間眅埶AV

Graduate Student Orientation

Graduate student orientation is available both through an online canvas course and an in-person with event on the lead up to and during Welcome Week.

August 30 | In-Person, Burnaby campus - See you next year!


間眅埶AV Grad School Essentials: Mapping your grad student experience

Join us and our 間眅埶AV partners in person to learn how to take advantage of the resources available to you as a grad student at 間眅埶AV. Listen to panelists sharing their own grad school journeys, talk about the supervisory experience, share insights into research and more!

Learn about the sessions and what to expect below.

RSVP to Join Us Today

Non-refundable Ticket Cost
$6.00 + $1.34 fees = $7.34 CAD
Tickets are first-come, first-served, and we are unable to add more spots

Included in ticket cost
coffee/tea and morning treats, lunch at Dinning Commons, the GSS social event, and a small gift from Graduate Studies

 

We invite incoming students to use the Canvas platform to meet new students across all our academic disciplines, to build a base of support as they enter grad school, and to connect with our service units that will support them throughout their graduate career ahead of the in-person events during Welcome Week.

Some main features found within the Canvas platform are:

  • Welcome messages from key community members
  • Various information on a range of topics, hosted by different groups across 間眅埶AV, including:  funding, career services, health and counselling, research, writing, teaching and learning, as well as Indigenous and International student support and services 
  • Review materials in your own time and return to them throughout your time in grad school
  • A wide range of service providers to support academics, professional development, well-being, and transition into the 間眅埶AV community
  • Pages for different graduate programs with links and resources, contact information, and other tools to help you get started

Questions about orientation? 

Contact Charity Slobod at grad_prod@sfu.ca

Professional Development & Student Experience Manager

In-person Orientation Program Timeline

8:159:00硃.鳥. Check-in. Location: Outside BLU 10901, right beside door from the main 間眅埶AV Bus Loop.
9:159:45硃.鳥. Opening Address by 間眅埶AV President Joy Johnson and Vice-Provost & Dean, Graduate Studies, Dr. Mary O'Brien.
Indigenous Welcome by Elder and Scholar, Dr. Richard Vedan, PhD RSW, Chitleqches.
Location: SWH 10081
10:0011:00硃.鳥.

Concurrent Sessions #1 (Select one)

  • Building your research and writing toolkit (SWH 10081)

  • TA Essentials - What You Need to Know (BLU 10021)

  • Funding & Awards (SWH 10041)

  • International Students: Communicating across cultures and styles (BLU 10011)

  • Navigating the Student-Supervisor Relationship in Grad School (SWH 10061)

  • The Graduate Student Society: Building Community and Advocacy (SWH 10051)

  • Indigenous Students: Learning the Lay of the Land (SWH 10075)

11:15a.m.12:15 p.m.

Concurrent Sessions #2 (Select one)

  • Building your research and writing toolkit (SWH 10081)

  • TA Essentials - What You Need to Know (BLU 10021)

  • Funding & Awards (SWH 10041)

  • International Students: Communicating across cultures and styles (BLU 10011)

  • Navigating the Student-Supervisor Relationship in Grad School (SWH 10061)

  • The Graduate Student Society: Building Community and Advocacy (SWH 10051)

  • Indigenous Students: Learning the Lay of the Land (SWH 10075)

12:1512:45 p.m. Guided walking tour to Dining Commons, featuring services in Maggie Benson Centre & 間眅埶AV Bennett Library.
12:452:45 p.m. Lunch, Dining Commons
2:453:45 p.m. Burnaby Campus Tour
4:006:00 p.m. GSS Social The Study

In-person Orientation Details

Building your research and writing toolkit

Nicole White (Head of the Research Commons) and Julia Lane (Writing Services Coordinator)

TA Essentials - What You Need to Know

Melissa Radford (Organizer, TSSU) and Megan Robertson (Educational Developer, Curriculum & Instruction Division, Centre for Educational Excellence)

Graduate Studies: Funding & Awards 

Rachel Dawson (Associate Director, Training & Awards, Graduate Studies) & Dr. El Chenier (Associate Dean, Scholarship, Graduate Studies)

I wish I knew about this when I was just starting色 In the library, we hear this sentence a lot from graduate students when we introduce them to writing, research, and thesis-support resources and strategies. Guess what? You are just starting. In this 60 minute session, Nicole White (Head of the Research Commons) and Julia Lane (Writing Services Coordinator) will introduce key tools, supports, spaces, and services for you to put in your research and writing toolkit.

