Hi All:

Please spread the word to your senior undergraduate and (prospective/new/current) graduate students about the student workshops listed in the attached document (and imbedded below for those that can't open the attachment).

*Pacific Leaders Graduate Fellowship - Angela Martin

CIHR Program Officer – CIHR Representative (First time CIHR has visited us to do a student workshop - a good turnout is welcome)

NSERC Program Officer - Candice Robinson

SSHRC Program Officer - Michael Hodgson

The above National Agency Representatives will be coming to UNBC to speak about the scholarship programs that they offer to students. I will be offering refreshments at each workshop to entice students to attend (faculty who wish to attend to find out more about the student competitions are welcome but preference for seating will be given to students).

In the above Important Deadline Information document I have outlined the provincial and national student scholarship competitions. This is to give you advance notice as supervisors, faculty who may be asked to write support/referee letters for competitions, Administrative Assistants/faculty who are asked to be the Program Contact for receiving student applications, and Program Chairs of the deadlines that students and Programs will be working with this year.

Your help in spreading the word to students about the workshops and competitions would be greatly appreciated.

* Pacific Leaders Graduate Fellowship is a new initiative of the Ministry of Advanced Education. They are actively recruiting students to come and work for them after the student completes their Master's degree. Information for this year's competition is still coming in but if you wish to see the criteria for the pilot competition that was run in May/June you can visit their website at: www.pacificleaders.gov.bc.ca

PLEASE NOTE THAT the September competition for the Pacific Leaders may have some dramatic changes based on student and University feedback given from the May competition. It should be interesting to see what Ms. Missler has to share with us on September 11th.

FYI: Value of Award Information

Pacific Leaders Graduate Fellowship = $20,000 per year for up to two years (must agree to work with a Ministry Department upon completion of the student's Master degree for the length of years the fellowship was given to the student (note: if a student wishes to go on to pursue a PhD I believe this can be arranged or discussed with the Ministry as to when employment would be expected to start).

Sincerely,

Bethany Haffner

Executive Assistant to the Associate Dean of Graduate Programs

External Scholarship Liaison Officer (Students)

IMPORTANT DEADLINE INFORMATION

UNIVERSITY DEADLINES & NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITIONS

NSERC = Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (www.nserc.ca)

SSHRC = Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (www.sshrc.ca)

CIHR = Canadian Institutes of Health Research (www.cihr.ca)

This document is available on-line at www.unbc.ca/graduateprograms ,

Important Deadline Information - University Deadlines & National Scholarship Competitions link

Important Semester Deadlines

For additional deadlines please consult the Semester Dates listing in the Graduate Calendar

or refer to the on-line version at: http://www.unbc.ca/calendar/graduate/index.html

(Note: The semester dates listed in the UNBC Graduate Calendar take precedent

over ones listed in this document should there be any discrepancies.)

September 4, 2007 First Day of September Semester – Graduate students should be registered in coursework or thesis/project/practicum. Semester fees due.

September 17, 2007 Last day to register or revise registration. Last day to withdraw from program without financial penalty.

October 16, 2007 Last day to withdraw from September Semester courses without academic penalty.

November 5-9, 2007 For Students Finishing Their Master’s Program: Last dates for “Request for Oral Examination & Appointment of an External Examiner” forms and 2 copies of student’s thesis to be in to the Office of Research and Graduate Programs in order to schedule thesis/project defences for the end of December.

December 24-31, 2007 University Closed.

January 1, 2008 University Closed.

January 3, 2008 First Day of Classes for January Semester – Graduate students should be registered in coursework or thesis/project/practicum. Semester fees due.

January 16, 2008 Last day to register or revise registration. Last day to withdraw from program without financial penalty.

February 13, 2008 Last day to withdraw from January Semester courses without academic penalty.

February 15, 2008 Application deadline for Graduate Awards in the back of the UNBC Graduate Calendar (also referred to as UNBC-Administered Graduate Awards).

February 18-22, 2008 Mid-Semester Break. No classes February 18-22.

