Bren 101 for MESM Students—
The Nitty Gritty
Laura Haston
Assistant Dean
Corlei Prieto
Manager of Student Affairs
Chelsea Houdyshell
Graduate Advisor
Information Sources
• http://www.bren.ucsb.edu
– Academic Programs Section
www.bren.ucsb.edu/academics
– Services > Student Section
– www.bren.ucsb.edu/services/student/index.html
• http://www.graddiv.ucsb.edu
– http://www.graddiv.ucsb.edu/academic/handbook/
•
http://www.registrar.ucsb.edu
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Registration
• Do it by the deadline or $50 fine!
– See registrar’s Academic Calendar
• Course Descriptions
– Bren web: academic programs/courses
• Curriculum Plan for 2007-08
– Bren web: academic programs/class schedule
• Bren schedule of classes
– www.bren.ucsb.edu/academics/class schedule
– Do NOT use University’s printed schedule of classes
for Bren; not up-to-date
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Registration con’t.
• Must register before the end of your 1st Pass
(maximum 12 units)
– Don’t forget to add the rest later
• Schedule changes without penalty by the end of 1st
week of quarter
• Any changes to schedule after 1st week is $3 per
change
• Can drop a class using GOLD up until the last day
of classes
• Any additions to schedule during the 2nd and 3rd
weeks require an approval code
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Registration, con’t.
• Approval Codes
– Required to register if:
• Course is restricted
• Course enrollment is at max
• After the first week of classes
– Email scheduling@bren to obtain code for a Bren
class
– Enter when you register on GOLD
– You may need an approval code to enroll in a class
offered by another department
• Ask instructor of course who you should obtain a code
from
• We can only give codes out for Bren classes
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Registration con’t.
• What to do if GOLD says a Bren course is full
– If a course:
• email scheduling@bren and let Briny know
• She will work to increase enrollment max and move
room to new location, if necessary, so you will be able
to enroll
– If a section (i.e. one of a few discussion for a course)
• Must enroll in another section; we have to balance
sizes
• Only exception is if the other classes that you are
taking overlap with all other sections
• In this case, you will be given an approval code
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Registration con’t.
• You can not add a class using GOLD after the 3rd week
• Must submit a Registrar’s Schedule Adjustment Petition
 Copies in the student mail room
 Get instructor’s signature if possible (out of courtesy
mainly)
 The only other signature you need is mine (graduate
advisor)
 Give to Chelsea, she’ll get my signature, and return to
your mailbox
 Once signed, you turn it into the registrar
• Should rarely, if ever, be necessary
• Enrollment counts are frozen after 3rd week so it hurts
us if you don’t register by then
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Registration, con’t.
• “Special” Courses
– ESM 595 – Group Studies (Seminar Classes)
• Double Letter courses are Ph.D. ONLY (i.e. ESM 595AA)
• Only S/U Grading Option
– ESM 596 – Independent Research
• Requires petition and instructor approval
• bren.ucsb.edu/services/student/ESM596_form.doc
• Must enter instructor code when you register
– List of codes on web at academics/class schedule
• Maximum of 4 units of ESM 596 can count toward unit
total
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Registration, con’t.
• Variable Unit Courses
– A range of units possible
– Many workshops and short courses are variable
– Be careful – only register in the number of units
listed on the schedule of classes!
– For example, this quarter 299-1, 299-2, 299-3 this
quarter
– Note: non-variable units classes can not be variable
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Registration, con’t.
• Registration Problems
– Guestimate: 20% of students have a
registration problem that they are not aware of
• Check your schedule before then end of the third
week!
• Check your schedule before the last day of
classes!!
– NO CHANGES AFTER THIS DATE
• Retroactive changes are huge hassle for us and
you and you run the risk that GRAD DIV won’t
approve it
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Registration, con’t.
• Questions? Or You Forget?
– See “How to Register for Classes and Make
Adjustments to Your Schedule”
• www.bren.ucsb.edu/academic/sched.asp
– Still confused?
• Contact scheduling@bren or
gradasst@bren.ucsb.edu
Bren 101 for MESM Students
The Top 2
Student Questions
• Why won’t GOLD let me register for ESM XXX
class (that’s not full)?
