Welcome to New Graduate Student Orientation

1. Welcome toNew Graduate Student Orientation Please fill out the student info sheet (half sheet) in the front right pocket of your folders – it will be collected near the start of the program

2. Please pass completed student info sheets to the aisle.

3. Opening Remarks Tom Tomasi, PhD Associate Dean, Graduate College

4. Graduate College Staff Dr. Tom Tomasi, Associate Dean Carla Coorts, Assistant to the Dean Christy Graham, Executive Assistant III Valeria Murphy, Administrative Specialist II Misty Stewart, Coordinator of Graduate Recruiting Michael Edwards, Coordinator of Graduate Admissions Susan Dover, Admissions Evaluator . . . . and an army of Graduate Assistants

5. Agenda • Nuts & Bolts of Graduate School • Research and Additional Resources • Administrative and Research Graduate Assistant Q&A • Teaching Assistant Information Session

6. Nuts & Bolts of Graduate School Michael Edwards Christy Graham (use your imagination)

7. Admission Information Michael Edwards

8. Congratulationson your admission!

9. Have you registered for classes? Register online through your My Missouri State account (my.missouristate.edu) OR Register in person at the Office of the RegistrarCarrington Hall, Room 320(417) 836-5520

10. Now That You Are Admitted… Final Transcripts • The Graduate College MUST have an official transcript from your undergraduate institution showing that you have received your bachelor’s degree. • If you fail to provide this to the Graduate College, a hold will be placed on your account and you will be unable to register for classes. • Missouri State undergraduates do not need to do this.

11. Change/Addition of Academic Area • Complete a new graduate application online and indicate whether you are CHANGING or ADDING a program. • Graduate College’s website (http://graduate.missouristate.edu/) • Graduate Admissions office, Carrington Hall, room 308. • You must also complete any paperwork the department requires, which may include: • A separate application • Resume • New letters of recommendation • Test Scores • You MUST be admitted to the new program.

12. Graduate Certificates • Missouri State currently offers 21 graduate certificate programs (these are not degrees). 12 new ones this year. • Certificates can be completed as stand-alone programs or done concurrently with a graduate degree program. • Certificate programs require the same admission process as graduate degree programs. • Information on graduate certificate programs can be found on the Graduate College’s website (http://graduate.missouristate.edu).

13. Contact Us! • Graduate College • Carrington Hall, room 306(417) 836-5335GraduateCollege@MissouriState.edu • Graduate Admissions • Carrington Hall, room 308(417) 836-5330GraduateAdmissions@MissouriState.edu

14. Financial Assistance, Graduate Degree Completion, and Research Tom Tomasi, PhDAssociate Dean, Graduate College

15. Financial Assistance

16. Graduate Assistantships Eligibility: • Must be admitted into a degree program • Must have: • First-time graduate students: 3.00 GPA undergraduate cumulative OR3.00 GPA on last 60 hours of undergraduate • Continuing graduate students: 3.00 on 9 hours of graduate work • Must be enrolled in 6 hours of graduate level classes during a regular semester and 3 hours during a summer semester • Must maintain a 3.00 GPA

17. Graduate Assistantships Types: • Teaching GA • Research GA • Administrative GA Application: • Submit an application directly to the respective department or office • Include additional materials as requested • The application form is available at http://graduate.missouristate.edu/currentstudents/Assistantships.htm

18. Graduate Assistantships Benefits: • Stipend for work on campus (20 hours) • $8,324 for the academic year • $4,162 for a semester • $2,081 for summer • Limited fee waiver scholarship (for graduate courses on your Program of Study) • Option of purchasing reserved faculty/staff parking permit • Receive a 10% discount at the bookstore

19. Limited fee waiver scholarships • Up to 15 graduate hours for fall/spring semesters PLUS 6 hours in summer (for those with a GA position in the Spring) • Maximum cumulative credits covered will not exceed 10% beyond minimum credit hour requirements of the degree • Covers “basic” tuition fee of any regular graduate level course or up to $275 per credit hour for any Internet-based instruction graduate level course. • Covers student services fees assessed for any graduate course enrollment.

20. Limited fee waiver scholarships The fee waiver scholarship WILL NOT pay for: • Differential fee for any enrollment (regular instruction or internet) in classes (appears separately on your bill). • CHHS - $25/credit • COE - $32/credit • Music - $15/credit • Supplemental Course Fees assessed on any course. • Student health insurance, books, or other misc. fees.

21. Student Employment & Financial Aid • Students can work a part-time, hourly, on-campus job. • Information is available in the Student Employment Office (Blair-Shannon 113) or on the web athttp://www.missouristate.edu/StudentEmp/ • Graduate students are eligible for federal unsecured loans and for work-studygrants (apply via FAFSA) • Administered through the Financial Aid Office in Carrington 101 (Phone: 836-5262) • Information regarding scholarships available specifically to graduate students can be found online at: http://www.missouristate.edu/financialaid/scholarships/

22. Graduate Program Completion

23. Program of Study The Advisor Approved Program of Study is a form listing all of the courses that will be used to fulfill your degree requirements: • Meet with your advisor to determine the courses you need to take • Your advisor’s signature is required on the form • Submit the form to the Graduate College (Carrington 306) • You will receive a copy of the approved form from the Graduate College

24. Program of Study Important to note: • The Program of Study should be submitted before 14 credit hours have been completed • Changes may be made by resubmitting a revised AAPS, or by completing a Change of Advisor Approved Program of Study Form • No course with a grade of C- or below may be applied to a Program of Study • The forms are available online at http://graduate.missouristate.edu/currentstudents/Forms.htm

