Grad Links

Subscribe to Grad Links
Unsubscribe from Grad Links

April 28, 2008

Grad Links is a biweekly news bulletin from the Graduate College at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with news for graduate students and the faculty and staff who work with them. Please share this newsletter with graduate students, faculty, and staff. Here are the announcements as of Monday, April 28, 2008.

Topics

Dissertation Writing Workshop
Extended Thesis Office Hours
SPEAK Appeals
Fulbright-Hays Fellowship Workshop
Fulbright U.S. Student Program Grants Workshop
Illinois International Graduate Achievement Award
Ready for Commencement?
Graduate Student Mixer at the Alumni Association
GradWeek Celebration
Upcoming Deadlines
Useful Links

Dissertation Writing Workshop

Facilitator, Greg Lambeth, will help students develop realistic, pragmatic solutions to aid dissertation completion. Through a series of exercises, participants will evaluate how to set priorities, formulate a time management plan, monitor future progress, and balance personal and academic responsibilities, as well as how to avoid obstacles like procrastination, perfectionism, or adviser conflicts.

Greg Lambeth is a clinical psychologist at the Counseling Center. He completed his dissertation at the University of Texas in 1993 and has worked with graduate students at the University of Illinois on issues related to dissertation completion since 1994.

Seats are limited. Registration required: www.grad.uiuc.edu/careerservices/workshops/dissertation_reg.asp

Extended Thesis Office Hours

9:00-11:30 a.m. and 1:00-4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Beginning Monday, April 7, the Thesis Office will offer student walk-in hours in the morning, in addition to its regular afternoon hours. Extended hours will continue through Friday, May 2.

SPEAK Appeals

Spring 2008 SPEAK (Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit) Appeals will be heard by the Graduate College SPEAK Appeals Panel on Thursday and Friday, May 1-2, 2008.

All SPEAK Appeals must be requested and scheduled through the department that is seeking to appoint the student as a TA. Students are not permitted to request or schedule their own SPEAK Appeals with the Graduate College. Please keep in mind that a faculty member must be present during the student's SPEAK Appeal. Questions regarding SPEAK results and the International Teaching Assistants' (ITA) orientation program should be directed to the Center for Teaching Excellence at 333-3370.

Fulbright-Hays Fellowship Workshop

Wednesday, April 30, 2008, 3:00-4:30 p.m., 407 Illini Union

The Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship Program, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, provides opportunities to graduate students to engage in full-time dissertation research abroad in modern foreign languages and area studies. Research focusing on Western European countries will not be funded.

This workshop for students interested in the Fulbright-Hays Program offers an overview as well as application tips. For more information about the Fulbright-Hays Program, www.ed.gov/programs/iegpsddrap/ or or contact the Graduate College Fellowship Office at gradfellowships@uiuc.edu or 333-0036..

Fulbright U.S. Student Program Grants Workshop

Thursday, May 1, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m., Room 66, Main Library (enter down the stairs from Wright Street).

Sponsored by the Office of Scholarships for International Study, this session is targeted to students who wish to explore opportunities available under the various Fulbright U.S. student programs and ready materials for the Fulbright priority deadline of July 1, 2008. These scholarships support U.S. citizens for one year of study or research in any country where there is a Fulbright Commission. English teaching programs (some with minimal to no foreign language or teaching experience necessary) are also available. Students must begin working on their applications this summer to apply for funding for study, teaching, or research beginning in fall 2009. Last year, eight University of Illinois students were offered Fulbright grants. Further information is at www.ips.uiuc.edu/scholarship/Fulbrightprocess.shtml.

Illinois International Graduate Achievement Award

The Illinois International Graduate Achievement Award recognizes a graduate student whose innovative and sustained international research or service, undertaken through their University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign affiliated international experience, has had the greatest impact or greatest potential impact on the University or larger community.

Nominations are due by October 17, 2008. Award criteria and downloadable forms for each of these awards are located at www.ilint.uiuc.edu/awards. Additional information available at www.ilint.uiuc.edu/awards/graduate.php. Please contact Debbie Richardson (drchrdsn@uiuc.edu, 217-265-4140) at the office of International Engagement, Communications and Protocol with any questions.

Ready for Commencement?

If you are looking ahead to Commencement on May 11th, let us first congratulate you! For information about eligibility, registering, and ordering academic attire, visit
www.grad.uiuc.edu/commencement/.

Graduate Student Mixer at the Alumni Center

The UI Alumni Association and the Graduate and Professional Affairs Committee (GPAC) of the Illinois Student Senate will host this month's Graduate Student Mixer on Thursday, May 8, 5:00 p.m., at the Alice Campbell Alumni Center, 601 S. Lincoln Avenue, Urbana. Network with graduate students from all over campus, learn about your alumni association and chat with your student representatives. Snacks will be provided and a cash bar tended. All graduate/professional students, friends and family are welcome!

GradWeek 2008

Created for students by students to celebrate the accomplishments of May 2008 graduates, GradWeek is sponsored by the University of Illinois Alumni Association and Student Alumni Ambassadors, in partnership with other campus organizations. Additional information can be found at www.uiaa.org/urbana.

GradWeek events:
Monday, April 28, 7:00 p.m.
Lincoln Hall Theatre
Alumni Speaker -- Comedian Michael Kosta (LAS '02)

Tuesday, April 29, 8:00 p.m.
Main Quad
Movie on the Quad -- Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Wednesday, April 30, 7:00 p.m.
Foellinger Auditorium
Concert with Mike & Joe
Cost: $3 in advance/$5 at the door (www.uiuc.edu/goto/gradweek)
Proceeds to benefit the General Scholarship Fund

Thursday, May 1, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Alice Campbell Alumni Center
Free pizza and soda for all students!

Upcoming Deadlines

The Graduate College Events and Deadlines page consolidates all of our calendar information into one, easy-to-read source. Please visit it at www.grad.uiuc.edu/events/, or click on Events & Deadlines under Features on the main Graduate College page.

WED, April 30:

Last day of Instruction

THUR, May 1:

Reading Day

Last day to add or drop a second half-session course with approval (a W is recorded)

Last day to add or drop a semester course with approval (a W is recorded)

Last day to remove an I grade from fall 2007 to prevent F by rule

FRI, May 2::

Last day to deposit May doctoral dissertations

FRI, May 2 - 9:

Final examination period

SUN, May 11::

May degree conferral (Commencement)

Useful Links

Assistantship Clearinghouse - www.grad.uiuc.edu/clearinghouse/
Events and Deadlines - www.grad.uiuc.edu/events/
Fellowship Opportunities - https://www.grad.uiuc.edu/fellowship/
Graduate Handbook - www.grad.uiuc.edu/gradhandbook/
Guide to Graduate Life at Illinois - www.grad.uiuc.edu/survivalguide/
Past Grad Links - www.grad.uiuc.edu/pubs/gradlinks/
Thesis Handbook - www.grad.uiuc.edu/thesis/thesishandbook/

To unsubscribe to Grad Links, send an email to listserv@uiuc.edu with a subject unsubscribe and the command SIGNOFF grad_grad_links-l as the body of the message.

For additional information, contact the Graduate College at (217) 333-0035 or visit the Web at www.grad.uiuc.edu.