Spring into Action !

WELCOME BACK !!

After a long five weeks, it’s time to finally return to West Chester for another semester! It was nice to relax and spend time with family and friends, but we are excited to be back. Good luck to all students in classes, internship, and co-curricular activity!! 

Also, best of luck to students who are beginning their final semester with us at WCU, especially the Office of Graduate Studies Graduate  Assistant, Courtney! And our Office of Graduate Studies intern and Graduate Student Association President, Mike!!

Announcements:

If you are graduating in MAY 2017 please do not forget to apply for graduation on your myWCU account by FEBRUARY 1.  

In honor of Valentine's Day, the Graduate Student Association of West Chester University invites all Graduates (and dates!) to join us for our "Paint Night, Date Night" at Painting With a Twist of West Chester!

Where: Painting With A Twist - 1502 West Chester Pike, West Chester, PA 19382

When: Friday, February 10, 2017

Time: 6:00-8:00 PM

Costs: $30/graduate student; $35/guest (FREE gift to the first 12 people who purchase their tickets!)

Food: BYOB; feel free to bring any kind of snacks as well!

Enjoy a fun-filled evening with you fellow classmates and loved ones! No painting skills required. For further information, please check out their website! 

Please RSVP by purchasing your tickets no later than Wednesday, February 8th, 2017. Click HERE to purchase your ticket(s).

Graduate Dean’s Scholarship Award

This academic year we have worked to grow and expand the opportunities we provide for you as graduate students at West Chester University.
One popular opportunity for graduate students is the Graduate Dean’s Scholarship Award. Due to the increased popularity of the Graduate Dean’s Scholarship Award, we have amended our current reimbursement process that will go into effect for the Spring 2017 semester.
This new process will give each student the opportunity to apply for funds prior to attending the conference. The first step in the process is to provide a statement of intent which will be posted on our main website (under the resource tab). All completed applications and statements of intent must be received by Tuesday, February 7th 2017 at 8AM to be considered for funding.  Applicants will be notified within (2) weeks if they will be approved and awarded any funds. Within 1 week of your travel, you will need to complete the Post-Conference Expense form which is posted on our website and provide receipts of final expenses to our office.
For more information, please contact us at GSA@wcupa.edu or give us a call at 610-436-6906.

Around campus:

The College of Business and Public Management Building (BPMC) is now open on Sharpless St!

The project broke ground in October 2014 and is a beautiful addition to our campus!!!

College of Business and Public Management Building (BPMC)

Dr. Christopher Fiorentino – New WCU President!

We are excited to congratulate Dr. Christopher Fiorentino on his new position as the President of WCU! He has been a member of the WCU community since his arrival in 1983. Fiorentino had served as the interim President of WCU since the retirement of President Weisenstein in April of 2016.

Dr. Christopher Fiorentino-WCU President

WCU Resource Pantry

The WCU Resource Pantry is a new addition to our campus. Whether you are in need of some of many supplies that the pantry has to offer or you are looking to volunteer, the pantry has it all! Visit the link to read more about how to donate to/utilize the pantry: https://www.wcupa.edu/_services/stu.slv/pantry/default.aspx

 If you would like to make an appointment to pick up food, personal care items, school supplies or clothing, contact pantry@wcupa.edu. The Resource Pantry is located in the Lawrence Center Room 262, in the back of the USSSS Dean's office.

 

Fall is Finally Here!! What's New with Grad Studies/GSA!!

Greetings All!!

 I hope you are all off to a great start of the semester!!! I can’t believe that October 1^st will soon be here. We have been very busy in the Office of Graduate Studies. Recruiting season is upon us. Many of us are out and about traveling to different colleges and meeting prospective students. What an exciting time in admissions!!!

We are busy at home too, with our next Graduate Open House on October 13 in Sykes! If you are a prospective student, this is a wonderful night to come and have your questions answered by our recruiters. Programs Coordinators will be present from each of our 70+ programs. You will also have the opportunity to speak with representatives from Financial Aid as well as learn more about Graduate Assistantship opportunities! This is also a great chance to get your application fee waivers! This code will save you the $50 application fee.  Register for our October 13^th event here: Here!

This is also a beautiful time of year to tour our campus. It is one of my duties as a Graduate Assistant to take prospective students on a tour of our campus. This is an excellent way to see each of the buildings that you will need to be familiar with as a graduate student at West Chester. Tours take place every day at 11AM and 2PM. Register for a Grad Studies Tour by clicking Here!!

 

 

Check out what else is new at West Chester University!!

 

 

 

	CONGRATUALTIONS GSA BOARD!!!

Congratulations to the new executive board members of the GSA Sarah Tansits and LaShae Peterson!!!

Sarah Tansits will be the new GSA secretary and LaShae will be our new GSA Member at Large.

