1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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; and tabid/126/Default.aspx
The Graduate College
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign