November 9, 2009
On Thursday, November 12, the GSA will host a graduate student wine and cheese social in the Ballroom on the fourth floor of the Joe Crowley Student Union. Take a break from your studies and join your fellow graduate students for appetizers, wine, beer, soda, and water. UNR Graduate Students may bring one guest. Admission is only $5.00 per person; please be prepared to show both your UNR ID card and a government-issued photo ID card for proof of age.
November 6, 2009
ALSO AVAILABLE NICE 1 BEDROOM 1 BATH STUDIO APARTMENT NEXT TO UNR $575/mo.; $625 deposit; Off-street parking; Partially furnished. Call 338-0470 or email contact@poplardwellings.com
October 19, 2009
Proposed Student Success and Activities Fee
Click here to view the grad-fee-proposal
The GSA Council will be reviewing information regarding a new $10 per student, per semester fee beginning next fall. The fee proposal comes from the ASUN President as part of the ASUN 8-year strategic plan. ASUN Senate is also reviewing information regarding an undergraduate $75 per student, per semester fee. Where will this money go? The undergraduate fee package will generate funds for 3 different programs: $25 will go towards a consolidated academic services center which will revive the lost writing, math and tutoring services; $5 will go towards campus fine arts including Performing Arts Series (PAS), Art Galleries around campus and special events such as visiting artists etc.; $45 to a new student activities center which will be independent of ASUN. The graduate student $10 fee would go towards professional level writing services ($5) and towards the campus fine arts ($5). If the student governments (ASUN & GSA) approve the proposal, it will be presented to the Board of Regents at the December meeting in Las Vegas. If you have any thoughts concerning this matter, please contact your college’s council representatives or the President, Jillian Murdock. You can help GSA make the best decision for graduate students by letting the council know what you think.
Career 2009
Despite the loss of the University’s Career Development Center, there are still some opportunities to get some great information about how to get the job you’ve been looking for. Here are some events you may be interested in:
· Career and Internship Fair (Wednesday, November 4th 10am-3pm JCSU Ballrooms) Look for internships and full time positions, both locally and regionally. Some employers will conduct interviews on the spot, on Thursday, November 5 or in the weeks following the fair. Check Career Navigator for details www.unr.edu/cn Click on Career Fair
· $tart $mart Campus Negotiation Workshop (Saturday, October 24th 8:30-Noon JCSU Rita Laden Senate Chambers) This 3-hour workshop provides those who are beginning their job search with knowledge and skills when approaching the job market so they are prepared to negotiate salaries and benefits and receive fair and realistic compensation. To register, contact Susan Hoover at susnhoover@aol.com or call 775-622-3811 Registration fee is $10, seating is limited.
· Emergency Resume Critique Day (Tuesday, October 27th 11am-2pm Randall Rotunda, Rm 201 Knowledge Center) Drop by with your resume for an on the spot resume critique conducted by employers and recruiters.
· Career Fair Crash Course (Monday, November 2nd Noon-1pm JCSU 402 & Tuesday, November 3rd 2:30-3:30pm JCSU 324) Planning to go to the Career Fair? Pick up tips and techniques on how to have a successful career fair experience including how to find out who will be coming, how to approach employers, what to bring, what to wear and how to follow up.
· Ace the Interview (Tuesday, November 3rd 6:00-7:00pm JCSU 402) The job interview is the single most important part of getting a job. It’s your chance to show your future bosses that you are smart, funny, quick on your toes and able to communicate. Because of the importance of the job interview, you might be worried about cracking under the pressure. Come to Ace Your Interview and learn how to network, prepare for an interview, how to answer difficult questions and developing your resume presented by Alison Clifton, Recruiter with Maxim Healthcare Services.
· Networking Reception sponsored by Microsoft Licensing (Tuesday, November 3rd 4:00-6:00pm JCSU Great Room) Mix and mingle with local, regional and national employers and meet the recruiters and get a head start by making a good first impression with representatives who will be at the career fair.
· 14th Annual Evening with Industry sponsored by the Society of Women Engineers (Tuesday, November 3rd 5:30-8:00pm JCSU Ballroom C) Network with engineering related employers interested in hiring students beginning at 5:50pm and enjoy a meal and speaker in a formal dinner setting beginning at 6:30pm Student ticket price: $15/student & $10/SWE member. Please purchase tickets in SEM 132 or contact Sadie@nostreet.com
Facebook for GSA
The Graduate Student Association now has a facebook page, become a fan and participate in important conversations, find out about events, and speak your opinion. This is one more opportunity to let your voice be heard.
