February 2023 Newsletter

2022 Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition in Tink Ballroom

Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition

Join us for the second annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT™) competition at Case Western Reserve University on Friday, February 17, from 12:45 to 3:15pm EST in the Tinkham Veale University Center Ballroom!

Developed by the University of Queensland and now held at over 900 institutions across more than 80 countries, 3MT celebrates the exciting research conducted by graduate students around the world. 3MT challenges students to explain their research and its importance in a way a general audience would understand in just three minutes with the aid of one single slide. The top-rated presenters will receive prizes and be celebrated at the 2023 Graduate Awards Ceremony in May. The first place winner will go on to represent CWRU and compete at the Midwest Association of Graduate Schools Regional Competition in March.

This year's keynote speaker for the 3MT competition will be Jeff St. Clair, host and reporter for NPR affiliate WKSU Ideastream. Attendees will receive a boxed lunch. Snacks and drinks will be available later in the afternoon. We ask that no eating take place during the competition presentations.

Learn more about 3MT at CWRU. Register on CampusGroups to attend in-person or watch the livestream from anywhere in the world.


Academics

Spring Break March 13-17

Students in the School of Graduate Studies receive a five-day break from classes and class activities corresponding to Spring Break in the undergraduate calendar, March 13 to 17. Please note that this exemption applies only to classes and class activities; faculty may still require students to perform research activities during these breaks.

As a reminder if you do stay on campus over the breaks, please confirm access availability as some buildings and services (KSL, gyms, shuttles, dining, etc) may have reduced and altered hours.

Final Oral Defense

Doctoral candidates must submit the Notification for Scheduling the Final Oral Exam to Graduate Studies at least three weeks prior to the scheduled defense date. If you intend to graduate in May, you should pay careful attention to submission deadlines and plan accordingly. Dissertation defenses (like classes) are to be held in-person. If special circumstances exist, students can petition Grad Studies for exceptions. See our Graduation page for more details.

Incomplete (I) Grades from Fall 2022?

If you received an Incomplete (I) grade in the fall semester, you have until the date specified by your instructor - but no later than the 11th week of class (Friday, March 31) - to submit all outstanding work in order to have a final grade posted. If the Incomplete is not resolved by this date, the I grade will be converted to an F. See our Incomplete Policy in the Bulletin for more details.

Student studying with an open book

Commencement - May 19, 2023

The School of Graduate Studies Diploma Ceremony will be on Friday, May 19 at 2:00pm EDT. All students are also invited to a University-wide Convocation on Wednesday, May 17. More details on Commencement 2023 will be posted in the coming weeks but you can review additional information here.

Don't forget to register to attend the Commencement ceremonies! Registration begins Wednesday, March 1 and ends on Friday, March 31. Even though you have already applied for graduation in SIS, you must also register to participate in Commencement; applying to graduate and registering for Commencement are two entirely separate processes. When you register, you will be able to enter a preferred name and phonetic spelling and record your pronunciation.

Also, you can get assistance ordering regalia at doctoral fittings (March 7 and 17) or the Grad Fair (March 23-24).

Anti-Plagiarism Tools

Graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and faculty should use iThenticate plagiarism detection software to ensure work is properly cited when writing theses and dissertations, preparing manuscripts for publication, and submitting proposals for research funding. iThenticate is freely available to the CWRU community at the University's Software Center. See here for more information and how to download iThenticate.

The University has also integrated Turnitin, a digital plagiarism detection tool, into Canvas to help ensure student academic writing submissions are free of unintentional or intentional plagiarism. See here for more information on Turnitin.

Clocktower at Biomedical Research Building (BRB)

Daylight Saving Time Begins in March

Daylight Saving Time (DST) for the United States will begin overnight Sunday, March 12. Before going to bed that Saturday night, make sure move forward one hour any clocks that do not automatically update so you're on time for any appointments the following week!

Verify Your Final Exams

Mark your calendars for final exams! Take a moment to verify your final exam dates and times with your syllabi and your professors. Make sure all of your travel plans for summer are after your final exams. Exams will not be rescheduled due to travel conflicts.


Campus Community

Join a GSC Committee!

Interested in joining a Graduate Student Council committee and becoming more involved on campus while meeting new people from other grad schools? Consider the following:

  • Safety Education Committee
  • Faculty Senate Information and Communication Technologies
  • Faculty Senate Research Committee
  • Faculty Senate University Libraries

Learn more about these committees and complete this interest form by Friday, February 17. Email any questions to Ashely Mueller.

