Graduate Student Newsletter, February 2008

Changes to Rackham Academic Policies

Several changes are being introduced to Rackham's Academic Policies (http://www.rackham.umich.edu/policies/gsh/) effective January 31, 2008:

  • A new policy has been developed for graduate student parental accommodation. (section 1.3.7)
  • Policy for time to degree extensions for family care has been amended. (section 1.3.6)
  • Transfer credits for master's degrees must be taken and earned in residence; credits for extension or online learning may not be transferred. (section 1.2.2)
  • To be double-counted for dual degree programs, courses must be taken within five years of the first date of enrollment in the current degree program. (section 2.3.2)
  • To be eligible to apply for a free-standing certificate program, persons must have earned a bachelor's degree or higher. (section 2.4)

    • Further information can be found online at Rackham Graduate School Academic Policies.

    Back to top

    Rackham Graduate School Announces New Parental Accommodation Policy

    Rackham Graduate School has implemented a new Graduate Student Parent Accommodation Policy (GSPAP), effective January 31, 2008.

    Graduate student parental accommodation allows a student to maintain registered full time student status immediately following the birth or adoption of a young child, along with all the benefits of such status, while facilitating the return to full participation in courses, research and teaching. Eligible students may be granted a parental accommodation of up to six weeks, with extension of certain time limits. Rules of research funding or external fellowships may require suspension of payments during the parental accommodation period. In this instance, the Rackham Childbirth Accommodation Fund may provide salary or stipend, and benefits.

    Eligible students must submit a Request for Graduate Student Parental Accommodation after consultation with her/his advisor, principal investigator, and graduate chair. The form with appropriate documentation of the anticipated birth or adoption (a letter from the student's medical provider with an estimate of delivery date or from the adoption agency with an estimate of adoption date) must be submitted to the student's graduate program office for approval and to Rackham OARD for approval. For complete information about the GSPAP please visit http://www.rackham.umich.edu/rns.php?faqid=1961 .

    Rackham Graduate School is offering several GSPAP information sessions for students on the following dates:

  • Monday, February 11, 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm, Rackham East Conference Room
  • Thursday, February 21, 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm, Rackham East Conference Room
  • Tuesday, February 26, 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm, Rackham East Conference Room

    • Back to top

    Parenting in the Academy: Social Sciences and the Humanities

    Having a successful academic career requires years of intensive work and concentrated focus. Graduate students interested in one day raising a family often have questions about how faculty manage to be successful both at work and at home. Come hear a panel of faculty in the humanities and social sciences talk about their experiences of having children at various stages of their careers: in graduate school, pre-tenure and post-tenure.

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

    Thursday, February 7, 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm, Assembly Hall, 4th floor, Rackham Building

    Back to top

    CARE Yoga and Discussion Workshop with Bobbi Ebsen

    The Coalition for Action Regarding Eating and Body Image Issues (CARE) presents a workshop by Bobbi Ebsen, LLMSW, Clinical Social Worker & Yoga Instructor. Come explore the practice of yoga and "mindful awareness" for a deeper understanding of self-acceptance and self-awareness. This free, experiential workshop will focus on using yoga to enjoy your body, heal negative body image, and foster self-acceptance. Please bring a yoga mat or towel, pen and journal/paper, and wear comfortable clothes. Space is limited. Please e-mail for more information.

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

    Wednesday, February 13, 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm, Intramural Sports Building, Room G-20

    Back to top

    The Young Scholar's Guide Through the Maze of Copyright, Part 2: From Ph.D. to Tenure

    Speaker: Paul Newman, J.D., Ph.D., Intellectual Property Specialist

    Although your first job may seem far away and right now you are focused on finishing your thesis, many things that you do now will affect your ability to jump-start your career effectively. Your attention to copyright-related questions now will save you time and headaches in the future. Questions to consider include the following: (a) When I get permission to use copyrighted material in my thesis, does this permission extend to later articles or monographs that I draw from my thesis? (b) What do I need to look for when I get the contract for my first book? (c) If I pay people (out of pocket or out of a research account) to prepare maps or an index for my book, what copyright issues arise? (d) What claims do my former professors have on ideas I came up with and work that I did in their labs as a graduate student? (e) If I am lucky and have bright students who write interesting term papers, can I turn those into joint publishable articles? (f) If I do freelance jobs (e.g., prepare musical arrangements or translate books), what do I need to do to claim copyright ownership and to guarantee that I get proper credit for my work? (g) In my new job, can I use the syllabus and course notes that I helped prepare as a graduate teaching assistant?

    The workshop is scheduled for a full hour so we'll have ample time for questions.

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

    Wednesday, February 13, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm, East Conference Room, 4th Floor, Rackham Building

    Back to top

    Parenting in the Academy: Engineering and the Sciences

    Having a successful academic career requires years of intensive work and concentrated focus. Graduate students interested in one day raising a family often have questions about how faculty manage to be successful both at work and at home. Come hear a panel of faculty in sciences and engineering talk about their experiences of having children at various stages of their careers: in graduate school, pre-tenure and post-tenure.

