Graduate Student Orientation

Session #1: 10:00 – 10:40 Key Stages of Your Graduate Program
Join us to learn about the key competencies that will help you succeed at each stage of your graduate career, from coursework, through comprehensive exams to thesis and dissertation writing.  Discuss what skills will help to you adapt to the culture of your discipline, network with peers and master the norms of research, teaching and scholarly publishing.
Nanda Dimitrov, Ph.D., Teaching Support Centre

Session #2: 11:00 – 11:45 Getting Mentored in Graduate School - Managing expectations, understanding what is required of you and of your supervisor in order to build a positive and productive relationship. 
Dr. Betsy Skarakis-Doyle, Faculty Associate, Graduate Supervision

Lunch #1 11:45-12:45

Session #3:  11:45 – 12:45 Support Services for Western Graduate Students – Presentations by SGPS, SOGS, the Office of the Ombudsperson, Student Development Services, and Campus Police

Lunch #2 12:45 – 1:45

Session #3:  12:45 – 1:45 Support Services for Western Graduate Students – Presentations by SGPS, SOGS, the Office of the Ombudsperson, Student Development Services, and Campus Police.

Session #4: 1:45 – 2:25 Graduate Level Research at Western Libraries – Western Libraries is the fourth largest academic research library in Canada. With nearly eight million items in print alone, and an ever increasing digital collection, knowing who and what to know and to ask will not only save you time, it will enhance your overall research experience here at Western. Meet one of Western Libraries' subject librarians, learn how to access library resources (print and electronic) from on and off-campus, and find out about Western Libraries' resources and services specifically designed for graduate students.  Melanie Burnard, English & Outreach Services Librarian, The D.B. Weldon Library.
Tom Adam, Information Literacy Coordinator, TSC

Session #5: 2:25 – 3:15 Professional Development During Graduate Education – The importance of professional development during your graduate education.  Why attend conferences, publish, network and tips on how to do it.
Dr. Stephen Sims, Associate Vice-Provost and Clare Tattersall, Coordinator, Graduate Student Recruitment and Retention, The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies