Bi-weekly bulletin Dec. 17, 2021

Bi-Weekly Bulletin Survey

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies is conducting a survey to gain feedback on the FGPS Bi-Weekly Bulletin that is emailed to you (like this bulletin right now).

We would appreciate if you took the time to participate in this survey to provide us information to help us best cater these bulletins to fit your needs. This survey should take approximately 5 minutes to complete. If you have questions, or if you require this survey in an alternate format due to a disability, please contact Jessica Hunt, the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Communications Coordinator at jeshunt@wlu.ca

Take The Survey

Longest Night Christmas Service 

Anne Anderson, Martin Luther University's community pastor and leader of the thirdspace_ alternative worshipping community at Martin Luther University College, will lead a Longest Night Service for those who may not be feeling festive at this time of year.

The online gathering begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 21. Please contact ananderson@luther.wlu.ca for details and the Zoom link. 

Upcoming Scholarship Deadlines

Ontario Graduate Scholarship

Laurier’s Ontario Graduate Scholarship deadline is quickly approaching! Be sure to leave time for your referees to complete their academic assessment report before the final deadline of Jan 31st. Find out more information. 

Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship

The Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship deadline is January 31, 2022. Referees must submit completed Academic Assessment Reports for QEII-GSST and OGS applicants by the January 31, 2022, application deadline. Learn more about this scholarship. 

Laurier Workshop: Writing an Op-Ed

Writing an opinion piece (dubbed an "op-ed" because it traditionally appeared opposite the editorial page) for the mainstream media can be a great way to get your research out into the public discourse. An op-ed is quite different from an academic journal article, and therefore requires a different style of writing.

Join James Southworth, a writing consultant at Wilfrid Laurier University, for a workshop on how to turn your research expertise into a timely, well-structured op-ed. From taking a position to crafting a “hook,” he will offer practical advice to help your writing stand out to busy news editors.

• Date: January 25, 2022
• Time: 12 to 1 p.m.
• Register now

Graduate Student Tuition Payment Plan Winter 2022

Laurier provides graduate students with a unique tuition payment option designed to help alleviate the financial pressures of pursuing graduate studies. Graduate students must apply to participate in the plan on a term by term basis. Students enrolled in the plan can pay tuition fees in three (3) equal instalments applied monthly to their Laurier student account.

The deadline to complete and submit the Graduate Tuition Payment Plan Enrolment Form for consideration for the Winter 2022 term plan is December, 19 2021, by 11:59 pm (EST). Please see the payment plan web site for full details.

Holiday Closure

The university will be closed from Dec 23 to Jan 2 and Laurier faculty and staff will not be available during this period.

The FGPS office will not be accepting emails or phone calls during this closure period. Students are invited to review information posted to the Laurier website related to important dates, graduate student incoming student support, Graduate funding & awards, tuition & fees, and vaccine compliance FAQs. The FGPS Team will be back January 3, 2022.

Important Dates

• December 23, 2021 to January 2, 2022: Wilfrid Laurier University Closed 
• December 24, 2021: Co-op work term ends
• January 3, 2022: Co-op work term begins for Winter 2022 term
• January 4, 2022: Classes begin for Winter 2022 term
• January 15, 2022: Last day to apply to graduate without paying a late fee. Students who anticipate completing their degree requirements by April 30, 2022 should apply to graduate by this date to avoid a late fee, or by April 1 with a late fee.
• January 17, 2022: Last day to register for winter term classes. Term starts on January 4.
• January 31, 2022: Ontario Graduate Scholarship Due.
• Academic Dates 2021/22

Inspiring Conversations: Wellness Events 

Inspiring Conversations is a series designed to demonstrate topically-relevant research and expertise of our faculty, staff and alumni. Responding to current events, this series provides a public venue for conversation where all are welcome to join. Here is the information for some upcoming events:

People who are interested in attending can find more information and the registration link at www.laurieralumni.ca/inspiring-conversations

Music for Mental Health: New Habits for 2022

Monday, January 17, 2022 from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. EDT

The beginning of a new year is a great time to reflect on our personal well-being and how we can maintain or improve our mental health. Join Laurier experts Dr. Elizabeth Mitchell (MMT ’07), assistant professor of Music Therapy, and Esther Abel (MA ’18), PhD student in Social Psychology, to learn how building new habits, such as engaging with music, can positively impact our day-to-day lives. The conversation will be moderated by music therapist, Avalon Harris (BMT ’14).

Empowering Racialized Communities

Thursday, February 24, 2022 from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. EDT

During Black History Month, join Laurier’s Ciann L. Wilson, associate professor of Community Psychology, and Magnus Mfoafo M’Carthy, associate professor of Social Work, for an Inspiring Conversation about engaging in research with racialized communities. Wilson will explore the importance and ethics of harnessing the talents, knowledge and skills of Black, Indigenous and racialized individuals in order to empower them as research collaborators and agents of change, while Mfoafo M’Carthy will discuss the challenges associated with studying oppression, mental illness and disability in the Global South.

Free Mitacs Virtual Sessions 

We are excited to share that Mitacs has just launched four additional course bundles, which are now available on their learning management system, EDGE. These new courses are: Career planning, R&D management, Leadership skills, Writing and presentation skills.

Mitacs would like to invite graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to attend free virtual facilitated sessions that will be offered between January and March 2022. 

To register, students need to create an account or log in to EDGE. You will find more information about each course bundle on their website: Training Courses | Mitacs.

If students have questions, they can contact us at training@mitacs.ca 

Margaret McNamara Education Grants

The Margaret McNamara Education Grants (formerly known as MMMF) is a nonprofit, public charity founded in 1981, which awards education grants to exceptional women from developing countries, who are at least 25 years old, and enrolled at universities in the US, Canada and select universities in South Africa and Latin America. 

Their US-Canada program awards about 10 one-time grants of $15,000 to women studying full-time at universities in Canada and the United States. Applications can be submitted online (free of charge) from September 15 to January 15, and results are announced in mid-April.

Learn More & Apply Today.