Faculty of Graduate Studies

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Faculty of Graduate Studies

• Welcome to
• ORIENTATION
• September 2006

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Introductions

• Ron Pearlman Interim Dean, FGS
• Gary Jarvis AD Academic Affairs
• Norma Sue Fisher-Stitt AD Student Affairs

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York Context of FGS

• Sheila Embleton VP Academic
• Stan Shapson VP Research and Innovation
• Rob Tiffin VP Students

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FGS Staff

• Michèle Young Executive Officer
• Sharon, Karen, Tracey, Rhonda, Eriona
• Josephine Campanelli Student Affairs Officer
• Maria, Karen, Donna
• JoAnne Gambarotto-McKay Academic Affairs
  Officer
• Sal, Michael
• Judith Codd Manager, Policy Research
• Karen Heiber Manager, Communications, Public
  Relations Recruitment
• Ayesha Alli Special Assistant to the Dean

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York Graduate Students Association

• President Susan Dieleman
• Helps to represent graduate issues on the
  Universitys highest academic bodies
• Can provide a wealth of information to students
  about graduate life and education
• The GSA operates the Graduate Students Lounge
  providing a wide variety of food and beverages
  open Monday to Friday on the main floor of the
  Ross Building

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Mission Statement
The mission of York University is the pursuit,
preservation, and dissemination of knowledge. We
promise excellence in research and teaching in
pure, applied and professional fields. We test
the boundaries and structures of knowledge. We
cultivate the critical intellect.
York University is part of Toronto we are
dynamic, metropolitan and multi-cultural. York
University is part of Canada we encourage
bilingual study, we value tolerance and
diversity. York University is open to the world
we explore global concerns.
A community of faculty, students and staff
committed to academic freedom, social justice,
accessible education, and collegial
self-governance, York University makes innovation
its tradition.
Tentanda Via the way must be tried.
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Yorks Graduate Students
It is not surprising that Yorks Faculty of
Graduate Studies has grown to be one of the
largest and finest in the country. The
attractions here are many strong faculty
members, first-class students, innovative
programs, good resources, and the advantages of
living and working in one of North Americas
leading cities. Ron Pearlman, Dean, Faculty of
Graduate Studies
Graduate students Fall 2006
Congratulations! You are each a member of an
incoming class of more than 1,500 Masters and
Doctoral Students. At York, approximately 5,000
graduate students overall are working towards
research and professional degrees
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Administration of Graduate Studies at York
Graduate Programs

• Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies Dr. Ron
  Pearlman
• Associate Deans
• Dr. Norma Sue Fisher-Stitt
• Dr. Gary Jarvis
• The Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) is
  responsible for the central administration of
  graduate studies, including admissions,
  registrations, fellowships, ethics approvals,
  approval of petitions, theses dissertation, and
  convocation.
• Daily administration of graduate studies takes
  place in the programme level.

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Where is the Faculty of Graduate Studies located?
FGS is located on the 2nd floor of York Lanes in
283 York Lanes
X marks the spot
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How to Get Information

• Through FGS
• www.yorku.ca/grads/
• Here, you will find a list of all relevant
  personnel, regulations, policies, forms,
  information and advice to help you have a
  productive academic time at York.
• The latest FGS calendar is available online

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How to Get Information
Through Your Program

• Use their help
• Graduate Program Director (GPD)
• Graduate Program Assistant (GPA)
• They can provide information pertinent to your
  program and progress
• Some programs have a listserv to disseminate
  information
• Most programs have their own graduate handbook
• Some programs use their Web site to keep
  students informed
• Always keep your contact information up to date

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KEY INFO

• It is your responsibility to keep current on FGS
  regulations and procedures as they apply to your
  progress through your program and degree.
• For example
• deadlines for submission of theses and
  dissertations
• required research ethics forms and procedures
• limits on times to completion, writing comps,
  etc.
• filing Reports on Progress

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Plan Your Exit

• All requirements for a masters degree must be
  fulfilled within 12 terms of registration as a
  full-time or part-time masters student (maximum
  of 6 terms at full-time status).
• All requirements for a doctoral degree must be
  fulfilled within 18 terms of registration as a
  full-time or part-time doctoral student.

