CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Northern Iowa earned Honorable Mention for the Excellence and Innovation in Graduate Education Award at the 82nd Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools (MAGS) Annual Conference, held March 25–27 in Kansas City, Missouri.

MAGS represents more than 100 higher education member institutions across 14 states, making the recognition a reflection of UNI's standing among graduate programs throughout the region.

The Excellence and Innovation in Graduate Education Award recognizes institutions that demonstrate creative and effective approaches to graduate education. UNI received the award for its comprehensive efforts to reverse declining graduate enrollment by modernizing policies, expanding access and strengthening student support. Through initiatives such as Credit for Prior Learning, the Return to UNI program, the Graduate Assistant Academy and Mentorship Program and the development of flexible, skills‑focused micro-credentials, the university removed long‑standing barriers, honored students’ prior experience, improved career readiness and created more accessible pathways for adult learners and working professionals. Collectively, these innovations demonstrate UNI’s commitment to meeting the needs of today’s graduate students and expanding opportunities for learners across Iowa.

“Receiving this recognition affirms the work we’ve done to remove barriers and create pathways that truly meet students where they are,” stated Stephanie Huffman, associate vice president for strategic initiatives and dean of the College of Graduate, Research and Online Education. “Our goal has always been to make graduate education more accessible, more flexible and more responsive to the realities of modern life. I’m incredibly proud of how these initiatives are helping learners return, persist and succeed.”

UNI was also represented at the conference by Trevor Hart, a master's student in Communication and Media, who competed in the 3MT® Three Minute Thesis Competition. Hart earned his spot at the regional competition after being named UNI's 3MT winner earlier this year. The 3MT challenges graduate students to present their research to a non-specialist audience in just three minutes, testing their ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and engagingly.

Hart's presentation, "SLAPPing Back: Analyzing Greenpeace's Response to Energy Transfer's Lawsuit as a Crisis Narrative," examines the aftermath of a March 2025 verdict in which Greenpeace was found liable for nearly $667 million to Energy Transfer, the oil company behind the Dakota Access Pipeline. Energy Transfer's lawsuit is considered a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation, or SLAPP – a legal strategy that uses civic torts to restrict First Amendment rights. Hart's thesis uses a crisis narrative framework to analyze how Greenpeace responded publicly to the lawsuit and the language the organization used to renew support for both itself and the broader environmental movement.

Hart will continue his research in a PhD program at Syracuse University this fall. 

The Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools has served as a forum for the discussion and advancement of graduate education since its founding. Member institutions span Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.