GradInfo Newsletter--August 2007
Events & Workshops: Thesis Workshop, Workshops for Graduate Students and Faculty/Staff, Writing Course for Graduate Students, GRAD EXPO
Announcements: California Pre-Doctoral Scholars, President's Graduate Scholars Fellows, California Graduate Equity Fellows
Deadlines: Graduation for Fall Graduates, Graduate Curriculum Change Requests, Advancement for Spring Graduates, Spring 2008 Admission, The Robert and Norma Craig Fellowship, The Graduate Student Research Merit Award
FYI
DGS Office Hours
The Graduate Office continues to offer expanded business hours, weekdays from 7:00 a.m. until noon, and 1:00 until 6:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. closing time on Fridays).
New and Returning Program Coordinators
Please join us in welcoming these new and returning graduate program coordinators:
- Garo Kalfayan, Accountancy
Rassoul Yazdipour, Business Administration
Steve Yarbrough, Creative Writing
Gregory Kreihn, Engineering--Electrical Engineering Option
Balaji Sethuramasayraja, Industrial Technology
Stefaan Delcroix, Mathematics
A complete list of graduate program coordinators is on our Web site: <www.csufresno.edu/gradstudies/narratives>.
If your program has changed coordinators recently, and that change is not listed above, we need the "Graduate Coordinator/Director Official Appointment Notification" form on file in our office. It's available on the DGS Web site.
DGS Office Staff Changes
Helen Martinez - Assistant to the Dean and Office Manager.
Louise Neal - Interim Special Projects Coordinator.
Rachael Sunahara - Graduate Degree Evaluator.
Advancement to Candidacy Forms
We now have online advancement petitions in Word format designed for specific programs. They're available on the DGS Web site. Requirements are already filled in, and most electives (where applicable) can be chosen from drop-down menu fields in the document. Click on the "Forms" link. Please "trash" all old forms.
DGS Web Site
Work is continuing on bringing our Web site up to the "Clean up the Web" standards. Some sections, such as Faculty and A to Z, have already been done. Coordinators, please inform your Webmasters of the change, for links from your Web pages to ours. All URLs will change, but for nearly every page, the only change will be the suffix changing to ".shtml". The conversion should be complete and old pages deleted by October 1.
If you have any suggestions on how we can make our site more useful, please send an email to the DGS Webmaster. There is an email link at the bottom of every page.
Graduate Handbook
The Graduate Handbook, which is distributed to graduate coordinators and is available in the Faculty section of our Web site, has had some sections updated. The copies of the revised pages will be sent out to coordinators and put on the Web site in September.
Graduate Student Guidebook
The student guidebook, "Chart Your Course to a Master's Degree," was mailed to 833 incoming graduate students this summer. 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 in the Graduate Office.
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 involvement for a year and a half. 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>.
Join us for the McNair Symposium on Thursday, September 20, 8:30am-1:00pm, in UBC 194.
Important Dates & Deadlines
- For Workshop dates, see below under Events & Workshops
- For a full list of important dates and deadlines for graduate students and faculty, go to the "Dates & Deadlines" section of the DGS Web site.
Until September 7: Application period for master's degrees or certificates of advanced study to be awarded in Fall 2007. Forms are now available online under the "Forms" link on the DGS Web site, and in the Division of Graduate Studies office.
September 20: McNair Symposium, 8:30am-1:00pm, UBC 194.
September 28: Deadline for the Advancement to Candidacy petition to be turned in to the Graduate Office for students graduating in Spring 2008
September 30: Last day to apply for Spring 2008 admission (CSUMentor.edu)
October 1: First day to apply for Fall 2008 admission (CSUMentor.edu)
October 5: The Robert and Norma Craig Fellowship application deadline (details below)
October 19: The Graduate Student Research Merit Award application fall deadline (details below)
October 29: Thesis final draft deadline
November 1: GRAD EXPO
December 21: Master's Degree Clearance form deadline for students graduating in Fall 2007
Events & Workshops
Thesis Workshop
A workshop for Thesis 299 students will be offered twice this semester, on Wednesday, September 5, from 2:00 until 3:30pm; and Saturday, September 15, from 9 until 11am. Both will be held in AG 109. 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: <www.csufresno.edu/gradstudies/thesis/workshopsignup.html>; by phone: 8-2418 or 8-2448; or in person in the Graduate Division, Thomas Administration Rm. 132.
Fall 2007 Workshops for Students and for Faculty/Staff
Registration is required for these workshops and is now open on the DGS Web site.