• The answer depends on when you try during
the quarter
– Between week 1-3
 Answer: You must have an approval code
 Email scheduling
– After week 3
 You can’t do it using GOLD!; you need to submit
an SAF
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Unit Load
• Grads are supposed to enroll in a min of 12 units
- No real consequence if at least 8 units though
• Bren students = 13.5/qtr on ave to meet 81 unit
requirement
• Generally, not recommended that you enroll in
more than 16 unit
- Your graduate education also includes activities that
don’t result in units
•
Do not load up in winter of 1st year
– You have impt & time consuming career
development work to do
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Unit Load Fall ‘07
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
200 Orientation Case Study Course (0.5)
203 Earth System Science (4 units)
201 Ecology of Managed Ecosystems (4 units)
210 Business and the Environment (4 units)
206A Statistics and Data Analysis (1 unit)
251 Introduction to Policy Analysis (2 units)
Total = 15.5
• Plus no-credit career workshop, all need to take
• Plus no-credit stats workshop, if needed (probably
most)
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Core Courses
Fall (‘07)--previous slide
Win (‘08)
ESM 202: Env. Biogeochemistry (4 units)
ESM 204: Economics of Env. Mgmt (4 units)
ESM 206B: Data Analysis/Stats (1 unit)
ESM 241: Environmental Politics and Policy (2 units)
Total = 11 units
Many of you will also want to take ESM 437: Writing for
Environmental Professionals (2 units), a “LINKS” class to 241
Spring (‘08)
ESM 206C: Data Analysis/Stats (2 units)
ESM 207: Environmental Law and Policy (4 units)
ESM 401A: Group Project (4 units)
Total = 10 units
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Core Course Waivers
• Waiver of a Core Class
– You already have a SUBSTANTIAL portion of the knowledge
& skills
– Not a lot of waivers approved BUT definitely pursue if
appropriate
– Many courses have waiver policy/procedures posted on
web (academics/courses)
– Your responsibility to contact professor and make
arrangements for evaluation
– If instructor approves, have him/her sign petition
– You must make up units with another class
– Special circumstance: since 207 is taught be a visitor,
submit a petition to me
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Core Course Deferrals
• The following are NOT deferrable
– ESM 251
– ESM 206ABC
– ESM 401A
• Appropriate only if your load will be too heavy because
you need to take electives for your specialization that
are only offered biennially
– No reason for a deferral this fall
• Must make sure that that you won’t lack prerequisites
for important elective classes for specialization
– e.g. defer 204 (econ) -> can’t take 245 (cost benefit)
- See guide at academics/class schedule
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Core Course
Deferrals con’t.
• Submit Bren School petition at least 2 weeks
before the start of the quarter
• Policy document on deferrals and waivers:
http://www.bren.ucsb.edu/services/student/docu
ments/Deferrals_Waivers_000.doc
• Be clear on the risk:
– If you defer a class to your second year, and you
don’t pass the class, you won’t graduate; you will
have to come back and re-take the class (no
exceptions)
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Grades
• Core Courses
– University rule that you must earn at least a “B” in all core
course
• Elective Courses
– Only “C” or better counts toward degree requirements
• S/U or P/NP
– S/U for graduate classes; S = B or better
– P/NP for undergraduate classes; P = C or better
• Must take all courses that will count toward 81 unit min
requirement for a grade unless only offered as S/U or
P/NP
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Grades, con’t.
• Undergrad course work
– Lower division can’t count toward graduate degree
requirements
– Up to 8 units of upper division can count with approval
• In Progress (“IP”)
– For sequence classes like 206ABC and 401ABC
– Earn IP until last quarter
– Grade given last quarter applies to all previous quarters
• Incomplete (“I”)
– Must file form before last day of classes
– Must have good reason
– Grade submitted when work completed and replaces “I”
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Grades, con’t.
