2012 Orientation Activities

Welcome to OSU!  September will be a VERY busy month for you as you settle in. You will have several opportunities to help yourself be efficient and effective in your Graduate program. There are 2 and possibly 3 events that you should be aware of that we list here and describe in more detail below:

1. General Orientation for all New Graduate Students – welcome reception luncheon, resource fair, and workshops
2. Orientation and Training for New Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs)
3. Orientation to your home department, program, school or college – check with your Graduate Program Adviser

Each orientation will provide you with important information.  Carefully consider which of the orientation sessions, workshops and other events will best meet your needs and be sure to register for each separately to be sure that we know how many students to expect.

1.    General Orientation for all New Graduate Students

The Graduate School Dean and Staff would like to invite you to the New Graduate Students Orientation and Resource Fair on Wednesday, September 12th, 12:00 noon - 3:00 pm, at the CH2MHill Alumni Center.  Please arrive at 11:30 a.m. to check the Resource Fair and get your lunch.  The Resource Fair will be open till 3:00 pm.  In addition to the Welcome Reception Luncheon and Resource Fair, we hope that your schedule will allow you to attend one or more of the workshops we have scheduled following the Welcome Reception during the week of September 17th.  Presenters from the Graduate School, the Counseling Center, the Library, the Writing Center, Dixon Recreation, Faculty and Staff Fitness and other campus units want to help you get your career as an OSU graduate student off to a great start!

For a complete list of workshops,
and to register for the Welcome Reception and other events:
View the Full Workshop Schedule Register Now
(space is limited)

Please note that registration for the workshops is free, but workshop space is limited, so please register as soon as possible!  If you have questions regarding the General Orientation, contact Nagwa Naguib at the Graduate School: Nagwa.naguib@oregonstate.edu

Distance students who can attend in person are welcome to do so.

2.     New GTA Orientation 

The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) is holding separate orientation for new Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) —for GTAs who are new to OSU.

• Day One, Thursday, September 13, is specifically for International GTAs new to OSU as of Fall 2012 and will include information targeted to enhancing their experience in uniquely U.S./Oregon classrooms;
• Day Two, Friday, September 14, is for all GTAs new to OSU as of Fall 2012.

Orientation sessions will cover the foundations needed for working effectively in classes with OSU students: OSU policies, essential teaching and learning concepts, strategies for communicating effectively with students, and more.  Whether you're supporting a recitation, leading a lab section, grading for a large lecture, or designing and teaching your own course, we'll have something for you!

If you’re a GTA who is new to OSU this fall, you are encouraged to
Register Now for the
GTA Orientation

Confirmed registrants will receive an email reminder and an agenda describing the sessions as well as location information prior to the event.  If you have questions about the orientation or upcoming CTL events, please email either Robin Pappas at robin.pappas@oregonstate.edu or Jessica White at jessica.white@oregonstate.edu

Some departments, programs, schools, and colleges hold their own orientations with key information about their graduate programs.  You may be emailed by your program with information about its orientation.  You may also contact the Graduate Program Director or the Department Head in the program where you will be getting your degree to determine if your program or department is planning its own orientation.