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

    Wednesday, February 13, 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm, Johnson Room, Lurie Engineering Center, North Campus

    Back to top

    Negotiation Skills for Graduate Students and Post-Doctoral Students

    Are you interested in learning how to approach job negotiations or how 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.

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

    Thursday, February 14, 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Amphitheatre, 4th floor, Rackham Building

    Back to top

    8th Annual SCOR Conference: Decision Time: Lifting Smoke Screens, Dropping Knowledge

    The Students of Color of Rackham Graduate School (SCOR) would like to invite you to attend its 18th Annual SCOR Conference at the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies. With the impending 2008 Presidential Election, the focal point of the conference centers on critical debate as candidates declare themselves "agents of change" and promise to bring fresh perspectives to Capitol Hill in hopes of tackling our nation's pressing issues. The theme, "Lifting Smoke Screens, Dropping Knowledge" speaks to the conference's efforts to bypass conventional interpretation of national and global issues, and to aim beyond typical academic discourse towards a more unique, in-depth analysis.

    The conference opens with a diverse panel of U-M faculty on February 15th at 6:30 pm in the Rackham Assembly Hall. Day Two begins with a full breakfast, followed by more than 30 scholastic seminars and presentations and a featured keynote address.

    Frank Wu will present the keynote address at 1:30 pm on Saturday, February 16th. Wu, a renowned legal scholar, will be speak on "Yellow: Race in America Beyond Black and White." Wu is a graduate of U-M and currently serves as Dean of Wayne State University Law School, Detroit.

    Pre-registration deadline is February 11, 2008.

    Friday, February 15, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm, Assembly Hall, Fourth Floor, Rackham Building

    Details: http://www.umich.edu/~scorweb/

    Back to top

    Introduction to U.S. Taxes for International Students, Scholars, Faculty, and Staff

    This workshop is designed for international students, scholars, faculty, and staff who are interested in learning more about the U.S. tax system and tax return filing requirements applied to foreign nationals. Department administrators who would like to understand more about this topic are also invited to attend. This workshop will not offer assistance with individual tax return forms, but will provide background that will be helpful to you in discussions with tax professionals and in preparing your tax forms. Topics covered will include residency for tax purposes, filing requirements, exemptions and deductions, types of income (including fellowships), application of tax treaties, and "dual status" (both resident and non-resident in one year) situations.

    Monday, February 25, 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Amphitheatre, 4th floor, Rackham Building

    Back to top

    Spring Break Breakfast

    A Health and Wellness Activity

    Get your studying off to the right start and stop by Rackham for breakfast at the Spring Break kickoff. We will be offering a variety of foods to help keep you going. Breakfast is FREE and open to all graduate and professional school students, but please register below to help us order enough food and beverages.

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

    Monday, February 25, 8:00 am - 10:30 am, 4th floor, Rackham Building

    Back to top

    Long-Term Employment Authorization Options: H-1B and Permanent Residency

    Presenter: Scott Cooper is Managing Director of the Troy office and a Partner of the international law firm of Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, serving clients in employment-related immigration and nationality matters.

    Designed for international students who plan to work in the U.S. following graduation, as well as internationals who are currently employed or are seeking employment at U-M. Topics covered include H1-B Temporary Work Visa, Employment-Based U.S. Permanent Residency, basic eligibility requirements, and specific procedures.

    Friday, February 29, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm, Amphitheatre, 4th floor, Rackham Building

    Back to top

    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.

    Back to top

    Grant Opportunity

    The Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies is pleased to announce a grant opportunity for graduate students wishing to attend the summer session of the School of Criticism and Theory (SCT) at Cornell University. Rackham will sponsor the participation of one outstanding candidate for the Ph.D. in any field of the Humanities and related Social Sciences.

    The Program

    Since 1976, the School of Criticism and Theory has provided a forum where top theorists and critics from around the world share their vision and knowledge with participants. Intellectual exchange - the give and take or rigorous questions in seminars and at lectures - is what the school fosters. The summer session consists of a six-week term, from mid-June to late July, where professors, postdoctoral students, and doctoral candidates participate together in seminars and colloquia. Students enrolled through this program receive preferred admission to the seminars of their choice. The award will cover the SCT tuition along with a $5000 grant for travel, accommodations and expenses.

    See the School of Criticism and Theory website (www.arts.cornell.edu/sochum/sct) or contact Rhonda Johnson ( or 764-4405) for more detailed information.

    Eligibility and Application Requirements

    Rackham graduate students having completed all requirements for the Ph.D. except for the dissertation are eligible to apply. MFA students and less advanced Ph.D. students will be considered under some circumstances.

    Deadline

    Those interested should submit their applications by February 8, 2008.

    Back to top

    Rackham Graduate Student Newsletter