• No Grade (NG) or No Record (NR)
– May have on transcript temporarily if instructor does not
submit grades before reporting deadline
• No need to worry; goes away once grades are submitted and
we make sure they are
– Will receive if “I” submitted but no paperwork submitted
– Permanently turns into “F” “U” or “NP” if not rectified by
the end of following quarter
• If GPA < 3.0, Grad Div places you on probation
– If performance does not improve you can be dismissed
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Academic
Integrity
• The University has standards for academic conduct and
Bren expects students to uphold and adhere to these
standards
• We are required to report known instances of
inappropriate academic conduct
• No collusion
– Working together when not allowed
– Not following the rules governing group work
• e.g. can only work in pairs
• No plagiarism
– Make sure you thoroughly understand what this means
– Increasing incidents suggests that many students are
unclear
• Info on academic integrity web at services/ASA
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Petitions
• Bren School Petition
– To address issues governed by Bren School
policy/procedures
– http:/www.bren.ucsb.edu/services/documents/petitio
n_form.doc
– Free!
• Graduate Division Petition
– To address issues governed by University
policy/procecures
– http://www.graddiv.ucsb.edu/forms/acad/pdf/GradPe
tition.pdf
– $20
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Class Scheduling
• Extremely difficult; we try very hard to create an overall
optimal schedule
• Generally no classes on Fridays except classes with
special schedules, labs, field trips, workshops
• Have to overlap some classes; try to choose those that
are not likely to be of interest to the same students
• We welcome odd schedules if they allow good
opportunities
• Weekends are fair game
• Some classes don’t begin until mid-quarter (e.g. ESM
251 and ESM 206 this quarter)
• Some classes taught in intensive format (e.g. every day
for week)
– 207 will be two 4-day session (incl. weekends)
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Special
Circumstances
•
“3-year program”
– Need advise on what to take now and what to take later
– Start group project in 2nd year not 1st
– Fee/tuition etc the same price no matter how many units
you take so if you take longer it will cost more
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Special
Circumstances, con’t
•
“Early Graduation”
– Not recommended or encouraged
• Workload too heavy and too little time to fully participate in
the non-course part of your education
– Possible if all requirements are satisfied at the end of
winter quarter of 2nd year
– However, students must complete an adequate program of
study (POS) for their specialization
– Often not be possible within 5 quarters since some classes
are offered biennially in spring
– POS must be academically sound and will not be approved
solely to enable and accommodate early graduation
– Policy document at:
http://www.bren.ucsb.edu/services/student/documents/Ea
rlyGraduation.doc
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Group Projects
• Preliminary group project info meeting
– Oct 30; 9:00-10:45; BH 1424
• Begin preparing group project proposals fall
quarter
• Project proposals due late Jan (exact date TBA)
– Last year’s info on submitting a suggestion:
• On the web at research/group projects
• This year’s to be posted soon
– Last year’s project proposals
• On the web at research/group projects
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Group Projects, con’t.
• Group project selection committee formed in fall,
which includes 3-4 students
• Proposal selection and group assignments in winter
quarter
• Group project kickoff meeting in late winter
– Group project guidelines
– http://www.bren.ucsb.edu/services/students/docum
ents
• Updated version for your class posted in winter
• Enroll in ESM 401ABC starting Spr ‘ 08 (4,4,4
units)
• ESM 401A includes formal class meetings
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Group Projects con’t.
• Defense in mid-winter
– Please go to a few of them this year to gain understanding
of what to expect and what’s expected of you
• Final report, policy brief, and draft presentation due at
the end of winter quarter
• Practice videotaping and critique finals week of winter
quarter
• Grades assigned winter quarter (therefore groups MUST
be done)
• Group project public presentations usually 1st week of
spring quarter (oral and poster)
• Check out previous years’ briefs and reports:
– http://www.bren.ucsb.edu/research/gp_past.html
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Group Projects con’t.
Corlei= Group Projects
projects@bren
corlei@bren
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Specializations
• MESM students must develop depth in one of six
specialization areas
– CMRM: Coastal Marine Resource Management (Lenihan)
– CP: Conservation Planning (Frank Davis)
– CEM: Corporate Environmental Management (Gary Libecap)
• Special program within CEM on EcoEntrepreneurship
– PEE: Political Economy of the Environment (Matt Kotchen)
– PPR Pollution Prevention & Remediation (Trish Holden)
– WRM: Water Resources Mgmt (Christina Tague)
• Faculty specialization leaders noted in parentheses
• Not sure what do specialize in?
– You need to figure this out soon!
