Monthly eNewsletter
February 2007
In This Issue
Everyday Excellence
Meet married Ph.D. students Charles and Michelle Lee
Featured Graduate School Resource
Get the most out of a research conference
Spotlight on Faculty
Introducing Pauline Strong
Out in the Real World
UT Austin's Bloomhouse, the Solar Powered House
Tips and Tools for Success and Survival
Helpful tips for healthy lifestyle
Getting a Life
Need a break? Make a visit to the exhibition at the HRC
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Congratulations to these members of the UT graduate community:
Dr.
Chandra Bhat (Engineering)
Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award
Dr. Marvin Hackert (Graduate
Studies)
2007 Vice-President of American Crystallographic Association
Je Hye Kim (Performance as Public Practice)
Woodrow Wilson Dissertation Fellowship in Women's Studies
Albert Kottke (Engineering)
Rescued a missing woman during a hike in New Mexico.
Jim
Maxwell (Education)
Outstanding Graduate Coordinator
Dr.
Ruth McRoy (Social Work)
Outstanding Alumna
Karen Uhlenbeck (Mathematics)
2007 Leroy P. Steel Prize
Vince Holmberg (Chemical Engineering)
Hertz Fellowship Finalist
Important Graduate Links
Graduate School Home Page
Graduate
Student Assembly
Dean of Students
Office
Libraries
DIIA
ITS
UHS
OSFS
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Supporting Graduate Education
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Key Graduate Dates and Events
More Dates and Events for Spring 2007
Dates
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| February 12 | Last day to drop a course without a possible academic penalty |
| February 14 | Priority date for student financial aid applications for summer session |
| February 16 | Second tuition and fee payment due for students who selected the three payment plan |
| February 22 | Graduate Assembly Elections |
| March 22 | Last day to apply for a graduate degree |
Workshops
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| February 5 and 13 | Best Resources for Graduate Students |
| February 8 | Demonstrating Your Value at Interviews |
| February 21 | Know your Strengths, Plan your Career |
| February 28 | Alternative Strategies for Getting Small Grants |
Events
| Graduate Student Tax Seminar Thursday, February 22, 11 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. |
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Suggestions
If you have opinions on other topics that you would like to see offered
in these newsletters, we would love to hear them. Please send ideas
to
emcketta@mail.utexas.edu or
kmabley@mail.utexas.edu
Message from the Dean
Welcome to the first issue of GradNews - a monthly e-newsletter for The University of Texas at Austin (UT) Graduate School community. It is our hope that we can provide useful and insightful information that will both support your academic success and provide ideas and resources to encourage a balanced life.
I wish you great success this semester and invite you all to visit the Graduate School in the Main Building, 101.
Best wishes,
Victoria E. Rodríguez
Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies
Everyday Excellence
Excellence occurs every day in graduate education at UT Austin. Everyday Excellence highlights a graduate student (in this case two) who is excellent for many reasons.
Michelle and Charles Lee came to UT in their early thirties, she for an MA in fiction writing which led her into a PhD in English, and he for a PhD in Engineering. They live in Northwest Austin and have been married for almost thirteen years. Read Full Article >
Featured Graduate School Resource
20 ways to get the most out of a research conference
Here are 3 highlights:
- Attend presentations made by journal editors or program officers of granting sources.
- Make time for socializing. Find out what evening social events your professors plan to attend and ask if you can go. Be sure to have a good elevator pitch and professional curriculum vita on hand.
- Make notes about key conversations at least once a day - especially ones that cover your most important questions.
The other 17 conference tips may be found online at GradLife:
http://www.utexas.edu/ogs/gradlife/academics/research/conf_exp.html
Spotlight on Faculty
In 2006, Dr. Pauline T. Strong, from the Folklore and Public Culture Program (part of Anthropology), won the award for Outstanding Teaching in the Graduate School. In an interview in late January, she spoke about her teaching, research, and her thoughts on the connection between higher education and larger society. Read Full Text >
Out in the Real World
A group of 15 UT graduate students from Architecture and Engineering have
garnered national attention
for their designing and building of a solar-powered
house. The result is the UT Solar Project "Bloomhouse," which
has been chosen to compete in the Solar Decathlon's Intercollegiate Design
Competition
in Washington, D.C. next fall. Throughout this spring and summer, the
UT team will build their house in the abandoned hangar of Austin's ex-airport
before transporting it to Washington, D.C. and displaying it on the National
Mall, along with 19 other schools' models. The house in its current
model is economical, attractive, efficient, completely environmentally friendly,
and once built will be immediately inhabitable. The group welcomes
volunteers for help with building, public relations, fundraising, and other
jobs. Follow the progress at http://www.ar.utexas.edu/utsolard/
Getting a Life
Although the chances are high that if you are alive and reading this now
you came of age too late for the flapper and moonshine parties of the Roaring
Twenties, it's not too late to appreciate the American 1920s at close range. Beginning
on January 30, the Harry Ransom Center is hosting an exhibit on those wild
years between World War I and the Great Depression. All HRC exhibitions
are free to the public, so take advantage of already being on
campus and consider stopping by between classes.
http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/exhibitions/upcoming/
Tips and Tools for Success and Survival
Money
When the genteel poverty of graduate life becomes - shall we say - slightly
less than genteel, then it may be time to do some research into alternate
sources of income. The Graduate School and most departments have funding
resources. Spend some time this month to figure out your options.
http://www.utexas.edu/ogs/funding/
Health
This month, the University Health Services (UHS) web site addresses the
question of exactly how the science of sleep works. The lowdown: "While
we think of sleep as rest for our body, for the brain, sleep actually means
lots of activity. During this period, the body repairs itself, tests
its systems, organizes memory, purges itself of cellular waste, and stockpiles
energy for the day ahead." Some tips for better sleeping include
setting a regular sleep routine, exercising regularly (but not within 2 hours
of bedtime), keeping a "worry journal" next to the bed, and doing something
boring before trying to go to sleep (textbook reading, anyone?). If
no textbooks are within reach, try this link.
http://healthyhorns.utexas.edu/education/generalhealth.html#sleep
Time
When making a list of all the tasks that must get done in a day, bring yourself to focus on the one that is truly the most important. Instead of doing the little tasks first to get them out of the way, start with the big project and use the smaller tasks to break it up. They will feel like welcome distractions, and the larger task - bit by bit - will get done without procrastination or panic.