GradInfo Newsletter--August 2005
New Coordinators Announced
Important Dates & Deadlines for facutly and students
Events & Workshops
Graduate Student Orientation
Graduate Advising Workshops
Curriculum Change Workshop
Thesis Workshop
Award Announcements
Pre-Doctoral Scholars
President's Graduate Scholars
Graduate Equity Fellowships
Upcoming Deadlines for new & current students, and faculty
FYI
New Degree Programs
A Master of Biotechnology and Master of Arts in Teaching are new this semester.
Graduate Student Guidebook
The new Student Guidebook, "Chart Your Course to a Master's Degree: A Student Guide to Completing the Master's Degree," was mailed to over 1600 current and incoming graduate students this month. This guidebook leads the student through the many rules and regulations that govern earning a master's degree and provides other information supplemental to the master's degree experience.
The Guidebook is also available on the DGS Web site in PDF format. Students who did not receive a guidebook in the mail may pick one up at the Graduate Office after August 24.
McNair Scholars
The Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program is an exciting effort designed to encourage low-income individuals who are first-generation college students and / or traditionally underrepresented in graduate education to pursue doctoral study. At Fresno State, those selected as Ronald E. McNair Scholars commit to a year and one-half involvement. More information about the McNair Program, and the work of the students and faculty mentors is available on the McNair Web site: www.csufresno.edu/mcnair.
NEW AND RETURNING COORDINATORS
Please join us in welcoming these new and returning graduate program coordinators:
- Shirley Kovacs, Biotechnology (interim appointment)
- Jesus Larralde-Muro, Civil Engineering
- Steven Skelton, Communicative Disorders
- Walter Loscutoff, Engineering–Mechanical Engineering option
- Charles Arokiasamy, Rehabilitation Counseling
A complete list of graduate program coordinators is on our Web site: <www.csufresno.edu/gradstudies/narratives >.
IMPORTANT DATES & DEADLINES FOR FALL 2005
Complete information on all workshops, events, and financial opportunities are included are in this newsletter. Deadlines for graduate students finishing degrees in Fall 2005 and Spring 2006 are listed on our Web site: Please refer to the Deadlines Web page for complete information on academic deadlines.
AUGUST
Monday, 8/22-- Application period for master's degrees or certificates of advanced study to be awarded in Fall 2005 begins. (details below)
Tuesday, 8/23-- Graduate Student Orientation (details below)
Tuesday, 8/30--Curriculum Change Workshop (details below)
SEPTEMBER
Thursday, 9/1; Friday, 9/9; Thursday 9/15--Graduate Advising Workshops (details below)
Friday, 9/2-- Deadline to submit application for master's degree or certificates of advanced study to be awarded in Fall 2005 (details below).
Saturday, 9/10--Thesis Workshop (details below)
Friday, 9/30--Spring 2006 graduate/postbaccalaureate admission application deadline (details below).
Friday, 9/30--Deadline for the Advancement to Candidacy petition to be turned in to the Graduate Office for students graduating in Spring 2006 (details below)
Friday, 9/30--Course and curriculum change proposal deadline (details below)
OCTOBER
Friday, 10/7--Robert and Norma Craig Fellowship application deadline (details below)
Friday, 10/21--Graduate Student Research Merit Award application deadline (details below)
Monday, 10/24--Thesis final draft deadline
NOVEMBER
Wednesday, 11/2--Grad Expo (watch for information)
DECEMBER
Monday, 12/19--Master's Degree Clearance form deadline for students graduating in Fall 2005
EVENTS & WORKSHOPS
Graduate Student Orientation
Encourage your new or returning graduate students to join us for the Graduate Student Orientation on Tuesday, August 23, in the Satellite Student Union at 6:00 p.m. This is an opportunity to acquaint them with the DGS. There will be a Welcome Back Reception & Information Fair from 5:00 until 6:00 p.m. with the DGS staff and representatives from campus offices with services specific to graduate education. From 6:00 - 7:00 p.m., information about completing a master‚s degree, as outlined in our new guidebook, "Chart Your Course to a Master's Degree: A Student Guide to Completing the Master's Degree," will be presented.
Curriculum Change Workshop
A workshop on course and curriculum change procedures for both graduate and undergraduate programs will be held on August 30, noon - 1:30 p.m., in UC room 202. Faculty serving on the academic senate committees will be available during the workshop to assist you with your proposals and paperwork. An additional workshop may be offered if there is sufficient demand. Please register your attendance with TLT at www.csufresno.edu/cetl/ .
Graduate Advising Workshops -- In 3 Parts
All graduate coordinators/directors, graduate faculty and staff who work with graduate students are encouraged to attend these workshops. Three separate workshops will be presented by the Division of Graduate Studies staff who will update you on policies and procedures relative to admissions, classified standing and advancement to candidacy, culminating experience, etc. Light refreshments will be provided. All sessions will be held in UC room 202.
- Part I, September 1, 2:00-3:30 p.m.,
- Part II, September 9, 2:00-3:30 p.m.,
- Part III, September 15, noon-1:00 p.m. will be an open Q & A session.
There will be plenty of opportunity for you to ask questions at each workshop and receive up-to-date information. These workshops are a must for all new graduate coordinators/directors. Please register your attendance with Helen Martinez at 8-6174 or helenma.
Thesis Workshop -- Please ask your Thesis 299 students to attend!
A workshop for Thesis 299 students will be offered on Saturday, September 10, in Ag 109, from 9:00 a.m. until noon. Thesis process and required formatting, including instruction on the thesis template, will be included. This workshop is useful for students at any stage of their thesis. Preregistration is required so we'll have enough handouts available. Students may register online; by phone: 8-2448 or 8-2418; or in person in the Graduate Division, Thomas Administration Rm. 132.
