Recruiting Graduate
Students in Statistics
and Biostatistics
Keith Crank, ASA Assistant Director of Research and
Graduate Education
Online
L
ast month, I discussed whether there were enough statisticians. Lessons
My conclusion was that the growth of the profession was just
about right. But that is because there has been growth in the
number of graduates with statistics and biostatistics degrees, and that
growth has been strongest at the master’s level. My perception is that
this growth needs to continue.
The purpose of this article is twofold. First, I would like to
begin finding out what has worked in the past to recruit students.
Clearly, there has been student growth, and it’s unlikely this hap-
pened without some effort on the part of departments with gradu-
Nominations for Editor
ate programs in statistics or biostatistics. Second, I would like to
suggest one (or two) places to consider recruiting. of the ASA Statistics
So, here is my request: If you have successfully developed a
master’s program in statistics or biostatistics, send me an email at
Education Web (STEW)
keith@amstat.org and let me know what worked and what didn’t.
If you have tried unsuccessfully to develop a program, let me know
what went wrong. I would like to begin a dialogue about recruit-
ment, which we can continue through the ASA web site. Once I
The American Statistical Association invites
receive comments, I will post information on the ASA/Graduate
nominations for the editor of Statistics Education
Education page, under Crank’s Comments.
Web, or STEW, an online bank of peer-reviewed
And now, my suggestions. In the January issue of Amstat News,
lesson plans for K–12 teachers of math and
Javier Rojo wrote about a strategic initiative that allowed us to show- science. The editor —who will serve from 2009
case the statistics discipline at the National Conference of the Society through 2011, with orientation beginning in
for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science.
2008—will review lesson plans that showcase the
This was done through three activities: a pre-conference “StatFest,”
use of statistical methods and ideas in science
two scientific sessions, and a booth in the exhibit hall. All these activi-
and mathematics.
ties need to continue, but I want to concentrate on what can be done
by individual departments.
All nominations must include a curriculum
Many universities have display booths in the exhibit hall at the
vitae and a statement describing the nominee’s
SACNAS national conference. These are typically staffed by some-
qualifications. Interested individuals may
one from a dean’s office or similar administrative unit. But they
don’t need to be. Why not send a faculty member who can talk
nominate themselves.
about the discipline? Or a current graduate student? Many of the
undergraduate students at SACNAS are undecided about graduate
school. They want to know more than whether a certain school Please send nomination materials by
offers a certain degree. They want information about careers in dif-
March 8, 2008.
ferent disciplines, and many of them are not aware of statistics as a
possibility. We can change this if we have statisticians meeting the Martha Aliaga, ASA Director of Programs
students and talking about statistics careers.
martha@amstat.org
In 2007, more than 700 undergraduates attended the
732 North Washington Street
SACNAS national conference. Think about using this as a
Alexandria, VA 22314
recruiting opportunity. The 2008 SACNAS National Conference
is scheduled for October 9–12, 2008, in Salt Lake Cit y, Utah.
For more information about STEW, visit
Let’s get the word out about how great a career statistics can be.
www.amstat.org/education/STEW.
To contact me, send an email to
keith@amstat.org. Questions
or comments about this article, as well as suggestions for future
articles, are always welcome. ■
FEBRUARY 2008 AMSTAT NEWS 9
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