This month I am pleased to report that two of our graduate students were successful in securing Fulbright Fellowships in this year’s competition.  The Graduate Division, will once again host, workshops for the upcoming Fulbright session to discuss the program and application process. Please encourage your students to attend and submit an application for this prestigious fellowship.      

In other good news, UC Irvine will establish a central fund to help GSRs support childcare costs, analogous to the benefit received by ASEs.  While most campuses in the UC system have opted for implementation of the program in fall 2013, UC Irvine will implement earlier, starting July 1, 2013.

Congratulations are due to Raslyn Rendon and her staff for a successful 2013 Diversity Forum, which was held on campus on Saturday, April 27. More than 1,200 diversity students from all over Southern California, as well as 200 recruiters from around the nation, attended the one of a kind event. Thank you to those academic unit faculty and staff who contributed to the Diversity Forum success.

• Dean's Message
• Diversity Forum Thank You
• NSF GRFP Faculty Workshop – May 16
• New Staff Member
• GSR Childcare Reimbursement Fund
• Summer Research Programs
• Focus on Continuuing Fellowships: FMP, PDY and GDDF
• ECR and GOF Awardees
• Spring Degree Conferral Reminder
• Graduate Hooding Ceremony
• Orientations
• Graduate Resource Center (GRC)
• Attention International Graduate Students
• Help Us Keep In Touch
• Next Posting: June, 2013

This past weekend, with your help, we were fortunate to host an outstanding Diversity Forum.  THANK YOU to all of the faculty, staff and graduate students who came out to recruit, and volunteer throughout the event.  Your involvement made this a successful day for approximately 1300 prospective graduate students and nearly 200 recruiting institutions.

• Presented by: Graduate Dean Frances Leslie
• Date/Time: Thursday, May 16 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
• Location: Graduate Resource Center
• View the  flyer
  

Presentation will include:

• Overview of the GRFP
• Student Survey Responses
• Best Practices
• Broader Impacts Discussion
• Q & A Session

We have finally filled our Diversity and International Student Support position.  Joining our staff is Nadia Ortiz.  Nadia is coming back to UCI, where she completed her undergraduate degree in psychology with a minor in Chicano/Latino studies.  She is currently wrapping up her MSW program at USC.  She has a range of experience in offices and programs throughout UCI – including the business school and the career center – where she worked as an undergraduate.  As part of her MSW program she will have completed practicums at Kaiser in LA and the LA County Department of Mental Health.  She was one of the most impressive candidates for this position I have ever had the chance to consider and brings a true range of skills and experience with her.   Nadia will be working most on the DECADE program as well as Graduate InterConnect.  Join us in welcoming Nadia to the Graduate Division.

As part of its commitment to support students in their academic pursuits, the University of California will help Graduate Student Researchers cover the cost of childcare starting Fall 2013.  UC understands that some GSRs are parents who juggle school and family life. The university also recognizes that rising childcare costs can pose a significant financial burden for students, which can affect their academic focus. The university’s new childcare benefit will provide much-needed financial aid and support for GSRs. Depending on the campus; GSRs will be reimbursed up to $600 per quarter or $900 per semester for childcare costs. All UC campuses will offer the childcare benefit starting this Fall and fund it at their location. UCLA and UCIrvine will begin offering the benefit in July 2013.  UC already offers this childcare benefit to union-represented Academic Student Employees, such as Teaching Assistants, Tutors and Readers.

Contact information and forms are available at http://www.grad.uci.edu/funding/employment/child-care.html .

Competitive Edge Summer Research Program

The Competitive Edge Summer Research Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education FIPSE grant and helps foster the transition to campus for entering female and minority doctoral students who are underrepresented in their discipline.

• Program dates: June 26 – August 21, 2013.
• The Graduate Division invited all eligible incoming doctoral students to submit an application to participate in the Competitive Edge Summer Research Program.
• A final roster of participants is forthcoming.
• For specific questions about the Competitive Edge Summer Research Program, contact Daniel Fabrega at x48730.

Summer Research Program 

• The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program, UC LEADS, the CSU Pre-doctoral Program (CPDP), and the UCI HBCU Initiative combine to form one Summer Research Program (SRP) for undergraduate and master's students. This year, we will host more than 20 diversity students from around the U.S.
• Host schools and departments will receive further information from the Graduate Division.
• As a reminder, the Summer Research Program (SRP) is an eight-week faculty-mentored, graduate preparation research experience. Students will take part in a rigorous course of workshops designed to help prepare them for graduate school. All student participants reside in on-campus housing for the duration of the summer program.

• The nomination submission deadline has now passed and the FMP, PDY, and GDDF applications are currently undergoing the review process.
• Fellowship awardees will be announced to the campus on Monday, May 13, 2013.

• For specific questions about these fellowships, please contact Michelle Lee at x41281.

• The fall 2013 entering cohort will include 15 Eugene Cota-Robles and 15 Graduate Opportunity Fellowship awardees. Click here for a final list of fellows by school.

