The Graduate@Carleton newsletter is typically distributed every Thursday morning. The next newsletter will be available on January 21. If you have any questions, please email us at: fgpa_newsletter@carleton.ca.

To access FAQs about how Carleton is coping with the COVID-19 pandemic, click here. For questions concerning current graduate students, click here. To view FAQs for prospective graduate students, click here. International graduate students, please check out FAQs on the ISSO website. In case you missed it, please read this message from Carleton President Benoit-Antoine Bacon with early thoughts about what to expect in 2021.

Are you a new graduate student or teaching assistant at Carleton this term? If so, please register for the virtual Winter Orientation here.

Are you a new TA this term? If so, here are several things you need to know.

In case you missed it, the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs has launched a new website for current graduate students. The design incorporates feedback from several grad students. Let us know what you think. Here’s the link.

Professional Development is a great way to increase your skill set and make yourself more employable. There is a whole new suite of PD opportunities for graduate students this term. More events will be added in the coming weeks. You can view upcoming events by clicking here. Please note that the Grad Café returns tomorrow January 15. Details are here.

Have you recently moved outside of the OC Transpo service area or graduated from Carleton University? All Carleton students can choose to opt out of the U-Pass (transit) program for Winter 2021. If you already have a U-Pass, you must return this in order to receive a pro-rated credit for the Winter term. 

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If you are eligible to receive a scholarship balance, you can request your balance through Carleton Central by clicking on “Refund or Scholarship Balance Request”. Depending on the amount of your scholarship balance, you will have up to four options: campus card transfer, e-transfer, cheque, or donate to Carleton. Although you can submit your request prior to the financial drop date, it will not be processed until after January 31, 2021. If you have any questions, please contact Student Accounts by phone at 613-520-2600 ext. 3626 or by emailing student_accounts@carleton.ca.

Applications are still being accepted for several awards including the Canada Graduate Scholarships – Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements (application deadline January 27), the R. James Travers Foreign Corresponding Fellowship (deadline March 1 at noon), the Dan David scholarship, (deadiine March 10) and scholarships from the Maple Leaf Centre for Action on Food Security (deadline February 12). For more information, please email merryn.maynard@mapleleaf.com or click here. Check out other awards on our special awards website.

The nomination form for the Outstanding TA Awards 2020-2021 is now available on the TASupport website. You can use this form to submit nominations:

The Carleton University Board of Governors is seeking Expressions of Interest from two graduate students to serve a one year term for the 2021/2022 Board year. Interested students must attend a virtual Board 101 information session TODAY January 14 from 12 – 1 p.m. The deadline for submitting Expressions of Interests is TOMORROW January 15 at 4 p.m. For eligibility criteria and additional information, please click here.

PhD students and faculty are invited to submit their ideas to The Conversation”.  The publication ask authors to please sign up and then pitch an article idea, rather than email a fully written article to the editors. Here are some of the topics they are looking for.

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On Wednesday, January 27 from 3 to 4 p.m., Taran Wasson, Chair of IPAC-NCR and Acting Senior Manager, Government of Canada, will share his insights on the Why, Where, When and How to Network. The event will consist of a 45-minute presentation followed by a short question and answer period. As you look to find a co-op or join the public service, you may not consider the importance of networking yet or might not think networking is for you. But this event will show you why your network is your net worth and how to do it. Register today.

The Centre for Research on Inclusion at Work is hosting a virtual multidisciplinary conference for scholars exploring equity issues at work among traditionally underrepresented populations. CRIW seeks proposal submissions from graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and faculty early in their careers or new to research on equity, diversity and inclusion. Of particular interest are papers exploring barriers to employment and organizational socialization for such populations as Black, Indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC), immigrants, women, individuals with disabilities, LGBTQ2+ and youth. More information here. Proposal submission deadline is February 22.

