Welcome to Winter Quarter 2020! If you’re ready for a successful quarter, we rounded up a list of some of the most important news and updates that WRD students need. Whether you’re looking for information about the Winter Quarter Speaker Series, degree conferral deadlines, or financial assistance opportunities, this post has got you covered.
Winter Quarter Speaker Series
Join us on Wednesday, January 22 for the Winter Quarter Speaker Series. This quarter, we’re welcoming Dr. Kristin Bivens, a medical rhetorician and Associate Professor of English at Harold Washington College in Chicago.
Dr. Bivens will host a workshop titled “Designing Syllabi for Diverse Student Users: Content and Access” from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm (Arts & Letters Room 408). She will also give a research talk titled “A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Soundscape: Physiological Monitors, Rhetorical Ventriloquism, and Earwitnessing” from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm (McGowan South Room 103). Keep an eye on social media for more information!
MAWRD Portfolio Requirement
MAWRD students must create and submit an ePortfolio as part of their degree requirements. Students should submit the ePortfolio to their advisor after they have completed six courses and before they have completed nine courses.
Check out these resources for more information:
Degree Conferral
Undergraduate and graduate students who plan to graduate this academic year should apply for degree conferral (aka graduation) by these deadlines:
- Students graduating at the end of Winter Quarter: January 15
- Students graduating at the end of Spring Quarter: February 1
Students can access the degree conferral application on Campus Connect by clicking on “Academic Progress” and then “Apply for Graduation.”
All graduating MAWRD students should also complete the “MAWRD Degree Requirement Worksheet” by February 1 and email it to MAWRD Director Jason Kalin.
Updated MAWRD Student Handbook
Check out the new MAWRD Student Handbook, which has been updated to reflect current information about the program. Browse the handbook for updated details and answers to your frequently asked questions.
MAWRD Financial Assistance
The WRD Department offers three forms of financial assistant for graduate students: Partial Tuition Waivers, Partial Tuition Fellowships, and Graduate Assistantships. These opportunities have upcoming deadlines during Winter Quarter.
- Partial Tuition Fellowships: These fellowships provide tuition reimbursement for three courses in an academic year for full-time MAWRD students. The award covers a maximum of six courses over a two-year period. The deadline to apply is February 15.
- Graduate Assistantships: Graduate assistants (GAs) in the WRD Department receive full tuition reimbursement for up to six graduate-level courses each academic year and a maximum of 12 courses over a two-year period as well as a stipend. In exchange, GAs work 20 hours/week in the department. The deadline to apply is February 15.
- Partial Tuition Waivers: Current students who have completed at least eight credits in the MA in WRD program can apply for Partial Tuition Waivers (PTWs). These awards provide partial reimbursement for tuition for up to two WRD courses. Keep an eye on your email for more information about PTWs!
Learn more about MAWRD financial assistance eligibility requirements.
Combined BA/MA Program
Undergraduate students who want to participate in the Combined BA/MA program in the upcoming academic year must apply by February 15. Combined degree students complete 12 graduate credit hours (one course/quarter) as undergraduate students. These courses count toward both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Interested in a Combined Degree program? Explore these frequently asked questions.
Student Resources
Keep these additional resources in mind to help your Winter Quarter flow smoothly.
- The Writing Center: The Writing Center is now open for the quarter! Across all stages of the writing process, WRD students can visit the Writing Center for brainstorming, feedback, and collaboration. With a variety of appointment types, including in-person and online appointments, the Writing Center makes it easy for students to receive feedback on all types of compositions across disciplines and media.
- Career Center: The Career Center welcomes all types of students for assistance with career advising, job and internship searching, and resume revising. The Center also hosts events and workshops, including two upcoming career fairs. The Diversity Networking Fair will be held on Tuesday, February 4 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm, with the Winter Career Fair following on Thursday, February 25 from 3:00 to 6:00 pm, both at the Lincoln Park Student Center, Room 120 AB.
WRD Social Media
Check out the WRD Blog and the WRD Facebook for news and announcements. You can also find the WRD Department on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Graduate students, join the MA in WRD Facebook Group for networking opportunities and updates!