Graduate Student Newsletter, November 2007

Changes to Benefits Offered to Graduate Students on Fellowships

There are new benefit coverages for U-M graduate students receiving fellowships that include benefits. As of January 1, 2008, graduate students with benefit-eligible fellowships will be eligible for University contributions towards dental insurance and for self-paid vision and legal coverage in addition to the existing University paid medical insurance benefit.

All graduate students with benefit-eligible fellowships will be automatically enrolled in Dental Option 1 with University contributions. The process for electing additional benefits will be outside of the University-wide open enrollment (Oct 8-19, 2007), and will be used only during this inaugural year. In mid-November, graduate students with benefit-eligible fellowships will be notified that they are able to elect Dental Option 2 or 3, vision and/or legal coverage. All benefit elections must be made by December 31, 2007. Information and rates for these plans can be found at the Benefits Office website.

Offering dental, vision and legal coverage makes the benefits available to fellowship holders equivalent to the benefits available to students holding Graduate Student Instructor, Graduate Student Staff Assistant, and Graduate Student Research Assistants appointment. This change allows students to retain their full benefits as they move from one type of financial support to another during their graduate studies at the University.

Details: http://www.umich.edu/~benefits/jobgroups/grads.htm

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Financial Assistance for Rackham Students

Looking for funding for next year? Need help with your research expenses? Want to go abroad? In need of emergency funding? Our website has extensive information regarding Fellowships, Grants and Awards.

The deadlines for Rackham administered fellowships are fast approaching. The guidelines and applications are all on our website. Also on our website are: ***Sources of Aid on Campus -- with links to each; ***Search Engines whose databases contain hundreds of thousands of fellowship opportunities; ***Tips for Fellowships section regarding how and where to apply, filling out the applications, requesting letters of recommendation, etc.; ***A Frequently Asked Questions section, including a link to our "taxes" section with tons of information, including questions to ask yourself before accepting offers.

Please feel free to browse around and contact us with any questions you may have at .

Details: http://www.rackham.umich.edu/financial_assistance/

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Student Organization Meeting Space

Rental fees are now waived for Graduate Student Organization rental of 4th floor Rackham Event Rooms. A $100 per room, per event refundable deposit is charged to the organization's shortcode. Contact Karen Parris in the Rackham Facilities office at to book space.

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Multicultural Taste Fest

Join us for an event to celebrate the cultural diversity of Ann Arbor's cuisines! A dozen local restaurants will prepare a sampling of their menu for you to enjoy. Space is limited. Be sure to stay for the International Movie Night: "Eat Drink Man Woman" following the event.

*Please note: Only those who are registered will be permitted to enter.

Pre-registration required at https://secure.rackham.umich.edu/Events/wssel.php

Monday, November 05, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm, 2nd and 4th floors, Rackham Building

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International Movie Night: Eat Drink Man Woman

Senior Master Chef Chu lives in a large house in Taipei with his three unmarried daughters, Jia-Jen, a chemistry teacher converted to Christianity, Jia-Chien, an airline executive, and Jia-Ning, a student who also works in a fast food restaurant. Life in the house revolves around the ritual of an elaborate dinner each Sunday, and the love lives of all the family members. Runtime: 123 minutes

Pre-registration required at https://secure.rackham.umich.edu/Events/wssel.php

Monday, November 05, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm, Amphitheatre, 4th floor, Rackham Building

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Cross-Cultural Adjustment Workshop: Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication

One of the major difficulties in cross-cultural adjustment is communicating effectively with others, verbally as well as nonverbally. A single word or a simple gesture can cause misunderstanding when it's taken out of cultural contexts. This workshop will address questions such as what to expect when communicating across cultures. What are the main issues we face when speaking different languages? How do we communicate beyond words? Why is non-verbal communication so important?

Please feel free to bring your questions and concerns to the discussion. This workshop is open to international graduate students and their family members. Lunch will be provided.

Pre-registration required at https://secure.rackham.umich.edu/Events/wssel.php

Thursday, November 08, 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm, West Conference Room, 4th floor, Rackham Building

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Basic Self-Defense Class: "You Can Do Something"

*A Health and Wellness Initiative Activity This lively workshop features hands-on tips to teach participants simple and effective self-defense techniques, regardless of the situation, opponent, age, gender, shape or size! You will learn to take control of the attack and greatly improve your chances of escaping injury. Open to all students of all genders.

