Interested in a trip to DC? Council of Graduate Schools Advocacy

We have received the following call for nominations (see below) from Vice Provost Sally Pratt.  If you are interested in putting yourself forward for the nomination, please speak with your faculty advisor as soon as possible.  The deadline for nominations is Wednesday, January 29th.  Please contact Doug Burleson, if you have any questions.

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I am writing to invite one or two students to participate in Council of Graduate Schools Advocacy Days and visit to congressional offices to advocate for graduate education.  The students may come from master’s or PhD programs.  The Graduate School will cover travel expenses and hotel accommodations.  The students must be available for the entire duration of the visit in April (see below).  A Graduate School Committee will make the final selection.

From the student
·       CV
·       a short statement of interest (250-500 words)

From the student’s advisor or program director
·       A short statement of support (250 words max)

The Council of Graduate Schools website is https://cgsnet.org/

Council of Graduate Schools Spring 2020 Advocacy Days in Washington, DC Announcement
The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS)  is sponsoring an event for graduate school deans to visit legislative offices to advocate for graduate education.  Due to the success of last year’s initial program, CGS is once again providing an opportunity for two graduate students to accompany the graduate dean on the visit.

Event Dates:
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Capitol Hill visit preparation and training workshop

Thursday April 23, 2020
Visit to Capitol Hill offices

2019 CGS/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Awards

Initial Nomination Packages due to grad school by Monday June 17, 2019 via this link.
Three letters of Recommendation for selected applicants due to graduate school by Monday July 1, 2019.

Sponsored jointly by Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) and ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, these dissertation awards are made annually to individuals who, in the opinion of the award committee, have completed dissertations representing original work that makes an unusually significant contribution to their disciplines.

2019 Fields of Competition

There are two broad fields of competition for the 2019 dissertation awards:

• Biological Sciences: biology; botany; zoology; ecology; embryology; entomology; genetics; nutrition; plant pathology; plant physiology; anatomy; biochemistry; biophysics; microbiology; pathology; pharmacology; physiology; and related fields. Also included are agriculture, forestry, and related fields.

• Humanities and Fine Arts: history; philosophy; language; linguistics; literature; archaeology; jurisprudence; the history, theory and criticism of the arts; ethics; comparative religion; and those aspects of the social sciences that employ historical or philosophical approaches.

If a dissertation is multi- or interdisciplinary in nature, a significant portion of the work must be comprised by at least one of the 2019 fields of competition.

Eligibility

• USC may nominate one person in the field of humanities and fine arts and one person in the field of biological sciences (for a total of two nominations maximum).

• The effective date of the degree awarded, or the completion of doctoral degree requirements and dissertation, must lie in the period of July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2019, inclusive, for each nominee selected.

Nomination Package 

A complete nomination package includes the following components in this order:

1. An abstract of the nominee’s dissertation (not to exceed 10 double-spaced pages). Appendices containing other material, such as charts, tables, and/or references, may be included as additional pages (not to exceed 10 pages).

2. The nominee’s curriculum vitae (not to exceed five pages). Note: The initial nomination package must be sent as a single pdf document with the file saved as: last name of the nominee and institution (i.e. Smith_USC)

Selected students will also need to submit:
1. Three letters of recommendation evaluating the significance and quality of the dissertation work. One of these letters is to be from the nominee's dissertation supervisor, another from a member of the nominee's dissertation committee, and the third from a person of the nominee's choice.

Award Information:

Two CGS/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Awards, each consisting of an award of $2,000 and a certificate of recognition, will be presented at the CGS Annual Meeting Awards Luncheon on December 5, 2019, in Nashville, TN. Reasonable travel expenses of award recipients will be covered. Only the winners and the nominating deans will be notified of the outcomes of the competition prior to the Awards Luncheon.

Selection Process: 

The Council of Graduate Schools will name an Award Committee whose members have established records in the disciplinary areas under consideration. Additional consultation may be sought at the discretion of the committee members. The nominated dissertations should represent original work making an unusually significant contribution to the disciplines. Both methodological and substantive quality will be judged.

Please Note: The CGS/ProQuest Award operates on a two-year cycle with regard to fields of competition. The fields of competition for 2020 will be Mathematics, Physical Sciences & Engineering, and the Social Sciences.

PhD Achievement Awards

To recognize our current PhD students’ academic professional development, the Graduate School will provide USC PhD Achievement Awards for students with exceptional academic profiles. Six awards of $3,000 will be made to students from across the university. Each recipient’s primary faculty advisor will receive a $500 USC Graduate School PhD Mentoring award. Each USC PhD program may nominate one candidate.