Awards Week next Spring
GSA is getting a head start on the Awards Week Program for April 2010. Each year, roughly $58,600 in competitive awards, scholarships and grants are given to graduate students . This is a great opportunity to practice presenting research and sharing your work with the campus. Award categories include Outstanding Graduate Student, Outstanding International Graduate Student and Outstanding Graduate Student Researcher. Students can also enter the poster and paper presentation competition judged by volunteer faculty. We are hoping for participation from across the campus and getting our campus community excited about graduate work that is happening right now! If you have ideas or questions, contact Matt Smith, Vice President of External Affairs.
Homecoming Week
Homecoming begins today! Find out what events are happening around campus at https://asun.unr.edu/Default.aspx There is fun to be had and should provide you with a small break from the regular graduate student grind. There isn’t a better time to be a part of our campus community than homecoming!
Next Event: November Wine and Cheese Social
Our popular event, the Wine and Cheese Social will take place Thursday, November 12th from 7-9pm in the JCSU Ballroom C. This is a new location for the Wine and Cheese event so let us know what you think. As always, to attend the event you must provide valid government issued identification to verify age (must be 21 to enter, no exceptions) as well as a graduate student ID. We would like to see more faculty coming to these socials so give your advisors and professors a nudge! The event is $5 per person, and graduate students may bring one guest.
Participants Needed For Student Study
Are You a Divorced or Separated Single Mother? You are invited to tell Your Story.
Your Experience and Personal Story are both unique and valuable.
Research project title: “The Experiences of being a Divorced or Separated Single Mother”
Requirements: (1) ages 25-55, (2) have at least one biological, adopted, or foster child 15 years old or younger at home, (3) be a resident of Reno or the surrounding areas, (4) not living with an intimate partner during the time of the study.
Your willingness and participation will be highly appreciated. There will be two interviews and each will take approximately one to two hours.
To participate, and for more details, please call Sabina Mutisya at (775) 223-8216 or email smutisya@unr.edu
September 15, 2009
The Graduate Student Association (GSA) would like to introduce you to the Executives for the 2009-2010 academic year. Jillian Murdock (President- pictured center), Valerie Lykes (Vice President, Internal Affairs- pictured left) and Matthew Smith (Vice President, External Affairs- pictured right). You can learn more about them, as well as each of the GSA council members on the GSA webpage where council members now have a photo and a biography page.
Ready, Set… GO!
We are ready for a successful, productive and positive year here at GSA! The GSA Executive Council (comprised of Jillian, Valerie and Matt, along with Greg Nuttle who attended as the advisor) had a great retreat in July and determined many of our strengths, weaknesses and opportunities of the GSA. The list was long, and surrounded by numerous positive ideas. One of our main concerns and goals for continual growth is communication with campus. We want the entire campus to know that we are here as representatives of our students and programs. We also want to be able to share more stories about graduate student research, success stories and anything else of interest to the campus. The prior year’s budgetary issues encouraged a surge in participation from all Nevada students to make sure higher education remained a priority to the state’s law makers. While our university did suffer tremendous cuts, overall the year was considered to be a success because faculty, staff, students and community members joined together and shared the burden in order to maintain the integrity of the Nevada System of Higher Education. GSA wants to ensure that the great leadership from last year is maintained and communication continues to spread throughout the university.
The GSA will be keeping a close watch to ensure that graduate students are continuing to be successful after the closure of the Career, Writing and Math Centers. We are aware that many graduate students lost employment due to the closures and had to seek assistantships elsewhere. GSA would like to know, if and where our students are now going for writing help on theses & dissertations, or for CV/resume development. We would appreciate hearing any feedback regarding these concerns as the university develops new ideas for these closures. We can certainly all make a difference!
Some New Stuff
The Executive Council will be developing a new sort of social, and it should be up and running soon. We would like to invite all graduate students to participate in a weekly or biweekly free breakfast in the JCSU Graduate Student Lounge. We are considering serving coffee, tea and juice accompanied by bagels, muffins and fruit. The setting would be informal and casual so that students can come, enjoy a free continental breakfast and mingle with some fellow graduate students. It will also provide opportunities for graduate students to get to know their representatives and discuss issues relating to specific colleges. We welcome feedback on this topic, and will be announcing our first breakfast social soon!