ADHD Skills & Processing Group

Do you want to learn how to better manage and understand symptoms of ADHD? Starting February 17, each Friday at 1:00pm EST, University Health & Counseling Services will host an ADHD Skills and Processing Group over Zoom as a supportive space for students to process their experiences. Please call 216.368.5872 or email uhcs@case.edu to get info how to join.

Food Insecurity Resources

The Office of Graduate Student Life has a food pantry by appointment for all grad and professional students at CWRU facing food insecurity. The pantry is an open market in Tomlinson 217 and you can choose up to 15 non-perishable items per visit. Please bring your own reusable bags if possible. Sign up for a 15 minute appointment.

See this list of resources from the Dean of Students Office for additional emergency food assistance is available for students.

Food pantry market at the Office of Graduate Student Life in Tomlinson

CCEL Flex Sites

Do you want to volunteer to support our community but don't have time to commit to a reoccurring schedule? The Center for Civic Engagement & Learning (CCEL) offers two flex sites (Cleveland Food Bank and MedWish International) each week so you can sign-up as available! See more information and register for a session on CampusGroups.

Cedar Point STEM Days

Are you excited about STEM and want to connect with the next generation? Students are needed on May 8, 11, and 12 at Cedar Point to conduct STEM demonstrations for middle and high school students. Those attending will get a free pass to spend the rest of the day in the amusement park! Contact Kaiser Aguirre for more details.


Upcoming Events

We've all heard "publish or perish" in academia - but where to begin in the world of publishing? Register for Kelvin Smith Library's series to highlight key elements of the publishing lifecycle, from what an academic publication entails to how to submit a work for publication, and then make sure your work has the broadest possible reach.

The first of three monthly sessions is Thursday, February 16 at 4:00pm on publishing journal articles. Register for all three on CampusGroups.

Graduate students in programs under the College of Arts & Sciences are invited to the fourth annual forum on Friday, February 17 at 4:00pm EST with Dean Joy Ward and representatives from health services, graduate studies, public safety, RTA, graduate student affairs, and the Reproductive Task Force. The forum will take place over Zoom and questions are being collected in advance.

Register on CampusGroups.

The LGBT Center is hosting a LGBTQ+ Graduate Student Social Mixer on Wednesday, February 22 at 7:00pm! Come to the Jolly Scholar in Thwing to hang out with other LGBTQ+ grad students in a casual, low-key social atmosphere. Food provided including vegetarian options.

Register on CampusGroups.

Come mix and mingle at the next Graduate Student Council Happy Hour on Friday, February 24 at 8:00pm at Dave's Cosmic Subs on the North Side of campus!

Register on CampusGroups.

Learn about what the Graduate Student Council is up to at the next monthly general assembly meeting on Wednesday, March 1 at 5:30pm in Adelbert Hall's Toepfer Room. Dinner will be provided.

Register on CampusGroups.

Thu
2/16
6:30pm-
8:00pm
Black History Trivia Night
Fri
2/17
Sat
2/25
CWRU E-Week 2023
Fri
2/17
12:45pm-
3:15pm
Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition
Fri
2/17
7:00pm-
10:00pm
Springfest Battle of the Bands
Wed
2/22
3:00pm-
4:30pm
H-1B Visa Workshop
Thu
2/23
7:00pm-
9:00pm
The Engineering Game
Fri
2/24
2:00pm-
4:00pm
Grad Student Tea & Chocolate Tasting Social
Mon
2/27
5:00pm-
6:00pm
Light the Campus: Day of Remembrance
Wed
3/1
10:00am-
1:30pm
Vendor Fair
Wed
3/1
1:00pm-
2:00pm
Using Text Analysis
Mon
3/6
1:00pm-
3:00pm
KSL Therapy Dogs
Mon
3/6
3:00pm-
5:00pm
Sundaes on Mondays
Tue
3/7
3:00pm-
4:00pm
Zs Get Degrees, Learn Healthy Sleep Habits
Thu
3/9
5:00pm-
6:00pm
GCAS General Assembly Meeting

Award Season

Selection of student winners of 2018 Graduate Awards

Nominations are currently open for the 2023 Graduate Student Awards!

Faculty and academic departments with degrees in the School of Graduate Studies are encouraged to nominate outstanding students for several prestigious awards to be honored at a ceremony on Wednesday, May 3. Some nominations can be submitted by students and community members. See our submission page for more details on each award including student eligibility, who is permitted to nominate, and what documentation is needed.

Send questions to sgsevents@case.edu. The deadline to submit nominations is Wednesday, March 22.