All international air travellers are required to demonstrate a negative test result for COVID-19 prior to boarding their flights. Students planning to arrive in Canada over the Winter term are encouraged to consult the ISSO’s news post on entry and travel requirements to effectively prepare for travel. Read more here.

International students studying in Canada must have health insurance. Given the unique circumstances of this academic year, however, you may be wondering if you can use, extend, or even opt out of the University Health Insurance Plan. Students studying outside of Canada, students who completed their studies in Fall 2020, and new students for the Winter 2021 term are encouraged to learn about the options available to them.

Are you looking to have your textbooks shipped outside of Canada? You can order your textbooks from the Carleton Bookstore website and have them delivered anywhere around the world. Click here for more info.

Are you an international student studying from overseas? Join the ISSO and a variety of campus partners for Managing Your Studies From Abroad, a workshop where you can learn about academic, social and wellness resources available to help you succeed during the Winter 2021 term. Click here for details.

Register now for the Navigating the Canadian Workplace workshop series. Here are some other upcoming events.

Are you in need of mental health support? Then check out these resources.

Counselling Through Health & Counselling Services (HSC)

Domestic students can call 613-520-6674 to book an appointment with the graduate counsellor, Magda Georgescu or one of the other HSC counsellors. International students, if you are in Canada and paying health fees, you can also use counselling services. HCS is also working on starting a non-thematic group for students to provide the opportunity to connect and share their experiences.

Please note that physicians can only see patients in Ontario due to licensing requirements.

TAO Self-Help

Carleton offers virtual support services to all students through TAO Online Self-Help and Therapy.

Wellness Together Canada

This is a partnership with the federal government for people living in Canada and Canadians living abroad. After a short online assessment, individuals have access to:

• self-guided tools
• group coaching and community support
• 1:1 counselling
• immediate crisis support which can be accessed by texting WELLNESS to 741741

AbilitiCBT

This is an Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) program that is accessible from any device, any time. It is confidential, short-term, and virtual Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, with intermittent access to a psychotherapist, and for people aged 16 and over. This is also a partnership with the federal government for people living in Canada and Canadians living abroad.

• After you sign up, the first step is an assessment of your needs. You complete an online questionnaire and connect with a professional therapist by phone or video
• You then move through 10 structured modules, at your own pace, while your therapist monitors your progress. Each module contains activities, videos, and assignments to help you learn, develop and practice new skills
• There are scheduled check-ins along the way. You connect with your therapist by phone, video, or messaging. This is a free service.

Additional Resources for International Students

International students residing in their home country can visit this website for a list of resources. ISSO organizes a series of workshops for international students. Subscribe to their newsletter to stay up-to-date and visit their events page.

The myriad impacts of COVID-19 have demanded a wide range of responses. Read about 10 ways in which students, faculty, staff and alumni have used their education and experience to address this devastating virus and its successive shock waves.

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Carleton’s Institute of African Studies will host 17 West African women academics over the next three years as part of the highly competitive QES Advanced Scholars West Africa program. Only 11 proposals including Carleton’s were retained this year.

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Master’s students in the Carleton Sensory Architecture and Liminal Technologies laboratory in the basement of the university’s Architecture Building are creating building materials with the potential to reduce our carbon footprint.

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Three Master of Accounting graduates from Carleton’s Sprott School of Business placed in the top one per cent of CPA candidates who successfully wrote the Common Final Examination this past fall. Their tremendous achievement earned them a spot on CPA Canada’s national honour roll.

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For a complete list of all official academic and financial dates and deadlines, please go to the Registrar’s website. For all financial matters, go to Student Accounts.

Reminder that January 25, 2021 is the last day for registration for Winter term courses.and the last day to change courses or sections (including auditing) for Winter term courses. Also, Graduate students who have not electronically submitted their final thesis copy to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs by this date will not be eligible to graduate in Winter 2021 and must register for the Winter 2021 term.

The FAQs for prospective students have been updated to reflect the current term. The FAQs for current graduate students were updated in December.