Continuous registration at York University must
be maintained.
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Important Milestones

• Masters students completing by thesis must have
  a supervisory committee approved by the end of
  the 2nd term of study (or, in ENVS, 12 months
  prior to completion)
• PhD students must have a supervisor appointed by
  the end of the 5th term of study (end of 2nd term
  of PhD II) ?
• The supervisory committee must be appointed by
  the end of the 8th term of study (end of 2nd term
  of PhD III) ?

? programs may set shorter time limits in
addition to other requirements which take
precedence
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Money Matters

• Teaching Assistantships (TAs)
• Graduate Assistantships (GAs)
• Research Assistantships (RAs)
• Getting paid
• Minimum guarantee
• Scholarships and Bursaries getting information
  and applying

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Registration

• Registration dates and enrolling in courses
• Continuous registration
• Registration blocks
• Minimum and maximum terms to completion
• Full-time vs. Part-time status
• Active vs. Inactive status

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Registration
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Registration
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Registration
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Registration
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Registration
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Registration

• Registration dates and enrolling in courses
• Continuous registration
• Registration blocks
• Minimum and maximum terms to completion
• Full-time vs. Part-time status
• Active vs. Inactive status

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Registration

• York Card www.yorku.ca/yucard
• E-mail policy to activate York e-mail accounts,
  go to Current Students and then to My Mail
• Payment methods payroll deductions or pay at
  the bank
• Social Insurance Number
• OSAP at FGS Sept 1-15 at TEL Sept 18-29, at
  Student Client Services Oct 2 onward
• Updating your contact information

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Research Funding

• Graduate students are expected and encouraged to
  apply for external scholarships and awards.
  Every fall there are opportunities to apply for
  provincial and federal funding.
• Information sessions on NSERC, SSHRC and CIHR
  applications are scheduled
• NSERC September 13, 9-11 am
• SSHRC September 13, 1230-2 pm
• CIHR September 14, 9-11 am
• All sessions take place in the Senate Chamber, N
  940 Ross

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Research Funding

• There are also Internal Sources of Funding
• Graduate Development Fund
• Research Costs Fund
• Fieldwork Costs Fund
• Watch for details on information sessions about
  these funding sources later in the academic year

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Research Proposals

• Dont make your proposal your thesis or
  dissertation! Recommended maximum length is 3,500
  words
• Leave time for approvals if your proposed
  research involves human participants, animals or
  biohazards

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Be Aware
Intellectual Property Policy www.yorku.ca/grads
/polc/intlprop.htm Academic Honesty
Policy www.yorku.ca/grads/policies/academichonesty
.htm Ethics Review and Approval
Process www.yorku.ca/grads/policies/ethics.htm
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FGS Workshops

• In addition to workshops and colloquia offered in
  your program, FGS will be hosting Graduate
  Student Workshops on
• Applying to internal funding sources
• Research ethics The Tri-Council intellectual
  property academic honesty
• Thesis and dissertation completion
• Dates and locations will be available through
• your program and on the FGS Web site

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Graduate Resources

• There are many resources available to
• graduate students at York
• Library resources
• Centre for Academic Writing
• ESL-Open Learning Centre
• Disability Services
• York Counselling and Development Centre
• Computing resources
• Multimedia resources
• Tait McKenzie Centre
• York International

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Library Resources

• York has many Library resources --
• some specifically for Graduate Students, such as
  the
• Graduate Student Reading Room, 4th floor Scott
  Library
• large study tables with task lighting and
  comfortable chairs
• an electronic sound masking system installed to
  muffle noise
• upholstered lounge chairs
• electrical outlets
• network drops for notebook computers
• several computers and a printer
• access code via the Library Web site
• Also
• Library Research Workshops
• Opportunity for extended loan period