• For questions about ECR and GOF, please contact Daniel Fabrega at x48730.

Spring Conferral Degree Reminder

• The spring quarter final degree deadline is Friday, June 7, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.
• Please refer to the Graduate Division Degree Completion page on our website for information regarding the submission process as well as other important deadlines.

Save the Date: 2013 Graduate Hooding Ceremony

• Saturday, June 8, 2013, 3:30 PM, Bren Events Center
• The office of the Vice Chancellor, Student Affairs will be coordinating the 2013 Graduate Hooding Ceremony. 
  For more information please email the commencement team.

• SAVE THE DATES:
  • New International Graduate Student Orientation: Wednesday, September 18, 2013, in the Student Center.
  • Campuswide New Graduate Student Orientation: Thursday, September 19, 2013, in the Student Center.
• REMEMBER: Duplication of topics and speakers featured at these orientation events is strongly discouraged. 
  • These events are designed to cover common aspects of the graduate student experience at UCI.
  • This includes sessions on graduate support services (GRC, Career Center, TLTC, Counseling Center, etc.), as well as administrative topics to help with success, such as the function of the Graduate Division, an introduction to UCI senior administration, and SHIP.
• We ask that all academic units refrain from scheduling any discipline-based orientation events on these dates so that students can attend these orientation event(s).
• Questions?
  • New International Graduate Student Orientation
  • Campuswide New Graduate Student Orientation

SPECIAL EVENTS IN THE GRC – May 17 and May 23

The Graduate Resource Center (GRC) has three special events scheduled for May:

• May 17 (Friday) at 12pm – Foundations of Leadership with Jane Buchan

Jane Buchan has unique experience as both a Dartmouth faculty member as well as industry leader. She from is the Chief Executive Officer and one of the four original founders of Pacific Alternative Asset Management Company (PAAMCO), a leading independent fund of hedge funds investment firm. She is widely regarded as a leader in the industry and serves as an Associate Editor of the Journal of Alternative Investments. She is also a member of the Advisory Council at the University of California, Irvine School of Business, and has served as an Assistant Professor of Finance at the Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. Jane received her undergraduate degree in Economics from Yale University and her Masters and Ph.D. in Business Economics (Finance) from Harvard University.

• May 20 (Monday) at 12pm – Public Speaking with Confidence 

Practice makes perfect. Graduate students and postdoctoral scholars are invited to prepare for their next conference presentation, job talk, or interview by practicing in a supportive environment and receive valuable peer feedback. The GRC will provide audiovisual equipment including a projector, laptop, and clicker.  Additional equipment is available upon request. Participants are requested to sign-up in advance by contacting the GRC with the following:

-          Length of their presentation

-          Audiovisual needs

• May 23 (Thursday) from 12 - 1:30pm – Broader Impacts Fair

The Broader Impact criterion is an important component of the NSF GRFP as well as other fellowship and grant opportunities. Students can improve the overall impact of their next fellowship proposal by strengthening the linkage between their research and societal impact. Campus and community groups will be available for students to learn how to get involved in their organizations.

GRC Workshops

• The Graduate Resource Center continues presenting workshops in the areas of professional development, writing, academic support, and managing personal success.  Upcoming workshops in May include:

May 6 (Monday) at 12pm             Creating Your Professional Image 

May 7 (Tuesday) at 12pm            Introducing Fulbright U.S. Student Program Opportunities 

May 16 (Thursday) at 12pm        Maximizing Benefits with the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) 

May 20 (Monday) at 12pm           Public Speaking with Confidence 

May 21 (Tuesday) at 12pm          National Science Foundation – Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF-GRFP) Information Session

May 22 (Wed.) at 12pm                Interview Strategies for the Connected Candidate 

May 23 (Thursday) at 12PM        Broader Impacts Fair

Click here for additional information about GRC workshops and events. Participants are highly encouraged to register in advance by contacting the GRC via email or x443849:  

Phi Beta Kappa Alumni International Scholarships are available for foreign students who are pursuing a Ph.D. or M.F.A. and are engaged in their final year of graduate study.

Award amounts will be $1,500 for two students.

To apply, please submit the following:

• A fully completed application form
• A short essay on your scholarly and professional ambitions
• 2 letters of recommendation from faculty members
• A justification of need

Please visit the Phi Beta Kappa Alumni International Scholarship web page for more detailed information: http://www.grad.uci.edu/funding/fellowships-awards/internal/phi-beta-kappa.php

DEADLINE TO APPLY: Friday, May 3, 2013 at 4 PM

Send completed information packets to Sharon Metzger, UCI Graduate Division, 120 Aldrich Hall, ZOT 3180. 

If you have any questions please e-mail Sharon: smetzger@uci.edu

Please let us know of any changes in your respective departments and schools so that we can insure we have the most current contact information for our electronic distribution lists. Changes to Faculty/Staff should be emailed to the Graduate Division Communications Director.