Graduate Student Newsletter – Week of May 4, 2020

Announcements:

    1. Correction! Graduate Course registration and enrolment is scheduled to begin on June 30 (not June 8). 
    2. Call for AGE-WELL Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Awards in Technology and Aging.
    3. Reminder: Please always provide your full name and student number when sending email enquiries to the Graduate Program Office.  
    4. Please submit a completed Course Transaction Form to the Graduate Program Office if you would like to request for a course extension (grade submission deferral).
    5. The Graduate Program in Education and other offices at York University are closed, but operations are continuing online. If you need assistance, please email us directly. Latest updates on COVID-19 (Coronavirus) can be found at https://coronavirus.info.yorku.ca/.
    6. York University is proceeding with a Summer 2020 term and plans to offer as many summer courses as possible through online/remote delivery formats. There will be a one-week delay to the start of the summer term. Click here for details.
    7. Please note that there will not be any in-person convocation ceremonies in June and graduates will be invited to future convocation ceremony. The RO will send out graduate packages to February graduates, including diplomas, if they haven’t been picked up yet. Please assure to update or confirm your preferred mailing address by May 8th.
    8. York University launches COVID-19 student Relief Fund and 250,000 COVID-19 research initiative. Click here for details.
    9. FGS Emergency Bursary forms are available electronically upon request to fgssaa@yorku.ca. Please note that the bursary is limited to emergency rent, emergency utilities, emergency medical and emergency food.
    10. The Office of Research Ethics has published a Frequently Asked Questions page on research ethics submission: https://research.info.yorku.ca/frequently-asked-questions-faq/.
    11. REGISTRATION and enrolling in courses:
        • Check the FGS – Important Dates website for deadlines, registration/enrollment, or to add and drop courses.
        • Students admitted to a graduate diploma, master’s degree program or doctoral degree program must maintain continuous registration, including payment of applicable fees, in every fall, winter and summer term up to and including the term in which all requirements for their program of study are successfully completed.
        • If a course is full; until the deadline please keep checking back online for empty seats. There is constant movement in courses throughout the terms, and if someone drops a course, a space will open immediately in the system.
        • Please be aware that only the Course Director can provide permission to increase the size of their class beyond the established maximum, and the fire code of the room is also a factor.
    12. Students should link their banking information to their student accounts for the ease of refunds on your student account.
    13.  If you have passed your second term and are completing an MRP or Thesis, or if you are a Doctoral student and have passed your sixth term, please be sure to complete a Supervisor & Supervisory Committee Approval form and submit it to the graduate program office immediately. Please find further details on the checklists.
    14. Attention regarding advertisement of final oral exam: Oral exams are normally a public academic event. However, if the student and the supervisor prefer not to have the exam public, they must inform the Graduate Office in Education upon submission of the Recommendation for Oral Examination form.
    15.  Feel free to join our Facebook group and post articles, events and other information that you think is relevant to your fellow students! You can also visit our direct Facebook page.

Convocation/Graduation

  1. The online application to graduate in June 2020 has passed. The online application for October 2020 will open in May
  • The Spring Convocation ceremonies will not go forward as planned. Alternatives are being explored and updates will be provided as soon as they are available. Click here for details.
  • If you are in the last term of your program and expect to graduate, you must apply to graduate. If you missed the online application deadline and still wish to apply for June 2020 Convocation/Graduation, please email us gradprogram@edu.yorku.ca
  • The Graduate Program in Education (GPE) Office will then evaluate your eligibility to graduate.
  • It is the student’s responsibility to be sure they have met all of the requirements to graduate prior to applying to graduate but if you are unsure of something please contact us gradprogram@edu.yorku.ca
  1. Read this “graduate in June” attachment for additional important details.
  1. Read the following “need to know” graduation/convocation information/links.
  • Your status will not be projected anywhere online, and we will only contact you directly if there are issues with your degree audit. 
  • If you have applied to graduate and have not received an email from us during the audit process, you are all set to attend convocation and must go to the Convocation Website for further information on next steps and how to R.S.V.P.
  • If you are requesting to graduate with a Diploma be sure to follow the steps outlined in the “Graduate in June” document above and here is the “Convocation-Diploma“ form mentioned in the document that you must submit along with the Diploma Checklist also indicated in the “Graduate in June” document above.
  • If you are enrolled in Winter courses: You must inform the course director that you have applied to graduate, and that your final grade (this can be an interim grade) will need to be submitted 2 weeks prior to the August FGS deadline in order for you to graduate. The sooner you inform the course director, the sooner we can work together on getting your final grade posted on time.
  • If you are not attending convocation and want to pick up your diploma after convocation, you can do so at Registrarial Services (W120 Bennett Centre for Student Services) or request that it be sent to you.

