GradNews

Welcome to the start of the fall 2020 semester!  For our new students, welcome to the start of your graduate career at SIUE!

• New Grad Student? 
  • Mark your calendars for Tuesday, 9/22 at 4:00pm for a virtual event to welcome new graduate students at SIUE to the start of the academic year!  Ask a Grad: Student Life & Success at SIUE will be held via Zoom and will feature a panel of experienced graduate students to answer YOUR questions (submitted live at the event or in advance) about all things SIUE!  Access the Zoom event here or enter the meeting ID manually (969 9859 2863) with the required password (SIUEgrad). 
    
    
    
    
    
  • Be on the lookout for announcements from the Kimmel Student Involvement Center about accessing this year's virtual Cougar Welcome Resource Fair to learn all about the many services that are here to support you throughout your graduate school journey.  The Graduate School is participating in the virtual Resource Fair with our own short video about how we serve as a resource for graduate students! 
    
    
• New or Returning Graduate Assistant?  Complete the new online GA Orientation, which has a wealth of information and resources for both new and continuing GA's.  Finish the course and submit the completion quiz to be eligible for some Graduate School swag, while supplies last! 
  
  
• Virtual Fresh Check Day  On Wednesday, September 9th, at 1:00pm, Counseling Services and partners will offer the 3rd annual Fresh Check Day as a way to learn and engage in topics related to mental health and overall well-bring.  Join the live Zoom meeting to check it out: https://siue.zoom.us/j/95698146729 
  
  
• Graduating this December?  Apply for graduation by the deadline of October 1st!  Find all of the information you need to know about applying for graduation on the Graduation Requirements website.  

Top 5 Resources Graduate Students Need to Know

#5:  Lovejoy Library  Did you know you can receive research support from a library specialist in your field?  Store your published research in an institutional repository?  Request interlibrary loan materials electronically? As a graduate student, it will likely be critical to your academic success to familiarize yourself with the many services that Lovejoy Library provides to the SIUE community.  Whether you are physically on campus or working from home, you can receive support and answers to your questions about how the Library can serve you from an actual human via text, phone, or in person!

#4:  Graduate Catalog  Access the Graduate Catalog online anytime for information about your academic program's curriculum, course descriptions, graduation requirements, and academic policies.   

#3:  CougarNet  Login to CougarNet to view your class schedule, register for upcoming semesters, update your mailing address, view your financial statement, and much more!

#2:  GA Handbook & Orientation  If you are serving as a Graduate Assistant, the GA Handbook which can be accessed on the Graduate Assistantship website is your number one resource for all policies and procedures relating to being a GA!  If you haven't yet, completing the new online GA Orientation is essential.

#1:  Your GPD and Faculty  Be proactive in developing a connection with your Graduate Program Director (GPD) and your other graduate faculty immediately in your graduate career.  They are your top resource for learning about your program's curriculum requirements, research opportunities, career pathways, and more.  Connect early and often to be sure you are on track and taking full advantage of all that your program and faculty have to offer!     

Is a Thesis or Dissertation in Your Future?

If your degree requires completion of a thesis or dissertation, access the resources on the Graduate School Theses & Dissertations website as you begin the process.  You'll find an overview of the process, writing resources, formatting templates, and all relevant deadlines for each semester. 

Mark your calendars to attend our fall 2020 virtual Thesis Workshop being held on Wednesday, Sept. 23rd at 2:30pm, for tips and tricks on formatting your thesis correctly.  RSVP here!

Call for Posters/Presentations at Illinois Innovation Network Research Conference on Sustainability

The East-Central Illinois Hub invites poster presentations/research paper proposals from students, faculty and researchers related to Sustainability within Illinois.  The conference will be held in an online format.  Proposals should be received by September 15th, 2020.  For more information, visit the conference website.

Congratulations to our 2020-2021 Research Grants for Research Doctoral Student (RGRDS) winners!

The RGRDS program awards grants on a competitive basis to support research and projects conducted by doctoral students at SIUE to enhance their academic progress.  Congrats to the below doctoral students who received an award for this year to support their research endeavors!

Kristie Baumgartner of Educational Leadership, “Teacher Evaluation in the PERA Era” 

Brian Brink of Educational Leadership, “Understanding the Principal's Role in Teacher Education” 

Pam Burroughs of Educational Leadership, “Perceptions on Teacher Evaluations” 

Julie Geers of Educational Leadership, “Educator Experiences with and Perceptions of Tracking in One Rural District” 

Donald Harris of Educational Leadership, “Student Social/Emotional Needs with Academic Outcomes” 

Mike Toeben of Educational Leadership, “The Extent to which 1:1 Technology is Working at Providing a Resource that is Enhancing Teaching and Learning” 

Hamid Rostami of Civil Engineering, “Experimental-Scale Faulty Rupture Test on Buried Pipeline Reinforced with Segmental Protective Shield”

Nichol Allen of Historical Studies, “Contested Spaces and Race at the 1893 World's Fair” 

Shannan Mason of Historical Studies, “John Bartram: Merchant of Nature”

Financial Planning & Resources for Graduate Students

Starting graduate school with prior student loan debt?  Sacrificing a full-time salary to attend school full-time?  Worried about budgeting while you pursue your graduate degree?

GradSense.org can provide you with the resources you need to make informed decisions about your financial future. Graduate students are in a unique situation when it comes to making wise financial decisions, and GradSense is a comprehensive financial resource, developed by the Council of Graduate Schools, tailored specifically to the needs of graduate students.  Explore the earning power of your graduate degree, uncover tips for managing and paying off student loans, find advice on how to transition out of graduate school financially, access budget calculators and more!

Student Organizations & Leadership - Not Just for Undergrads!

If you assume that student organizations and campus involvement are only designed for undergraduate students to participate in, you'd be mistaken.  As a graduate student, you have the opportunity to become involved with campus organizations that align with your passions, academic disciplines, or leisure interests.  Engage with SIUE beyond just your academic department, and watch your graduate student experience come alive!  Rise to leadership positions and help to shape the SIUE campus culture while you sharpen your own leadership skills!

Discover the hundreds of campus organizations on the Get Involved at SIUE website and find the ones that speak to you!

Congratulations to our 2020-2021 Competitive Graduate Award (CGA) Winners!

Join us in congratulating this year's CGA recipients who are new graduate students at SIUE.  These students were selected from a highly competitive applicant pool and will conduct a research project in cooperation with a faculty mentor throughout this year.  We look forward to seeing the results of their scholarship!

Alexa Agne,  Kinesiology - Exercise Physiology

Brett Bertok, Geography

Daniel Burks,  I/O Psychology

Valeriia Danilkina, Business Administration

Shuva Das, Mechanical Engineering

Nathaniel DeRousse, Mathematics

Colin Gibbons, Electrical & Computer Engineering

Jasia Jannat, Environmental Science

Meifang Li, Applied Communication Studies

Aaron McMullin, Art Studio

Claire Miller, Clinical Child & School Psychology

James Nuoffer, Geography

Kirsten O'Loughlin, Art Therapy

Panporn Orkweha, Computer Science

Andrew Pyszka, Biology

Kashaun Smith, Media Studies

Corrin Stines, Clinical Psychology

Akeemat Oluwafisayo Tijani, Pharmaceutical Sciences

Shelby Wilfong, I/O Psychology

Know a deserving student or alum that we should highlight in Cougar Pride?  Contact us at graduateschool@siue.edu to let us know!