graduate student information session agenda (davis centre, room 1304) 11:00jeff chen (department...
TRANSCRIPT
Graduate Student Information Session Agenda (Davis Centre, Room 1304) 11:00 Jeff Chen (Department Chair) 11:10 Norbert Lütkenhaus (Graduate Officer)
11:30 Brian McNamara (Director, GWPI) 11:45 Heather Neufeld (Science Outreach Coordinator) 11:55 David Pomaranski (GSA) 12:00 Diana Rau (Workplace Safety)
Grad Office PhysicsGrad Coordinator: Judy McDonnell
Grad Officer: Norbert Lütkenhaus
Associate Grad Officer: Hartwig Peemoeller
Associate Grad Officer: James Tayloroffice: PHY 256
office: PHY 262
office: PHY 366
office: QNC 4129
GWPI Director: Brian McNamara
Assistant to GWPI Director: Kiley Rideroffice: PHY 353
office: PHY 262
[email protected], qualifying exam
course progresscommittee meetingsthesis defense
Information Sources
https://uwaterloo.ca/graduate-studies/sites/ca.graduate-studies/files/uploads/files/A%20Guide%20for%20Graduate%20Research%20and%20Supervision%20at%20the%20University%20of%20Waterloo%202011_2.pdf
https://uwaterloo.ca/graduate-studies/U Waterloo information site:
Graduate Studies Guide:
Physics & Astronomy site:- Events (like this one!)- Scholarship information hub, forms- Teaching Assistant information (including online forms for preferences)- Thesis Defense Information- Training and learning (TA training, Grad Writing Center)
Guelph-Waterloo Physics Institute (GWPI):- course offerings- program requirements - Forms
https://uwaterloo.ca/guelph-waterloo-physics-institute/
https://uwaterloo.ca/physics-astronomy/graduate-studies
ScholarshipsContact point:
Judy McDonnell
Source of information:UW scholarship database https://uwaterloo.ca/graduate-studies/awards/databaseGWPI web page Department Webpage https://uwaterloo.ca/physics-astronomy/graduate-studies/applying-scholarships
NSERC/OGS … fellowships:get an early start, contact potential referees now
have them to agree to serve as referee for you!
https://uwaterloo.ca/guelph-waterloo-physics-institute/
Academic Regulations
- Plan your courses!
- waiving core courses: o Current instruction to verify equivalence contact Judy for processo need to replace core course by other course
- Any Changes in courses need a revision of this form!
Advisory CommitteeIt is your responsibility to set up!• Discuss with your supervisor• have it set up so that you can have the first
meeting this term!• To be done every year• no program extension without up-to-date
meeting
Role:• advise you• help you to keep things on track• discuss and sign off on Qualifying Exam topics
Advisory Committee meetingsIt is your responsibility- to schedule them - to bring all necessary forms to sign
Typical Committee meeting: (total duration < 1 hour!)- academic progress report (Graduate Degree
Program Form) - scientific progress report- scientific outlook- Qualifying exam topics?- Feedback, signing of Committee Report
Schedule it for this term!
Teaching Assistant (TA) 110 hours/term
ongoing activities: below 110 hours (tutorial, marking, lab)
additional: midterm/final proctoring and marking(changes possible during term!)
TA Assignments1) Basic rule
• All students who receive department controlled funds are in principle required to do a TA
• All other students in the program are eligible to TA if jobs are available
2) we will try to honour all buy-out request, based on(times previous TA’s, funding, special circumstances)
Group 1:students who rely on TA fundingto reach minimum funding (TA term)
Group 2:students who rely on TA fundingto reach minimum funding, but have their term off
Group 3:scholarship students who do notrely on TA for minimum funding
Group 4:externally funded students, special funding arrangements,no department support needed
requiredto TA if needed
mayvolunteerfor TA
highest priorityto be assigned TAshould we be shortof TA positions
TA assignment processGoal:
match instructors and grad students as good as possible
TA task description
Instructors Grad Officer
Grad Students
PDF document
online TA preference form
decide about buy-out &
volunteeringemail:List of TA preferencesrequest
specific TA’sfinalize TA
assignment(incl hours)
distributeresults
decide about TA preference, discuss
buyout with supervisor
calculate TA hours
online
Supervisors
request buy-out (in discussion with
student)
Additional Tasks & Tracking hoursCourse TA assignment +Proctor/marking assignments for midterm/final
TA assignment structure
up to instructor/grad student to stay within the allotted time frame for Course TA should draw up a list of expected task and associated times warning: will still need to be flexible
• midterm/final tasks can be assigned only close to midterm/final task period
Note:• no holidays during TA duties• short conference trips possible
(talk to instructor, need to find replacement)• TA duty time includes exam time!
Research Assistant (RA)www.research.uwaterloo.ca/finance/documents/GRSvsGRA_000.pdf
Immigration consequences for VISA students: GRA is part time work might be useful for Permanent Residency Applications
Student LifeEnjoy!
Counselling Services
Grad Student Advisors (Brian, Hart, Norbert)
Advisory Committee… and if somethingdoes not run smooth:
we are here to help!
Workplace Safety
• The Occupational Health Safety Act (OHSA) defines duties and responsibilities in workplaces.
• As a worker, you have three basic rights:
• The right to know about workplace hazards• The right to participate in health and safety programs• The right to refuse unsafe work
• Key to the HSEMS is UWaterloo Policy 34: Health, Safety and Environment, which states:
The University of Waterloo strives to provide a safe, healthy work and educational environment for its students, employees, visitors and contractors.
• The Internal Responsibility System states: Each faculty member, staff member, student, visitor
and contractor has the primary responsibility for their own safety and actions, and for others affected by their actions. • Everyone needs to take safety training:
• https://uwaterloo.ca/safety-office/training/training-programs• SO1001 Employee safety orientation• SO1081 Workplace violence awareness • SO1002 WHMIS for employees
• If working in a laboratory, please check with your supervisor what additional safety training courses are required !
• How to address health and safety concerns?
• Graduate Students representatives for the department H&S Committee:- Aimee Gunther: [email protected] - Romain Ruhlmann : [email protected]
• University JHSC committee- representative appointed from the Graduate Student Association Rachell Mitchell: [email protected]