If you applied to the February convocation in absentia: Once your eligibility to graduate has been confirmed for February, your status will be reflected on your transcript. You will be able to pick up your diploma starting March 2, 2020 from Registrarial Services or request that it be sent to you. Your name will appear on YU Verify as having convocated in February.  Since there is no February ceremony, you will automatically be invited to the June convocation ceremony. You will receive an invitation to RSVP for the June ceremony approximately four to six weeks before the June convocation.

Resources and Updates

  1. Government Support and Funding information is available now.
  2. FGS’s GradConnect Wellness is available to help throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Click here for details.
  3. Library Services During COVID-19. 
  4. Click here for more funding/awards opportunities!
  5. FGS’s policy on Graduate Supervision can be found here
  6. Graduate Program Calendar: http://edu.yorku.ca/graduate-program-calendar/
  7. Understanding your student account: The following link takes you through an overview that has been developed to assist you in navigating the various financial processes relevant to graduate studies. It is divided into 3 primary categories accessible through the tabs on the page.
  8. Get specific information about your graduate funding package by scheduling a Funding Advising Appointment. 
  9. Reminder for submission of all forms and to ensure they are accepted and processed:
    • Students are fully responsible for the download, completion, and submission of forms to their graduate program. Students must attach any correspondence that supports their request at the time of submission.
    • The Graduate Program in Education (GPE) office is unable to accept any incomplete forms, so be sure to have all required signatures (emails in lieu of) and required documentation in a complete package before submitting (hardcopy or email) any forms.
  10. Graduate Program in Education Grad Student Guidebook: can be found on our site under current students/graduate
  11. The Office of Research Ethics has published a Frequently Asked Questions page on research ethics submission: https://research.info.yorku.ca/frequently-asked-questions-faq/.
  12. Accommodations for Graduate Students.

Events, Conferences and Workshops

  1. New! Career Centre Events and Activities in May 2020.
  2. Call for Proposal: International Policy Ideas Challenge 2020. 
  3. York University’s Academic Innovation Fund is seeking proposals for 2020-21 projects focused on open access teaching and learning projects.
  4. Two Day CERLL online Symposium Presentations. Please register here.
  5. Update! Workshops for ED Graduate Students! Please sent an email to the Graduate Program Office to receive the secure zoom link and password.
    • “How to start a writing group”, hosted by Sue Winton on Thursday, May 7, 2-3:30 pm.
    • “What’s Art got to do with it? Incorporating Arts-based Methods into Research“, hosted by Nombuso Dlamini with grad student presenters, May 14, 3:00-4:30 pm. 
  6. YGSE Wellness Wednesday Workshop Series, online workshops that provide support for grad colleagues in these difficult days due to COVID-19.
  7. York University Online Study Tips: the Peer Academic Coaching has moved online, Monday through Thursdays from 1 – 4 pm. Register here.
  8. Call for papers on imperialism – Teaching Social Studies. 
  9. York University Libraries Research Data Training camps: Collecting research data but not sure how to manage it? Want to learn more about research computing tools that can help you better manage your research project? Register here.
  10. Call for submission: Journal of Comparative and International Higher Education invites submissions of new research that advances discussions of current issues on Comparative and International Higher Education that correspond to upcoming Special Issues:
    • Summer 2021: Exploring the Role of Indigenous Knowledge in Postsecondary Policies and Practices Toward Sustainable Development with Guest Editors, Marcellus Mbah and Ane Turner Johnson. Proposals due by June 1, 2020. 
    • Winter 2021: Global Higher Education Partnerships with Guest Editor, Michael Lanford. Proposals due by September 1, 2020.
    • Proposals should be about 500 words and finished articles should be 3,500 – 5,500 words. Submit here. 
  11. More Exciting Workshops at the Research Commons. 
  12. Call for Research Abstract for the Fourth International Research Symposium to be held June 6 to 10, 2020 in Limerick, Ireland.

Employment/Volunteer Opportunities:

  1. Visiting Assistant Professor, The Department of Comparative Race and Ethnic Studies (CRES) at Texas Christian University.
  2. Research Assistant, Faculty of Graduate Studies, York University. Apply by May 6, 2020.
  3. Short Term Consultant Education Specialist, the Global Partnership for Education.
  4. 2020-21 Student Community & Leadership Development work/study positions.

Please note: Information regarding employment opportunities is provided for your information only. York University does not pre-screen, review, endorse or approve employers or employment/volunteer opportunities, and is not responsible for any of the hiring processes or positions. If you have any questions about positions, please work with the employer directly.