Spring Graduate Student Briefing
School of Journalism and Strategic Media
Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020, 10 a.m. | Reading Room
Spring 2020 Deadlines
Thesis dissertation deadline is May 1, 2020.
Walk back a week and the practical deadline is April 24, 2020.
Walk back two weeks and your committee will want to see the final document by April 10, 2020
–Apply only if you are on track for finishing your thesis this semester
—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 March 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.
–Spring Commencement: Saturday, May 9, 2020. All University Commencement (Graduate School) 8:30 a.m. Bud Walton Arena. https://registrar.uark.edu/graduation/commencement/spring-commencement.php
–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.
Master’s Thesis Process
Selection of thesis title and formation of thesis committee and submission of new Master’s Committee form. At least three months prior to the date of the defense. That would be now: Feb. 1.
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.
Jour 508V very popular. Brooke, Britt, Breybinda and Paige Murphy
Details: Syllabus, Application and Evaluation
Summer 2020
Your thesis adviser performs the internship evaluation, not the Graduate Coordinator.
Graduate Assistants
TA Teaching Camp, Monday, January 20th, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
On-Campus Location Coming Soon
Details here: TA Teaching Camp Registration Form
Work duties:
Not to exceed 20 hours a week – supervisor not to “average out” work.
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.
RISE program for underrepresented students
Blackboard Training Available
Carolyn Smith, Faculty and Student Support
GIBX100 (479)575-5632 (office) ccsmith@uark.edu
Career Fairs / Advising
Feb 12 – All campus career fair
March 10 – Business career fair, 10-3 pm Bud Walton Arena
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:
Apply for departmental scholarships by Feb 15
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
Students may apply for a travel grant as early as the first year of their graduate program. The student must still be presenting his/her own research as the sole student presenter at the meeting/conference, and be enrolled during the semester the travel occurs (summer excepted unless the student is in a 12-month GA position). The full policy may be found at: https://graduate-and-international.uark.edu/graduate/costs-and-funding/travel-grants.php. Please contact 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
First Semester Student Paperwork
There are two forms they must file during their first semester:
Course Approval form: a departmental form.
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
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.
Misc:
Talk program CAPS. Pat Walker. Monday 2 pm-4 pm
April research day. How to do research. Library tools.
Mark Your Calendars
Lemke Journalism Project
–School’s outreach to primarily Hispanic high school students
–19th year
–Feb 8. Meets for 6 Saturdays
–Gina Shelton ginas@uark.edu
Distinguished Visiting Ethics Professor
Veronica Molina of CNN will be here Feb. 3-7, March 16 to 19.
CNN’s VP for news standards and practice. She’s a distinguished visiting professor in ethics at the Univ of Arkansas for the Spring 2020. Wonderful person, great career contact.
Brown Bag research series
–Announcement to come
Journalism Days
–April 8
–Jon Schleuss, president of News Guild