New Reduced Tuition for Self-Pay Students in 6th and 7th Year of Study

In response to requests from faculty and graduate students, the university leadership and General Committee have approved a reduced tuition option for self-pay PhD and DMA students in good academic standing who are in their 6th or 7th year of registration (semesters 11, 12, 13, and 14).  This new reduced tuition rate will be available starting Fall '14.  This option is available only to self-pay students who have received and exhausted their financial support package and will be paying their own tuition to maintain registration status.  

Students on reduced tuition are eligible for all student services including library, student health and electronic services.  Students on reduced tuition may not sign up for any Cornell courses other than the dissertation research "course" required of all students to maintain registration.

The reduced tuition rate will be set at $5,750 per semester ($11,500 per year) and will be adjusted every three years.  Students on reduced tuition will be responsible for the student activity fee and the student health insurance premium.  The reduced tuition must be paid by the student-departments and external agencies may not pay the reduced tuition rate for the student as the reduced tuition is available only to self-pay students. 

Students approved for reduced tuition will receive a Bursar bill for the full tuition rate each semester; the student's account will be credited by the college of the student's special committee chair with a  tuition scholarship to bring the balance due (to be paid by the student) to the published reduced rate. 

The application form for reduced tuition is available at  http://www.gradschool.cornell.edu/forms under the Funding and Financial Aid heading.  Applications are due by June 15 for the Fall semester and by November 1 for the Spring semester.  Applications should be submitted to Graduate Student Services in 143 Caldwell Hall or electronically to gradstudserv@cornell.edu.

Questions about the new reduced tuition option should be addressed to the Associate Dean for Administration at gradstudserv_assoc_dean@cornell.edu. 

Position Available - Graduate Fellow for the Greek Community in 2014-15

The Graduate Fellow(s) for the Greek Community works with the Office of Fraternities, Sororities, & Independent Living staff to create a vibrant, values-based living-learning community centered on chapter excellence and success.  The Graduate Fellow(s) will each work 20 hours per week (some nights and weekends included), at a compensation rate of $15/hour; approximately $9,000 annually.  More information, please contact Jason Allen, Assistant Dean of Students at JPA66.

Academic Series - Getting a faculty position

Wednesday May 21, 12:00 -1:30 p.m., 100 Caldwell hall

Come listen to postdocs and graduate students who were offered faculty positions this year. 

We will discuss:

• Looking for jobs 
• Applying and what was the most important piece of the application package
• Interviewing
• Negotiating

Please contact Christine Holmes ch18@cornell.edu with any questions.

Non-Academic Career Resource: Versatile PhD

Thinking about non-academic careers? Cornell subscribes to a resource that demystifies non-academic careers and reveals many professions that can utilize the skills you are developing in graduate school: Versatile PhD.

Navigate to our VPhD portal - http://vphd.info/Cornell_go- and authenticate yourself as directed. Once you reach the Versatile PhD login page, create a VPhD member account if it's your first time. If you already have an account, sign in as usual. You'll have full access for twelve months, even if you're graduating soon. In that time, just come right to Versatile PhD.

Once you reach Versatile PhD, you'll find:

- HIRED: Real resumes and cover letters that got real PhDs their first jobs away from the faculty track, with detailed analysis that describes how they made the non-academic pivot and shows the application and hiring process step by step

- BIO: Inspiring first-person stories by experienced non-academic PhDs describing how their careers evolved over several years after moving out of the academy, including promotions, advancement, and signature accomplishments

- PANEL: Detailed inside information on a wide range of specific PhD-friendly careers provided by PhDs in those careers, along with their answers to grad student questions

All of this and more is waiting for you in VPhD's "PhD Career Finder." Then explore the Versatile PhD discussion forums, learn more about local meetup groups, and search job listings - all from the main menu.

Assessment in a Flipped Classroom

• Thursday, May 22, 2014 from 10:30 am - noon
• 251 Malott Hall

Long before the "flipped classroom" became a buzzword, Dr. Barbara Walvoord pioneered best practices for humanities students' first exposure to course material. When students prepare for class through writing assignments or problems, the instructor can use class time productively for activities focused on synthesis, analysis, problem-solving and other higher-order thinking skills - improving student feedback while reducing need for extensive written comments by the instructor. This approach is broadly relevant to all disciplines, from history and literature to physics and biology. Open to the public and co-sponsored by the Center for Teaching Excellence and CU-CIRTL.

Learn more

Grad/Postdoc Workshop - Keeping Student Evaluation Simple

• Thursday, May 22, 2014 from 12:30-2:30 pm (lunch served at 12:15 pm)
• 225 ILR Conference Center (King-Shaw Hall)

Graduate students and postdocs: join us for lunch and a brief master class on effective use of class time and design of student assignments. Dr. Barbara Walvoord, Professor Emerita from the University of Notre Dame, will emphasize how to establish standards for written student work and ways to get and provide feedback in real time so you know what students are learning in the the lecture hall, recitation, or laboratory. Gain essential assessment skills that you'll use throughout your career to save time and increase student learning. Co-sponsored by the Center for Teaching Excellence and CU-CIRTL. RSVP to cu-cirtl@cornell.edu.

Learn more

Weekly Guided Mindfulness Meditations  

Weekly meditations are still available to all members of the Cornell community: students, faculty, and staff. Come as you are, as often as you like, to practice this relaxing and restorative technique. These FREE sessions are 30 minutes long and are available throughout the summer Wednesdays at Gannett, starting May 28th. No sign-ups needed! 

Learn more & review the schedule.

Row with Cascadilla Boat Club This Summer 

• Learn to row - Adult classes are geared to the newcomer with little or no rowing experience and provide an introduction to the sport. A student discount is available.
• Coached rowing - Two levels of coached rows for adults who have previously learned to row.  A student discount is available.  
• National Learn to Row Day - CBC is opening the boathouse to the community with an opportunity to get in a boat and see what it's all about.  Come any time on June 7th between 9:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. In 60 minutes from start to finish you will learn the basics of sweep rowing on the Cascadilla Creek. Wear comfortable clothing - not too loose or baggy, sneakers and socks. Free!

What's bugging your plants?  

Invasive Pest Detection Training, June 3

You've probably heard of emerald ash borer, Asian longhorn beetle, sudden oak death, and other invasive organisms, but would you recognize them if you saw them?  Cornell Plantations presents a special all-day seminar focused on enhancing the early detection of invasive insects and plant pathogens that threaten New York's agriculture, nurseries, home landscapes and natural areas.  

Click here to learn more and register.

At this free workshop. create sculptures with self-drying clay and take home a special memento of Commencement 2014!  

Open to everyone, Commencement 2014 events are being offered as a special way for students and their families to experience the Museum. Capacity is limited to first-come, first-served.

Summer Registration

Now through mid-July, graduate students may self-enroll through their Student Center for Summer 2014.  We encourage students to enroll now and not delay.

There is no charge for summer registration with the Graduate School. To register, simply enroll in the Graduate School's Graduate Summer Research course GRAD 9006 (class numbers 1719, 1720, 1721, 1722, or 1723) via Student Center.

Graduate students must register with the Graduate School for the Summer 2014 term if any of the following conditions apply: 

• They are receiving financial aid during the summer (fellowships, summer loans, assistantships, travel grants, or tuition awards);
• They wish to use campus facilities; or
• They are off campus but need to be registered for summer study.