. 

As the title indicates, this newsletter will appear irregularlyÐÐfor the most 
part, when I get enough copy to fill a doubleÐsided single page. I will mail 
issues as they are published to my current masters and doctoral advisees. 
Each issue will be threeÐhole punched so that you can enter it into a 
notebook. 

New advisees will receive a notebooks containing previous issues. You 
should keep your notebook up to date so that you have my best guesses 
about the nature and course of University policies and procedures that are 
likely to affect completion of degree programs.  

I will try to include information in The Rackley Irregular that I believe will 
help you complete your degree program with minimum of fuss and mess. 
However, I canÕt guarantee that The Rackley Irregular  will treat every matter 
of importance to you. You still need to attend to official guidance and 
information about graduate programming from the Graduate School and our 
vocational and industrial education program office. 

I promise that I will interpret University policies and procedures to the best 
of my ability. I must confess, though, that I am often the last one to know 
about these matters. And, I am often as bewildered as you by the 
implications of University policy and procedure for actual graduate 
programming. WeÕll struggle through this together.

I will try to make The Rackley Irregular more than a simple restatement of 
University proclamations. Along the way I will pass along observations 
about matters that might affect your graduate program and career. I will 
describe opportunities for professional involvement that will enhance your 
career. Satire, humor, and irreverent items might show up. You might even 
get a laugh out of the typos and grammatical errors I make as I compose the 
copy for the newsletterÐÐafter all, this
 newsletter is nothing for than the 
product of a boy and his MacIntosh!
Most of all I want this newsletter to serve your needs. I welcome your 
comments for improvement. Send information to me that you believe other 
students should see. Hey, you might even want to submit a sort opinion or 
information piece for publication in The Rackley Irregular.