Welcome to McGill University
Department of Integrated Studies
in Education
MA Orientation, August 27, & Sept 3
2014
The Contract

The relationship between the student and the
faculty, staff, and department is considered to be
a contract.

All those involved in this contract are responsible
for upholding their responsibilities.

Deadlines, regulations, rules and practices should
be clear, consistent, and respected.

All contract members are responsible for keeping
informed and in touch.
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Table of Contents
1.
Student Groups & Welcome Events
2.
Useful Links
3.
DISE MA Programs
4.
Co-Curricular Activities
5.
Funding
6.
Good Advice
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PGSS (Post-Graduate Students’ Society)
For all graduate students, university-wide:
• organizes social events
• provides financial advice
• Provides some funding for cultural activities
• provides insurance coverage advice
• is a route for participation in PGSS and university
committees
• provides student advocacy services
• has headquarters in Thomson House (two
buildings downhill) with a restaurant and space
for socializing
Contact: http://pgss.mcgill.ca
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PGSS ORIENTATION
OPEN HOUSE & WELCOME EVENT
Thomson House, 3650 McTavish
Tuesday Sept 2 15:30 – 19:00
Requested Time for Education 17:30 – 18:30
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meet other new students
get info re McGill Services
meet faculty Deans
meet PGSS executives
http://www.mcgill.ca/firstyear/grad-students/fall-orientation
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EGSS -Education Graduate Students’ Society
For
graduate students in the Faculty of Education (DISE, ECP, KPE)
•shares insights, expertise and fellowship
•supports you in getting through program
•recognizes the collective voice of the graduate student body
•provides representation on departmental committees
•provides study spaces and a lounge (EDUC 631)
•supports solidarity initiatives
•organizes the annual Graduate Student Conference (March)
President: Currently vacant [email protected]
http://egss.mcgill.ca
DISE representative, Ashley DeMartini, [email protected]
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Common Abbreviations
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DISE = Dept. of Integrated Studies in Education
Note: this will soon be DESS: Dept. of Education, Schools & Society
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ECP = Dept. of Educational & Counselling Psychology (Faculty of Ed.)
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GPS = Graduate & Post-Doctoral Studies
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GPD = Graduate Program Director (MA)
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GPD = Graduate Program Director (PhD)
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GPC = Graduate Program Coordinator & Graduate Program Committee
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SP = Service Point
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ES = Enrollment Services
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CAPS = Career Planning Service
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TLS = Teaching & Learning Services
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MINERVA = student online information system
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myCourses = online Learning Management System
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MCGILL Academic LINKS
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GPS policies:
http://www.mcgill.ca/gps
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Faculty of Education: http://www.mcgill.ca/education/students
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DISE: http://www.mcgill.ca/edu-dise/
http://www.mcgill.ca/study/2014-2015/
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Teaching & Learning Services: http://www.mcgill.ca/tls/
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Statistical Consulting Service: http://www.math.mcgill.ca/~scs/
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MCGill Student Services
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Service Point, Enrollment Services: http://www.mcgill.ca/es/
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First Year Office: http://www.mcgill.ca/firstyear/
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CAPS Career Planning Service: http://www.mcgill.ca/caps
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Student Legal Information Clinic: 398-6792
http://licm.mcgill.ca/site.php?lang=en&page=legalclinic
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International Students Office:
http://www.mcgill.ca/internationalstudents/
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IT (Computer Help Desk): 398-3398 http://www.mcgill.ca/it/
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Student Financial Aid:
http://www.mcgill.ca/studentaid/awards/
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Student Health Services 398-6017
http://www.mcgill.ca/studenthealth/
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Counselling Centre 398-3601Mental Health 398-6019
http://www.mcgill.ca/studenthealth/information/mentalhealth
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Calendars of Key Dates
For registration, adding and dropping courses, class schedules…
•http://www.mcgill.ca/importantdates/
•http://www.mcgill.ca/students/courses/dates/
Key Regulations
•http://www.mcgill.ca/gps/policies/regulations#REG
ULATIONS
•http://www.mcgill.ca/study/2012-
2013/university_regulations_and_resources/graduate/
gps_gi_regulations
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DISE GRADUATE STUDIES
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Chair of DISE
Dr. Steve Jordan
[email protected]
•
Graduate Program Director (MA)
Dr. Anila Asghar, Rm. 248
[email protected],
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Graduate Program Coordinator:
Mr. Michael Larivière, Rm. 244
[email protected] 398-1591
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Advising: Ask the GPC first
Call, e-mail or stop in to see Michael Lariviere.
•Funding
•Program
requirements and course selection
•Registration
for courses, reading courses, projects and thesis courses
•Grades (e.g.
incompletes)
•Changes
of status between full-time and half-time
•Change of
program (thesis ~ non-thesis only once!)
•Leaves of
absence
•http://www.mcgill.ca/students/records/forms
•Thesis
submission (deadlines, preparation and submission guidelines) (see
below)
You can telephone, email or stop in. Office hours for Michael Lariviere are
9:30-4 TWH, 10-4 MF. Make an arrangement by email or phone to see him 45pm.
Always follow up with a confirmation email.
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Academic Integrity Outreach
Online Tutorial
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Information on critical issues of academic integrity.
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Intended to reduce the number of academic infractions.
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On your MINERVA student menu for you to do.
•
At some point a hold will be put on registration if you
have not done this.
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M.A. Program Requirements
General information:
http://www.mcgill.ca/education/prospective/graduate
M.A.
Education and Society: Thesis; or Non-Thesis with 6credit project
New
Concentration (Mathematics and Science Education) Thesis
M.A.
Educational Leadership: Thesis; Non-Thesis with 12credit project; or Non-Thesis Coursework
M.A. Second Language Education: Thesis; or Non-Thesis
coursework
•All programs are 45 credits.
•All thesis programs have 24 credits of thesis courses.
•All programs have a Gender & Women’s Studies option
•Passing grade is B-.
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M.A. Project

Available for Education & Society (6 credits) and
Educational Leadership (12 credits).

Project topic and requirements are negotiated between
student and supervisor.

Fill in online project form and hand in to GPC.

Can be school-based or community-based.

Some M.A. projects take the form of a report or
substantive paper. Others have included: art exhibition,
dance performance, play-writing, teacher guidebook for
gender inclusivity, production of children’s book on
social justice issues, development of interactive website
for community organization, course or workshop design.
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M.A. Degree Schedule

Time to complete program:
3 years full-time
4.5 to 5 years part-time (non-thesis) or half-time (thesis)

Residence requirement: 3 terms full-time or 6 terms
part/half -time.

Thesis and project students should have a supervisor by
the end of the first year.

Non-thesis students must apply online for graduation.

You must be registered for every single term from the
time you first register until you graduate, including
leaves and thesis writing.
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Registration & Fees
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You must be registered for ALL terms between the time
you first register and the time you graduate. This includes
leaves, additional sessions, and thesis writing.
International /ROC / Quebec Status: affects tuition and
eligibility for some grants.
STATUS: full-time / half-time
o international students must be full-time.
o you must be full-time to apply for external grants
RESIDENCY PERIOD: 3 terms (first summer term is free)
ADDITIONAL SESSION:
o you pay lower fees for additional terms after the
residency period is completed.
http://www.mcgill.ca/student-accounts/tuition-fees
http://www.mcgill.ca/student-accounts/tuition-fees/nontuition-charges
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LEAVES OF ABSENCE
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Different types of leave, usually family, medical or
employment; all require documentation.
There are no longer any “Non-Resident Leaves”
Grants and student visas do not continue during a leave.
You must be officially registered while on leave. Do not
simply disappear; you may end up not finishing, or owing
lots of back fees.
Stop the clock rather than grind to a halt!
http://www.mcgill.ca/gps/students/progress/leave-vacation
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Thesis submission

Submission Dates
Note: “Initial thesis submission” refers to official submission
to Thesis Office of entire thesis as the beginning of the
official examination process.
When you are getting close to submission, sit down with the
GPC and go over the steps.
Plan with adequate time for review, getting signatures, etc.
Do not cut the deadlines too closely!

