Graduate students and faculty teaching their first course will find this recent post from Tomorrow’s Professor a quick and interesting read. It offers practical advice on how to set up your class for success from day one, and gives advice on how to balance teaching with research responsibilities. It’s important to have balance in our careers, and advance planning is one part of it. Although everything about teaching a class can’t be planned in advance, the more advance planning you can do, the smoother your semester will be.
Applications for fall 2018 PHF Graduate Assistantships are being accepted beginning May 15, 2018 and are due no later than 4pm, June 28, 2018 to Dr. Debra Charlesworth in the Graduate School. Instructions on the application and evaluation process are found online.
Students are eligible if all of the following criteria are met:
- Must be a PhD student participating in health-related research that is aligned with the PHF’s mission.
- Must be eligible for or in Research Mode at the time of application.
- Must be 2 years after starting the graduate program at the time of application.
- Must not have previously received a PHF Graduate Assistantship.
Priority will be given to students originally from Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga, or Ontonagon counties. Non-resident students and international students are encouraged to apply if their health research is applicable to health needs and job shortages of our local community (obesity research, rural health, medical informatics, drug delivery and lab testing, physical therapy, etc.).
These assistantships are available through the generosity of the Portage Health Foundation. They are intended to recognize outstanding PhD talent in health-oriented research areas. Applicants should be a catalyst for promoting and improving the overall health of Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga, and Ontonagon communities through one of the following:
- health research and technology development
- health education or preventive and wellness initiatives
- rural healthcare access, informatics, and assessment of care
Students who receive full support through a PHF Graduate Assistantship may not accept any other employment. For example, students cannot be fully supported by a PHF Graduate Assistantship and accept support as a GTA or GRA.
Applications for fall 2018 finishing fellowships are being accepted beginning May 15, 2018 and are due no later than 4pm, June 28, 2018 to Dr. Debra Charlesworth in the Graduate School. Materials emailed to gradschool@mtu.edu is preferred. Instructions on the application and evaluation process are found online.
Students are eligible if all of the following criteria are met:
- Must be a PhD student.
- Must expect to finish during the semester supported as a finishing fellow.
- Must have submitted no more than one previous application for a finishing fellowship.
- Must be eligible for or in Research Mode at the time of application.
Finishing Fellowships provide support to PhD candidates who are close to completing their degrees. These fellowships are available through the generosity of alumni and friends of the University. They are intended to recognize outstanding PhD candidates who are in need of financial support to finish their degrees and are also contributing to the attainment of goals outlined in The Michigan Tech Plan. The Graduate School anticipates funding up to ten fellowships with support ranging from $2000 to full support (stipend + tuition). Students who receive full support through a Finishing Fellowship may not accept any other employment. For example, students cannot be fully supported by a Finishing Fellowship and accept support as a GTA or GRA.
Nominations are now open for the 2018 Council of Graduate Schools (CGS)/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award. Please submit nominations to the Graduate School no later than 4pm, June 8, 2018, following our online instructions. This year, nominations are being accepted from dissertations in the fields of:
- Mathematics, Physical Sciences, and Engineering
- Social Sciences (note: history is classed within the humanities and is not a field of competition in 2018)
Michigan Tech may nominate one student in each field. PhD students who have completed all of their degree requirements between July 1, 2016, and June 30, 2018, are eligible. The fields of competition for 2019 will be humanities/fine arts and biological and life sciences.
Nominations must be delivered to Debra Charlesworth in the Graduate School no later than 4 p.m. on June 8, 2018; e-mail nominations to gradschool@mtu.edu are preferred. Contact Debra Charlesworth (gradschool@mtu.edu) if you have any questions about the competition.
Students who are completing a dissertation, thesis, or report are invited to join the Graduate School to learn about the resources available to them to assist in scheduling their defense, formatting their documents, and submitting their documents. In one afternoon, you can learn everything you need to be successful and complete your degree in a timely fashion! Faculty and staff who assist students with submissions are also welcome to attend. Attend the entire event, or stop in for the seminar that interests you.
- When: May 22, 2018, 1 – 5pm (see detailed schedule below)
- Who: Students completing a dissertation, thesis or report; faculty and staff who assist students with submission
- Where: Fisher 139; (register to attend online and receive participation instructions)
- Registration: Please register to receive handouts via email or attend online. The seminar will be available online as well as on campus.
