Graduate Student Orientation
Electrical & Computer Engineering
Auburn University
Orientation Overview
• Important People in the Life of an ECE
Graduate Student
• Other important notes for ECE
Graduate Students
Your research advisor
• Identify an advisor as soon as possible
• Develop and submit a Plan of Study
– by end of 1st semester (Master’s)
– by end of 2nd semester (Ph.D)
• Meet regularly and often to make good
progress.
Teaching supervisor (GTAs)
• Meet your supervisor
– immediately to get specific responsibilities.
– regularly and promptly thereafter.
• Laboratory grades are due before final
exams.
• Course grades are due as indicated on
the final exam schedule.
Prof. Victor Nelson
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Graduate Coordinator
Admission and academic issues
e-mail: nelson@eng.auburn.edu
office: BR 305
Prof. John Hung
• Laboratory Chairman
• GTA assignments
– Only on-line applications accepted
• Go to ECE department website
• e-mail: j.y.hung@ieee.org
• office: BR 213
Ms. JoAnn Loden
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Course registration & guidance
RA and TA appointment administration
e-mail: jloden@eng.auburn.edu
office: BR 229
Dr. William Flick
• International Students
– Test of Spoken English (TSE)
– ENGL 1820 “Classroom Communication
Skills …”
• e-mail: bflick@auburn.edu
• phone: 844-2122
• Usually, phone interview comes first.
Ms. Shelia Collis
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Paychecks
Day-to-day needs
Check your mailbox daily!
Personal use of copiers requires access
code.
• e-mail: smcollis@eng.auburn.edu
• office: BR 200
Ms. Lavonne Howard
• Building keys
• Packing slips and invoices
– Sign, date, and submit promptly.
• Telephones and copiers are for
professional activities only.
• e-mail: lhoward@eng.auburn.edu
• office: BR 202
Ms. Linda Barresi
• Laboratory equipment issues
– Report problems promptly, especially in
teaching laboratories
• Building issues
• e-mail: barresi@eng.auburn.edu
• office: BR 257
Notes for ECE Graduate
Students
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Academic issues
Appointments
Tuition notes
Course enrollment
Fire and Safety
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Inventory
Professionalism
Resources
Security
Academic Issues
• Discuss policies with the responsible
faculty member (research or teaching).
• Study the “Tiger Cub” student handbook
– Rules section
– www.auburn.edu/tigercub
• Graduate School website
– www.grad.auburn.edu
The Plan of Study
• Develop with your academic advisor
• Submit as soon as possible!
• Plans are amended when you approach
degree completion
• Students without approved Plans of
Study can be denied GTA support
Appointments (1)
• Teaching assistantships are reviewed
every term. Students must apply
EVERY term, ON-LINE, at the ECE
department website.
• Research assistantships should be
discussed periodically with the research
advisor.
Appointments (2)
• GTA application deadlines
– See the online application form
– www.eng.auburn.edu/department/ece
– March 15 (for summer and fall terms)
– October 15 (for spring term)
Appointments (2)
• Teaching appointment duration
– Aug. 16 to Dec. 31 (fall semester)
– Jan. 1 to May 15 (spring semester)
• Research appointment duration should
be discussed with the research advisor.
Notes on Tuition
• GTAs with a minimum of 25% support
receive a tuition waiver
• GRAs with a minimum of 25% support
qualify for resident tuition rate
• A limited number of graduate tuition
fellowships are available. See Dr.
Nelson.
For International Students
• Fees, forms, regulations…
• Visit the Office of International
Education website:
www.auburn.edu/academic/other/internati
onal_education/office/international/
Some GTA Considerations
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Newer students favored
U.S. citizens favored
Ph.D. students favored
Academic progress
– e.g. Has a Plan of Study been filed?
• Faculty support
• Language skills
Course enrollment
• Pre-register. Course offerings are
affected by pre-registration demand!
• Do NOT wait until the beginning of a
term to register; two results may occur:
– full class (you can’t get in)!
– no class (the class was dropped)!
Fire
• Learn escape routes for office and
laboratory.
• If you discover a fire
– activate fire alarm system
– AND dial 911 to report the fire! Alarm
system does not dial 911 automatically
• If alarm sounds, evacuate building
immediately.
Public and Environmental
Safety
• Visit BOTH of these websites:
www.auburn.edu/administration/public_safety/
www.auburn.edu/administration/safety/
Inventory
• Obtain appropriate permissions before
moving equipment or furniture from a
room, e.g. research advisor.
• Never remove teaching laboratory
equipment without consent of professor
who supervises that facility!
Professionalism
• You are NOT a mere student - you are a
practicing professional!
– Be on time for classes and appointments.
– Prepare for classes, teaching, research:
• physically, mentally, and spiritually
• GTAs should check laboratories ahead of time
• Are you a member of IEEE? If not, visit
www.ieee.org
Resources
• Check your mailbox daily.
– Boxes are shared by 2-3 studets
– If there are multiple copies of a sheet, take
one.
• Copiers and telephones are for
professional activity.
• Computer and network access is a
privilege that carries responsibility.
Security
• Do NOT loan keys!
• Do NOT share door codes!
• Do NOT prop open doors!
• Graduating? Return the keys.
Return this sheet to Dr. Hung
I have read and understand the ECE
Graduate Orientation material.
Signature: _____________________
Name (print): ___________________
Date: _________________________