Current students from every PhD program at USC are eligible. The award is for exceptional achievement as a USC PhD student. The student’s overall profile as a doctoral candidate may include such elements as significant publications as the sole or primary author; job offers that signal the outstanding quality of the student’s doctoral work; major awards in a broadly conceived field; and other markers of excellence appropriate to the student’s field.

Departmental nominators will be asked to submit applications with the following information:

• A statement by the student describing her or his academic vision – what s/he has achieved and hopes to achieve in terms of an academic contribution to the relevant field (up to 500 words)
• Documentation for publications, awards, job offers, other achievements
• A letter of nomination from the student’s academic advisor or other faculty member who can put the student’s work into the broader context of the given field
• A copy of the student’s most recent curriculum vitae and transcript
• Sign-offs from the department chair and dean of the school supporting the nomination.
• Contact and general academic information for the nominee and primary faculty advisor

Submissions will be reviewed by an interdisciplinary faculty committee. Recipients of the USC PhD Achievement Awards will be invited to lead the column of PhD graduates at the university commencement.

PhD Achievement Signature P... by on Scribd

PhD Achievement Award Applications

Nominations for the USC Graduate School PhD Achievement Award are due to Doug Burleson (burleson@usc.edu) by Wednesday, March 6th at 5:00pm.  This award is intended for students who will be graduating this spring or summer.  The attached document outlines the requirements for the award.  I am also including the signature page for the award.  Please collect signatures from your advisor and the Department Chair prior to submitting your application materials.  I will get the Dean’s signature for you. If you have any questions, please let me know.

PhD Achievement Awards by on Scribd

PhD Achievement Signature P... by on Scribd

THESIS CENTER INFORMATION SESSIONS

As the thesis and dissertation submission deadline approaches for the Fall 2018 semester, the Graduate School will host two information sessions detailing the thesis submission process next week, on Wednesday, September 26th. The Health Sciences Campus session will take place in Hastings Auditorium at 12:00 pm. The University Park Campus session will take place in GFS 106 at 5:00 pm.

Topics will include important information for both students and advisors, such as:
·         Thesis Center navigation
·         submission deadlines
·         required documentation

There will be an opportunity for questions following the presentation.

7th Annual Beyond the PhD and Postdoctoral Career Conference

Thesis Center Information Sessions - Spring Dates & Times

The Graduate School will be hosting Thesis Center information Sessions for students who are submitting their thesis or dissertation this Spring. The sessions will be about 50 minutes long. Advisors and faculty are also welcome and encouraged to attend.

There will be one session on University Park Campus, and one session on Health Sciences Campus:
UPC: Wednesday February 28th, 2018 @ 12:00, in THH 301
HSC: Wednesday March 7th, 2018 @12:00, in MCH 156

Topics will include important information for both students and advisors, such as:
• Thesis Center navigation
• submission deadlines
• required documentation

There will be an opportunity for questions following the presentation. These dates and times will also be listed in myGradSchool for reference.

Phd Hooding Ceremony Registration

Advanced Fellowships 2018

The available fellowships are the Endowed Fellowship, Final Year Fellowship, Summer Research and Writing Grant, Research Enhancement Fellowship, and the PhD Achievement Fellowship.  Attached is a memo from the graduate school detailing each of the awards and the requirements.  Applications are due to Doug Burleson by Wednesday, January 31st at Noon. 

   Advanced Fellowships 2018 by uscbiscgrad on Scribd

Rockwell Dennis Hunt Scholastic Award Application

The Rockwell Dennis Hunt Scholastic Award honors USC graduate students whose undergraduate degree is from USC. The $5,000 award is bestowed at the USC Honors Convocation in April. Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Earned a bachelor’s degree at USC within the last five years (2013 - 2017);
• Completed at least three years of undergraduate work at USC;
• Currently working towards a master’s or doctoral degree at the University of Southern California during 2017-2018

Applications are due through to the Graduate School by Friday, December 8, 2017. The online application is available here: https://app.wizehive.com/appform/login/USCRDH

Research and Fellowships Week

Academic Honors and Fellowships, The Graduate School and the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs present the 3rd Annual Research and Fellowships Week from November 6-10, 2017!

Are you interested in learning more about research at USC?  Curious to find out how award opportunities like the Fulbright U.S. Student Program or fellowships for PhD students can fund future graduate study or research abroad? A variety of interactive sessions and panels will be offered to help answer these questions and more!  Hear from fellow Trojans, USC Faculty, and Foundation Representatives about how research and competitive fellowships complement one another and help enhance your undergraduate, graduate, and professional career.

