grad_com An electronic newsletter from the BSU School of Graduate Studies
	Vol. 4, No. 10	April 2008
The Process Registration: Grad classes Starting the count of seven years to complete a degree Form 1: Applying for admission to graduate studies Completing 13-16 graduate credits after admission Form 2: Applying for candidacy in a graduate degree program Taking the written exam at the end of course work Form 3: Proposing a research paper or thesis Doing the work and writing the results Form 4: Applying for graduation Submitting the research paper or thesis for review Form 5: Scheduling the oral examination Defending your graduate work Diploma	This month . . . · Graduation – It’s Almost Here!!! · Reminders for Continuing Graduate Students! · Q&A: Question of the Month?
	Preparing for Graduation!
	It’s that time of year again… It is time, once again, to start thinking about graduation. If you plan on graduating this spring or summer, congratulations on getting this far! There are many things to plan for, but do not forget that there is also paper work to do. Choosing to Walk You may graduate in December, May, or August. Commencement, however, is held only once each year, in May. If you graduated in the fall or plan to graduate this spring or in the summer, you may participate in commencement with the spring semester graduates. A unique feature of graduation from Bemidji State University is the Commencement Walk – students walk from Deputy Hall to the John Glas Field House, along streets that are lined with well wishers.			For Graduating Students… Make sure to complete your graduation checklist: ___ Keep track of updates and check your degree information on the Records Office’s Commencement website ___ Purchase and pick up cap, gown, and hood from BSU Bookstore (may do so online or in-store) ___ Send out invitations for commencement to family and friends ___ Try to attend Commencement Rehearsal ___ Be aware of the dates and times of Graduation Events ___ Enjoy and Celebrate!!! After all, it is your day!! This year, Graduation is on May 16^th!
Q&A: Question of the month? Q: How can I find a Graduate Assistant position for this coming fall or summer? A: There are several ways to track down Graduate Assistant positions. Contact your GA Representative: 1. Check the School of Graduate Studies website under Graduate Assistantship contacts. 2. Contact the representative in your department or any department that they may suggest could use your skills (e.g. an English Graduate student may apply for a Communications GA position). Check your BSU email account: 1. The School of Graduate Studies will occasionally email students about available Graduate Assistant positions. 2. Make sure to check your BSU student email account for these opportunities. 3. If you have questions, contact student services. Check the BSU Graduate Community Site: 1. The School of Graduate Studies hopes to post GA positions as they become available. 2. Make sure to access the BSU Graduate Community D2L site if you want up-to-date information on available Graduate Assistant positions. 3. If you have questions about accessing the D2L site, contact student services. If you have any questions, or you would like to know more about D2L courses, reach us through D2L Student Support: Phone: Local: 755-4207 Phone: Toll Free: 1-888-240-4759 Email: studenthelp@bemidjistate.edu Website: http://www.bemidjistate.edu/its Walk-in Help: Information Technology Services, Memorial 11 Or you may contact Theresa Perreault at helpdesk@bemidjistate.edu
	Reminders for Continuing Graduate Students!
	Time For Summer Session Enrollment: Look into the wonderful classes that are being offered this summer. Take the opportunity to get ahead on your program requirements. Payments must be made for Summer I and Summer II Sessions by the first business day of the session. Fall Enrollment Now Open Fall enrollment is now open! Don’t forget to sign up for fall courses. Don’t miss out on required courses. Enroll in Fall classes now! UNIV 6000 – Don’t Forget!!! Students who are not enrolled in any other classes will need to make sure they enroll in UNIV 6000 (Summer# – 091288; Fall# – 094183) to maintain active status. A graduate student who has been admitted into a specific graduate program but does not register every fall, spring, and summer term is considered to have withdrawn and will have to reactivate their program by petitioning to be reinstated. If you desire to maintain active status, enroll in UNIV 6000 (Summer# – 091288; Fall# – 094183) today!!		Tracking down those Graduate Assistantships It’s time to start looking for Graduate Assistantships for fall (and possibly summer) terms. Remember that a Graduate Assistant position covers the cost of tuition up to six (6) credits per semester (a total of 12 credits per year), as well as provides a stipend of $8,500 for the 2007-2008 academic year. Be sure to start asking your Graduate Coordinator and/or Department Chair about positions that are available, both within and outside of your program/department. Also look at the Graduate Studies website for a list of departments that have possible positions available. (Note: The list records positions that currently exist, but they are not necessarily open. You will need to contact the department to ensure that the position is available.) Keep an eye on your student email this summer, as the School of Graduate Studies occasionally sends out notices of open GA positions. Also access the BSU Graduate Community site for an ongoing list of open positions (coming soon). Don’t Forget Online Billing!!! BSU no longer invoices students through the U.S. mail. You will need to check your account by accessing the BSU website. Go to: www.bemidjistate.edu Select “myBSU” from the upper right choices on the screen. Select MNSCU e-services from the lower right choices on the following screen. Insert your tech ID and your PIN# to access your account.
	Make sure to check out the graduation information on the Records Office’s Commencement Site!
We want to make grad_com useful for you. Let us know what you would like to see on these pages by contacting the School of Graduate Studies, Decker Hall 110, 218-755-2027 (toll-free: 1-888-386-8464), Grad@bemidjistate.edu