Welcome

Fall 2008 New Graduate Student orientation

September 5, 2008

SFRES Graduate Program Facts at a glance

• About 75-80 graduate students

• MS: 40-45 and PhD 35

• Five MS programs

• Two Ph. D. programs

• Research funding: Over 35 million dollars

• Over 25 graduate faculty

• Surrounded by forests and natural beauty

Different Graduate programs

• FAE Applied Ecology MS• FFEM Forest Ecology & Mgmt MS  • FFR Forestry MS  • FFS Forest Science PHD • FMF Forestry MF  • FMGB Forest Molecular Genetics & Biotech MS  • FMGB Forest Molecular Genetics & Biotech PHD  

Shekhar Joshi

• Professor• Director of SFRES Graduate Programs• Please see me or email me if you have any

questions about your graduate studies at SFRES.

• I also sign all M and D forms except your final thesis that will be signed by our Dean!

• Please put them in my mail box, I will sign and return them to you. After making a copy for yourself, send it down to Nancy in the Graduate School.

Sherry Sandretto

• Dealt with all your new admission files

• If you need keys to your lab/office or building access go to Sherry!

• Room 131

Suzanne Knott

• All questions about work study, stipend, appointment letters and IRS paperwork is handled by Suzanne

• Room 129

Mary Jurgensen

• Scheduling Coordinator

• Course work, personal file with copies of M & D forms

• Final thesis Check

• Room 110

Research Questions

• Go to your advisor and advising committee

• Mingle with other grad students

• Feel free to learn from any resources that are available

Computers

• Go to Jim Moore (Room 144D) for email access• All grad students get free access to internet so

talk to Jim. Grad computing lab.• Mike Hyslop (Room 140A) also resolves

problems associated with computer use at SFRES

• Computer use policy!– http://www.cec.mtu.edu/cacsec/info/cup_approved.ht

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Graduate Student Handbook

• Recently updated: let me know if there are any errors or missing information

• Contains all graduate program guidelines including forms to be submitted and how to stay on track.

• In case of any doubts, please contact me.

• MS forms: M2-GSO to M6

• PhD forms: D2 to D8

Peg Gale

• Dean• Any problem that we

can not solved by others will be solved by Peg

• She signs your final thesis!

http://ecosystem.mtu.edu/

Mission Statement:"To promote understanding of ecosystem function through education and research at Michigan Technological University."

The Ecosystem Science Center (ESC) is designed to advance our understanding of how ecosystems function and how human activities influence ecosystem processes. The Center's two main objectives are to: (1) foster ecosystem research and (2) educate graduate and undergraduate students in the area of ecosystem science. These two objectives will be met through collaboration among faculty, staff and students interested in ecosystem science.

Ecosystem Science Center Director: Dr. David Karnosky

"The Biotech Research Centerfosters interdisciplinary research at Michigan Tech."

The Biotech Research Center is a cooperative effort by researchers concerned with biotechnology research and education. Faculty, staff

and students are open to collaborating on research projects and joining together for research symposiums, seminars and

conferences. By working together toward the common goal of advancement of biotechnology, the members of the BRC have been

able to expand the scope and impact of their work.

http://forest.mtu.edu/biotech/index.htm

Biotechnology Research Center Director: Dr. C.P. Joshi

Outreach and Alumni relations

• Director of Outreach Programs (Chris Hohnholt)• Carrie Richards: Alumni Relations

– Web page maintenance– News letter– Social activities

University Policies

• http://www.admin.mtu.edu/urel/studenthandbook/policies.html or student handbook

– Academic Integrity: plagiarism– Code of Conduct: follow the laws of the land– Computer Use Policy: use responsibly

Please visit this site and make sure that all your actions at MTU are within the bounds of these policies.

Plans and Forms

• There are three options offered for all Master of Science Degrees in the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science:

• Plan A: Development of a thesis with a scientifically sound development of a research problem;

• Plan B: Development of a report with a complete description of the project; and

• Plan C: Course work only, concentrating on a general area of expertise.

