Graduate Student Orientation

1
Graduate Student Orientation

• Electrical Computer Engineering
• Auburn University

2
Orientation Overview

• Important People in the Life of an ECE Graduate
  Student
• Other important notes for ECE Graduate Students

3
Your research advisor

• Identify an advisor as soon as possible
• Develop and submit a Plan of Study
• by end of 1st semester (Masters)
• by end of 2nd semester (Ph.D)
• Meet regularly and often to make good progress.

4
Teaching supervisor (GTAs)

• Meet your supervisor
• immediately to get specific responsibilities.
• regularly and promptly thereafter.
• Laboratory grades are due before final exams.
• Course grades are due as indicated on the final
  exam schedule.

5
Prof. Victor Nelson

• Graduate Coordinator
• Admission and academic issues
• e-mail nelson_at_eng.auburn.edu
• office BR 305

6
Prof. John Hung

• Laboratory Chairman
• GTA assignments
• Only on-line applications accepted
• Go to ECE department website
• e-mail j.y.hung_at_ieee.org
• office BR 213

7
Ms. JoAnn Loden

• Course registration guidance
• RA and TA appointment administration
• e-mail jloden_at_eng.auburn.edu
• office BR 229

8
Dr. William Flick

• International Students
• Test of Spoken English (TSE)
• ENGL 1820 Classroom Communication Skills
• e-mail bflick_at_auburn.edu
• phone [phone]
• Usually, phone interview comes first.

9
Ms. Shelia Collis

• Paychecks
• Day-to-day needs
• Check your mailbox daily!
• Personal use of copiers requires access code.
• e-mail smcollis_at_eng.auburn.edu
• office BR 200

10
Ms. Lavonne Howard

• Building keys
• Packing slips and invoices
• Sign, date, and submit promptly.
• Telephones and copiers are for professional
  activities only.
• e-mail lhoward_at_eng.auburn.edu
• office BR 202

11
Ms. Linda Barresi

• Laboratory equipment issues
• Report problems promptly, especially in teaching
  laboratories
• Building issues
• e-mail barresi_at_eng.auburn.edu
• office BR 257

12
Notes for ECE Graduate Students

• Academic issues
• Appointments
• Tuition notes
• Course enrollment
• Fire and Safety

• Inventory
• Professionalism
• Resources
• Security

13
Academic Issues

• Discuss policies with the responsible faculty
  member (research or teaching).
• Study the Tiger Cub student handbook
• Rules section
• www.auburn.edu/tigercub
• Graduate School website
• www.grad.auburn.edu

14
The Plan of Study

• Develop with your academic advisor
• Submit as soon as possible!
• Plans are amended when you approach degree
  completion
• Students without approved Plans of Study can be
  denied GTA support

15
Appointments (1)

• Teaching assistantships are reviewed every term.
  Students must apply EVERY term, ON-LINE, at the
  ECE department website.
• Research assistantships should be discussed
  periodically with the research advisor.

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Appointments (2)

• GTA application deadlines
• See the online application form
• www.eng.auburn.edu/department/ece
• March 15 (for summer and fall terms)
• October 15 (for spring term)

17
Appointments (2)

• Teaching appointment duration
• Aug. 16 to Dec. 31 (fall semester)
• Jan. 1 to May 15 (spring semester)
• Research appointment duration should be discussed
  with the research advisor.

18
Notes on Tuition

• GTAs with a minimum of 25 support receive a
  tuition waiver
• GRAs with a minimum of 25 support qualify for
  resident tuition rate
• A limited number of graduate tuition fellowships
  are available. See Dr. Nelson.

19
For International Students

• Fees, forms, regulations
• Visit the Office of International Education
  website
• www.auburn.edu/academic/other/international_educat
  ion/office/international/

20
Some GTA Considerations

• Newer students favored
• U.S. citizens favored
• Ph.D. students favored
• Academic progress
• e.g. Has a Plan of Study been filed?
• Faculty support
• Language skills

21
Course enrollment

• Pre-register. Course offerings are affected by
  pre-registration demand!
• Do NOT wait until the beginning of a term to
  register two results may occur
• full class (you cant get in)!
• no class (the class was dropped)!

22
Fire

• Learn escape routes for office and laboratory.
• If you discover a fire
• activate fire alarm system
• AND dial 911 to report the fire! Alarm system
  does not dial 911 automatically
• If alarm sounds, evacuate building immediately.

23
Public and Environmental Safety

• Visit BOTH of these websites
• www.auburn.edu/administration/public_safety/
• www.auburn.edu/administration/safety/

24
Inventory

• Obtain appropriate permissions before moving
  equipment or furniture from a room, e.g. research
  advisor.
• Never remove teaching laboratory equipment
  without consent of professor who supervises that
  facility!

25
Professionalism

• You are NOT a mere student - you are a practicing
  professional!
• Be on time for classes and appointments.
• Prepare for classes, teaching, research
• physically, mentally, and spiritually
• GTAs should check laboratories ahead of time
• Are you a member of IEEE? If not, visit
  www.ieee.org

26
Resources

• Check your mailbox daily.
• Boxes are shared by 2-3 studets
• If there are multiple copies of a sheet, take
  one.
• Copiers and telephones are for professional
  activity.
• Computer and network access is a privilege that
  carries responsibility.

27
Security

• Do NOT loan keys!
• Do NOT share door codes!
• Do NOT prop open doors!
• Graduating? Return the keys.

28
Return this sheet to Dr. Hung

• I have read and understand the ECE Graduate
  Orientation material.
• Signature _____________________
• Name (print) ___________________
• Date _________________________