As mentioned earlier, the GSA webpage will now include biography information for all council members. Information includes graduate program, undergraduate institution and course of study, research focus or emphasis, hobbies and favorite Reno hangout. We hope that this information will encourage graduate students to contact their representatives as well as the executives to ensure that GSA is able to continue to represent the voices of all graduate students on campus. Just a reminder: Council meetings are held every other Tuesday in the Rita Laden Senate Chambers in the Joe Crowley Student Union from 7-9PM and are open to the public.
If you are on Facebook, look for the UNR Graduate Student Social Network Facebook group. Once you join, you will be invited to all GSA events. It is also a venue for sharing information with other graduate students by posting links, photos or stories that others may find useful. Currently, the group is small but we would certainly like to see it grow!
Good News for Fine Arts Graduate Students: The Spring Awards Week program will now include competitive awards for Music and Art Master’s students. In the past, music and art students were not able to participate in some of the research awards but now there is a separate category just for this area of study. We will continue to blog about this, and there will also be university announcements as the event approaches next year.
Some Important Dates
· The GSA Travel Award application for travel between Oct 1st and February 15th is due September 15th by 5pm to the GSA offices (3rd floor, JCSU) so be sure to get them in!
· The GSA Pub-n-Sub Social will be Wednesday, September 30th from 6-8pm. For $5, Graduate Students with valid UNR ID as well as government issued ID (to verify drinking age) can enjoy endless appetizers, pizza, pitchers of domestic beer and wine by the glass (upgrade to imported beer for small fee). This one of GSA’s traditional events and is always very well attended, so make sure you clear your schedule to come have some fun! The GSA Annual Wine and Cheese Social will also be scheduled sometime in October or November.
Need Some Help?
The Knowledge Center is giving a number of free workshops:
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Knowledge Center à la Carte September 15-17, 2009
A Series of Free, Hands-on Workshops
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SIGN UP TODAY for one or more workshops by going to https://www.cis.unr.edu/TLT/Events.aspx
The Graduate School is also providing Graduation and Progression workshops:
· September 15th from 12-1:30pm at JCSU 323
· September 24th from 5:30-7pm at JCSU 402
· The workshop will discuss the administrative forms and important dates related to graduate student progression. Topics include the Program of Study and forming your committee, Graduation Application Deadline for December graduates, which is October 1st , degree completion requirements for every graduating student (final forms, deadlines, exiting the university) and Thesis & Dissertation information (submission checklist, backwards timeline)
· There is no need to sign up or RSVP
Have Some Old Furniture? We’ll Take it!
The Household Items Program, is in full swing and continues its success. The committee is making trips around the community picking up donations, as well as delivering items to graduate students who have recently relocated to the Reno area, or have recently moved within Reno. The program is voluntary and graduate students are not charged for furniture, delivery or pick-ups. If you or someone you know has some useful furniture or other household necessities, contact the GSA Household Items Committee by emailing hic.gsa.unr@gmail.com
Local Neighborhood Housing Postings
Ideal townhome at Rancho San Rafael, built in 2003; 3 bedroom; 2.5 bathroom; 1700 sq. feet; 2 car garage; gas fireplace; air conditioning; end unit with extended dining room; uncovered patio. Rent $995/month; $500 deposit; 1-year lease. Tennant pays: Electricity, Gas & Water. Pets under 20lbs allowed with $100 deposit each. Smoking outside only. Call or Email Lauren for inquiries: (303) 815-6640 or laurfaye@hotmail.com
August 31, 2009
Welcome to the GSA blog. This blog will replace the monthly newsletter previously published by GSA, and emailed to a listserv. We hope that this blog provides a more innovative method of sharing information to the campus, and anyone else who wants to subscribe.
What to Expect
The GSA blog will continue to provide information on GSA deadlines (travel grants etc.), dates for GSA social events and housing information. It will also continue to provide information on graduate student happenings, campus and community events of interest to graduate students, updates on university issues effecting graduate students and anything else that we can think of in order to continue growing our communication with graduate students and the campus at large. We are open to feedback and blog topic ideas, so please feel free to email your ideas to gsa@unr.edu. We look forward to hearing from you!