25. Comprehensive Examinations • Eligibility • Approved Program of Study must be on file in the Graduate College • 3.00 GPA • Comprehensive Examination Application/Result Form should be turned in to your department • Department will forward results to the Graduate College • The form is available online at: http://graduate.missouristate.edu/currentstudents/Forms.htm

26. Application for Graduation An Application for Graduationneeds to be submitted the first week of the semester in which you plan to graduate or earlier • Print or type your name EXACTLY as you want it to appear on your diploma – please note that it must match the name on the official university system • The application is available online at: http://graduate.missouristate.edu/currentstudents/Forms.htm

27. Any questions?

28. BREAK Please return to your seats by 2:30.

29. Orientation Survey Before you leave, please fill out the survey located in the right pocket of your folder and hand it to the representative at the door.

30. Research Tom Tomasi, PhDAssociate Dean, Graduate College

31. Research Requirement • Missouri State University graduate degrees require experience in research • The research requirement is met by either of two ways: • Thesis Option • Degree/Seminar Paper Option

32. Research… Program Specifics • Some programs require the Thesis Option • Credit varies from 3 to 6 hour • Other programs suggest the Seminar/Degree Paper • Often the seminar/degree paper is completed by a specific class enrollment • In other cases, the paper is not linked to a single, specific course • A Seminar Report Form, (submitted to the Grad College) is required for some programs… check with your department

33. The “Choice” (if your program offers both) • Look at your program • Consult with your advisor • Consider your long-range goals ThesisSeminar Paper

34. Thesis vs. Seminar Paper • No simple research set of criteria distinguishes between the two options • The only absolute differences are that a thesis: • Requires a 3 person (minimum) faculty committee (all must be graduate faculty) • A thesis has a final review by the Graduate College and is placed on file in the Library • Course enrollment is in a 799 number

35. Thesis Option Generalizations • Typically the thesis requires collection of original data, expression of original analyses, and/or presentation of creative work • The thesis is typically viewed as a fairly in-depth study that will take considerable time • In many disciplines there are financial costs associated with thesis research • A written thesis must meet the requirements of both your committee and the Graduate College • Some elements have a required format – a Thesis Guide is available at: http://graduate.missouristate.edu/currentstudents/ThesisResources.htm

36. Thesis Grading • Thesis grades are not assigned until the final product is complete - since the enrollment often is over several semesters, a “Z” grade is assigned prior to completion • A signed Z-Grade Removal Form will need to be submitted to the Graduate College before a student can be cleared for graduation • Some programs use regular grading; others use Pass/Not Pass

37. Thesis Research Funding • Students doing a thesis can “apply” to the Graduate College for limited financial help on research costs. • Examples of valid expenses include equipment, expendable supplies, and survey postage • Applications are reviewed twice a year (see Graduate College website for application deadlines each semester) • Apply AFTER you formulate a “research plan” • Funding is not a fixed amount! • Funds go to the department to help pay for the student’s research, not directly to the student

38. Student Travel Funding • Limited travel funding is available for students accepted to present research findings at regional/national conferences • A formal application needs to be submitted to the Graduate College at least 2 weeks prior to travel • Travel funding awards for are transferred directly to the student’s department • Students who receive travel funding are expected to present at the annual Interdisciplinary Research Forum (IDF)

39. 21st Annual Graduate Interdisciplinary Forum May 3, 2014

40. GEN 798 – Active in Research • Zero credit hour course • For those students with only their research requirement remaining to be completed • Provides the following: • Access to the library • Opportunity to purchase a parking pass • Access to computer services, including e-mail • Access to Taylor Health Center services • Graded as a “P” or “N” • Register online like any other course

41. Responsible Conduct of Research • Fabrication of data • Plagiarism • Authorship of papers • Retention of data • Compliance with federal requirements • Human participants (on-line training and IRB) • Biosafety (Biosafety Committee) • Animal use (on-line training and IACUC) • Radiation (personal training) • Export control http://orc.missouristate.edu

42. Spring 2014 Workshops • Thesis Writing 101 • How to Write an Abstract • Presentation Pointers: Oral and Poster Presentation Success See handout in your packet for dates, times, and locations

43. Additional Resources

44. Graduate Student Senate • The Graduate Student Senate (GSS) coordinates many events throughout the year and is the representative body for all graduate students. • Involvement in GSS is a great way to develop a network of friends and personnel throughout the campus. • First Graduate Student Senate meetings: • January 30 4:00-5:00 pm PSU 317 • February 27 4:00-5:00 pm PSU Union Club Rm 400 • March 20 4:00-5:00 pm PSU 315 A & B • All graduate students are welcome.

45. Graduate Student “Study Break” • Monday 3:00 – 6:00; PSU 400 • Meet friends/classmates, or make new friends • Refreshments provided • Quiet place to study, read, or relax • Work with study-partners

46. Any questions?

47. Administrative and Research Graduate Assistant Q&A

48. Teaching Introductory Courses Dr. Ken Gillam Assistant Professor of English Graduate Students Matt Kimberlin Denea Malone Katelyn Bartlett

49. Some Issues You Are Likely To Face As TAs Changing to “the other side of the desk” Classroom management issues Student attendance Students motivation

50. Effective Classroom Management Techniques Establish guidelines for your classroom early in the semester Be structured, organized, and consistent in your approach Treat all students with respect - Do NOT tolerate disrespectful comments from and among students Be friendly and warm with students but remember to maintain boundaries Give students choices, but make sure you are the one to make the final decision