The staff of GSO 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. GSO 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 12-17, 2012 (August 12th is early check-in option - no sessions).

ON-LINE REGISTRATION FOR GSO SESSIONS - Accepted June 15 through July 15th*

GSO sessions will be held August 13th and 14th with department-specific training and orientation August 15th, 16th, and 17th.  It's best to plan to be in attendance 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday of orientation week.  

Beginning June 15th you may refer to the GSO 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 are encouraged to register online (pre-register) for their GSO sessions between June 15th to July 15th. Session registration details will be e-mailed to incoming graduate students in mid-June. Submit the completed registration no later than July 15th.  

*Participants that do not submit a session registration by July 15th will be able to register for sessions during early check-in on Sunday, August 12th.

GSO CHECK-IN & ON-SITE REGISTRATION

Check-in for GSO will be held in room 101 Paul J. Olscamp Hall on Sunday, August 12th, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., and again on Monday, August 13th, 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 15th deadline are encouraged to Check-in on Sunday.  Monday Check-In is recommended for students that have already registered for their GSO sessions. You may check in at either time that is convenient for you.

Completion of Check-In may take up to 60 minutes if you did not pre-register so please plan your arrival at Olscamp Hall accordingly. If you do not submit an online registration please arrive no later than 3:30 pm on Sunday or 9:00 am on Monday.

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

Students receiving an assistantship will need to bring two forms of identification for personnel purposes. Recommended IDs are a current passport OR a valid drivers license AND an original 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 13 at 10:00 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 GSO 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 13, 2012, 1:30-2:30 p.m. in Kobacker Hall of the Moore Musical Arts Building  

GSO CAMPUS & COMMUNITY SERVICES FAIR

Our Campus & Community Services Fair will be held Tuesday, August 14th, 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 their GSO Folder distributed at Check-In.

UNIVERSITY MANDATED SESSIONS

Participants are required to complete mandatory sessions covering a variety of topics.  These sessions are pre-scheduled for participants and will be listed on the individual student's schedule received at Check-In.  

There are two online training modules that all participants must complete: "Preventing Workplace Harassment" and "Preventing Employment Discrimination" .  These are easily accessible from any home or campus computer and should be completed prior to the start of orientation week.  See the Mandatory Training page for complete details.

DEPARTMENTAL PROGRAMMING

August 15 - 17, 2012. Contact your Development Leader if you have not received information about your Department's schedule by July 1st.

GRADUATE STUDENT SENATE (GSS) GRAD BASH

Tuesday, August 14, 2012, from 12:45 - 2:00 p.m., in the Grand Ballroom of Bowen-Thompson Student Union.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

All international students (including students from Canada) are required to arrive a few days earlier in August for the Center for International Programs' (CIP) orientation which will take place August 8-10, 2012.

If you have any questions for us during GSO, the staff will be available in 224 Olscamp Hall from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. through Tuesday.  After Tuesday, you can contact Jen Moore in the Graduate College at 419-372-2824 or by email at gso@bgsu.edu.