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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 Sept. 30. If you have any questions, please email us at: fgpa_newsletter@carleton.ca.


What You Need to Know About Coming on Campus

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.

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. You can get vaccinated at Carleton’s on-campus COVID-19 vaccine clinics. Appointments are available until Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021.

To find out when departments, including Graduate Studies, are open on campus, click here.

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 Graduate Studies’s FAQs over the past week.

Please read the latest message (Sept. 22) from President and Vice-Chancellor Benoit-Antoine Bacon by clicking here. It’s entitled A Strong Start Under Challenging Circumstances.


An Outstanding Array of Professional Development Opportunities

As a graduate student at Carleton, you have access to a variety of professional development resources. These include skill workshops, one-on-one career and writing consultations, career-oriented events, and even structured programs. Challenge yourself by acquiring new skills that can help you boost your employability. To learn more, visit the Graduate Professional Development website.

Workshops coming up: The Alt-Ac Launchpad (today, 1 to 2 p.m.) and LinkedIn and Networking (Friday, 1 to 2:30 p.m.)


Thinking of Pursuing a PhD at Carleton?

This fall, join us every Wednesday for our Webinar Wednesday info sessions where you will find out about the graduate school experience at Carleton, the application process, program requirements, and award and funding opportunities. Connect with other Ravens looking to pursue Graduate School at Carleton by registering for our Carleton Community Graduate Info Sessions. Dates and registration info are available by clicking here.


Check Out These Award Opportunities

Applications for OGS and Tri-council competition awards are open. For full eligibility details and application processes, please click on the relevant hyperlink. Some deadlines to note:

Check out our Donor-funded awards listed on this website. The deadline to apply is Sept. 30.

The Indigenous Graduate Student Award is available for Canadian First Nation, Metis or Inuit Master’s or Doctoral graduate students. Recipients will be selected based on demonstrated financial need and academic merit. Applicants will be required to provide supporting documentation to verify ancestry. This “proof of ancestry” documentation should be uploaded in their application as a supporting letter. Applicants need to go to Carleton Central (under “financial aid and awards” and then “online graduate award applications”), and search under the correct name. The application deadline is Sept. 30.

Interested in Space? Check out the Canadian Student Participation in the NASA International Internship (summer 2022, fall 2022 & spring 2023). Canadian graduate students are invited to submit their application. The application deadline is Oct. 13.

International students from an African country are encouraged to apply for the $5,000 Richard J. Van Loon Scholarship. Applicants must be full-time students proceeding from one year to another in any Carleton program. Applications are due by Nov. 15.


Update on Transcripts for Tri-council Award Applications

The CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC—acknowledge that the widespread disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic may hinder the ability of some institutions to provide applicants with official and up-to-date transcripts in advance of the deadline date. Therefore, for the fall 2021 scholarship and fellowship competitions, the agencies will continue to accept unofficial transcripts if official transcripts cannot be obtained. Submission of an application will continue to serve as a formal attestation that the applicant has provided true, complete and accurate information in the application and its related documents. Where possible, students are expected to make every effort to provide official documents. Tri-agencies may request official hard copies at a later date and students may be required to submit official hard copies to Graduate Studies if they are successful recipients of an award. Students will be contacted at a later date if needed.

Note for NSERC PhD:  All official transcripts must be scanned and sent to jenna.mcconnell@carleton.ca for uploading to applications prior to the September 27, 2021 deadline.


Final Reminder re. Medical/Dental Insurance & U-Pass

The Graduate Students’ Association offers comprehensive medical, dental and accident insurance. All full-time students registered in the fall term are automatically covered by the plan from Sept. 1 to Aug. 30. You can opt out before Oct. 5. Part-time and co-op students and students wanting couples or family coverage (including same-sex and common-law couples) may opt in by paying the fee by Oct. 5.

Full-time grad students can pick up or renew their U-Pass for the Fall 2021 – Winter 2022 pass period. They are valid for use on OC-Transpo and STO services September 1 – April 30. Students who are eligible to opt-out can submit a request through Carleton Central, and should not pick up or renew their card. Follow these instructions to Opt-Out. Please note that the deadline for a full fee refund for those who already picked up their cards has now passed.


Need Help?

There are many health and wellness services that can assist graduate students at Carleton. Please click here for a list of resources you can access. We are here to help.


Start Planning Your Exchange for 2022-23

The International Student Services Office is pleased to announce the launch of the 2022-2023 Outgoing International Exchange cycle with applications opening on Oct. 11, 2021. Students who are interested in applying for exchange are strongly recommended to attend one of the Exchange Information Sessions that are taking place throughout the fall semester. Grad students must receive approval from their graduate department in order to be eligible for an exchange placement. For more information about the Exchange Program, students can visit the ISSO website or email exchange@carleton.ca.