Plan A• Plan A: Thesis Option• -Course Work 20-24 Credits• -12 Credits (Maximum): 3000-4000 Levels• -12 Credits (Minimum): 5000-6000 Levels• -Thesis Research:

6-10 Credits• -Total (Minimum):

30 Credits• Required Classes:• -FW5800 Master’s Graduate Seminar

1 credit• -FW5810 Natural Resources Research Methods 2 credits

– (Except Peace Corps and MF students)

• -One Upper Division (4000 and above) Statistics Course• (Or Equivalent)

Plan B• Plan B: Report Option• -Course Work 24-28 Credits• 12 Credits (Maximum): 3000-4000 Levels• 12 Credits (Minimum): 5000-6000 Levels• -Thesis Research:

2-6 Credits• -Total (Minimum):

30 Credits• Required Classes:• -FW5800 Master’s Graduate Seminar

1 credit• -FW5810 Natural Resources Research Methods 2 credits

– (Except Peace Corps and MF students)

• -One Upper Division (4000 and above) Statistics Course• (Or Equivalent)

Plan C• Plan C: Course Work Option• -Course Work 30 Credits• 12 Credits (Maximum): 3000-4000 Levels• 18 Credits (Minimum): 5000-6000 Levels• Thesis Research:

None • Total (Minimum):

30 Credits• Required Classes:• -FW5800 Master’s Graduate Seminar

1 credit• -FW5810 Natural Resources Research Methods 2 credits

– (Except Peace Corps and MF students)

• -One Upper Division (4000 and above) Statistics Course• (Or Equivalent)

Advisory committee

• Chair = advisor (s)• One other member• One outside member (non-forestry)• Who? Discuss with your advisor• All must be graduate faculty members• Oral defense for all• Thesis for Plan A and report for plan B• Due at least 15 days before actual event

MF and Peace Core

Get all advice from Jim Pickens (MF) and Blair Orr (MI)

M forms• M2-GSO Recommended Advisor /

» Advisory Committee

• M3 Preliminary Course Plan (student worksheet only)

• M4 Degree Schedule

• M5 Scheduling of Final Oral Examination

• M6 Report on Oral Exam

• M7 Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Approval Form

Ph. D.• Required courses for Ph.D. Students

• FW5800: Graduate Seminar. Students must schedule their first seminar with the graduate student seminar committee during the first year of residence (credits 1).

• FW6800: Graduate Seminar. Students must schedule their second seminar with the graduate student seminar committee some time before their last year in residence (credits 1).

• FW6980: Graduate Teaching Experience (credits variable up to 4).• FW5850: Effective Grantsmanship Workshop (credits 3).• One Upper Division (4000 and Above) Statistics Course (Or

Equivalent1)• ** Approval of equivalent courses can be given by the School of

Forest Resources and Environmental Science Graduate Coordinator, in consultation with the student’s Advisory Committee.

• Advisory committee: Same as MS but two internal members

D forms• D1 Acceptance into the Doctoral Program (optional)

• D2 Recommended Advisor

• D3 Preliminary Program of Studies

• D4 Report on the Comprehensive Examination

• D4A Recommended Advisory Committee

• D5 Degree Schedule

• D6 Approval of Dissertation Proposal

• D7 Scheduling of Final Oral Examination

• D8 Report on Final Oral Examination

A word on offices..

Also something about graduate seminars..

Where to go for…

• General advice and questions: Shekhar Joshi (Room 167, 7-3480)• Office assignments: Shekhar Joshi (Room 167, 7-3480)• Office Keys (Ph. D. students only): Sherry Sandretto (Room 131, 7-1951)• Computer access and problems: Jim Moore (Room 144D, 7-2355)• Research questions and advice: Your advisor and advisory committee• Graduate School questions: Bonnie Woods (Grad School 401, 7-2326)• Graduate forms questions: Nancy Byers Sprague (Grad School, 7-2755)• Stipend/ tuition fee questions: Suzanne Knott (Room 129, 7-3437)• Your personal file/forms/final thesis: Mary Jurgensen (Room 110, 7-2953)• Outreach activities: Vacant (Rooms 133, 7-2417)• Alumni activities: Carrie Richards (Room 128, 7-3148)• Ecosystem Science Center: David Karnosky (Room 162, 7-2396)• Biotechnology Research Center: Shekhar Joshi (Room 167, 7-3480)• USDA Forest Service: Alex Friend (USFA Bldg, 482-6303 ext 22)• Problems not solved by anyone else: Dean Peg Gale (Room 121, 7-2352)• Where to go for departmental signatures…• All M and D forms C.P. Joshi (His mail box in Xerox room)• Final thesis check Mary Jurgensen (Room 119, 7-2953)• Final thesis cover page Dean Peg Gale (Room 121, 7-2352)

FAQ

• I am developing a list of FAQ so ask me as many questions as you want and your questions might be included in the handbook and on the Web

• Take active interest in all SFRES activities (academic and social) and let us know how we all can help you!

Top Nine reasons for joining MTU

• “Top ten” is too popular so ours is top 9

Please

• Let us know why you applied to MTU?

• Let us know why you decided to join us?

• Let us know what made you stay here?

• Keep in touch..