– Attend specialization info meetings this fall
• Dates/Times announced soon via email
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Program of
Study (POS)
• An individual curriculum plan for developing depth
in your area of specialization
• Complete a Class of 2009 POS Form
–
–
–
–
On the web at services/ASA
Must be approved by the specialization leader
Must be submitted to Chelsea by middle of win’ 08
Can be modified with approval
• May include classes in other departments and, in
some cases, should
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Creating a POS
•
Guided by the specialization description
–
–
–
–
•
On the web academics/MESM
An advisement and guidance document
Does not dictate the POS precisely
Students in the same specialization will have different POS’s
depending upon their unique background, interests, and goals
Sample programs of study on web
–
•
Academics/MESM & Services/ASA
Your POS form will not will not be a precise list of classes
but a sensible set of possibilities
Too much & too soon to go into depth now, so special
session later
•
–
“How to Prepare Your POS Form”
Oct 31, 12:30 pm, BH 1424
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Summary of
MESM Degree Requirements
•
•
•
•
81 units minimum
Core courses (32.5 units)
401ABC (12 units) & group project
An approved set of electives that develop
strength in a specialized area
– 36.5 units minimum
• Minimum 3.0 GPA & B or better in all core
courses
Bren 101 for MESM Students
MESM Advisors
• MESM students don’t have an advisor
• MESM not like an academic research degree in
which your work with a particular faculty member
who guides your education
• MESM students have
– Group project advisor
– Specialization leader (SL)
• Approves program of study
– Another faculty member(s) (or not) from whom the
student wants to seek advice
• Can help you craft your initial POS but only SL can
approve
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Who’s Who in the
Bren School
•
Deans
– Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker
– John Melack, Associate Dean
• Faculty
– “Ladder track” / Permanent
– Governance/Decision-making
– Sabbaticals/Leaves
• Costello (Win & Spr)
• Delmas (2007-08)
• Keller (Win)
• Kolstad (Fall & Spr)
• Young (Fall & Spr)
• Faculty Recruitment 2007-08
– Env Law, (continuing from last year)
– Ecotoxicology
– Climate, Energy, and Resources
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Who’s Who con’t.
•
Adjunct Faculty
- Main affiliation elsewhere but involved in teaching and
research at UCSB
• Affiliated Faculty
- Ladder track faculty in other UCSB dept with 0% appt in
Bren because they interact in some way(s)
• Professional Researchers
• Visiting Faculty & Lecturers
• Visiting Researchers
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Who’s Who con’t.
External Constituents
• Advisory Board
– See web at people/advisory board
– University-wide Advisory Committee that provides high
level direction
– Includes 1 Bren Student Rep
• Dean’s Council
– See web at people/Dean’s Council
– Conduit between the School and the local community
• Corporate Partners
– See web at giving/corporate giving
– Mutually beneficial alliances with local and national
corporations and NGOs
– More on Wed…
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Who’s Who con’t.
• Faculty Committees of Interest
– On the web at people/committees & organizations
– MESM Program
• Chair = Davis; Staff Support = Haston/Parker; Student Rep =
TBD
– Group Projects
• Chair = Tague; Staff Support = Prieto; Melack = liaison to
external clients; Reps for selection = TBD
– Recruitment, Admissions & Support (RAS)
• Chair = Lenihan; Staff Support = Houdyshell
– Colloquium
• Chair = von Weizsäcker; Staff Support = Danetra; Student
Rep = Canepa
• These and other leadership opportunities will be discussed on
Wednesday
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Who’s Who
• Staff
– On the web at people/staff
– Org chart at services/administration
– Coming soon to the web:
• List of who does what @ services/administration
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Info & Assistance
for MESMs
The PRIMARY CONTACT for MESMs students seeking
information, advice, and assistance
CHELSEA
gradasst@bren
(unless confidential)
When it doubt about who to ask, contact gradasst@bren
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Info and Assistance
for MESMs
• With the exception of the following specific matters, use
Chelsea at gradasst@bren
– Group Projects
• projects@bren
– Registration & Scheduling
• scheduling@bren
– Computing
• request@bren
– Building/Space/Sustainability
• brenhall@bren
– Web
• webmaster@bren
– Inform or request distribution of newsworthy info
• media@bren
• This info on the web at services/administration
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Communication
• Bren Aliases
– grad2008 = 2nd year MESMs
– grad2009 = 1st year MESMs
– all-phd = all (Bren and non-Bren) PhD students
housed in Bren
– bren-admin = all administrative staff
– faculty = all ladder track faculty
– allfaculty = faculty + visitors and lecturers
• Bren aliases are for business use only!
