Graduate Student Orientations Partnership for Graduate Student Success – Training and Support for Graduate Contacts August 2011 The Graduate College University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Basic Orientation Outline A majority are during the week before classes start, usually Thur. or Fri. Most are about 2 hours long, although some are a week or more DGS and/or contact usually hosts the event Sometimes the Dept. Head or Director 1/3 provide some kind of refreshments/meal Want to have it after appointments start The Graduate College University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Overall New students should have the opportunity to meet faculty, staff and current students Include social/fun aspects Have some time for their questions! Some materials can be sent to them before they come Scavenger hunt Reception The Graduate College University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Key Elements to Include Welcome Overview of the program, dept., college Administrative issues/processes Expectations Finding an advisor/meet with advisor TA/RA duties and responsibilities Library resources IT resources/support available to them Office assignments/keys The Graduate College University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Other Ideas 1 Research presentations (faculty, current students) or new student presentations of interests Tour bldg./campus/community Speaker from dept. graduate student assn. Take photos Presentations on professionalism/ethics Could have new advisors introduce new students The Graduate College University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Other Ideas 2 Graduate College information/resources Time on the computer to register for classes Other campus resources (ARC, McKinley, etc.) Evaluation process HR paperwork EPT/EPI Work/family life balance The Graduate College University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Materials to Distribute Graduate Student Handbook Websites concerning benefits, tuition costs, health care, etc. Flyers for the Grad College events, Tenant Union, parking info, campus Libraries, Banner, etc. Screen shots of the Bookstore web page, Writers’ Workshop web page, UI academic calendar & Grad College calendar Community information (Welcome to C-U News Gazette) Campus maps/Bus schedule Restaurant guide Bank info The Graduate College University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Discussion Topics What is on your web pages? Social aspects are important. What do different units do? Don’t overload them the first day/week. Can it be spread out? Don’t need deposit info the first day. How about an occasional brownbag or present topics in seminar? Work in/include other orientations- when they hear it from the dept. they value it more Follow-up later to see if your orientation was useful. Health care/insurance; www.grad.illinois.edu/contacts/mckinley-info and www.si.uiuc.edu/Plans/StudentHealthInsurancePlan/ tabid/126/Default.aspx The Graduate College University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign