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Current Grad Students Newsletter

Graduate Student News

The Graduate@Carleton newsletter is typically distributed every Thursday morning. The next newsletter will be sent to you on Thursday, Feb. 3.  If you have any questions, please email us at: fgpa_newsletter@carleton.ca.


Winter & Summer Schedules

As President Bacon noted in this message, barring another dramatic change in the trajectory of the pandemic, Carleton will re-open its facilities (following public health regulations) and resume in-person courses (as per the winter 2022 schedule) and activities on Monday, Feb. 7.

In alignment with the return of some in-person classes, the FGPA office will re-open for in-person student services starting Feb. 7. Our office hours will be as they were in the fall from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with a one hour closure from noon to 1:00 p.m. until further notice.  We continue to encourage students to contact our office via phone or email to allow us to review inquiries thoroughly and respond or redirect to the most appropriate office.  Forms and policies can be accessed on the FGPA Resources Page.  FGPA will continue to re-evaluate its service levels in accordance with the Carleton Return to Campus Committee.

The summer 2022 class schedule is now available in Carleton Central and via the public class schedule. At this time, only information about course offerings is available. Instructors will be posted on March 14 and room information will be available on April 25. Registration information, including timetickets and important dates for the summer 2022 term, are posted at carleton.ca/registrar/registration.


Have You Filled in the CGPSS Survey Yet?

On Jan. 25, you received an email inviting you to participate in the 2022 Canadian Graduate and Professional Student Survey (CGPSS). You have up to three weeks to participate in this online survey. For each week of the survey, three grad students who fill in the survey will be randomly selected to win a $100 prize. Click here to find out other reasons to fill in this survey.


Info Session for the 3MT and GRADflix

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs is running two research communication contests for graduate students this year: the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) and GRADflix. It’s time to go public with your ideas! As a bonus, you may be able to win some money. If you are interested in competing in either contest, please register for the information session on Jan. 31 by clicking here.


Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities

Challenge yourself by acquiring new skills that can help you boost your employability. To learn more, visit the Graduate Professional Development Events web page. More events will be added in the coming weeks.

Coming up this week:
Jan. 27 at 12:00 to 2:30 p.m. Debt & Credit Scores
Feb. 3 at 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. Introduction to Investing
Feb. 3 at 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. NVivo Introduction and Getting Started


Tax Information

If you have received employment income from the university (TAs, Type B RAs, those with casual jobs etc.) please read the pay and tax information on this page.


Help is Available

There are several health and counselling resources that graduate students can access. Please click here to see these resources. There are also lots of other resources available to you.


Writing for "The Conversation"

The Conversation is a unique digital journalism platform designed to boost the visibility of Canada’s academic faculty and researchers. The Department of University Communications is hosting a virtual workshop on Jan. 31 or Feb. 7 for PhD students and faculty about writing for The Conversation. Click here to register.

On a regular basis, The Conversation puts out a list of possible story ideas for PhD students and faculty to write about. Click here to find out about the latest opportunities.


For International Students

The ISSO is hosting a session entitled All-About Post-Graduation Work Permits taking place on Jan. 28 at 11:00 a.m.  Click here for more details.

If you are currently in Canada and have active University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) coverage, you should have received your UHIP card via email from Sun Life Insurance. Be sure to check your spam and junk email folders. You can also register online on this web page to print your card, track your claims, and more. Please reach out to the ISSO’s UHIP specialists with any questions at uhip@carleton.ca

The ISSO can also answer questions about study permits, travel and quarantine plans, or health insurance, and more. isso@carleton.ca


Mitacs Globalink Research Award Info Session Tomorrow

Carleton International invites Carleton researchers, including students and postdocs, to a virtual information session on Jan. 28 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. about the Mitacs Globalink Research Award. The information session will outline the details of the program, the application process at Carleton, the benefits of the program for students and supervisors, and answer any questions you may have on using this opportunity to further your research and collaboration goals. Click here for details.


Prospective Students: Book a 1:1 Session with an FGPA Recruitment Representative

Students in the process of completing their Carleton Graduate applications can book a 1:1 recruitment session with a representative from FGPA to help answer questions about the application process. Appointments are available on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Click here for details.


Apply Now for the Hugh C. Morris Experiential Learning Fellowship

The Hugh C. Morris Experiential Learning Fellowship is valued at up to $40,000 and is open to any graduate student studying in Canada who is working in a field related to earth, geosciences, environment, alternative energy, water, climate change, sustainability, or to the social impact, social sciences or design sciences related to these areas. It is designed to provide a unique experiential travel program designed by the student. Fellowship application forms are available on the Kimberley Foundation website. The deadline for receipt of online applications is 11:59 p.m. PST on Feb. 15, 2022.


Sexual Violence Policy Review Information and Feedback Sessions for Grad Students and TAs

This is Sexual Assault Week at Carleton University. There are still a few activities that you can attend. Click here for more information.

Carleton is reviewing its Sexual Violence Policy. As part of this process, we are offering information and feedback sessions to solicit feedback from the campus community. The objective of these sessions is to host a supportive, creative space wherein members of the community can provide their feedback on the Sexual Violence Policy. Register now for an upcoming information and feedback session for graduate students and teaching assistants.


Present Your Research at CRIW’s Virtual Conference on Equity and Inclusion at Work

Apply by Feb. 28 to present your research at the Centre for Research on Inclusion at Work’s (CRIW) virtual multidisciplinary conference for scholars exploring inclusion 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, immigrants, women, individuals with disabilities, LGBTQ2+ and youth.


Call for Papers - School of Indigenous and Canadian Studies Research Symposium

The Organizing Committee of the 2nd Annual School of Indigenous and Canadian Studies Research Symposium is pleased to announce its 2022 Call for Papers. This is an opportunity to present new and ongoing research, gain conference experience, and connect with faculty and peers. The Symposium will take place virtually on Thursday April 7 but you need to submit your abstract by Sunday Feb. 20 at 11:59 p.m.

Find Out More →


Carleton’s Research Income Jumps More Than 60 per cent Over Last Three Years  

According to Re$earch Infosource, Carleton’s external research income has reached $86 million in 2020, up from $54 million in 2017; an increase of over 60 per cent.

Read More →


Reconnecting Indigenous Well-Being & Biodiversity

A new project called, Ărramăt: Strengthening Health and Well-Being through Indigenous-Led Conservation and Sustainable Relationships with Biodiversity aims to empower Indigenous Peoples to apply their knowledge and to engage Indigenous youth in the realm of biodiversity conservation and land governance. Assistant Professor of Law and Legal Studies Danika Littlechild is one of the project’s co-principal investigators.

Read More →


Carleton Researcher Turned his Passion for Whales into an Award-winning Career

Dr. Shane Gero is a Scientist-in-Residence at Carleton University. As founder and lead scientist of the Dominica Sperm Whale Project, he spends months in the eastern Caribbean with about 40 sperm whale families he has tracked, studied and bonded with, some for more than a decade. His work garnered Hollywood accolades when, last fall, Secrets of the Whales took home an Emmy award. Much of the show’s subject matter was based on Dr. Gero’s research.

Read More in "University Affairs" Magazine →


Delaying the Onset of Alzheimers

John Anderson is the Canada Research Chair in Cognition and Wellness at Carleton, and he’s studying how switching back and forth between languages can help our brains ward off signs of dementia.

Listen to This CBC Radio Interview →


Why Now? What Vladimir Putin Has to Gain in a War with Ukraine

Every day, the news from Ukraine and the surrounding region grows more concerning. While the product of years of tensions between Russia, Ukraine, NATO and Eastern Europe, the latest flare-up still seemed to emerge suddenly. Professor Andrea Chandler, a fluent Russian speaker and expert on the region, has these insights.

Read More →


Where Has the Time Gone?

Cognitive psychology Professor Jim Davies explains why the last two years might seem like one big blur. He explains to CBC Radio’s Ottawa Morning.

Listen to the Interview →


Are You Coming on Campus?

Please be reminded that access to the tunnel system at Carleton University remains restricted to authorized individuals and those with approval to use the tunnels for accessibility purposes.

Anyone coming on campus must complete the COVID-19 screening self-assessment every day through cuScreen. You will also need to use a QR code when you enter buildings. And you also need to complete the vaccination attestation form and submit this as soon as possible. You can find the form in cuScreen after you have logged in.

To access FAQs about how Carleton is coping with the COVID-19 pandemic, click here. For questions concerning current graduate studentsclick here. To view FAQs for prospective graduate studentsclick here. There have been no updates to FGPA’s FAQs for current grad students and prospective students over the past week.

Any university staff, faculty, or researchers who have cause to access federal government workplaces as a result of a grant or contract held by Carleton, where they may come into contact with public servants, are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This is a mandatory federal government requirement.


Important Dates and Deadlines

Jan. 31:

  • Last day for a fee adjustment when withdrawing from winter term courses or the winter portion of two-term courses (financial withdrawal). Withdrawals after this date will create no financial change to winter term fees and will result in a permanent notation of WDN appearing on your official transcript.

Feb. 18

  • April examination schedule available online.

Feb. 21

  • Statutory holiday. University closed.

Feb. 22-25

  • Winter Break. Classes are suspended.

March 1

  • Last day for graduate students to submit their supervisor-approved thesis, in examinable form to their supervisor.

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