Managing Your Graduate Program

John Sessions

Chair, FERM SFM Graduate Program

September 19, 2012

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Welcome

You are the second entering class in the graduate program of Sustainable Forest Management.

You join a group of 35+ other graduate students in FERM to make a graduate student body of about 55 students.

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Overview Outcomes Assessment Major Professor Responsibilities Graduate Committee Program of Study Course Load Work Expectations Annual Performance Review Seminar Participation Travel Awards and College Fellowships

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Outcomes Assessment

MS/MF Students Conduct research or produce creative work Demonstrate mastery of subject material Conduct scholarly/professional activities in ethical

manner PhD Students Produce and defend original contribution to

knowledge Demonstrate mastery of subject material Conduct scholarly activities in ethical manner

Graduate Council, Feb 25, 2011

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Major Professor Your main point of contact and support Major responsibilities

Help you define interests and choose appropriate course work.

Work with you and your graduate committee to see that all program requirements are met.

Provide specific suggestions on designing and carrying out thesis research and review thesis drafts.

Coordinate and supervise examinations. Provide or help you find funding. Alert you to job opportunities post graduation. Guide and mentor you regarding additional

resources and decisions affecting professional development.

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Graduate Committee

Assist in the development of your Program of Study. Assist in suggestions for designing and carrying out

your thesis research. Review your thesis. Participate in your examinations. Members: PhD(5), MS(4), MF(3)

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Program of Study (MS/MF)

Program of Study Form Available on Web. Recommend developing by end of 2nd term with the

help of your committee. Recommend completing thesis/project proposal by

end of 3rd term. Must be signed by Major Professor and Department

Head. Must be filed with Graduate School in the quarter

before the Final Examination.

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Program of Study (PhD)

Program of Study Form Available on Web Recommend developing by end of 2nd term with the

help of your committee including preliminary thesis proposal.

Must be signed by Major Professor, Committee, and Department Head.

Must be filed with Graduate School prior to scheduling Preliminary Examination.

Recommend completing thesis proposal before end of 5th term.

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Graduate Seminars

Your program should include two credits of FE or FOR 507 seminar.

The purposes of the seminars are to provide an opportunity:

- to see how others present their research, - to be a critical audience for your peers,

- for students and faculty to learn about your research, - for you to have a trial run for the public display of your research.

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Course Load

Graduate Research Assistants 12 – 16 credits per term 9 credits during summer Department Fellowships 12 - 16 credits per term 3 credits during summer

University Continuous Enrollment Requirement of 3 credits per term during Fall, Winter, Spring

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Work Expectations

Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTA) and Graduate Research Assistants (GRA) are employees of the University.

Work expectation for 0.49 FTE is 255 hours per 13 week term.

Work schedule is developed with Major Professor. Development of a formalized schedule is suggested

to avoid misunderstandings.

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Annual Graduate Assistant Performance Review

Teaching Assistance Research Assistance Other Service Supervisor’s Comments Signed by Supervisor, Student, Department Head

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Conference Travel Awards

Department support to present work at conferences Awards made quarterly Must prepare budget

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Continuing Student Fellowships Awarded at College level to encourage and recognize

success. Up to $6000 annually. Criteria is combination of GPA, Research output at

OSU, Service. MS students eligible for 2 years, PhD for 3 years. Submit application materials in March.

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Graduate School ContactTasha Leonard – 737-2037

Questions ?