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04/27/2015 04:00 PM
Grad Advising Weekly Bulletin 4/27/15 - Summer and Fall Skills Institutes, Graduation Census Survey, Summer TOR
Exam
Grad Advising News and Announcements
NEW Summer and Fall 2015 Skills Institutes and 1 credit courses
For a master list of all weekend skills institutes being offered this Summer and Fall and registration instructions, including
how to make registration changes for skills institutes after add/drop, click here. While not a skills institute, students may
also be interested in this 1 credit summer course: SIS-696-001 The Change Agent's Tool Kit (1 credit, Tomasko), which
will meet 3 Tuesday evenings (6pm-8:30pm on May 12, June 2 and 9) + 1 Saturday (June 13 10am-4pm). For more info,
please see the attached flyer. (Please be aware that this course must be taken A-F, unlike skills institutes, which are
graded P/F.)
NEW Graduation Census Survey
Graduating students will receive an email from Provost Scott Bass this week asking you to complete the Graduation
Census. This survey asks graduating students for information regarding their employment and graduate school plans, the
extent to which the AU experience developed their skills and abilities in a number of areas, and their level of satisfaction
with their academic program and their overall experience at AU. Information collected in the survey is used to power the
We KNOW Success website: http://www.american.edu/weknowsuccess/. (Note: Data is reported in the aggregate.
Individual information remains confidential.)
When you receive Provost Bass' email, please be sure to complete the Graduation Census. It is an important way for SIS
to learn about what our graduates are doing after graduation and to learn more about your thoughts on your experiences
in your degree program.
NEW Summer Tool of Research Exam Dates (June 22-June 26)
Students planning to take the free Tool of Research exam to fulfill the SIS MA language requirement should be aware
that there will only be one exam period offered during the summer 2015 semester from June 22-June 26, 2015.
Registration will be open June 1-June 12. For more information on the TOR exam, click here.
NEW Part-Time On-Campus Summer Job - AU Center for Teaching, Research, and Learning
CTRL currently has a part-time job opening as Event Coordinator and Advanced Learning Technologies Consultant
in the Teaching and Learning Resources Office, starting in the summer of 2015. The position will be open until filled, and
graduate students - whether currently enrolled or admitted for the fall - are strongly encouraged to apply. To read the job
description, and to submit an application, click here. If you have any questions about the position, please contact Anna
Olsson at aolsson@american.edu.
Summer Course: French Reading for Research
The World Languages and Cultures Department is offering a reduced cost, non-credit French course this summer for
graduate students planning like to fulfill the SIS MA language requirement in French. FREN-020 French Reading for
Research will be offered May 11 - June 24 (MW 5:30-8pm) for $315, and completion of this course with a 'B' or better
fulfills the SIS MA language requirement.
Summer 2015 Graduate Language Audits (including intensive Arabic courses)
AU graduate students are permitted to audit foreign language courses taught at AU for a substantially discounted rate in
order to support their development of research skills related to their chosen program of study. For summer 2015, this
includes three levels of intensive Modern Standard Arabic (Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced; for course
dates/times please consult the Schedule of Classes). Audits earn no academic credit and may not be used as a
substitute for the Tool of Research examination or to fulfil any degree requirement. Interested students should consult the
language audit website for more information, including fees and registration instructions. Registrations require
instructor permission.
Now Scheduling Advising Appointments ONLINE
All graduate advising appointments will now be booked online at: https://sisgraduateadvising.youcanbook.me/
The SIS Graduate Advising office is again scheduling 30 minute student appointments. Unlike Express Advising,
appointments allow for more in-depth advising conversations, including longer-term course/degree planning.
Appointments are available in-person or via phone or Skype. If you have any questions about booking online, please call
the Graduate Advising office at 202-885-1690.
Announcing SIS 2015-2016 Graduate Student Council (GSC) Executive Board
Please welcome your incoming SIS Graduate Student Council Executive Board:
President: Lucas Olson (ID)
Vice President: Elisa Wilkinson (GEP)
Treasurer: Miriam Mehdi (SE)
Communications Coordinator: Laurel Brooks (IC)
Elections for program Senatorial positions will be open in Fall 2015. Please consider running if you would like to be
involved in school activities and feel you would make a good representative for your program. Finally, look out for
upcoming updates from this year's outgoing GSC members, including the lessons we have learned and changes we have
made this year to help ensure the incoming council is best prepared to serve our graduate student body at SIS. If you
have a suggestion for what you think would make the SIS GSC better please email current GSC President Jane Burke at
machlin.burke@gmail.com
Summer Financial Aid Application Now Available
Students registering for at least 2 credits for the summer 2015 session are eligible to apply for financial aid for summer.
The AU Summer Aid Application is available now on the Financial Aid website. Students are recommended to submit
the application as soon as they have registered for summer.
Fall and Summer 2015 Registration - FAQs
Registration for graduate students for Fall 2015 and Summer 2015 is now open. All current graduate students are preauthorized to register - students are not required to meet with their advisor prior to registration. STUDENTS
SHOULD REVIEW THE FALL AND SUMMER REGISTRATION FAQs BEFORE REGISTERING. FAQ topics include:
 Approved Second-Level Methods Courses
 Stops
 Pre-Requisites
 Waitlists
 SRP, Thesis, Independent Study Registration
 MA Professional Experience Requirement
 Internship (Academic Credit or No-Credit) Registration
Upcoming Events
SIS Spring 2015 Graduate Practicum Presentations
Presentations held April 16 through May 5, 2015. Click here for a complete schedule.
Graduate students who are completing their SIS Graduate Practicum for spring 2015 will provide short (typically 15-20
minute) presentations of their research and share their experience working with client partners. Partners include DOJ,
Search for Common Ground, Inter-American Development Bank, the Atlantic Council, and many more. This is an
excellent opportunity for students taking their Practicum in the summer and fall to learn about student experiences, clients
and projects.
FOR MORE SIS EVENTS: http://www.american.edu/sis/events
TO ACCESS TO SIS GRADUATE ADVISING WEEKLY BULLETINS ON THE WEB:
http://www.american.edu/sis/gradadvising/News-and-Announcements.cfm
To schedule an appointment, please call the Graduate Advising Office at (202) 885-1690.
For advising resources, and Express Advising schedules (as applicable), please visit the Graduate Advising website
at: www.american.edu/sis/gradadvising.
For up to date advising information, please visit our News and Announcements page at:
http://www.american.edu/sis/gradadvising/News-and-Announcements.cfm.