• Need to voice your opinion, announce a party, sell
something, find a ride, etc
– random@bren
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Communication, con’t.
• To view who is in an alias
– Go to services/computing
– Go to alias management system (under email and
scheduling
– Type in esm\your name and then your password
– Click on view members from alias affiliation
– Click on alias of interest; then “view alias” at bottom
of page
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Communication con’t.
• Schedule meetings that involve the Dean via the Dean’s
Assistant = Doris (doris@bren)
– Note: by and large Deans have open door policy but we’re
very busy so if it is important and time sensitive you
probably want to schedule a meeting
– Laura’s fall office hours
• Mon 230-330 & Wed 130-230
• On my people page on the web
• Direct scheduling of faculty with CT not advisable
without their permission
• Follow-up after reasonable amount of time with 2nd
email if no response
• Use subject line to everyone’s advantage
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Communication con’t.
• Forward emails with extreme caution and respect
• Be careful what you put in email; you can never be
100% sure who will end up seeing it
• Don’t say anything over random@bren that you
personally would not want the world to hear or
may reflect poorly on others in the Bren
community or the community itself
• Use My Space etc with caution; many employers
etc. now use this as part of “background check”
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Room Scheduling
• Student “schedulable” rooms
– Bonsai & Visitor Center
• Use Corporate Time
• Instructions at Services/Academic and Student
Affairs
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Bren School Events
• Event calendar on web
http://www.bren.ucsb.edu/news/events/index.asp
• Event calendar on Corporate Time
– View by opening agenda www.bren.event
• Emails/email flyers
– Non-public events distributed through all@bren
– Open to the public events distributed through brenalerts
• You’ve automatically been subscribed
– If you have something appropriate for
announcement, please send it to media@bren for
distribution
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Colloquia
• Talks by visitors or Bren faculty/students
– MESM students’ colloquia
• $2,000 budget
– Research colloquia
• Faculty hosted
• Generally high level talks about research in particular
areas of ES & M
– Bren School Colloquia
• Arranged by colloquium committee
• Generally of broad interest and geared toward a
diverse audience
Bren 101 for MESM Students
The Bren
Writing Center
• What do employers want more than anything?
– Employees that have strong communication skills
– If you want a good job after Bren and you want to advance
more quickly into bigger and better positions, invest time
now to improve your writing skills
– Most incoming Bren students have adequate skills at best
and many have less than adequate
– We are giving you opportunities to move from adequate or
less to great; take advantage!
– Tutoring available at the Bren Writing Center
• You’ll hear more from Monica Bulger (Co-Director)
tomorrow
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Financial Matters
• Myth: You will be paid as a teaching or research asst if
you go to graduate school
• Generally, only true for those pursuing a PhD in science
or engineering
• Highly unlikely that you will be able to fully finance your
education this way
• Only a small percentage of MESM students secure a
position and rarely for all 6 quarters
• Most MESM students fund all or a significant portion of
their education with loans or savings
• Loans and Financial Aid
– Handled by University’s Financial Aid Office not Bren
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Financial Matters, con’t.
• First….The Big Question??
• Will you have enough time to work?
• The MESM program is FULL-TIME and nearly all
consuming
• You should expect to be engaged in school work a
minimum of 40 hours/week and at times more
• Some students have successfully managed up to 20
hours/week
• Most say < 10 is max
• Some say no time for any!
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Financial Matters
• Teaching Assistant (TA) positions
• Provides partial fee remission
– Covers GSHIP and most of fees but not out-of-state tuition
• Provide salary
– ~5K /quarter for 50% time position
• Bren has NO TA positions for MESM student
– University rules don’t allow MESM student to serve as TA’s
for their peers
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Financial Matters
• May be opportunities in other departments although
they will give priority to hiring their own graduate
students
– EEMB, MCDB, Chem, ME, Global Studies, Law and Society,
Writing Program, various language programs, rarely Geol,
and Geog
• It’s your responsibility to explore and pursue
• We have no power to give or get you a position in
another department
• Most likely opportunity is Environmental Studies (since
they don’t have a graduate program)
– Normally, appoint all TA’s for year in spring
– So… probably limited, if any, opportunity this year
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Financial Matters, con’t.
