In an effort to attract some of the best and brightest students into its graduate programs, EKU is offering new fully admitted graduate students a one-time tuition discount of $337, as long as funds remain available.

The partial tuition waiver, applicable to fully admitted resident and out-of-state graduate students, is made possible through Action Agenda Trust Funds.

"As education becomes more important in the new information age and the new economy, certainly advanced degrees become even more important," said Dr. Libby Wachtel, associate vice president for planning and assessment.

EKU's Graduate School offers 32 professional-level programs, 11 graduate certification programs and five joint doctoral programs. Those include several relatively new offerings in applied computing, industrial and organizational psychology and public health (offered in collaboration with other universities).

"Society is requiring unprecedented levels of analytical and creative skills," said Dr. Bankole Thompson, dean of the Graduate School, "and universities are increasingly being asked to provide these skills."

Just as the workplace is growing more diverse, Thompson expects the graduate tuition break to create a more diverse graduate student population.

"Our programs provide an intellectually stimulating, challenging and personally rewarding experience for those who have just completed a four-year college degree, working professionals who want to acquire new skills and enhance their learning potential, and those who continue to seek knowledge and pursue excellence," Thompson said.

Most graduate classes at EKU are offered in the evening or on weekends and an increasing number are available via satellite and Internet.

About 1,800 students are enrolled in EKU's Graduate School.

For more information about EKU graduate programs, call 859-622-1742 or visit www.gradschool.eku.edu.