Pre-arrival orientation for new Memorial University graduate students

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

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

3. 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

4. Memorial University

5. 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

6. www.mun.ca/SGS

7. 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/AcceptDecline.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

8. 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/sectionNo=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/sectionNo=GRAD-0004#GRAD-0012 • University Diary (dates and deadlines): http://www.mun.ca/regoff/calendar/sectionNo=GENINFO-0086 • Health and dental insurance information: http://www.gsumun.ca

9. 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_campus/index.php • GSU Housing: http://www.gsumun.ca/new/gsu-services/student-housing

10. 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

11. 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 non-academic requirements (e.g., PHIA training). Consult with SGS or your department before registering for non-program courses

12. 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.

13. 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.pdf • 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

14. 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

15. 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.php 2011 Graduate Student Orientation

16. 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/sectionNo=GRAD-0000#General_Information_and_Regulations 2011 Graduate Student Orientation

17. 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

18. Resources • GradShare: 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.php • Graduate officers: http://www.mun.ca/sgs/contacts/graduate_officers.php

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

20. Questions?