Fall Graduate Student Briefing
School of Journalism and Strategic Media
Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020, 9 a.m.
Welcome New Graduate Students
Michael Adkison *
Kendal Heavner *
Mary Grayson Green *
Katy Seiter *
Jamari Rose
Quincy Ward
* = 5 Year BA-MA Program!
First Semester Student Paperwork
Two forms to file during the first semester:
Master’s Advisory Committee form : a grad school form.
–Submit the completed form to me
Treasurer’s Office tuition and fee estimator https://treasurernet.uark.edu/estimator.aspx
Graduate Faculty
Bostwick, David A
Bouchillon, Brandon C
Brown, Lucy M
Chung, Jee-Young
Foley, Larry
Gould, Kara Jolliff
Jordan, Gerald B
McCaffrey, Raymond M
Reed, Niketa S
Schulte, Bret J
Starling-Ledbetter, Robyn M G3T 09/30/22
Stockdell, Rick P
Thein, Ricky (Richard) P G4T 10/31/21
Thurston, Colleen
Wells, Rob
Wicks, Jan L
Unexpected Problems
Schedule conflict with Theory – JOUR 5173 Social Media and Journalism. Jamari, Katy, Kendal, Grayson – anyone else?
Fall 2020 Deadlines
Thesis dissertation deadline is Dec. 11, 2020.
Walk back a week and the practical deadline is Dec. 4, 2020.
Walk back two weeks and your committee will want to see the final document by Nov. 20, 2020
“Have that Turkey finished before Turkey Day.”
All requirements for the degree must be completed by December 18th, including any work required for an incomplete.
Read Guide to Theses and Dissertations prior to starting the pre-check process. Theses and dissertations should be seen at least once prior to the defense.
–Apply only if you are on track for finishing your thesis this semester. Travis. Paulina. Anyone else?
—Notify Wells first
Statement of Intent: The School of Journalism and Strategic Media graduate students will participate in Spring commencement if they have successfully defended their thesis in the Spring semester. “If you want to walk in the Spring, you first have to defend in the Spring.” Students who are unable to defend in the Spring need to defer to the Summer or Fall for commencement .
Graduation: Apply by Oct. 1, 2020
–Apply to graduate via your student center in UA Connect under “My Academics.” The graduation fee will be added to your student account. After the deadline, there is a late application fee for ALL students.
–Consult your Degree Audit to confirm that you have completed all degree requirements. Remind your advisor/committee chair that a Record of Progress must be submitted to the Graduate School and your Degree Audit must be completed by the department.
–Commencement Sat, Dec. 19.
Master’s Thesis Process
Selection of thesis title and formation of thesis committee and submission of new Master’s Committee form.
If you’re graduating this semester:
File the form at least three months prior to the date of the defense. That would be now: Sept. 11.
http://catalog.uark.edu/graduatecatalog/procedures/
Select thesis title and form thesis committee:
IRB approval
Master’s Program Checklist
Thesis formatting training. Julie Rogers of the Graduate School. Slides from the session are here: Formatting Workshop-r50zze
Examples of Successful Thesis Projects
Multimedia – Website and Thesis: Andrew Epperson
https://advancedsportstats.weebly.com/
https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/3192/
Documentary Film: Denzel Jenkins
https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/3233/
Data Journalism Thesis: Mohamed M’Bareck
https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/3157/
Public Relations Focus: Morganne Rhodes
https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/2391/
Traditional Thesis: Boitshepo Balowzi
https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/2762/
Internships
Start thinking about them for the summer. Start applying for internships in late September.
Jour 508V very popular.
Details: Syllabus, Application and Evaluation
Summer 2021
Your thesis adviser performs the internship evaluation, not the Graduate Coordinator.
If you need help, contact Intern Coordinator Gina Shelton: ginas@uark.edu
Graduate Assistants
Work duties:
Not to exceed 20 hours a week – supervisor not to “average out” work.*
*”However, there are some changes that are requiring that we relax this rule slightly. If a student is absent from work, you may ask the student to make up the work in subsequent weeks, as long as the total hours per week do not exceed 30 and as long as the student is not international.”
Stipend is $12,500 for two semesters.
Mid-August, Mid-May: Get a half paycheck.
Taxed on Medicare, SSI.
Tuition waiver doesn’t cover misc fees. Technology fees. Media fees. Student health fees.
Option of payroll deduction for misc fees
Other GAs Outside of Journalism
Student affairs. GA openings. Newswire openings.