• Research Positions
– Funded by extramural contracts and grants secured
by faculty
– It’s entirely their decision who they hire;
“administration” can’t award these positions
– Most research positions filled by PhD students
– Graduate Student Researcher (GSR)
• Salary + full fee/tuition/GSHIP payment
• High level and fairly independent work
– Student Assistant
• Hourly wage
• Assist with lower level tasks
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Financial Matters, con’t.
• Student Assistant Administrative/Service Positions
– Announced over email if any at Bren
• Work study favored
– UCSB Career Center list some student employment
opportunities
• http://www.career/ucsb.edu/employment/student_employme
nt.html
– Financial Aid website has a work-study job board
• http://www.finaid.ucsb.edu/index.asp
– CLAS (Campus Learning Assistance Services) hires tutors
and in take counselors
• http://www.clas/ucsb.edu/index.thm
– Off campus work
• Watch Dave’s announcements and let him know you are
looking
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Financial Matters, con’t.
• Financial Award Opportunities for 2nd year
Students
– Fee Fellowship
• Provides one quarter of fee payment
• Only eligible if you have filed a FAFSA and have
demonstrated need (University requirement)
• See fee fellowship guidelines/application for last year
on web (Services/Student)
• Application/guidelines for 2008-09 will be announced in
spring and posted on web
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Financial Matters, con’t.
• Bren School Fellowships/Prizes
– Recruitment incentives
– Awards given in 1st year of program
• Sometimes a portion will be paid in 2nd year but you
will be informed of award in your 1st year
• Award will be credited to your BARC
• Used to pay fees/GSHIP/Tuition (non-taxable) first and
any extra beyond that paid as stipend (taxable)
– Awardees that secure a TA position should inform
Chelsea (gradasst@bren)
• award will be deferred to another quarter or changed
from fee payment to stipend
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Financial Matters, con’t.
• Doris Duke Conservation Fellows
– 5-6 fellowship providing fee/GSHIP/tuition in 2nd year plus
a $5,000 stipend to help with the cost of a summer
internship (and a few other benefits)
– Application/guidelines for 2008-09 will be announced
in in fall and posted on web
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Financial Matters, con’t.
• Internship Funding (20-30K)
– Apply in winter/spring
– Career Office will send out information and application
email
• Conference Funding (10K)
– Apply throughout year
– Info and application on web at:
http://www.bren.ucsb/services/student
– Priority given to those presenting papers and posters
• Everyone should file a FAFSA!! (Mar 2)
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Some Advice
from Laura
• Don’t let faculty office hours go unused
• Faculty are VERY busy but they want to interact with
you and help you
• Develop yourself as a strong cohort
• Its up to you to develop strong ties the 2nd year
students (and PhD students) and you will benefit by
doing this
• Don’t be totally Bren-centric; it’s a big, first-rate
University out there
• Meet and interact with visitors
• Network, network, network
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Some Advice, con’t.
• Doing well in your classes is only part of the formula for
success
• It is the rare employee that will look at your transcript
and care if you got some B’s
• Your primary objective should be to gain knowledge and
skills not get straight “A’s”
• One of the most important things you are doing is
developing your analytical and problems solving abilities
• Read the readings even if they “won’t be on the test”;
you are here to take advantage of opportunities
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Some Advice, con’t.
• Career development starts now, is a priority, and must
be a continuous activity over the next 2 years
• You are not just a student; you are a developing
professional; practice polish
• Have integrity– be 100% true to your word
• Never compromise academic integrity
• Accept fundamental Bren value
– we are not an advocacy organization
– we interact with all parties truly interested in improving
their relationship to the environment and finding solutions
to problems
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Some Advice, con’t.
• Be a problem solver/solution generator not a complainer
• As much as possible, first try to solve problems by
talking directly to the people involved and responsible
– i.e. professor going to fast? Tell him/her
• Provide thorough and thoughtful responses to
evaluations and year-end surveys
• This is a challenging, extremely stressful time don’t
hesitate to or feel embarrassed about seeking help
• Look out for one another; talk to Laura if you are
concerned about someone
• You have time!
Bren 101 for MESM Students
Thanks for your
time and attention!
Bren 101 for MESM Students