The Graduate School is offering writing support to assist graduate students in applying for American Association of University Women (AAUW) domestic and international fellowships. Funding amounts vary from $6,000 – $30,000 and may be available for master’s, doctoral, and post-doctoral studies. Applications are due November 1st – November 15th. See https://www.aauw.org/resources/programs/fellowships-grants/ for more details. Questions? Contact Sarah Isaacson, GLAS Program Director, at sisaacso@mtu.edu
All incoming international undergraduate, exchange, transfer, and graduate students will be required to participate in a series of one-hour Life@Michigan Tech workshops during Track A of the spring semester. This series was developed to assist international students adjust to Michigan Tech’s academic and social community. These workshops are non-credit bearing and will not be listed on class schedules. Two different sections are open and students should sign up during their international student orientation Rights & Responsibilities session on Sunday, January 8, 2017.
The Life@ Michigan Tech workshops were piloted this past Fall with the encouragement of the Board of Trustees and support from a grant from the State of Michigan. The pre-to-post assessment surveys show a promising increase in all areas from students’ knowledge of services available and awareness of emergency/safety resources to successful adjustment to campus culture.
Please feel free to forward any questions from students to life@mtu.edu.
The Life@Michigan Tech team:
Cassy Tefft de Muñoz, Beth Lunde, Darnishia Slade, Rhys Edwards, and Debra Charlesworth
Michigan Tech looks forward to welcoming our new graduate students. All new degree seeking students will be invited to orientation on August 26th.
Registration is currently full, we will fill slots to students on a first-come, first-served basis that day (if you have not already registered):
Schedule and Description
- 11:00am – 1:00pm: Registration Check-In and seating assignments for students on the Wait List in the Memorial Union Commons (1st floor).
- 11:00am – 1:00pm: Use your lunch ticket to purchase food in the Commons, and meet with Graduate Student Government representatives and staff from the Human Resources Department (Student Insurance) and Michigan Tech IT. You might even get to meet Blizzard T. Husky!
- 1:00 – 4:30pm: Orientation program in the Memorial Union Ballroom (2nd floor)
Attend to learn about Michigan Tech policies, and obtain the required Basic Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Training
Students not able to attend orientation can complete their RCR training online or choose to attend Spring orientation. More information will be sent to those students by email during the Fall semester.
In addition to the orientation session sponsored by the Graduate School, students may also be required to attend sessions sponsored by:
- their graduate program (contact programs for details)
- the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Faculty Development
- International Programs and Services
Questions about Graduate School orientation may be directed to Debra Charlesworth or Nicole Rubino.
Conversation Partners is a program that pairs students in the Intensive English as a Second Language (IESL) program with more proficient English speaking members of the Michigan Tech community. The program is open to students, faculty and staff. Participants commit to one hour a week of one-on-one informal conversation by signing a contract with the IESL program for one semester. Volunteers are required to meet their partners in public places on campus for a minimum of one hour a week.
IESL is offering this opportunity again for the fall semester—by volunteering, you can make an enormous difference.
The campus community is invited to a forum on the Intensive English as a Second Language program on March 17 from 3 to 5 p.m. in Walker 102A. The forum is an important part of the IESL program’s ongoing self-study process for accreditation. IESL is seeking independent accreditation from the Commission on English Language Accreditation. A draft of the self-study report is available at the following offices:
*International Programs and Services
*The Graduate School
*The Waino Wahtera Center for Student Success
*The office of the College of Sciences and Arts
*The office of the chair, Department of Humanities
Published in Tech Today.
The International Programs and Services Office will be offering a workshop entitled, “The Do’s and Don’ts of Optional Practical Training (OPT): Before, During, and After” on Tuesday, March 4 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Seating is limited, and registration is required.
International students may receive up to 12 months of work authorization from the US government to gain practical experience in their field of studies. The workshop is designed for students who are graduating this spring and wish to learn more about how they can obtain this benefit with the assistance from IPS. Although the session is geared towards students, anyone interested in learning more about the topic is invited to attend. Seating is limited and registration is required. Please register online.
For more information about Optional Practical Training and other employment related benefits for F-1 and J-1 students, see the link.
For more information about the workshop content, contact Thy Yang at thyy@mtu.edu
Published in Tech Today.
Registration is now open for the next Michigan Tech Community ESL class set to run weekly, from 7 to 9 p.m., Feb. 13 through April 10. While the class is targeted to the spouses of international scholars, there is also limited space available for spouses of international graduate students.
