Welcome

Fall 2006 New Graduate Student orientation

SFRES Graduate Program Facts at a glance

• About 73 graduate students

• MS: 38 and PhD 35

• Five MS programs

• Two Ph. D. programs

• Research funding: Over 25 million dollars

• Over 25 graduate faculty

• Surrounded by forests and natural beauty

Different programs

• FAE Applied Ecology MS   1• FFEM Forest Ecology & Mgmt MS   13• FFR Forestry MS   19• FFS Forest Science PHD  24• FMF Forestry MF   3• FMGB Forest Molecular Genetics & Biotech MS   2

PHD  11• Total 73

Shekhar Joshi

• Associate Professor

• Graduate Program Director

• 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 the final thesis!

• Please put them in my mail box.

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 119

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. Kurt Pregitzer

"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. Chung-Jui Tsai

Outreach and Alumni relations

• Stacy Cotey: Director of Outreach Programs• Carrie Richards: Alumni Relations

– Web page maintenance– News letter– Social activities

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• -FW5850 Effective Grantsmanship Workshop 3 credits• (Except Peace Corps)• -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 Courses:• -FW5800 Master’s Graduate Seminar

1 credit• -FW5850 Effective Grantsmanship Workshop 3 credits• (Except Peace Corps)• -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 Courses:• -FW5800 Master’s Graduate Seminar

1 credit• -FW5850 Effective Grantsmanship Workshop 3 credits• (Except Peace Corps and Masters of Forestry)• -One Upper Division (4000 and above) Statistics Course• (Or Equivalent)

Advisory committee

• Chair = advisor (s)• Two other members • One outside member (non-forestry)• Who? Discuss with your advisor• All 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 and Blair Orr

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

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

FAQ

• I am developing a list of FAQ so ask me more questions and your questions will 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

• Let us know why you applied?

• Let us know why you choose to join us?

• Let us know what made you stay here?

• Keep in touch..