Pre-Registration required at https://secure.rackham.umich.edu/Events/wssel.php

Thursday, November 08, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Assembly Hall, 4th floor, Rackham Graduate School

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Coffee Hour with International Students

Come meet and mingle with international and domestic graduate students over coffee and pastry! Optional discussion topics include how to join interest/hobby groups, find people with similar interests, and tips on surviving and even enjoying winter in Michigan.

Pre-registration required at https://secure.rackham.umich.edu/Events/wssel.php

Friday, November 09, 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Duderstadt Center, Room 1180 (right across from Mujo Cafe), North Campus

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Woman To Woman: Success Strategies For Graduate Women

Women in Science and Engineering (WISE), Rackham Graduate School, and the Center for the Education of Women (CEW) invite you to attend the third annual Woman to Woman event. A panel of faculty members will address graduate students from 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm in Rackham's Amphitheatre with advice about how to achieve academic, professional, and personal success. The panel will be followed by a networking event in the Assembly Hall from 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm. This event will include light refreshments and an opportunity for graduate students to talk with panelists and other women faculty members. Co-sponsored with WISE and CEW.

Pre-registration is required at https://secure.rackham.umich.edu/Events/wssel.php.

Monday, November 12, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm, Amphitheatre and Assembly Hall, Fourth Floor, Rackham Building

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Conflict Resolution Workshop

Presenters: Karen Klomparens, Dean of Michigan State University Graduate School, and Julie Brockman, Michigan State University Faculty

This program involves graduate students in the following program activities: Learning interest-based approaches and skills for negotiation and conflict resolution; participating in facilitated discussions, using video vignettes as conversation triggers about the specific areas of possible conflict and differing expectation within disciplines or more generally in graduate education; using interest-based negotiation approaches to establish collectively agreed-upon departmental understandings of mutual expectations and responsibilities. A light snack will be provided. Please direct any questions to . Sponsored by the CoE Office of Graduate Education. More information about the program can be found at http://www.grad.msu.edu/all/crgrads.htm.

Pre-registration required by November 12th at https://www.engin.umich.edu/form/conflict

Wednesday, November 14, 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm, Johnson Rooms, 3rd Floor, Lurie Engineering Center

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Drop-in Fitness Class with MFit: Body Sculpt

*A Health and Wellness Initiative Activity MFit offers a variety of low-cost exercise and relaxation classes at locations across the University of Michigan medical complex, the Ann Arbor campus and at the MFit Fitness Center-Ice Cube. MFit classes are open to all UMHS employees, U-M employees and the general public. MFit's Body Sculpt works to increase your strength, endurance, and metabolic rate. This class will tone your overall body and help increase your overall strength and endurance.

Pre-registration required at https://secure.rackham.umich.edu/Events/wssel.php.

Wednesday, November 14, 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm, Assembly Hall, 4th floor, Rackham Building

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How to Do a Literature Review

Presenter: Christine Feak has been a lecturer at the English Language Institute, University of Michigan since 1988, where she is the lead lecturer for academic writing courses.

Writing a review of the relevant literature is a key component of many kinds of research texts. Although the role and purpose of a literature review (LR) may vary somewhat, depending on whether it forms part of a research article, dissertation proposal, research grant application, or the dissertation itself, it always remains a complicated task. Its complexity derives from an interlocking need to find and assess reading resources, make connections among them, relate them to your research topic, and provide a coherent written accounting. In this interactive workshop, we will demonstrate a number of strategies that model a viable approach to the complex LR task. Activities include critical text analysis, citation analysis, and rhetorical choice analysis, as well as reflecting on some observations by doctoral students about their LR experiences. Although the LR can be a daunting task, especially in heavily-researched areas, there is a silver lining; students typically emerge from the process as experts in their chosen fields of specialization.

Pre-registration is required at https://secure.rackham.umich.edu/Events/wssel.php

Monday, November 26, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm , Assembly Hall, Fourth Floor, Rackham Building

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Negotiation Skills for Graduate Students and Post-Doctoral Students

Presenter: Jayne Thorson, Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs, Medical School

Are you interested in learning how to approach job negotiations? Or to have difficult conversations with your advisor? Negotiation training deals with such interpersonal skills as reading people, resolving conflicts, and presenting your side of a discussion in an effective manner. This workshop will cover different types of negotiation styles as well as the principles and strategies that apply in any type of negotiation. Co-sponsored with the Center for the Education of Women (CEW) and the College of Engineering.

Pre-registration is required at https://secure.rackham.umich.edu/Events/wssel.php

Wednesday, November 28, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm, Lurie Engineering Center, Johnson Room, 3rd Floor, 1221 Beal Avenue, North Campus

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Rackham Graduate Student Newsletter