Depending on the needs and wishes of the participants, the course will be similar to the pilot program held during fall 2013. During the upcoming term, field trips are planned to help acquaint participants with the Keweenaw.
Due to the success of the pilot class, the course will again be sponsored by the Michigan Tech Office of the Provost with support from the Dual Career Program.
The registration fee is $10. Those interested should begin the registration process by emailing comlanguage@mtu.edu for details.
Published in Tech Today.
Thy Yang from the International Programs and Services Office will be conducting a workshop for students entitled, “Employment Options for F-1 and J-1 Students and Scholars” on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Faculty and staff who advise international students are strongly encouraged to attend in order to gain greater insight on the legal challenges and issues faced by our international students seeking to work in the United States.
Topics addressed include:
- on campus employment
- co-ops and internships
- optional practical training (OPT)
We will also discuss special benefits for STEM students after they complete their studies at Michigan Tech.
To register for the workshop, please contact the International Programs and Services office at 7-2160 or ips@mtu.edu.
Published in Tech Today.
A TOEFL® scholarship can help you study at any of the 8,500+ institutions listed in the TOEFL® Destinations Directory (PDF). The scholarship program is designed to award TOEFL test takers for achieving academic excellence, exhibiting leadership skills, performing extracurricular activities and demonstrating English-communication proficiency.
Test takers applying for the scholarship must currently be living in China, India, Japan, Korea or Taiwan.
The TOEFL Scholarship Program rewards students who have high academic achievement as well as:
- ability to communicate in English
- demonstrated leadership skills
- participation in extracurricular activities, such as community service
- innovative ideas as reflected in essays
To be eligible to win a TOEFL scholarship, you must:
- Currently be living in the country from where you are applying.
- Beginning undergraduate or graduate study in 2013 at a college or university listed in the TOEFL® Destinations Directory (PDF).
- Hold a grade point average of at least 80 or higher on a 100-point scale or a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. For high school students in Korea, you must have a level of 1–3 on a 9-level scale in any three subjects in your last semester.
- Have a valid TOEFL test score used as a requirement for admissions into your undergraduate or graduate program.
- Complete the application form online and upload your transcripts.
The deadline is April 30, 2013. Apply for a scholarship today!
Scholarship award funds for students who will be studying abroad are applied to their tuition fees only after the student has registered with the institution and arrived on campus.
If you have questions email us at toeflscholarship@ets.org.
Administered by ETS Scholarship & Recognition Programs.
The Chinese Students and Scholars Association will host its gala Chinese Night on Friday, Feb. 15, celebrating with a feast and a traditional performance.
The New Year’s Eve dinner is set for 5-7 p.m. in the Memorial Union Commons. Seven delectable Chinese dishes will be served, including beef tomato, mushroom chicken and potato with ribs.
“Chinese Night 2013: Year of the Snake” begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Rozsa Center. The performance marks the Chinese Spring Festival, their most important holiday. Like Christmas in the West, it is a time of celebration when all family members get together.
Performers hail from many countries, including India, Thailand, Germany and, of course, China.
Because this is the year of the snake, the show includes the traditional Chinese opera “The Legend of the Snake.” It is one of four famous Chinese folk legends and tells the circuitous and graceful love story of a snake spirit, Lady White, and a mortal, Xu Xian.
Also on the program is “Thousand-Hand Guanyin,” a well-known dance of China. Guanyin means “Observing the Sounds (or Cries) of the World.” The Buddhist goddess of compassion, Guanyin has thousands of faces and hands. In this dance, 12 dancers will form her likeness on a lotus-shaped stage.
International students will present a skit, “MTU Friends,” about an international friendship at Tech. In addition, the program includes songs and traditional dances.
“We are sincerely looking forward to sharing this wonderful night with you and your family,” said members of the Chinese Students and Scholars Association.
Tickets (including dinner and show) are $15 for the public, $12 for students, $6 for children under 13 and free for CSSA members. Tickets may be purchased athttp://rozsa.tickets.mtu.edu or at the Ticketing Operations in the SDC.
Sponsors of Chinese Night include the Undergraduate Student Government, Graduate Student Government, the Rozsa Center, Memorial Union Dining Services, I-club, Ming’s Asian Bistro, Super 8 Hotel, Cyberia Café, 5th & Elm Coffee House and the Blue Iris.
Published in Tech Today