The staff of GradSTEP and the BGSU Graduate College are happy to have this opportunity to extend a warm welcome to you. Your first few weeks in Bowling Green are going to be busy and exciting as you get settled in. GradSTEP week is designed to help make this transition as smooth as possible whether you are just beginning your graduate degree, returning to college, or coming to BGSU as one our international students. No matter what your current level of education we believe that you will find our program very helpful to you as you prepare to take the next step in pursuing your educational goals.

The following information will provide details about the program, pre-registration procedures, and activities that are scheduled for the week of August 16-21, 2009.

ON-LINE REGISTRATION FOR GradSTEP SESSIONS - Accepted June 20 through July 25th*

GradSTEP sessions will be held 9:15 a.m. - 12:45 p.m., August 18 - 20, 2009.  The program for GradSTEP week will require students to be in attendance 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday, August 17th through Thursday, August 20th.  There will be no GradSTEP sessions held on Friday, August 21st.  However, check with your academic department as they may have additional activities scheduled.

Beginning June 20th you may refer to the GradSTEP Week-at-a-Glance for session choices and times and visit the Session Descriptions page to get more detailed information on each session's description and presenters.

Participants may register online (pre-register) for their GradSTEP sessions from June 20th to July 25th. Session registration details will be e-mailed to incoming graduate students in mid-June. Use the attached "Session Selection" form or download the form from the GradSTEP Info Packet. Submit the completed form no later than July 25, 2009, online, by fax to 419-372-1897, or sent via regular mail to GradSTEP, 215 South Hall, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403.

*For those who do not submit a session registration form (pre-register) prior to July 25th, you will be able to register for sessions during check-in on Sunday, August 16th.

DON'T FORGET TO ENROLL IN GRAD 6000!

All students that receive their first assistantship and complete GradSTEP will receive 2 hours of workshop credit.  You can register for the course by logging in to MyBGSU.  Locate the Student Services section of the welcome page and click on Add a Class to begin the process. The course number for fall semester 2009 is GRAD 6000, Section 5001-LEC(71752).  Once you have completed all of your GradSTEP sessions there is no additional work to do for GRAD 6000 so no additional days or times need to be arranged.  At the end of the semester a grade of ‘S’ will be assigned.  Enrolling in the GRAD 6000 course does not  register you for your GradSTEP week sessions.  You must register for your GradSTEP sessions using one of the methods described in the previous section, On-Line Registration, outlined above.

GradSTEP CHECK-IN & ON-SITE REGISTRATION

Check-in for GradSTEP will be held in room 101 Paul J. Olscamp Hall on Sunday, August 16th, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., and again on Monday, August 17th, from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. You only need to check-in once! Students that do not submit a session pre-registration form by the July 25th deadline are to Check-in on Sunday.  Monday Check-In is recommended for students that have already registered for their GradSTEP sessions.

Completion of Check-In may take up to one hour if you did not pre-register so please plan your arrival at Olscamp Hall accordingly.

At Check-In, students will receive a folder containing all materials needed to complete GradSTEP and departmental programming including their final GradSTEP session schedule.

Students on assistantship will need to present two forms of identification for personnel purposes. Recommended IDs are a current passport OR a valid drivers license AND social security card or original birth certificate. Photocopies will not be accepted!

1st DEPARTMENTAL MEETING

Most departments will have their first meeting with incoming students on Monday, August 17 at 10:30 a.m..  After June 1st you will be able to check your Departmental Programming to check when and where your department's first meeting is scheduled.  Please note that some departments may require their students to be on campus prior to GradSTEP week to attend training so please review your departmental programming schedule carefully.  These meetings are not optional.

OPENING SESSION - All Participants Must Attend

Monday, August 17, 2009, Grand Ballroom (202A), Bowen-Thompson Student Union 4:00-6:00 p.m. Spouses and partners are invited to attend.

GRADSTEP CAMPUS & COMMUNITY SERVICES FAIR

New this year!  Our first Campus & Community Services Fair will be held Tuesday, August 18th from 11:30 - 3:00 in 101 Olscamp Hall.  This will count as one session hour and will provide students with opportunities to talk one-on-one with representatives from the Bowling Green campus and community about the services available to them.  Detailed information will be provided in the GradSTEP Folder distributed at Check-In.

UNIVERSITY MANDATED SESSIONS

Participants are required to complete four mandatory sessions. The "Appreciating Diversity in the Classroom" and "Flash Point" sessions are pre-scheduled for participants on Wednesday, August 19th.  The remaining two sessions: "Preventing Sexual Harassment" and "Preventing Employment Discrimination" are offered as online training modules and can be completed at any time prior to the end of the first week of classes.  See the Mandatory Training page for complete details.

DEPARTMENTAL PROGRAMMING

August 17 - 20, 2009. Contact your Development Leader if you have not received information about your Department's schedule by July 1st.

GRADUATE STUDENT SENATE (GSS) GRAD BASH

Wednesday, August 19, 2009 in room 202A of the Bowen-Thompson Student Union from 12:45 - 1:45 p.m.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

All international students (including students from Canada) are required to arrive earlier in August for the Center for International Programs' (CIP) orientation which will take place August 12 - 14, 2009.

GRADSTEP PLENARY SESSION - All Participants Must Attend

Thursday, August 20, 2009 from 1:45 - 2:30 p.m..  Please join us for our "we-survived-GradSTEP-week" wrap-up that will be held in Kobacker Hall located in the Musical Arts building.

GRADUATE STUDENT SENATE (GSS) WELCOME MIXER

Thursday, August 20, 2009 in the Black Swamp Pub of the Bowen-Thompson Student Union from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.

If you have any questions for us during GradSTEP week the staff will be available in 224 Olscamp Hall from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m..