Workshops for graduate students:
Topic (Date, Time, Location)
Thesis Workshop (9/5/07, 2-3:30pm and 9/15/07, 9 - 11am, Ag109)
Writing a Research Paper (9/19/07, 2 - 4pm, Ag109)
Applying to Doctoral Programs (9/25/07, noon - 1pm, LS181)
Identifying and Dealing with Stress (10/2/07, noon - 1:30pm, TBD)
Advancement to Candidacy (10/10/07, 4 - 5pm, UC 202)
Conflict Resolution Strategies (10/17/07, 3 - 5pm, USU311)
Communicating Research: Poster Presentations (11/7/07, 4 - 5pm, UC 202)Workshops for faculty and staff:
Topic (Date, Time, Location)
Electronic Admissions (Beginning: all-inclusive) (9/7/07, 1 - 3pm, ED195)
Electronic Admissions (Refresher plus new developments) (9/11/07, 3 - 5pm, ED170)
Couse and Curriculum Change Procedures (8/30/07, 3 - 4:30pm; and repeated 9/7/07, noon - 1:30pm; UC 202)
Graduate Advising Workshop, in three parts (9/13/07, 3 - 4:30pm; 9/21/07, 1:30 - 3pm; and 9/28/07, 10 - 11:30am; UC 202)
Thesis Advising (10/2/07, 10 - 11:30am, UC 202)
Graduate Student Recruitment (10/4/07, noon - 1:30pm, USU311)
Advancement to Candidacy (10/10/07, 4 - 5pm, UC 202)Do you have suggestions for additional topics? Contact Jim Prince at 278-2559 or jamespr.
Writing Course for Graduate Students
There will be an extension class, "Graduate Student Writing: Science and Enginering," offered over five Tuesdays, 5-7pm, starting September 18. Dr. Saeed Attar of the Chemistry Department will be teaching the class. Cost of the class will be $35. Students need to register through the Division of Continuing and Global Education. The Class No. is 83253. A flyer will be emailed shortly.
GRAD EXPO
The biennial Grad Expo will take place November 1. There will be an information meeting for graduate coordinators/directors September 19 from noon until 1:00pm. The place is not known yet. Watch your email for details.
Announcements
California 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 2007-2008 California Pre-Doctoral Scholars and their faculty sponsors!Scholar, Degree Faculty Sponsor
Sabrina Garcia, Nursing Janine Spencer
Alicia Gonzalez, Health Science Suzanne Kotkin-Jaszi
Leepao Khang, Health Science Helda Pinzon-Perez
Elvia Rodriguez, History Daniel Cady
Chia Thao, Health Science Miguel Perez
Honorable Mention Scholars:
Janet Campbell, Biology Ryan Earley
Stephanie Wong, Biotechnology Ryan Earley
President's Graduate Scholars Fellows, 2007-2008
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:
First Year:
Ioannis (Yannis) Toutountzis - Plant Science
Katsuhito Watanabe -Linguistics
Second Year:
Kevin Cooper - Business Administration
Cory Mikuni - Kinesiology
California Graduate Equity Fellows, 2007-2008
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 continuation on to doctoral programs and consideration of university faculty careers.
Congratulations to the 2007-2008 new and continuing fellows!
Kathy Baluyut, MPT Physical Therapy
Maria Ramos Espinoza, MPH Public Health
Elisa Espitia, MA Communicative Disorders-Speech Language Pathology
Maria Teresa Garcia, MPT Physical Therapy
Alicia Gonzalez, MPH Public Health
Leepao Khang, MPH Public Health
Tiffany Rogers, MA Communication
Veronica Sandoval, MS Psychology
James Tyner, MFA Creative Writing
Tabitha Villalba, MFA Creative Writing
Mary Vongsackda, MA Psychology
Kimberly Washington, MS Rehabilitation Counseling
Deadlines
Graduation for Fall Graduates, September 7
Students completing a master's degree in Fall 2007 semester must apply for graduation during the first two weeks of the semester, August 27-September 7. Applications are now available on the DGS Web site and in the DGS office.
The crucial deadlines for students who intend to graduate in Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 are on our Web site. This Web page is updated regularly. Please bookmark it. <www.csufresno.edu/gradstudies/requirements/deadline.htm>
Advancement for Spring Graduates, September 28
September 28, 2007, is the deadline for graduate students to petition for advancement to candidacy in order to be eligible for Spring 2008 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 2008 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.
Spring 2008 Admission, September 30
Prospective students applying for Spring 2008 admission must do so by September 30, 2007. All applicants must apply online via CSU Mentor, <www.csumentor.edu>. This date is subject to change. Check the DGS Web site for updates.
Applications for Fall 2008 will be accepted at CSUMentor.edu starting October 1.
The Robert and Norma Craig Fellowship - Up to $1,000, October 5
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, < www.csufresno.edu/gradstudies/financial/rnc.shtml>. Contact Louise Neal, lneal or 278-6174. Application deadline is Friday, October 5, 2007. Funds need to be expended by May 30, 2008.
The Graduate Student Research Merit Award, October 19
These $1,000 awards are provided for meritorious graduate student research proposals associated with the thesis/dissertation 299 or project 298 requirement. Information and applications are available in our office, Thomas 132, on our Web site, <www.csufresno.edu/gradstudies/financial/gsrma.shtml>, or from Louise Neal, lneal or 278-6174. The application proposal and all supporting documents must be submitted to the Division of Graduate Studies by Friday, October 19, 2007. It is emphasized that applications not including all necessary supporting documents will be considered incomplete and will be disqualified.
