Graduate Student Newsletter, April 2008

Graduate Students Share Reactions to the Proposed Continuous Enrollment Requirement for Ph.D. Students

The Dean and Executive Board of the Rackham Graduate School have been considering a new policy of continuous registration for Ph.D. students from matriculation to degree completion, unless students are on an approved leave of absence. The proposed policy is available at http://www.rackham.umich.edu/news/article/continuous_enrollment_proposal.

Many students have participated in discussions of the policy. In March, student representatives from each graduate program joined Dean Weiss at the Rackham Graduate Student Forum to discuss the proposal. Rackham Student Government (RSG) sponsored an open Town Hall meeting where an extensive question and answer session was held. RSG also conducted a survey to collect graduate student opinions. Students in some graduate programs have done their own surveys, and sent them to Rackham.

In response to the questions and concerns that have been raised, we have posted questions and answers on the website above. Your question may be answered on the website. Your voice is important and helps us to respond to students' needs. Comments on the proposal or further questions can be sent to the Dean and the Executive Board by directing e-mail to .

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Rackham Faculty Mentoring and Graduate Student Instructor Awards Ceremony

Dean Weiss will present the recipients of the D'Arms Awards for Distinguished Graduate Mentoring in the Humanities, Distinguished Graduate Mentoring Awards and the Master's Mentoring Award. Connie Cook, Director, Center for Research on Learning and Teaching, will present the Outstanding Graduate Student Instructors Awards.

Lorraine Gutierrez, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, Professor of Psychology, Professor of Social Work, Academic Program Director, School of Social Work and Director, Center for Community Learning, will speak on "Learning and Teaching in Our Research Universities." A reception follows. For more information contact Lynne Shivers at 647-2644 or .

D'Arms Awards for Distinguished Graduate Mentoring in the Humanities

  • Anne Herrmann, Professor of English and Women's Studies
  • Lesley A. Rex, Associate Professor of Education and Co-Director, Joint Program in English and Education

    • Rackham Distinguished Graduate Mentoring Awards

  • Robert J. Franzese, Jr., Associate Professor of Political Science and Faculty Associate and Director, Center for Political Studies
  • Carol J. Loveland-Cherry, Executive Associate Dean and Professor of Nursing
  • Mark S. Mizruchi, Professor of Sociology and Professor of Business Administration
  • Michael D. Morris, Professor of Chemistry
  • Beverly J. Rathcke, Associate Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
  • Jessica Schwartz, Professor of Molecular and Integrative Physiology and Director of the Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology

    • Rackham Master's Mentoring Award

  • Catherine Hindman Reischl, Clinical Assistant Professor of Educational Practice and Faculty Leader of Elementary Teacher Education

    • Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Awards

  • Carmela Alcantara, Psychology
  • Michael Andre, Germanic Languages and Literatures
  • Carlos R. Baiz, Chemistry
  • Millington Bergeson-Lockwood, History
  • Vanessa Carbonell, Philosophy
  • Heather Fuller-Iglesias, Psychology
  • Ela Gezen, Germanic Languages and Literatures
  • Libby Hemphill, School of Information
  • Susan Lin, Linguistics
  • Sharon Marquart, Romance Languages and Literatures
  • Herle McGowan, Statistics
  • Jared Michael Maruskin, Mathematics
  • Robin Nelson, Anthropology
  • Ross Caol O'Connell, Physics
  • Rebekah Pite, History
  • Leanne Powner, Political Science
  • Joshua Reno, Anthropology
  • Eric Sims, Economics
  • Heather Thomson Bunn, English Language and Literature
  • Jennifer Young Yim, Psychology and Women's Studies

    • Thursday, April 10, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm, Amphitheatre, Fourth Floor, Rackham Building

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    Managing Stress and Depression

    It's that time of the year. Are you stressed by the endless papers and exams? Come and learn about the symptoms of stress and depression and effective coping strategies. Counselors from CAPS will provide helpful guidance to de-stress and will answer your questions on:

  • What are the signs of stress and depression?
  • What can you do when these signs occur?
  • How to get help if you're stressed or depressed

    • Please feel free to bring your questions and concerns to the any of the discussions. These workshops are open to all domestic and international graduate students and their family members. Please contact Ranjani Ramachandra at for more information regarding these workshops.