Please RSVP here!

Monday, November 6
Sessions located in TCC 227.

Research and Fellowships 101 – 11:00-11:50am
Target Audience: Undergraduates
What is research? What is a fellowship? This presentation will offer an introduction to undergraduate research at USC and explain how research experience can be an asset when applying for competitive fellowships such as the Rhodes Scholarship and Fulbright U.S. Student Program.

Warren Bennis Scholars Program – 12:00-12:50pm 
Target Audience: Freshmen, Sophomores
The Warren Bennis Scholars Program is a two-year, honors leadership development experience for USC undergraduate students from all academic disciplines, who manifest high leadership potential and a passion for serving society. Each year, approximately 20 students are invited to begin the program in the fall semester of their junior year.

Focus on Ford Fellowships – 1:00-1:50pm 
Target Audience: Juniors, Seniors, Early Career PhDs
The Ford Fellowship seeks to increase the diversity of the nation’s college and university faculties by increasing their ethnic and racial diversity. In this session, Dr. Rhacel Salazar Parrenas, USC Professor of Sociology and Gender Studies and Regional Ford Liaison will provide an overview of Ford Foundation opportunities that are available to traditionally underrepresented students.

External Fellowships for PhD Students in the Humanities and Social Sciences – 2:00-2:50pm 
Target Audience: PhDs
A panel of funded PhDs will discuss opportunities and tips.

Tuesday, November 7
Sessions located in TCC 227.

Knight-Hennessy Scholars – 12:00-12:50pm
Target Audience: Undergraduates, Master’s
The Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program provides full funding for graduate study at Stanford University, with the goal of developing a new generation of global leaders.

Focus on the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program – 1:00-1:50pm 
Target Audience: Juniors, Seniors, Early Career PhDs
The NSF GRFP recognizes 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.

USC Stevens Center for Innovation – 2:00-2:50pm 
Target Audience: Postdoctoral Scholars, PhDs, Doctoral, Master’s
Staff will present an introduction to working with USC Stevens and cover university intellectual property policies.

Wednesday, November 8
Sessions located in TCC 302.

Rotary Global Grant – 11:00-11:50am
Target Audience: Undergraduates, Master’s, PhDs
Rotary Global Grants are used to fund graduate level study as well as sustainable, measurable, and needs-based community service projects related to one of six areas of focus.

Boren Scholarship – 12:00-12:50pm 
Target Audience: Undergraduates – U.S. Citizenship Required
The Boren Scholarship provides funding to study less commonly taught languages for at least six months in world regions critical to U.S. interests. Applicants should have an interest in national security and working for the federal government for at least one year after graduation.

Postdoc Funding Opportunities Workshop and Information Session – 1:00-1:50pm 
Target Audience: Postdoctoral Scholars, PhDs
This session will cover postdoc funding opportunities, grant writing techniques, and tips from recent award recipients.

USC Advanced PhD Fellowships – 2:00-2:50pm 
Target Audience: PhDs
The USC Graduate School will discuss competitively awarded fellowships for students who have successfully completed the first year of their PhD program.

Thursday, November 9
Sessions located in TCC 227 or, if noted, Health Sciences Campus NRT 503/504.

Focus on Asia: Research, Intern and Study Abroad – 12:00-12:50pm 
Target Audience: Undergraduates, Master’s
Staff from the East Asian Studies Center and Academic Honors and Fellowships will discuss FLAS, Luce and Schwarzman Scholarships among other funding opportunities to support your studies in Asia.

Fellowships for International PhD Students – 1:00-1:50pm 
Target Audience: International PhDs
Staff from the Graduate School will discuss funding available to international PhD students.

Postdoc Funding Opportunities Workshop and Information Session – 1:00-2:30pm *located in HSC NRT 503/504* 
Target Audience: Postdoctoral Scholars, PhDs
This session will cover postdoc funding opportunities, grant writing techniques, and tips from recent award recipients.

External Fellowship Opportunities for PhDs in Health Fields – 3:00-3:50pm *located in HSC NRT 503/504* 
Target Audience: PhDs
A panel of funded PhDs will discuss opportunities and tips.

Friday, November 10
Sessions located in TCC 302.

Fulbright U.S. Student Program – 11:00-11:50am 
Target Audience: Undergraduates, Master’s, PhDs – U.S. Citizenship Required
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program provides funding to carry out a research project, graduate study or teach English for an academic year in over 140 countries outside of the United States.

Click here to RSVP!

