Prearrival orientation for new Memorial University graduate students

Pre-arrival orientation for new Memorial University graduate students Andrew Kim - Manager, Enrolment and Strategic Initiatives August 2012

Agenda • • • Intro to Memorial and SGS Preparing for arrival First week activities Throughout your program… Q&A

Memorial University • Established in 1925 • Largest university in Atlantic Canada – 18, 000 students • 70, 000 alumni • 4 campuses • #5 in 2011 Maclean’s University Rankings • http: //virtual-tour. mun. ca

Memorial University

www. mun. ca/SGS • Responsible for all graduate students at MUN • Central agency for the collection, maintenance, and distribution of materials on graduate students • Administers graduate applications, admissions, comprehensive examinations, thesis examinations, and doctoral defences. Responsible for registrarial functions, graduate enrolment management, and recruitment • Assists academic units in developing new program proposals and administers their approval, and approves regulation changes and appeals • Administers and supports graduate student funding including assistantships, external and internal scholarships, baseline fellowships, supervisor support, and Tri-council global payments

www. mun. ca/SGS

Preparing for arrival After you’re admitted: • Conditional admits: Submit any required documents to SGS • Complete and submit the Accept/Decline form: http: //www. mun. ca/sgs/Accept. Decline. pdf • Activate and monitor your @mun. ca email account: http: //www. mun. ca/cc/services/email/ • International students: Apply for a study permit • Design a budget – refer to MEF

Preparing for arrival • Important literature: – The Guide for New Graduate Students: http: //www. mun. ca/sgs/newstudents/Guide_for_New_Students. pdf – Review SGS regulations: http: //www. mun. ca/regoff/calendar/section. No=GRAD-4515 – Roles and responsibilities of students and supervisors: http: //www. mun. ca/sgs/responsibilities. pdf – Policy on IP: http: //www. mun. ca/sgs/current/IP_Policy. pdf – Definition of FT/PT status: http: //www. mun. ca/regoff/calendar/section. No=GRAD-0004#GRAD 0012 – University Diary (dates and deadlines): http: //www. mun. ca/regoff/calendar/section. No=GENINFO-0086 – Health and dental insurance information: http: //www. gsumun. ca

Preparing for arrival • Housing: – Off-campus Housing Office: http: //www. mun. ca/student/och – International Student Advising Office: http: //www. mun. ca/isa/housing – On-campus Housing: http: //www. mun. ca/hfcs/housingservices/on_ca mpus/index. php – GSU Housing: http: //www. gsumun. ca/new/gsuservices/student-housing

Preparing for arrival • Join our communities! – Like us on Facebook: http: //www. facebook. com/mungradstudies – Follow us on Twitter: http: //twitter. com/gradstudies – Read the Dean’s Blog: http: //www. mun. ca/sgs/blog

Preparing for arrival • Registration: – Registration for Fall 2012: August 6, 2012 – Register through Self-Service up until 2 weeks after start of classes, then through Course Change form (some conditions apply) – International students: must submit study permit to SGS before registering – Automatically registered for SUBJ 9000 / MED 9900 each semester – Can drop courses without academic prejudice up to 7 weeks after start of classes after consulting academic unit – Maximum time allowable to finish program: 7 years • Note: Ensure you complete all required program courses and nonacademic requirements (e. g. , PHIA training). Consult with SGS or your department before registering for non-program courses

First week activities • Fees: – Graduate students are charged fees based on payment plan selected on Accept/Decline form • Payment plan can only be changed in your first semester • Program fees are charged for the duration of a payment plan, after which continuance fees are charged until you finish – If you finish early, you will be responsible for the remaining program fees in a lump sum payment • Important to note for some master’s programs not aligned with Plan A but also ineligible for Plan C (e. g. , MER, MMus) and for graduate diploma programs – Remember to pay all fees on Self-Service or at Cashier’s Office by deadline to avoid late payment fee – Cannot register for graduate courses if you owe money from previous semester (but SUBJ 9000 / MED 9900 will continue to roll!) – Request for Recreation Fee Exemption form: http: //www. mun. ca/sgs/rec_form. pdf – Opt out of GSU health and dental insurance through: http: //www. gsumun. ca • Note: Not registering for a course does not imply you have abandoned your program. In such cases, you will continue to be registered and charged until you formally withdraw.

First week activities • Update your new permanent mailing address on Self-Service • Wireless Internet: http: //www. mun. ca/cc/services/network/wireless/index. php • Get a campus ID card: http: //www. mun. ca/answers/about/card/ • Obtain a parking permit: http: //www. mun. ca/sgs/newstudents/Guide_for_New_Students. p df • Social Insurance Number: http: //www. servicecanada. gc. ca/eng/sc/sin • International students: Complete the English Placement Test • Attend Graduate Student Orientation: http: //www. mun. ca/sgs/orientation • Inquire about departmental orientation for new graduate students 2011 Graduate Student Orientation

Things to consider… • Making progress: – Must achieve a grade of ‘B’ or higher in program courses (varies for some programs) – Research students must submit Annual Progress and Supervisory Report once a year – Complete all non-academic requirements (e. g. , Animal Care Seminar, PHIA, language requirement, EPT/ESL) – Formal processes for securing leave and withdrawal – ask us! • Note: Know and respect deadlines! 2011 Graduate Student Orientation

Things to consider… • Changes to your program: – Change of Program form – Change of Route form – Program of Study form – Change of Status form – All forms: http: //www. mun. ca/sgs/current/general_forms. p hp 2011 Graduate Student Orientation

Things to consider… • Other information – – – – – Grounds for termination Transferring credits Changes to regulations Appeals procedures Evaluation methods and grading Deferral of examinations Incomplete grades Re-reads of final papers and exams Principles regarding academic behaviour and academic dishonesty General Regulations: http: //www. mun. ca/regoff/calendar/section. No=GRAD 0000#General_Information_and_Regulations 2011 Graduate Student Orientation

Things to consider… • Professional development and academic support – Study abroad opportunities – Career development – Teaching Skills Enhancement Program – Writing support – Library services – Yaffle 2011 Graduate Student Orientation

Resources • Grad. Share: http: //www. gradshare. com • Canadian Association for Graduate Studies: http: //www. cags. ca/pages/intro. php • Graduate Students’ Union: http: //www. gsumun. ca • SGS contacts: http: //www. mun. ca/sgs/contacts/sgscontacts. ph p • Graduate officers: http: //www. mun. ca/sgs/contacts/graduate_offic ers. php

Contact • Andrew Kim – akim@mun. ca – 709 -864 -8847

Questions?