If you are unable to join us, the event will be taped and available online after the event. The previous semester’s seminars are always available online.
Information on submitting, formatting, and more can be found online for dissertations and theses or reports.
Detailed schedule
- 1 – 2pm – Submission 101
Learn what is required to submit your document to the Graduate School and the deadlines for the upcoming semester. Best for students who are completing their degree this semester or next semester. - 2 – 2:45pm – Formatting 101: Using the Guide and Word Template
Learn how to find what you need in the Guide and use a Word template to create a perfectly formatted document the first time. LaTeX resources will be referenced, but not emphasized. - 2:45 – 3pm: Break
Enjoy snacks and network with other attendees - 3 – 4pm: Formatting 102: Copyright for your dissertation, thesis, and report
Learn how to use copyrighted materials in your document, including papers you have published as well as materials created by someone else. - 4-4:45pm: Formatting 103: Checking and fixing your document
Learn how to use Adobe Acrobat to check your document to ensure it meets our formatting requirements and correct it without recreating the PDF. - 4:45 – 5pm: Final questions
Have a question that hasn’t been answered yet? We’ll be available to answer any additional questions you have.
Having trouble deciding when you need to cite a source? Not quite sure whether you should quote that paper you’re reading or summarize it? Worried about whether the passage you summarized is too close to the original? Join us from 4:05 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday (April 12) in Library 242, for a workshop on citing your sources and how to avoid plagiarism. Feel free to bring specific questions or examples.
Please note that this workshop does not focus on the nuts and bolts of any particular citation style (e.g. APA, MLA, etc.), but a broader discussion of when it’s appropriate to cite. You can register to attend.
In a recent interview with Dr. Ansley Abraham, director of the SREB Doctoral Scholars Program, he recommends forming a “Board of Advisors” to help you complete your PhD. Forming strong relationships with a variety of individuals who can support you will help your current and future career. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, and don’t wait until it is too late. Read more in Tomorrow’s Professor, issue #1633.
Save lots of time by using EndNote software to manage your citations! No prior knowledge of EndNote is required for Thursday’s workshop. During the session, we will cover how to create and build an EndNote “library,” add references from online databases and PDFs, and best practices for organizing your citations.
How to incorporate references into a Microsoft Word document and changing output styles will also be covered.
The workshop is at 5:05 p.m. Thursday (March 29) in Library 242 Register here.
Having trouble deciding when you need to cite a source? Not quite sure whether you should quote that paper you’re reading or summarize it? Join us at 1:05 p.m. tomorrow (March 29) in Library 242 for a workshop on citing your sources and how to avoid plagiarism. Register online.
Applications are being sought for Summer and Fall 2018 KCP Future Faculty Fellowships, a program funded by the State of Michigan. Applications are due no later than 4pm on April 9, 2018. KCP fellowships provide students up to $20,000 (MS students) or $35,000 (PhD students) to pursue their degrees. The Graduate School and nominating department must also contribute matching funds to help support the student.
The goal of the KCP Future Faculty Fellowship program is to increase traditionally underrepresented candidates pursuing teaching careers in postsecondary education.
To be eligible, an applicant must:
- Be a US citizen.
- Be a Michigan resident (contact the Graduate School for questions).
- Be accepted into his or her Michigan Tech graduate program of choice.
- Be planning and able to teach or secure an administrative position in postsecondary education.
- Not have received another KCP Fellowship award for the same degree level (master’s or doctorate).
- Not be in default status on any guaranteed student loan and/or a KCP fellowship.
A complete application will include:
- A 1-2 page statement of purpose written by the student as it applies to the KCP fellowship goals
- A current resume or curriculum vitae that includes positions held, fellowships received, current funding, and expected funding, if applicable
- A letter of support from the graduate program (chair, dean, program director, or advisor) detailing:
- the merit of the candidate.
- how the student will contribute to the diversity of the program.
- willingness to provide financial support to supplement the KCP funds.
- the mentoring plan for the student.
- if the student has already earned a graduate degree, the letter must also address why a second graduate degree is necessary in order to obtain employment in post-secondary education.
Please submit complete applications to the Graduate School, attention Dr. Debra Charlesworth (a single PDF via e-mail to gradschool@mtu.edu is preferred). The review panel will also consider the candidate’s application to Graduate School (for students entering in the next academic year) and current Michigan Tech transcript (if applicable).
Additional information on the KCP fellowship is available on our web page.