Grad School Fellowship Online Course and Fellowship Week

This summer, the Graduate School launched an Online Fellowship Course designed for early career PhDs. The course provides information on the types of funding available to USC PhDs and includes interviews with recipients, resources and tips. All new 2017 PhD students should have been automatically enrolled in the course. They can access it by logging in to the Blackboard system with a USC email ID and password: https://blackboard.usc.edu/webapps/login/.

We also wanted to let you know about the upcoming Research and Fellowship Week that will be held from November 6-10, 2017. A collaboration between Academic Honors and Fellowships, the Graduate School and the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, the week will include numerous programs for students from all levels. More information about the various events can be found here: https://ahf.usc.edu/rfw/

PhD Careers Week

Stress, Mindfulness, and Support for Graduate Students

The Diversity, Inclusion and Access Academic and Professional Development Series provides graduate students the opportunity to participate in networking and professional development events throughout the semester.

First Gen Professionals Cross-School Fall Mixer

Countdown to Publication Event

  Countdown to Publication Spring 2017 by uscbiscgrad on Scribd

Help us “Deck Our Halls”!

The USC Graduate School is pleased to announce the 2nd annual Deck Our Halls competition.  We would like to display the work of graduate students from across USC on the walls of our offices in STU 301. We are especially interested in data visualizations, paintings, photographs, graphics, textiles, or other contributions that reflect the interests and research pursuits of USC graduate students. Other than copyrighted images, all types of submissions are welcome. The work will be featured for up to one year and will be returned to the student at the end of 2017. Within reason, the Graduate School will cover the cost of professionally printing and mounting works selected for display. Featured students will also be invited to an open house next year.

To be considered, please visit https://app.wizehive.com/appform/login/USCDeckHalls and submit an application by January 6, 2017. Proposals will be reviewed the following week and final selections will be made by the end of January.

Two funding opportunities for graduate students

The Rockwell Dennis Hunt Scholastic Award honors USC graduate students whose undergraduate degree is from USC. The $5,000 award is bestowed at the USC Honors Convocation in April.

Applicants must meet the following criteria:
• Earned a bachelor’s degree at USC within the last five years (2012 - 2016);
• Completed at least three years of undergraduate work at USC;
• Currently working towards a master’s or doctoral degree at the University of Southern California during 2016-2017

Applications are due through to the Graduate School by Friday, December 16, 2016. The online application is available here: https://app.wizehive.com/appform/login/USCRDH

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The Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fellowship supports graduate students in any field of study. An applicant must be a US citizen. The application and more information about the award is available here: https://app.wizehive.com/appform/login/USCLiebmann

An initial application is due to the graduate school on Friday December 16, 2016. Two candidates will be selected to move forward in the process. These candidates will be asked to complete the full Liebmann application and provide supplemental materials including a resume, statement of purpose, undergraduate and graduate transcripts, copies of graduate exam test scores, two letters of recommendation and a copy of the FAFSA. The complete submission will also require a copy of the USC Financial Aid Summary and a copy of your Federal Income Tax Return for the prior two years.

Research & Fellowships Week!

The Graduate School and the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs will be hosting the 2nd Annual Research and Fellowships Week from November 7-11, 2016.

USC students at all levels will have an opportunity to learn more about research and fellowships. A variety of panels, made up of fellow Trojans, USC Faculty and Foundation Representatives, will discuss how research and competitive fellowships enhance the undergraduate and graduate career. No RSVP is required. Unless otherwise noted, all sessions will take place in the Tutor Campus Center, Room TCC 227.

  Research and Fellowships Week November 2016 by uscbiscgrad on Scribd

Thesis Center Information Sessions - Oct. 5 and 12

I will be hosting Thesis Center information Sessions for students who are submitting their thesis or dissertation. The sessions will be about 50 minutes long. Advisors and faculty are welcome and encouraged to attend.

There will be one session on University Park Campus, and one session on Health Sciences Campus:

     UPC: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5TH, in THH 202 at 12:00 PM

     HSC: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12TH , in MCH 156 at 12:00 PM

Topics will include important information for both students and advisors, such as:

·         Thesis Center navigation

·         submission deadlines

·         required documentation

·         Finalizing publishing information with the USC Digital Library

There will be an opportunity for questions following the presentation. These dates and times will also be listed in myGradSchool for reference. Hope to see you there!

Fight On!

Samuel Mantell

Academic Services Coordinator

The Graduate School

Office of the Provost

University of Southern California

3601 Trousdale Pkwy, STU 301N

Los Angeles, CA 90089-1695

(213) 740-9033

http://www.usc.edu/schools/GraduateSchool