Monday, August 18
and Tuesday, August 19
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Check back here for digital orientation materials.
This orientation offers a series of activities that introduce students to resources and services available on the WSU Pullman campus. Both new and current students benefit from panel discussions, presentations, and workshops designed to enhance their graduate experience.
2008 Orientation Schedule
Monday, August 18, 2008 -- Todd Hall Auditorium
- 9am Welcome from the Dean--Open the school year with Dr. Howard Grimes, Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School, as he welcomes new and returning students to Washington State University.
- 9:10am What the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA) can do for you!--The Graduate and Professional Student Association is the representative body for graduate and professional students at WSU.The primary role of the GPSA is to serve as an advocate for the graduate and professional students in order to improve the quality of education and student life at the University. In this session, GPSA president, Jessica Moore, will explain the provided services and opportunities.
- 9:25am University Recreation offers extensive programs to foster a holistic approach to a healthy lifestyle. Learn what University Recreation provides for your wellness.
- 9:35am Counseling Services--Graduate school is undoubtedly an exciting time, but also a stressful one. Counseling Services offers opportunities to explore personal concerns. A professional staff of counselors provides individual, couple, and group counseling, consultation, and psychological assessment at no additional cost to WSU-Pullman students who have paid the health fee.
- 9:45am Health and Wellness Services provides for the health care needs of the WSU community. Learn how you may utilize the medical, pharmaceutical, and benefits services for your wellness needs.
- 10:25am Graduate School Program Resources Learn more about navigating the policies and procedures of the Graduate School and reaching your graduation goals. This session will familiarize you with the Graduate School’s resources, website, and forms for current students.
- 10:40am Want to get paid?--the Graduate School’s financial officer, Paul Weed, will explain the steps for making sure your university employment is in order. If you have an assistantship or are working on campus, this session will provide all the necessary steps you need to know to get paid, and how to connect with your department’s financial officer. Paul will also discuss the mandatory research training required of ALL graduate students.
- 11am State Residency for US Citizens--Associate Dean of the Graduate School, Dr. Steve Burkett, explains how to establish residency in the State of Washington for citizens of the United States. Establishing state residency as soon as possible is essential to receiving in-state tuition.
- 11am International Student Employment Information--International students working on campus need to have a social security number, and teaching assistant need to complete the ITA Exam. This session will help international student employees navigate these and other requirements for employment.
- 12pm Office of Grant and Research Development--Looking for funding for your research? Samuel Rodriguez-Flecha describes the resource provided by OGRD for grant writing and more.
- 12:15pm Information Technology/Student Computing Services A practical overview of how to get the most out of the technology resources at WSU. How to use the computer labs, connect to the university’s wireless network, as well as the workshops and tech support options on campus.
- 12:30pm WSU Libraries--Lorena O’English will share information on using the 2,159,693 book volumes; 30,000 periodical subscriptions; media, maps, microforms, government publications, electronic databases, manuscripts, archives, and special collections in the WSU libraries. Attend this session to hear more about how you can benefit from the library’s diverse services.
- 1pm Your Advisor and You--A panel of professors and the graduate students they mentor will discuss topics like selecting a major professor, advising before you have a major professor, and communicating for the mentoring you need.
- 2pm Tips for Success for the International Graduate Student--the Office of International Students and Scholars will lead this interactive workshop on managing student life in a new environment. Current international graduate students will be on hand to discuss their personal experiences as WSU students. This session also provides an overview of the many services on-campus for international students.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 -- Smith Center for
Undergraduate Education (CUE)
- 9am TAs Role at the University A member of the President’s Teaching Academy will welcome new teaching assistants and discuss the important role that they play in the academic community at WSU.
- 9:15am Ethics In and Out of the Classroom--The Center for Human Rights is responsible for investigating all complaints of discrimination and sexual harassment at WSU.The Director shares his experience and perspective to encourage the development of healthy boundaries for conduct inside and outside of the classroom, as well as avoiding of risky behaviors.
- 10:15am Campus Teaching Resources--Find the support you need to be an excelent instructor using WSU’s many resources for teaching assistants. This session will provide an overview of resources for teaching and learning across campus.
- 10:30am Interactive Teaching Assistant Panel--A group of experienced teaching assistants share advice. Ask questions, hear what they wished they had known when they started, and learn strategies for success.
Breakout Session I
11:15am Pick the interactive workshop that best suits your needs.
- Effective Instruction Strategies Enhance student learning by promoting an interactive classroom environment. Walk away from this session with practical instruction strategies to engage your students from the first day of class on.
- Working with your Advisor as an International TA Learn how to lay the foundation for a strong mentor-student relationship with your advisor. This session addresses the responsibilities of both parties, lines of communication, and trouble shooting.
- Intercultural Communication for the Domestic TA Communication patterns greatly influence teaching and learning. Attend this session for tips on creatively solving the problems, challenges, and inequities that arise within intercultural relations.
- 12pm Lunch (provided by the Graduate School for graduate students attending TA Workshops)
Breakout Session II
12:30pm Pick the interactive workshop that best suits your needs.
-
Tips for TAs in Lab
Settings--Experienced
instructors will share their advice on how to be a
successful teaching assistant in a lab
class.
- Traits and Behaviors of Excellent Communicators--Gain strategies for excellent verbal and non-verbal communication that can improve your effectiveness as a teaching assistant. This interactive workshop offers strategies that may be used from the very first day of class.
- Responding to Student Writing--Writing is used across content areas for learning, and assessment. Lisa Johson from Writing Programs will share tips for providing vital feedback to students’ work.
Breakout Session III
1:20pm Pick the interactive workshop that best suits your needs.
- Distress and Distressing Students Dr. Barbara Hammond from counseling services will discuss anger, identifying students in distress, and ways to help manage distressing situations.
- Tools for Assessing Learning Assessment--Assessment is vital for measuring student growth. This session will provide practical strategies for evaluating student comprehension, and creating assessment tools that produce the data you need on student learning.
Parking and Transporation for Orientation
Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) for information on the extended international student orientaiton.
Archived Orientation Materials