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Improve Your Writing

• The Centre for Academic Writing offers practical
  instruction in all aspects of writing available
  to all students in the Faculty of Graduate
  Studies
• www.arts.yorku.ca/caw
• individual tutoring (25 or 50 minutes)
• electronic tutoring (e-tutor)
• drop-in tutoring
• group workshops
• WHERE S329 Ross
• CALL 416-736-5134

Sign up early
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Improve Your English
The ESL Open Learning Centre (ESL-OLC) offers
support to English as a Second Language (ESL)
students. The Centre is open to all York
students, and is free of charge. To sign up for
workshops, tutoring, and small group learning,
you must be a registered user. Go
to www.yorku.ca/eslolc/ Vanier College, Lower
Level, Room 037 Note This is not an essay
editing service!
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Reach Your Potential

• Counselling Development Centre (CDC)
• www.yorku.ca/cdc

Learning Skills Program Academic
Anxiety Psychiatric Dis/Abilities
Program Personal Counselling Special Groups and
Workshops Learning Disabilities Program
The primary aim of the CDC is to help students
realize, develop, and fulfill their personal
potential in order to maximally benefit from
their university experience.
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Reach Your Potential

• Disability Services
• www.yorku.ca/dshub/opd.htm
• Office for Persons with Disabilities
• Disability-related policies
• Student and faculty resources

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Problems?

• If problems arise, dont be afraid to seek help
• Petition forms are available on the FGS Web site
• www.yorku.ca/grads/
• Various leaves are available, such as maternity,
  parental, exceptional circumstances, and elective
• Maximum number of leaves allowed over the course
  of a students program is 4 terms (excluding
  maternity, which is 3 terms/pregnancy)
• Petitions are required for changes in status,
  leaves of absence, retroactive course drops,
  program extensions, etc.

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goSAFE

• If you are on campus at night, the complimentary
  goSAFE service provides a means of transportation
  around campus. For more information, go to
• www.yorku.ca/goSAFE/gosafe.html
• Hours of operation 6 pm 2 am (Sept to
  Apr) 8 pm 2 am (May Aug)
• goSAFE operates 7 days/week year round
• Call 416-736-5454 or extension 55454 during hours
  of operation

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Get Active
Tait McKenzie Centre fully staffed fitness
centre for just 10 a year Register in person at
the Customer Service Desk at Tait McKenzie. A
valid sessional card and photo ID or membership
card must be shown. ? several cardio machines ?
4 gymnasia ? 3 studios ? 25-metre swimming
pool ? 5 North American squash courts Outdoor
facilities ? 9 tennis courts ? 4 softball
fields ? 5 playing fields ? a stadium Ice
Gardens ? 6 ice surfaces. Toronto Track
Field Centre ? indoor and outdoor track and
weight room www.recreation.yorku.ca
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Graduate Student Involvement and Representation

• Board of Governors
• Senate and various Senate Committees
• (including the Academic Policy and Planning
  Committee, Appeals Committee, Committee on
  Curriculum and Academic Standards, Executive
  Committee, Committee on Libraries Information
  Technology, Tenure and Promotions Committee)
• Faculty of Graduate Studies Council
• FGS committees
• Program committees
• Various Ad-Hoc committees (e.g. Search
  Committees)

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GET INVOLVED

• Widen your horizons
• Student clubs
• Brown Bag Speaker Series (offered by many
  programs)
• Departmental seminars Program Colloquia
• Concerts and performances
• Campus sports
• Relax
• Stay fit
• Explore the city
• Meet people
• Apply for fellowships
• Create ideas that change the world

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Faculty of Graduate Studies

• Seek Challenges
• Enjoy your time as a graduate student at York
  University
• And

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Faculty of Graduate Studies

• WELCOME!
• From all of us at
• FGS
• Thank you