March 3, 2008 For Students Finishing Their Master’s & PhD Programs: Deadline for submitting the Application to Graduate Form to the Office of the Registrar if wanting to convocate in the May Convocation Ceremony

March 10-14, 2008 For Students Finishing Their Master’s Program: Last dates for “Request for Oral Examination & Appointment of an External Examiner” forms and 2 copies of grad student’s thesis to be in to the Office of Research and Graduate Programs in order to schedule a thesis/project defence for the end of April

April 30, 2008 For Students Finishing Their Master’s and PhD Programs: Deadline to complete all requirements for Master’s and PhD programs for graduation

May 5, 2008 First Day of May Semester – Graduate students should be registered in coursework or thesis/project/practicum. Semester fees due.

May 16, 2008 Last day to register or revise registration for May Semester. Last day to withdraw from program without financial penalty.

May 30, 2008 Convocation

June 16, 2008 Last day to withdraw from May Semester courses without academic penalty.

July 14-18, 2008 For Students Finishing Their Master’s Program: Last dates for “Request for Oral Examination & Appointment of an External Examiner” forms and 2 copies of grad student’s thesis to be in to the Office of Research and Graduate Programs in order to schedule thesis/project defence for the end of August

Graduate Student Conference Travel Award Deadline

October 15, 2007 October Graduate Student Conference Travel Award Deadline

Submit Applications to: Office of Research and Graduate Programs Deadline

Application Information: http://www.unbc.ca/graduateprograms/graduate_forms.html

March 17, 2008 March Graduate Student Conference Travel Award Deadline

Submit Applications to: Office of Research and Graduate Programs Deadline

Application Information: http://www.unbc.ca/graduateprograms/graduate_forms.html

Note: Students may only receive funding for one conference per academic year (Sept-August). Hence if you apply to the October competition and receive funding you are ineligible to apply to the March competition.

Research Ethics Board (REB) Application Deadlines

September 21, 2007 Research Ethics Board (REB) Application Deadline to submit proposals to the Office of Research for the REB Meeting in September

October 19, 2007 Research Ethics Board (REB) Application Deadline to submit proposals to the Office of Research for the REB Meeting in October

November 23, 2007 Research Ethics Board (REB) Application Deadline to submit proposals to the Office of Research for the REB Meeting in November

December 17, 2007 Research Ethics Board (REB) Application Deadline to submit proposals to the Office of Research for the REB Meeting in December

2008 Research Ethics Board Meeting Dates and Application Deadlines are not available,

Please refer to the website at: http://www.unbc.ca/research/research_ethics__human_subjects.html

PROVINCIAL AND NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITIONS

Transcripts for the Competitions Below – Order NOW !!

September 2007 All students interested in applying for scholarship competitions should request that official transcripts for ALL post-graduate institutions previously attended are sent to the Office of Research and Graduate Programs – Attn: Bethany Haffner.

IMPORTANT NOTE: unofficial transcripts are no longer permitted

September 17, 2007 NSERC/SSHRC/Pacific Leaders Graduate Fellowship – All students interested in applying should request that their current official transcript from UNBC be sent to the Office of Research and Graduate Programs (Except NSERC USRA applicants who should request their UNBC Transcript in January 2008).

December 2007 After they have registered for the January 2008 Semester, CIHR Students interested in applying should request that their current official transcript for UNBC be sent to the Office of Research and Graduate Programs – Attn: Bethany Haffner.

Pacific Leaders Graduate Fellowship Timeline

September 11, 2007 Pacific Leaders Graduate Fellowship Application Workshop

Time: 1:30-2:30 pm

Location: TBA*

Presenter: Angela Martin, Administrator – Special Programs StudentAidBC

October 31, 2007 Student Deadline – Students to submit Application to Office of Research and Graduate Studies.

(*See white boards in agora for more information and location for workshop.)

NSERC CGS/PGS Competition

September 11, 2007 NSERC Post-Doctoral Application Workshop

Time: 9:00-9:30 am

Location: Room 6-205/211 (Conference Centre)

Presenter: Candice Robinson - NSERC Program Officer

- Postdoctoral Fellowships (PDF).

