Florida State Hosting Orientation For New Graduate Students

Florida State University’s fall 2009 New Graduate Student Orientation will take place Tuesday, Aug. 18, from noon to 5 p.m. in the New Classroom Building (HCB) on the FSU main campus. The orientation event is intended to help new graduate students better understand what to expect academically and financially. Students should register to attend one of the two orientation sessions.

All new graduate students are encouraged to attend the university-wide New Graduate Student Orientation, Graduate Student Workshops and Graduate Student Services Fair Aug. 18, 2009.

New Graduate Student Orientation Schedule, Aug. 18, 2009:

• Graduate Student Services Fair (Noon - 5 p.m.), breezeway of the New Classroom Building (next to Bellamy and behind the Student Union): To assist new graduate students, student organizations and campus offices will host informational tables. The Congress of Graduate Students, the Black Graduate Student Association and the Alumni Foundation will provide refreshments.
  

• New Graduate Student Orientation Sessions (Noon and 1:15 p.m.), HCB 101: Orientation will include what to expect as graduate students; the professional ethics associated with graduate research and creative endeavors; and FSU’s academic and social opportunities and services available to graduate students.

New Graduate Student Workshops (10:50 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.): Three workshops designed for new graduate students will be conducted in the New Classroom Building (HCB).

• A Tutorial: Using BlackBoard ® (10:50 a.m., Noon, 1:15 p.m.), HCB 205: FSU faculty, staff and students use the Blackboard ® Learning Management System for courses, organizations, announcements and email. This interactive workshop is designed for graduate students and will include navigating through a course site, using the communication tools, finding courses, checking grades, and using WebMail.
  

• Funding Your Graduate Education Workshop, (2:30 p.m., 3:45 p.m., 5:15 p.m.), HCB 103: Sources of graduate student funding, applying for fellowships and scholarships, financial aid information, tax considerations, money management in graduate school, and the pros and cons of working off-campus are just a few of the topics to be discussed.
  

• Steps to the Degree (2:30 p.m.), HCB 102: FSU faculty and administrators will discuss the process and timeframe for completing a graduate degree and will offer tips related to workload expectations, networking, research/creative expectations and publishing. Tips and etiquette for developing positive relationships with the student’s major professor and committee, as well as departmental and university staff will be provided.

Contact The Graduate School at (850) 644-3500 for additional information or assistance in registering, or to request an accommodation due to a disability. Requests for special accommodation must be received prior to the event. For people who are hearing or speech impaired, call The Graduate School at the phone number above through the Florida Relay Service, (800) 955-8770 (voice) or (800) 955-8771 (TDD).