The Teaching Support Staff Union (TSSU) is dedicated to improving working conditions for teaching assistants (TAs) and many other workers on 間眅埶AVs campuses. We are here to support you by helping you understand and stand up for your rights, whether thats understanding the Collective Agreement, your TA contract, your benefits, your rights as a TA, and more!

Graduate Studies award staff will provide an overview of funding sources, related resources, tips and tricks on how to use our Graduate Awards System and Document Library. Well also cover and answer any questions related to Tri-agency and other major competitions, award processing and payments.

International Students: Communicating across cultures and styles

Zoreen Nuraney (Student Transition Educator, International Services for Students)

Navigating the Student-Supervisor Relationship in Grad School

Hannah Buteau (Academic Graduate Student Support Specialist, Graduate Studies) and Dr. Malcolm Kennett (Associate Dean, Student Affairs, Graduate Studies)

The Graduate Student Society: Building Community and Advocacy

Harjap Grewal (Advocate and Policy Advisor, The Graduate Student Society) and Brandon Showalter (Director of Student Life, GSS)

Lets explore the role that effective communication plays in your transition journey to 間眅埶AV. Whether you are forming new social or professional relationships, being self-aware of your communication style and personal background may better allow you to feel heard, understood and supported by others in our diverse cultural and linguistic context. Let's navigate things together!

In this session, we will discuss the student-supervisor relationship, a major component of your graduate school experience. You'll learn best practices for building a productive and supportive partnership, understand important policies and regulations that guide these relationships, and have the opportunity to ask questions to ensure you're set up for success. This session will provide you with the tools and insights needed to thrive in your graduate school journey.

At this session you will learn more about the GSS services (Health, Dental, UPass, & more) as well as our advocacy work for individual students and through collective campaigns. You can also find out about getting involved either from within your department or directly with the GSS and its committees. As a member driven organization, we hope to build community among graduate students through events, socials and our collective work with the society. Join us!

Indigenous Students: Learning the Lay of the Land

Dr. Dorothy Cucw-la7 Christian (Associate Director, Indigenous Policy & Pedagogy, Graduate Studies)

Come and visit.  Talk to and meet the Indigenous person who will be sending you informative emails during your time at the university. Learn some of the significant places and resources that can make your pathway at 間眅埶AV more enjoyable and easier to navigate.

Dining Commons - Menu

Global Eats Station

  • Baked Salmon Penne with Lemon Cream Sauce
  • Mediterranean Roast Chicken
  • Herb Rice Pilaf
  • Maple Glazed Beets and Parsnips

Sprout Station

  • Hakka Chinese Noodle
  • Roasted Seasonal Vegetables
  • Harissa Roasted Vegetables with Tofu
  • Mushroom Soy Tacos

Leaf Station

  • Apple and Pear Salad with Grilled Shrimp
  • Quinoa and Cranberry Salad
  • Greek Potato Salad
  • Roasted Red Beet and 間眅埶AV Salad
  • Chopped Romaine

Sweet Treats Station

  • Soft Serve Ice Cream
  • Double Chocolate Muffins
  • Banana Loaf
  • Pineapple Jello
  • Carnival Cookie
  • Easy Red Velvet Cupcakes
  • Two Bite Cinnamon Rolls

Hot Plate Station

  • Crispy Vegetable Dumpling with Cucumber Salad and Sweet Chili
  • Chicken Potsticker with Cucumber Salad and Ponzu Sauce

Yin Yum Station

  • Tofu Caldereta
  • Singapore fried Bee Hoon Noodles
  • Chicken Fried Rice

Fresh Bowls Station

  • Teriyaki Chicken Bowl
  • Teriyaki Tofu Bowl

Stacks Station

  • Pesto Chicken Roll
  • "Seafood" Roll with Lemon Aioli