Of Interest to International Students

For questions about study permits, travel and quarantine plans, or health insurance, please email the International Student Services Office at isso@carleton.ca

Find out more on the ISSO website.


Board of Governors Call for Observers: Sept. 30

The Carleton Board of Governors will be meeting remotely on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021. Members of the community interested in attending the open session are asked to email the University Secretary by 4 p.m. on Sept. 29, 2021. Meeting materials will be posted on the Board of Governors website.


Writing Opportunities For PhD Students

Click here to find out the latest opportunities for PhD students who want to write for The Conversation. These are updated on a regular basis.


Campus Safety Services is Hosting Food Drive to Support Minwaashin Lodge

Campus Safety Services is collecting non-perishable food items, personal hygiene products and baby products in support of Minwaashin Lodge Emergency Food Cupboard until Sept. 29. In exchange for your donated item, you will receive an Orange Ribbon in solidarity with Ottawa’s Indigenous Community. Products can be dropped off in front of the Campus Safety Services office in Robertson Hall (room 203). The collected items will be distributed to over 200 Indigenous families within the Ottawa Community.


Racialized and Indigenous Faculty Alliance Finds Strong Support at Carleton

The first time that Carleton University’s Racial and Indigenous Faculty Alliance met virtually last February, it was during the thick of the COVID–19 pandemic. Still, there was something special in the air. Today, the group sits at about 60 members from across the university and it is growing.

Read More →


The Joyce Family Foundation Invests in Indigenous Student Success at Carleton

The Joyce Family Foundation is establishing a $2.5 million endowment to support bursaries for Indigenous students at Carleton. The University will match this gift with an additional $2.5 million to support other Indigenous Initiatives. Among other things, the gift will support bursaries, mentorship, Indigenous programming, and student recruitment for Indigenous student success at Carleton.

Read More →


Research: A Little Insect Causes Big Problems

A small insect is causing big problems for Canada’s forestry industry. The mountain pine beetle is about the size of a grain of rice and it’s common to find more than 100 of them on a mass-attacked tree. Understanding why some populations of lodgepole pine have a genetic resilience to the pest and mitigating the risks faced by jack pine are the main goals of a new project co-led by Biology Prof. Catherine Cullingham, who recently received $6.4 million for multidisciplinary research that will better inform policy makers and forest managers in government and industry.

Read More →


Research: Links Between Food, Stress and a Hormone Called Ghrelin

It’s not uncommon for people to hit the fridge when they get stressed. Professor Alfonso Abizaid from the Department of Neuroscience is researching why they choose to eat high-calorie foods, as well as the role of a hormone called ghrelin.

Read More →


Carleton Physics Professor Awarded Prestigious Medal

As a researcher in experimental particle physics, Physics Prof. Manuella Vincter is a leader in the Canadian and international physics community. Her research contributed to the discovery of the Higgs boson and consolidates the Standard-Model foundations of the Large Hadron Collider’s program. She has been honoured with the Henry Marshall Tory Medal from the Royal Society of Canada.

Read More →


Upcoming Events

Wondering what to make of the results from the September 20 federal election? Join two Carleton political science professors today (Thursday, Sept. 23 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.) as they analyze the election results and answer audience questions about the implications for Canadian politics and public policy. You can register by clicking here.

Throwback is Carleton’s homecoming when the university opens its virtual doors to celebrate our shared past, present and future. Find out about events scheduled from Sept. 25 to Oct. 2 by clicking here.

The 22nd Annual Biology Butterfly Show is taking place Saturday, Oct. 2 – Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021 and will be held virtually. Register on this website.

The Department of Psychology is partnering with the Mental Health and Well-being Research and Training Hub to host Psychology Mental Health Day, 2021 virtually on Thurs. Oct. 7 from 2:30 – 4 p.m. The event features former Olympic skater Elizabeth Manley talking about Resiliency…Getting Through Uncertain Times and keynote speaker Dr. Lara Aknin, from Simon Fraser University talking about Mental Health and Well-being During the First Year of Covid-19. You can register for this virtual event by clicking here.

Carleton is hosting the 53rd Algonquian Conference (Oct. 14-17) and you are invited to attend. This conference is an international meeting for Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers and community members to share research papers, workshops, engagement circles and story-telling activities related to Algonquian peoples. Find out more about this by clicking here.


Important Dates & Deadlines

Sept. 30: Last day to withdraw from fall term and fall/winter courses with a full fee adjustment (financial withdrawal). Withdrawals after this date will create no financial change to fall term fees and will result in a permanent notation of WDN appearing on your official transcript.

Oct. 8: December examination schedule (fall term final and fall/winter mid-terms) available online.

Oct. 11: Statutory holiday. University closed.

Oct. 25-29: Fall break. Classes are suspended.

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.