Blackboard Training Available
Carolyn Smith, Faculty and Student Support
GIBX100 (479)575-5632 (office) ccsmith@uark.edu
Career Advising
Office of Graduate Assistant Student Support: Career advising, free coffee Fridays. Laura Moix, Assistant Director, Gearhart Hall 273, lmoix@uark.edu, 479-575-7038
Funding:
Nonresident Tuition Scholarship
Chancellor’s Graduate Student NonResident Tuition Scholarship for new, degree seeking domestic graduate students entering the University of Arkansas Graduate School in the Fall 2020 or after. (Note: this scholarship is not available to international students). The university will provide financial support for students utilizing specific scholarship criteria. This student financial support is made possible with university resources. For more information, see: https://graduate-and-international.uark.edu/graduate/costs-and-funding/grad-new-resident.php
Journalism Department
Apply for departmental scholarships by Feb 15, 2021
GPSC Research Grants
The Graduate and Professional Student Congress (GPSC) will award three research grants for up to $1,500 for research projects in the fall and spring semesters. This funding mechanism is designed with a focus on supporting dissertation and thesis projects. The call for proposals will come out the first week of the spring semester, and graduate students will have one month to write a proposal in line with the National Institute of Health’s guidelines for writing grant proposals. See more in newswire.
Harry and Jo Leggett Chancellor’s Fellowship
We are accepting applications for this fellowship, established to support graduate students who are involved in research of significant interest to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Leggett fellows receive a $12,000 stipend per year for a maximum of 4 years for a doctoral student and 2 years for a master’s student. It may also cover tuition for students without another source of funding for tuition. For more information and application guidelines: https://graduate-and-international.uark.edu/graduate/costs-and-funding/harry-jo-leggett-fellowship.php
Travel Grants
No travel money awarded during the pandemic. Travel grant applications for remote conferences will be accepted and reviewed. We will likely approve these applications, but be aware that we don’t yet have a reimbursement process in place. If students pay with these charges from personal funds, we cannot guarantee they will be reimbursed.. Vicky Hartwell (hartwell@uark.edu, 5-4327) with questions.
Additional Grants through the Graduate and Professional Student Congress (subject to availability of funds): The Graduate and Professional Student Congress (GPSC) is excited to offer funding for students traveling to present their own original work. The GPSC Travel Grant is funding “of last resort,” meant to help students who have already exhausted other funding sources open to them. Currently, no travel grant shall exceed $500 dollars. Please log onto HogSync at https://orgsync.com/176733/forms/337734 for more information, application and deadlines.
A.L. Chilton Foundation Award
Students may apply for up to $500 to assist them in purchasing supplies or other resources to aid them in their research efforts. Applications are reviewed once a month. Awards will be posted to the student’s account in UAConnect.
https://graduate-and-international.uark.edu/graduate/costs-and-funding/chilton-foundation-award.php
GSPC
Additional Grants through the Graduate and Professional Student Congress (subject to availability of funds): The Graduate and Professional Student Congress (GPSC) is excited to offer funding for students traveling to present their own original work. The GPSC Travel Grant is funding “of last resort,” meant to help students who have already exhausted other funding sources open to them. Currently, no travel grant shall exceed $500 dollars. Please log onto HogSync at https://orgsync.com/176733/forms/337734 for more information, application and deadlines.
Pivot
To search for graduate student travel awards in particular, you may find it helpful to: Click on the “Advanced Search” link. Leave “All Fields” selected and enter “travel” into the search box. Click on “Applicant Type” and select “Graduate Student.” Click the blue “Search” button in the upper right corner of the page. Additional information and tips about using Pivot can be found online.
https://pivot.proquest.com/
Benjamin Lever fellowship
Designed to increase diversity within graduate degree programs by providing financial assistance to graduate students from underrepresented groups. https://graduate-and-international.uark.edu/graduate/costs-and-funding/benjamin-lever-fellowship.php
NSF GRFP
Contact Vicky Hartwell in the grad school first. Interested students should begin at the applicant information page http://www.nsfgrfp.org . The GRFP supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited United States institutions. The program provides up to three years of graduate education support, including an annual $34,000 stipend.
http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=6201
Funding Listserv
Razorgrad report update, funding. gradsupport@uark.edu
Food Pantry Reminders
In addition to the mini food pantry in the graduate student lounge, the Full Circle Campus Food Pantry operates all summer long! Anyone with a UofA ID is always able to request a 3-day supply of food for themselves and any immediate family members living with them. Just use the online request or stop by the pantry on the East side of Bud Walton Hall across from the base of the Union parking garage.
Emergency Funds
For emergencies, students can apply to the Needy Family Graduate Student Emergency Fund or the International Education Catastrophic Fund. Application materials can be found here: https://graduate-and-international.uark.edu/graduate/costs-and-funding/index.php
Misc:
Talk program CAPS. Pat Walker. Monday 2 pm-4 pm
Mark Your Calendars
Lemke Journalism Project
–School’s outreach to primarily Hispanic high school students
–20th year
–Feb 8. Meets for 6 Saturdays
–Gina Shelton ginas@uark.edu
Arkansas Soul
–School’s outreach project to African-American students
–Essays, articles, videos, podcasts on Black culture generally
–Prof. Niketa Reed, founder; Dr. Wells, web editor.
Distinguished Visiting Ethics Professor
–Schedule TBA
Brown Bag research series
–Announcement to come