NSERC Undergraduate & Graduate Student Application Workshop

Time: 9:30-11:00 am

Location: Room 6-205/211 (Conference Centre)

Presenter: Candice Robinson - NSERC Program Officer

- Undergraduate Scholarship Research Awards (USRA) - Canada Graduate/Postgraduate Scholarships–Master’s/Doctoral (CGS/PGS)

- Industrial Postgraduate Scholarships – Master’s & Doctoral (IPS).

October 12, 2007 Student Deadline NSERC CGS/PGS – Students to submit Application to Programs. (See white boards in agora & e-mail announcements for Program Contact Info.)

October 15, 2007 NSERC Post-Doctoral Applicant Deadline – For applications to be received in Ottawa by NSERC.

October 25, 2007 FYI: Programs’ Deadline for NSERC CGS/PGS to submit Applications to the Office of Research and Graduate Programs.

NSERC IPS Award

There is no application deadline for this program. All inquires should be directed to Bethany Haffner, Executive Assistant to the Associate Dean of Graduate Programs / External Scholarship Liaison Officer (Students). Contact: 960-5779 or haffner@unbc.ca.

SSHRC CGS – Master’s and Doctoral Fellowship Competition

September 18, 2007 SSHRC Student Competition Application Workshop

Presenter: Michael Hodgson, SSHRC Program Officer

Time: 9:00-11:00 am

Location: Room 6-205/211 (Conference Centre)

– Canada Graduate Scholarship, Master’s (CGS)

- Doctoral Fellowship Application Workshop.

October 24, 2007 Student Deadline SSHRC CGS – Master’s & Doctoral Fellowship – Students to submit Applications to Programs. (See white boards in agora & e-mail announcements for Program Contact Info.)

November 7, 2007 FYI: Programs’ Deadline for SSHRC CGS – Master’s & Doctoral Fellowship to submit Applications to the Office of Research and Graduate Programs.

CIHR Master’s and Doctoral Student Application Info & Workshop

September 12, 2007 CIHR – Student Competition Application Workshop

Presenter: CIHR Program Officer

Time: 11:30am-1:30 pm

Location: Room 6-205/211 (Conference Centre)

– Canada Graduate Scholarship, Master’s (CGS)

- Doctoral Fellowship Application Workshop.

CIHR – Master’s Awards Competition

January 3, 2008 Student Deadline CIHR - Master’s - Students to submit Applications to Programs. (See white boards in agora & e-mail announcements for Program Contact Info.)

January 14, 2008 FYI: Programs’ Deadline CIHR CGS – Programs to submit Applications for to the Office of Research and Graduate Programs

CIHR CGS – Doctoral Fellowship & Research Awards Competition

October 15, 2007 CIHR Canada Graduate Scholarship Doctoral Awards & CIHR Doctoral Research Awards Deadline for Applications to be at CIHR in Ottawa

*Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research – Training Award

Application Workshop for Training Award - Stay Tuned: refer to Scholarship Info white board in agora & watch for grads-admin e-mail announcements.

October 15, 2007 Deadline for Mandatory Letter of Intent to Michael Smith Foundation

-- IMPORTANT NOTE TO STUDENTS AND SUPERVISORS --

There is a peculiarity with the application process, ONCE SUBMITTED YOU CAN NOT RECALL THE APPLICATION.

Therefore, students will need to provide their supervisors with paper drafts of their application for review. Multiple paper drafts may be needed BEFORE the application is ready to submit on-line.

DO NOT SUBMIT the application to your supervisor thinking that he/she can make changes to it... once submitted to your supervisor using the on-line system YOU CAN NOT RECALL THE DOCUMENT.

November 9, 2007 Supervisor deadline for on-line application to be submitted electronically to the Host Institution (Associate Dean of Graduate Programs) for UNBC approval. If approved by the Associate Dean of Graduate Programs, the application is submitted on-line to the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research.

November 15, 2007 Deadline for Full Application to be received by Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research.

* Please note applying to this competition does not fulfill the requirement to apply to a federal competition for renewal of a Graduate Entrance Scholarship.