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Graduate Orientation
The Graduate Affairs Committee, the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, the Teaching Support Center, and the Geograd Society organize welcome and orientation activities for the incoming student cohort the week of Labour Day. Some of this is specific to Teaching Assistants while the rest applies to all new graduate students. The latter will include information on such things as: departmental offices, departmental resources, health and safety.
Some of this is self-directed (e.g., contact the Graduate Administrator to obtain office space and keys, activate computer and print accounts, get details about how to obtain ID card) while the rest involves both a meeting with your entire cohort and a full department casual "meet and greet". On the third Friday of term the cohort of incoming students go on a Graduate Retreat.
Geography's Orientation Day activities, Retreat, and Health and Safety session are mandatory for all new GeoGrad students. The Teaching Support Center's TA day is highly recommended for those of you who will be teaching assistants.
📝 Event: International Student Orientation / School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
🎯 Audience: International, Exchange, and New Students
Hosted by:International Student Services and School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
➡️ Check here for upcoming events for new and continuing graduate students
🎯 Audience: New Graduate Students
Hosted by: Department of Geography & Environment
| Time | Session | Speaker/ Presenter |
| 12:30-12:45pm | Welcome Message from Grad Chair | Dr. Jed Long |
| 12:45-1:15pm | Society of Graduate Students (SOGS) Presentation | SOGS Representative |
| 1:15-1:30pm | Graduate Teaching Assistant's Union (PSAC 610) Presentation | PSAC Representative |
| 1:30-1:45pm | Centre for Teaching & Learning | Nassisse Solomon |
| 1:45-2:00pm | BREAK | |
| 2:00-2:15pm | Western Foot Patrol | Samantha Johnstone |
| 2:15-2:30pm | Health and Safety Presentation | Erika Hill |
| 2:30-2:45pm | GEOGENV 9998 - Debates in Geographic Thought | Dr. Courtney Golkar-Dakin |
🎯 Audience: New Graduate Students
Hosted by: Department of Geography & Environment
| Time | Session | Speaker/ Presenter |
| 12:30-12:45pm | Student Photos for Website | |
| 12:45-1:00pm | Institute for Earth & Space Exploration Collaborative Program - presentation |
Samantha Lambier - Graduate Student President |
| 1:00-1:15pm | Migration & Ethnic Relations Collaborative Program |
Teresa Abada |
| 1:15-1:30pm | Cartography Presentation | Karen Van Kerkoerle |
| 1:30-1:45pm | GeoGrad Society | Manuel Spiler and Reforce Okwei |
| 1:45-3:00pm | Meet and Greet |
All are welcome |
📍 Location: SSC 1004
🎯 Audience: New Graduate Students
Hosted by: Department of Geography & Environment
| Time | Session | Speaker/ Presenter |
| 10:30am-1:15pm | Session #1: Getting the Most out of Grad School |
Dr. Laura Chasmer |
| 11:15am-12:15pm | Tour - Weldon Library | |
| 12:15-1:15pm | Lunch | |
| 1:15-2:00pm | Session #2: Strategies for Success |
Dr. Carol Hunsburger |
| 2:00-2:30pm | Important Program information |
Dr. Jed Long, Graduate Chair and Caitlin McCuaig, Graduate Affairs Assistant |
| Date | Details |
| Sept 9 (Wed) | Graduate Classes Begin |
| Sept 9 (Wed) | TA Day – Online workshop by Centre for Teaching and Learning Audience: All Teaching Assistants |
| Sept 9 (Wed) | Undergraduate Classes Begin |