August 2022 Newsletter

Fall New Student Orientation

Welcome new Summer and Fall students! All students who began during the Summer term or are starting in the Fall have been invited to the New Graduate Student Orientation, a self-guided, online resource designed to help prepare you as a graduate student at Case Western Reserve University. The orientation modules contain valuable info about Diversity 360, Kelvin Smith Library, Access Services, Health and Counseling Services, the CWRU Police, [U]Tech, Academic Integrity, and more!

On Tuesday, August 23, we will host a Welcome to Campus event in the Tinkham Veale University Center starting at 9:00am. In addition to in-person info sessions, those students who uploaded photos prior to August 18 can pick up your new student ID card as well as a Grad Studies T-Shirt. You can also meet SGS staff! Light refreshments will be served throughout the day. Other welcome events will happen in the coming weeks.

Have questions about Orientation? Send an email to sgsevents@case.edu.

Academics

Congrats to Summer Graduates!

You did it! Degrees for students who completed their work during the summer semester were awarded on Friday, August 19. Watch for announcements after the New Year inviting you to attend Commencement in May 2023.

Diplomas for August 2022 Graduates

Summer graduates, look for an email sent with detailed instructions on how and when you can obtain your diploma. You can pick up your diploma from the Graduate Studies office (Tomlinson 203) during normal business hours (except August 23 and September 5) or email gradstudies@case.edu to designate someone to retrieve it on your behalf; photo ID is required for anyone picking up diplomas. All academic and financial obligations must be resolved for diplomas to be released.

Any diplomas remaining after Friday, September 9 will be mailed to your Diploma Mailing Address on file with the University. Please review your address in SIS, update if needed, or contact diploma@case.edu. This mailing is at no cost to you.

So please make arrangements to get your diploma as soon as possible - you earned it, you deserve it!

Waiver of Registration

Missed last semester's deadline to apply to graduate? If you've completed all graduation requirements, but did not meet the summer graduation deadline, you may be eligible to waive class registration for the fall. Here's how:

• Submit all final materials for your degree as listed here, including the Waiver of Registration form (included in the downloadable file).
• International students must have the waiver of registration electronically signed by International Student Services (ISS).

The waiver of registration deadline is Friday, September 9. Once completed and signed, please email the form along with all your other final graduation materials to your program coordinator in SGS directly or to gradstudies@case.edu.

Waiver for Medical and Fitness Plans

Do you have health insurance? If you're already covered, make sure to waive your Student Medical Plan before the end of the Drop/Add period on Friday, September 9 to avoid being charged. Also, every graduate student is automatically enrolled as a member of One-to-One Fitness but if you are not interested you have the option to also waive this plan by September 9. If you opted to waive the Student Medical Plan and/or the One-to-One Fitness Plan in previous academic years, you must apply again if you intend to waive these plans for the Fall 2022 semester.

Please note: If you are staying on the Student Medical Plan, your coverage year began August 1.

Register for Fall 2022 Classes

Registration is still open in SIS for Fall 2022 courses. A late registration fee of $25 will be charged beginning Tuesday, August 30 but you have until the end of the Add/Drop period on Friday, September 9 to make any changes to your course schedule. You won't be able to register if you have a hold on your account in SIS; check our July newsletter to find out how to remove holds.

Teaching Assistant Training

Graduate students who will serve as teaching assistants (TA) for Fall 2022 courses are required to participate in TA Training including registering for UNIV 400 in SIS to take the webinar course in Canvas and an in-person seminar on Friday, August 26. International student TAs also need to email selp@case.edu to schedule a Spoken English Test (SET). If you have questions, please contact gtatraining@case.edu.

Considering a Career in Teaching?

Grad students and postdocs can sign up for the non-credit UNIV 401 Advanced Professional Development for University Teaching Seminar this summer to provide an introduction to pedagogical skills for future faculty. The seminar meets on Tuesdays during the fall semester; enrollment is limited to 15 students. Register for UNIV 401 in SIS and email univ401@case.edu with any questions.

Campus Community

New Reproductive Health Website

As part of the University's response to the recent decision by the United States Supreme Court, CWRU has launched a new website concerning reproductive health (SSO required to access) including resources for students as well as faculty and staff and information regarding expressive activities and advocacy.

Additionally, CWRU is in the process of creating a Student Health Emergency Fund to provide financial assistance with health-related travel, lodging, and care. Keep watch for more details.

At any time when needed, students are encouraged to reach out to University Health & Counseling Services (in-person or remote).

Names, Pronouns, & Identity in SIS

We recognize that many CWRU students use names other than their legal names to identify themselves. Check out how to Add a Preferred Name or Personal Pronoun or Gender Identity in SIS.

Gender Neutral Bathrooms

Single stall, locking private bathrooms are helpful and important for many people, including trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming individuals. See here for a list of Gender Neutral restrooms across campus.

New Safety & Transportation Apps

If you haven't done so already, download the Spartan Safe and Spartan Ride apps. Earlier this month, CWRU Rave Guardian and CWRU Safe Ride were retired and the new apps provide easy emergency communication, quick access to critical information, requests for Safe Ride transports, and tracking campus shuttles. Read more about the Spartan Safe and Spartan Ride apps.

Campus Events

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