Departments that sponsor awards for their students are encouraged to submit notifications to Grad Studies so we may include these winners in our ceremony on Wednesday, May 3. Any student in a program managed by the School of Graduate Studies who has received an award in the 2022-2023 academic year should be included so please send your notifications!

Send questions to sgsevents@case.edu. The deadline to submit notification of department awards is Wednesday, March 22.

Awards from the 2017 Graduate Student Award Ceremony

Nominations closed earlier this semester but you can read more about our prestigious John S. Diekhoff Awards for Graduate Teaching and Mentoring! Over the next few weeks, a student committee will evaluate nominations and interview candidates to select up to four faculty members who are outstanding in teaching or mentoring students in the School of Graduate Studies! Winners will be announced at the Graduate Student Award ceremony on Wednesday, May 3 and presented during Commencement on Friday, May 19.

Wall of  John S. Diekhoff Award

Current students and recent alumni who have entrepreneurship, looking to grow capital, or want to move your research toward a startup can apply for the Morgenthaler-Pavey Startup Competition with $45,000 in prizes!

Applications are due by Sunday, February 19.

Recognize diversity and inclusion efforts at CWRU by nominating members of our community who enhance diversity through inclusive thinking, mindful learning, and transformative dialogue for the annual Diversity Achievement Awards!

Students in the School of Graduate Studies can be nominated for the Graduate/Professional Student Excellence Award for those who demonstrate leadership and commitment to diversity, inclusion, and multiculturalism through academic excellence, service, volunteerism, and/or research.

Nominations are due by Friday, February 24.

Underrepresented minority graduate students are welcome to apply for a 2023 Unity Banquet Scholarship from the Office of Multicultural Affairs to assist with tuition costs, research, conference attendance, and more!

Applications are due by 9:00am EST on Tuesday, February 28.

Women-identified individuals at CWRU in underrepresented fields and researching feminism or women and gender equality can apply for grants from the Flora Stone Mather Center for Women to support professional development and research.

Applications will be accepted through Tuesday, February 28. Contact the Mather Center for more information.

PhD candidates enrolled in programs in the School of Medicine who show promise in occupational or environmental health fields can apply for the 2023-2024 Daniel Lewis Ravin, MD Award! Learn more on the the Swetland Center for Environmental Health's website.

Applications are due by 5:00pm EST on Wednesday, March 1.

Nominate outstanding graduate student leaders and other individuals and organizations for the 2023 Dr. Dorothy Pijan Student Leadership Awards! Graduate students are eligible to be nominated for numerous awards which will be presented during the Student Leadership Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, April 19.

Nominations are due soon.

Full-time PhD students from historically underrepresented populations entering their second year of study are invited to apply to the Health Policy Research Scholars leadership development program. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is looking for students who want to apply their research to advance health and equity and to innovate a better culture of health. Scholars will participate in policy and leadership development trainings and coursework via online seminars and courses and receive an annual award of up to $30,000 for up to four years.

Applications are due by Wednesday, March 15.

Graduate students in the Department of English can enter poems into the 2023 Timothy Calhoun Memorial Prize for Poetry for the best poem or group of poems. The winners will be celebrated at our Graduate Award Ceremony on Wednesday, May 3.

Submissions are due by 4:00pm EDT on Friday, March 17

Graduate students who are working to make impactful actions and advancement of the mission of the LGBT+ community at CWRU, in Cleveland, or beyond through scholarship, research, or leadership activities can apply for CWRU Pride LGBT Ohio Leadership Award.

Applications and letters of recommendation are due by 5:00pm EDT on Friday, March 31.

Women Masters and PhD students in programs taught by the College of Arts and Sciences can apply for the Eva L. Pancoast Memorial Fellowship to assist in extending their education by foreign study or foreign travel, or both in the twelve months following the current academic year.

The amounts of the fellowships vary, but generally range from $1,000 to $3,500. Those who receive awards will be required to submit a brief report of the project after its completion with reasonable documentary evidence of major expenditures. Funds are not disbursed until expenses are incurred and original receipts are submitted.

Additional information and application details will be available soon when the 2023 nominations open. Reference letters should be submitted separately by the letter writer electronically to Dean Karie Feldman; please ask your recommender to include your name and PANCOAST in the subject line of the email.

The winners will be celebrated at our Graduate Award Ceremony on Wednesday, May 3.

Applications and recommendation letters are due by around the end of March.


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The Advocacy Wall next to Rockefeller Hall painted in the colors of the Ukraine flag, Mach 2022