Thesis Evaluation Status: applies to fees when the thesis
evaluation process crosses two terms.
http://www.mcgill.ca/gps/thesis/guidelines/initial-submission
http://www.mcgill.ca/gps/thesis/deadlines
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Official Thesis Submission Deadlines
Initial
Submission
(affects fees)
Final
Submission
Additional
(affects gradSession
uation date:
no flexibility!)
Thesis
Evaluation
Graduation
Apr 16 – Aug 15
Aug 16 – Dec 15 Summer
Fall
February
Aug 16 – Dec 15 Dec 16 – Apr 15
Fall
Winter
June
Dec 16 – Apr 15
Winter
Summer
October
Apr 16 – Aug 15
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CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Workshops, talks, seminars and presentations:
•Practical help
in learning specific skills, from reference
formatting to grant-writing.
•Opportunities for
informal learning about educational
activities and research in a wide variety of areas with students,
faculty and educators.
Keep
track of your attendance on the Co-curricular Activities
Report sheet (on DISE website).
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Practical Help
•
SKILLSETS (GPS &TLS)
http://www.mcgill.ca/gps/students/skillsets
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myRESEARCH (in the Education Library)
http://www.mcgill.ca/gps/students/skillsets/research/myresearch
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Grant-Writing Support (DISE, GPS and SKILLSETS) see below
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Speaker Series
• DISE TALKS! Students, faculty and visitors talking about their
work and projects.
• “Globalization, Education and Change”: inter-disciplinary
perspectives from local and international scholars and educators.
• “Meet the Neighbours”: experiences in community education,
research, knowledge production and social change with community
educators, organizers and practitioners
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DISE FUNDING

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DISE Graduate Excellence Entrance Awards
Eligible: full-time students in M.A. thesis and 12-credit project
option only.
Awards for 2014-15 are: $1500 (Quebec), $2000 (ROC) and
$2500 (international)
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Research Assistantships
Given on entrance or later to work on a funded research project.
RA positions are posted on CAPS and must be applied for.
RA unit is unionized, with a collective agreement.
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Teaching Assistantships
TA positions are posted on CAPS, and must be applied for.
Degree requirements vary for levels of courses.
TA unit is unionized, with a collective agreement and a priority
pool
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GREATS: DISE TRAVEL awards
http://www.mcgill.ca/gps/students/fellowships/great
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Helps fund cost of conferences at which you are
presenting.
One presentation given between May 1, 2013 and April 30,
2014 is eligible.
The amount of individual awards depends on the number
of applicants
Send notice of submission to GPC; requests are considered
and funds reserved as they are received. Include name, ID,
name/dates/place of conference.
Confirmation of acceptance required before disbursement.
Funds available only after September 1.
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Graduate Travel Fellowships:
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These are awards for travel NOT to attend conferences, e.g.
research, data collection, special summer course.
A call for applications usually goes out in October. All decisions
will be made at one time shortly after the due date.
The amount of individual awards depends on the number of
applicants.
Preference is given to those applicants who did not receive an
award during 2013-14
EGSS Travel Fellowships:
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$250 (N. Am.) or $500 (outside N.Am.) for conference
presentation
number of awards as funding permits
deadlines to apply can be found on EGSS website
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DISE and Faculty Awards
http://www.mcgill.ca/education/students/graduate/awards
Notifications of award deadlines will be sent to you by email.
DISE Awards: 1 PhD and 1 MA award each; application dates in
Winter
Community Engagement Award
Educator Practitioner-Researcher Award
Innovative Dissemination of Research Award
Faculty of Education Awards: A variety of awards of varying
amounts
• Two application sessions, in Fall and Winter terms.
EGSS Fellowships: two $500 MA awards and two $1,000 PhD
awards.
• Based on research and professional excellence.
• Deadline usually in April.
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GRANTS: External
Information on external and internal grants and awards:
http://www.mcgill.ca/gps/students/fellowships
SSHRC: www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/ [must go through Dept.]
FQRSC: http://www.fqrsc.gouv.qc.ca/fr/accueil.php
Although forms change slightly from year to year, the basic sections
remain the same. You can get a head-start on your drafts by
using the most recent forms on these sites.
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Words to the Wise…
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Communicate with us only via your official McGill student
email address. Always include your student ID number.
Pay attention to your email messages.
Check your advising transcript regularly on MINERVA
Check your physical mailbox, 2nd floor inner corridor, often.
Make sure your current coordinates are up-to-date on
MINERVA.
Register on time. Respect deadlines. Allow time for
signatures. Allow time for unforeseen unknowns.
Double-check conflicting advice!
You must be officially registered for ALL semesters, even on
leave. Do not disappear.
Use the assistance available before you really need it.
Take advantage of McGill and community resources. They
are for YOU!
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