Graduate Student Newsletter, December 2007

Art Night for Graduate Students

Come and join your fellow graduate students for this special evening exhibition featuring Persian Visions: Contemporary Photography from Iran.

Persian Visions introduces the work of twenty exceptionally talented artists. Through their highly creative and personalized manipulations of the photographic medium, these artists-all celebrated figures in their homeland and many known in Europe as well-explore aspects of cultural, gendered, and individual identities in Iran at the beginning of the twenty-first century.

Don't miss this opportunity to mingle with other graduate students, explore the UMMA Off/Site gallery, and delve into the wonders of The Museum Shop! Students will be granted a 10% off discount at the shop, which offers an ever-changing array of gift items perfect for the holiday season. Spouses/partners and other guests are welcome to attend.

Sponsored by Rackham Graduate School and the University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA)

Art Night for Graduate Students is a free event, but pre-registration is required at https://secure.rackham.umich.edu/Events/wssel.php

Friday, December 07, 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm, University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA) Off/Site location at 1301 South University

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Special Kick-off Dinner for Rackham Fellowship Mentors Program Participants

All first-year fellowship students in the STEM fields are invited to attend this informal event. Join us for dinner and socializing with mentors and students. Event highlights include welcoming remarks by Dean Alec Gallimore and Rackham staff and a presentation on "end of semester" stress and time management strategies.

Please register to attend by Friday, November 30th at https://secure.rackham.umich.edu/Events/wssel.php

Monday, December 10, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm, Assembly Hall, 4th Floor, Rackham Building

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Winter Commencement

Winter Commencement is a University-wide commencement ceremony held in December at Crisler Arena. The University's honorary degrees and bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees are conferred during this program.

Details: http://www.umich.edu/~gradinfo/winter/

Sunday, December 16, 2:00 p.m., Crisler Arena

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Billing Date Change

The University is changing the dates when we bill and collect tuition/fees/room and board charges to better align with the start dates of the term. The dates when we bill and collect these charges are moving up by approximately one month for each term for all Rackham students. This change is effective for this upcoming Winter Term 2008. In some cases, this process change may create an opportunity for graduate students to work earlier with programs or departments to determine funding arrangements. For answers to frequently asked questions, please see the Student Financial Operations website at http://www.sfo.umich.edu/faqs.html.

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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. The group's six digit shortcode (which starts with a 9) is required at the time of booking.

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Oberlin College/Kalamazoo College/University of Michigan Exchange Program

As part of an exchange among the University of Michigan, Kalamazoo College, and Oberlin College, funded by the Mellon Foundation, applications are being accepted for 4 post-doctoral fellowships at Oberlin College or Kalamazoo College. Students from all fields in the humanities and humanistic social sciences are encouraged to apply. Applicants must have earned the Ph.D. from the University of Michigan at some time after June 1, 2005, or expect to do so no later than August 15, 2008. The positions are designed to support the fellows in developing both their teaching skills and their research programs.

Features:

  • One-year appointment to teach and conduct research at a major liberal arts college.
  • Beginning salary of $41,000 per year with additional funding for research.
  • Half-time teaching load to free up time for research.
  • Guidance and mentoring from an Oberlin College or Kalamazoo College faculty member.

Students with a strong commitment to teaching and a genuine interest in pursuing an academic career are encouraged to apply. Candidates may indicate a preference for one of the participating institutions, but this is not required. Final selections will be determined collectively by a panel of faculty from U-M, Oberlin College, and Kalamazoo College. Applications must be received by February 18, 2008.

For further information regarding any aspect of the OK/UM Exchange Program, please contact: Associate Dean Peggy McCracken Rackham School of Graduate Studies University of Michigan 915 East Washington Street Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1070 E-mail: Phone: (734) 764-4405

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Graduate Parents Information

Be sure to take a look at the winter edition of Graduate Parents Quarterly Newsletter. In this issue, we explain how to receive and use your child care subsidy, explore indoor and outdoor activities for children during the winter months, and offer some children-friendly holiday events to attend. The newsletter is available as a PDF in the Childcare and Parenting Resources area of the Rackham website. Please visit the expanded site for updated information and resources.

Details: http://www.rackham.umich.edu/student_life/campus_community/childcare_parenting/

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Rackham Graduate Student Newsletter