Welcome to Grad School John Robert Matyas, PhD Associate Dean, Graduate Education Program Director, Veterinary Medical Sciences Professor, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Departments of Comparative Biology & Experimental Medicine, Cell Biology & Anatomy and Pathology & Laboratory Medicine McCaig Centre for Joint Injury and Arthritis Research 2 Sep 2015

What does the Associate Dean, Graduate Education do? Report to the Dean (UCVM) Meet with and other Associate Deans, Department Chairs and Directors Represent UCVM at Faculty of Grad. Studies Chair: Graduate Education Committee Supervise staff: Office of Graduate Education Admissions, Scholarships, Student Research Day

What does the VMS Program Director do? Report to the Dean (FGS) Supervise staff: Office of Grad. Education VMS Student pay Works to ensure students complete degree requirements in a timely fashion Review annual student progress reports “Serve as the first resource in cases of disputes between student and supervisor”

Time to Complete-- FGS Calendar B.6 Time Limits Except where noted in the detailed program descriptions, students in thesis-based programs at the Master’s level must complete all degree requirements within four registration years. It is expected that students completing a Master’s degree on a full-time basis will complete the degree within half the time allowed. Students in doctoral programs must complete all degree requirements within six registration years, although it is expected that most candidates will complete requirements within four years.

What Success Looks Like: Being better than average Satisfied students; new knowledge (in VMS) Being recognized for outstanding contributions to science and society Timely completion of graduate degrees Competing for good fellowships and jobs Reputation of UCVM depends as much on the quality of its graduate students as its veterinary graduates

How UofC and UCVM promote success UofC Student Support International Student Services Student Success Centre Health and Wellness Libraries Teaching and Learning Instructional skills workshops Faculty of Graduate Studies Open Scholarships/Vanier/Killam/Tricouncil MyGradSkills UCVM Office of Graduate Education Incredibly helpful staff Scholarships and funding, incl. GATs Student Research Day

How UofC and UCVM promote supervisor success Supervisor Support Faculty of Graduate Studies Associate Dean, Supervision Health & Safety Animal and Human Ethics UCVM Office of Research UCVM Office of Graduate Education Admissions Examinations Student Research Day

Sep 2015Aug 2017Aug 2019 Sep 2015Aug 2016Aug 2017 MSc PhD Student Success Centre: Time Management, goal setting, writing support, etc.

Good Bad The natural history of graduate school Times

Where do you go for help? Academic—Office of Graduate Education Room TRW2D Program Office: –Kasia Judycki (Program Administrator) –Courtney Collins (Program Assistant) Non-academic Program Director—Urgent/crisis: UofC Counselling Services –Personal, Academic, Career, Mental Health

/offices

Student Distress—On Campus Immediate threat of violence to self or others 911; Campus Security Disturbing or worrisome behaviour ADGE Student-Ask-Risk Response Team ; Concerns of suicide, personal crisis, illness Student Wellness Centre

Student Distress—Off Campus Distress Centre—24/ HELP (4357) Free and confidential Health Link LINK (5465) Foothills Medical Centre Emergency

Academic Misconduct: Intellectual Honesty, Integrity in Scholarly Activity, Plagiarism, Cheating. Q. Student Misconduct: A single offence of cheating, plagiarism, or other academic misconduct, on term work, tests, or final examinations, etc., can lead to disciplinary probation or a student’s suspension or expulsion from the Faculty if it is determined that the offence warrants such action. Non-Academic Misconduct: Respect for property and individuals S. Non-Academic Misconduct Policy In addition to academic integrity, all members of the University community have an obligation to treat one another with mutual respect.

Advice I give all my graduate students The committee always speaks more loudly than any individual member Trust your data Writing is thinking (and is the currency of scientific research)

Food for thought Luck is the residue of design. Branch Rickey If you want something you never had, you must be willing to do something you’ve never done. Thomas Jefferson Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative. Oscar Wilde