    Snacks will be provided. Please register at https://www.rackham.umich.edu/Events/wssel.php so that we can prepare enough handouts and food.

    Thursday, April 10, 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm, West Conference Room, 4th Floor, Rackham Building

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    International Movie Night: Children of Heaven

    Set in modern-day Iran, the story tells of an eight-year-old boy Ali and his younger sister, Zahra. When Ali loses Zahra's only-and recently mended-pair of shoes, the siblings are too scared to tell their father about the loss and can't afford to buy another pair. It's up to the boy to find a way to get his sister a new pair of shoes. Rated PG; Persian with English subtitles.

    For further information please contact

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

    Friday, April 11, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm, Amphitheatre, 4th floor, Rackham Building

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    Outing to Domino's Petting Farm for U-M Grad Parent Families

    Come commune with the animals as you and your children explore this 15-acre petting farm! Visit the big red barn, stroll down to the pond with some duck feed, and enjoy a hayride. There is an educational animal show in the barn, and free pizza and soda for participants. You and your child can pet goats, llamas, pigs, and rabbits, among others. You can also pony up $5 for a pony ride, if you care to. So come on out and help your kids discover their inner-farmer. But be sure to dress them warmly, as there are no heated areas on the farm. Parking is free. The petting farm is self-guided, and you may stay as long as you'd like. For more information, check out their website at http://pettingfarm.com.

    U-M families that pre-register will receive free admission for themselves and their children. A pizza lunch will be provided. Pre-registration is required at https://secure.rackham.umich.edu/Events/wssel.php.

    Saturday, April 12, 10:30 am - 12:30 pm, Domino's Petting Farm, 24 Frank Lloyd Wright Drive, Ann Arbor

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    Distinguished Dissertation Awards Ceremony

    Rackham will honor eight graduate students whose dissertations were exceptional at the 2007 Distinguished Dissertation Awards ceremony:

  • Xiaoyun Chen, Chemistry
  • Frank Cody, Anthropology
  • Catherine Fortin, Linguistics
  • Emily Greenman, Ford School of Public Policy
  • Rebecca Haeusler, Biological Chemistry
  • Hoyt Long, Asian Languages and Cultures: Japanese
  • David Moehring, Physics
  • Scott Tomlins, Pathology

    • The Distinguished Dissertation Awards are sponsored by ProQuest.

    Thursday, April 24, 2:00 pm, Assembly Hall, 4th floor, Rackham Building

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    Commencement Information

    University Graduate Exercises is the commencement ceremony for all master's and doctoral graduates and candidates who receive their degrees through the Rackham Graduate School. Held in Hill Auditorium, this program recognizes doctoral degrees recipients individually and is formal in tone.

    Detailed information concerning diplomas, commencement day instructions, academic attire and more is available at the U-M Graduate's Guide to Commencement website at http://www.umich.edu/~gradinfo/exercises/.

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

    Friday, April 25, 1:00 pm, Hill Auditorium

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    Spring and Summer Mentorship Funding

    The Rackham-CRLT Mentorship Program funds graduate students and postdocs to meet faculty at nearby colleges and universities. This program continues throughout the year, funding campus visits in fall, winter, spring and summer. Through these contacts, you can develop valuable networks and experiences that will be useful for cover letters, recommendations and CVs. Past participants also have been offered lectureships, postdocs, and tenure-track positions from the departments they visited through the mentorship program.

    To learn more, please contact Mary Wright () or see the Program's website at http://sitemaker.umich.edu/rackham-crlt/gsi_introduction

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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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    Rackham Graduate Student Newsletter