This is the only thesis workshop planned for the fall semester.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Pre-Doctoral Scholars
The California Pre-Doctoral Program is designed to increase the pool of potential faculty by supporting the doctoral aspirations of California State University students. The $3,000 award provides travel funds for the student and faculty sponsor to travel to doctoral institutions and professional conferences, and for other selected activities that would increase their acceptance into doctoral study. In addition scholars also have an opportunity to apply for a summer internship.
The Division of Graduate Studies would like to congratulate the 2005-2006 Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholars and their faculty mentors!Scholar, Degree, Faculty Mentor
Daniel Caeton, B.A. English, Anthony Michel
Koua Cha, B.S. Health Science, Miguel Perez
Carolina Maldonado, M.S. Food & Nutritional Science, Sandra Witte
Tania Pacheco, B.A. Sociology, Deborah Helsel
Tonantzin Soto, M.P.H. Public Health, Helda Pinzon-Perez
Leila Tricic, M.A. English, Anthony Michel
President's Graduate Scholars Fellows, 2005-2006
Each academic year, President Welty awards two President's Graduate Scholars Fellowships to incoming, first-semester master's degree or Ed.D. students. Each program may nominate one fall applicant. Scholars receive $3,500 for their first year of full-time graduate study with the possibility of a second-year award.
Congratulations to the new and continuing President's Graduate Scholars Fellowship recipients:
Zhanna Bagdasarov, M.A. Psychology
Joyce Baker, M.A. English
Michelle Davison, M.S. Biology
Sarah McCord, M.A. Kinesiology
Graduate Equity Fellows, 2005-2006
The California Graduate Equity Fellowships, grants up to $4,500, are available for underrepresented graduate students. This program seeks to increase the diversity of students completing a graduate degree program at California State University, Fresno and encourages continue on to doctoral programs and consider university faculty careers.
Congratulations to the 2005-2006 new and continuing fellows!
James Espinoza, M.F.A. Creative Writing
Matilde Gonzalez, M.S. Counseling-MFT
Israel Gutierrez, M.S. Biology
Narda Ligotti, M.S. Nursing
Enrique Lopez, M.S. Chemistry
Vianney Luna, M.S. Rehabilitation Counseling
Carolina Maldonado, M.S. Food & Nutritional Sciences
Diana Martinez, M.A. Kinesiology
Nigel Medhurst, M.F.A. Creative Writing
Cynthia Montgomery, M.A. History
Tonantzin Soto, Master of Public Health
Stefanie Tacata, M.A. History
GRAD EXPO
This is a perfect opportunity for prospective students who plan on entering a master's degree program to meet faculty and talk with representatives from Admissions, Financial Aid, Career Services, Testing Office, and the Division of Graduate Studies in one location. Watch for mailings, emails, and announcements on our Web site. The time and date for this event have yet to be determined.
UPCOMING DEADLINES
Graduation for Fall Graduates, September 2
Students completing a master's degree in Fall 2005 semester must apply for graduation during the first two weeks of the semester, August 22-September 2. Applications are now available in the DGS office, Thomas 132.
The crucial deadlines for students who intend to graduate in Fall 2005 and Spring 2006 are on our Web site. This Web page is updated regularly. Please bookmark it. < www.csufresno.edu/gradstudies/requirements/deadline.htm>
Spring 2006 Admission, September 30
Prospective students applying for Spring 2006 admission must do so by September 30, 2005. All applicants must apply on line via CSU Mentor, < www.csumentor.edu>
Graduate Curriculum Change Requests, September 30
Graduate programs planning to propose curriculum/catalog changes need to submit the required forms to the Division of Graduate Studies by September 30. Individuals responsible for filing the paperwork are encouraged to attend the workshop on curriculum change (see announcement under Workshops). Graduate forms are available on Informed Filler. For more information contact Helen Martinez at 278-6174 or helenma@csufresno.edu
Advancement for Spring Graduates, September 30
September 30, 2005, is the last day for graduate students to petition for advancement to candidacy in order to be eligible for Spring 2006 graduation. Advancement petitions are due in the Division of Graduate Studies office, Thomas Administration Building, room 132, by 5:00 p.m. Compliance with this deadline is especially important for students intending to register for project (298) or thesis (299) units in Spring 2006 because advancement is a prerequisite for 298 or 299 enrollment. Petitions submitted after the deadline will be processed as time allows, in the order that they are received. Petitions may be downloaded in Word and Adobe formats from our Web site, click on the FORMS link.
The Robert and Norma Craig Fellowship - Up to $1,000, October 7
The Division of Graduate Studies is pleased to offer once again the Robert and Norma Craig (RNC) Fellowships. The RNC Fellowships ($1000, based on 100 hours @ $10/hr.) are designed to provide benefits to both graduate students and faculty. Fellowship stipends must be used to foster student development through mentored activities such as providing research or instructional assistance, or by conducting some faculty-assigned duties, thus freeing faculty members to proceed with the development of research, instruction, or other professional activities. Application and guidelines are available from the Division of Graduate Studies and on our Web site. Contact Helen Martinez helenma@csufresno.edu or 278-6174. Application deadline is Friday, October 7, 2005. Funds need to be expended by May 30, 2006.
Graduate Student Research Merit Award, October 21
These $750 awards are provided for meritorious graduate student research proposals associated with the thesis or project requirement. Information and applications are available in our office, Thomas 132, on our Web site or from Helen Martinez, 278-6174 or helenma@csufresno.edu.
