Dear MACers: In January 2005, I began service as my college's Interim Director of Graduate Programs as I fill in for a colleague on leave. I am knee-deep in evaluating applications for admissions, advising current students, overseeing curriculum issues and recruitment. I welcome your support and prayers (really!). Here's where the shameless pitch comes in. Starting in the Fall of '05, our Masters of Arts students will be able to choose from three options: *M.A.-thesis; traditional program of study recommended for those aspiring to doctoral degrees; *M.A.-project; applied program for students who want to substitute a professional project in lieu of a thesis; *M.A.-course/exam; specially designed program for students who want to combine their study of journalism and mass communication with coursework with one of the leading programs at OU outside of our College. In addition, we offer a separate degree, Master's in Professional Writing, for those students interested in pursuing careers in writing screenplays, novels and nonfiction texts. Pending state approval, we will also launch a new PhD in Fall 2006. We have a lot of things going on about which I am excited. I would ask that if you have students who are interested in graduate study and who are not able to attend any one of your own fine institutions, that you ask them to consider the University of Oklahoma. They can find out more about us at jmc.ou.edu and if they apply this term and mention a MAC member's name, I promise every possible consideration. Thanks for your attention! Cheers, Meta