New Graduate Student Orientation
Welcome
Welcome to graduate school at the University of Michigan! As you embark on graduate study, you begin a new chapter in your academic and professional life, and we are honored to be your partner in this journey. Over the course of the next few months and years you will be challenged to deepen your understanding of your field of study and to expand the base of your knowledge. The days ahead will be filled with excitement, fulfillment, ups and downs, stress and success.
We, the faculty and staff at the University, are dedicated to helping you to achieve your professional goals. In this web orientation, we offer you an introduction to the resources at the University of Michigan that are available to you throughout your time as a graduate student. These resources support your academic work, your personal well-being, the administrative business of being a graduate student, opportunities for intellectual enrichment, and ways to connect with other students and activities around this large and diverse campus. The orientation also offers you glimpses of some of your fellow students, and their perspectives on the graduate student experience. We hope that you will find the answers to your questions here, or by contacting the staff of the Rackham Graduate School.
With best wishes,
Janet A. Weiss
Dean, Rackham Graduate School
Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
Graduate Student Affairs
Graduate Student Affairs is dedicated to providing students with the support they need at each stage of their graduate experience. We offer a wide range of programs and workshops throughout the year. These are designed to enhance graduate education outside the classroom, featuring such topics as time management, the academic and nonacademic job search, and dealing effectively with a dissertation committee. We provide individual support and advocate for policies and programs that best help students meet their educational goals. Sometimes certain questions or concerns arise for graduate students and they wish to seek confidential advice from a person outside their departments. The Rackham Conflict Resolution Officer and the Director of Graduate Student Affairs are available for private meetings whenever needed. Students also can look to Rackham for social events during which they can meet other graduate students from a wide spectrum of disciplines and backgrounds. Our office also provides a variety of on-line resources and publications that will help students navigate policies, find an organization, and stay informed about the many events on our campus.
Your graduate student experience is important to us. Please contact Graduate Student Affairs if we can answer any questions or to find out more about our services.