(Sarah Tansits- GSA Secretary)

 

 

                                                   (LaShae Peterson-Member at Large)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

	HAVE NO FEAR, HOMECOMING IS HERE

 

Homecoming will take place on Friday, October 21, 2016-Sunday, October 23, 2016

Homecoming will begin with a Kickoff Party on Friday, October 21, 2016 with lots of food, beer, and wine!!!

On Saturday, October 22, 2016 The Homecoming Parade will begin at 10am in front of Sykes Student Union

A Pre-Game Food Festival will take place on Saturday, October 22, 2016 from 12-3pm in R Lot. The Food Festival will feature a DJ, games, food trucks, and beer!!!

Kickoff will begin at 2pm on Saturday, October 22, 2016

 

 

 

The GSA will be hosting Graduate Student Social at the Twenty9 Restaurant and Bar on Friday, November 18, 2016!!!

Early Bird Tickets Will Be On Sale Soon!!!

 

 

Have a great day, everyone! And enjoy your Fall breaks (October 10-11)!!

Caroline & Courtney

Graduate Assistants for the Office of Graduate Studies

Welcome Back Graduate Students!!!!

Hi, I am Caroline Bush.

Hello to everyone reading! Welcome back to all students, faculty, staff and members of the WCU community! I am thrilled to begin my third semester as the Graduate Assistant for the Office of Graduate Studies. I am equally as excited to begin another term that will bring me one step closer to earning my Master’s degree.

It is a wonderful feeling getting back to campus and back to another year. There have been many changes to our office and to our campus over the last few months.

I am excited to welcome the many new faces to our office. Two of these faces are new to the office but I have had the pleasure of getting to know them over the last year in class as part of the Higher Education/Student Affairs program. GSA President and Graduate Studies Intern, Michael Diaz is joining our team and I am excited to share an office with him this year!

The office has also welcomed another Graduate Assistant, Courtney Wilson! Courtney came to us during the Spring 2016 semester and has been a wonderful addition to the office. Courtney will join me in updating this blog from time to time.

Sykes Student Union, our neighboring building, has added a brand new entrance on the rear of the building which faces the parking lot. In addition, the College of Business and Public Affairs building, which broke ground in October of 2014 is on its way to completion and is set to open in just a few months! (January 2017) The building will be home to 4,000 students and 100 faculty members.

Finally, West Chester’s football field has received a major facelift! Take a look at the before and after photos posted below. You can read more about the transformation here: http://www.wcupagoldenrams.com/news/2016/8/25/football-farrell-stadium-renovation-project-complete.aspx?path=football

Hi, I am Courtney Wilson

Hello all and welcome back to a new and exciting year at the WCU! I hope you are all as excited as I am to begin a new school year. I know I am (especially since it is my last year).

It has been honor and a warming experience to work as a Graduate Assistant with the Office of Graduate Studies. The Office of Graduate Studies welcomed me with open arms and made me feel very comfortable. I am elated that I have the opportunity to serve as the Office of Graduate Studies as the Graduate Assistant.

In addition to my newly found position with the Office of Graduate Studies, West Chester has also added new additions to the campus.  

Congratulations to the Multicultural Center for their $250,000 endowment from the Student Services, Incorporated. The Multicultural Center will be named the Lawrence A. Dowdy Multicultural Center. The Center will be dedicated on Friday, October 21, 2016 at 4:00 p.m.

The Graduate Student Association (GSA) will be hosting a Graduate Student Welcome Back Barbecue that will be held on Friday, September 9, 2016 from 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. The Barbecue will take place at McKelvie Hall Lawn - 102 W. Rosedale Avenue, West Chester, PA 19383. All graduate students are welcome and students are allowed to invite no more than three family members. RSVP at GSA@wcupa.edu. The barbecue will be a great opportunity for students to meet new people, connect with the GSA board, and to enjoy some FREE food.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

The Fall Involvement Fair, organized by the Office of Student Leadership and Involvement, will take place on Wednesday September 7, 2016 from 11-3pm on the Academic Quad! The start of a new semester is a great time to get involved on campus. There are more than 293 organizations to choose from at West Chester University. Businesses, and Student Affairs offices will also be present to answer questions. The Office of Grad Studies will have a table on the quad that afternoon. Come find us and learn about the many programs that we have to offer! And of course, who wouldn’t want free food, drink and giveaways!



Also new to West Chester this semester: Look for the new Bike Sharing Program! There will be a Grand Opening of the Bike Share Program on Wednesday August 31, 2016 from 2-3pm beside Allegheny Hall. You can learn more about the program and how it works by following the link here: http://bike.zagster.com/wcupa/ and https://www.wcupa.edu/communications/2016/8.23bikeShare.aspx.

On behalf of the staff at McKelvie Hall, I would like to wish everyone a successful and productive semester!



Time Management

As we are nearing the end of another semester of academics, it is not uncommon to feel burdened by a larger than average work load. The holidays are coming and deadlines are fast approaching. I know that my calendar is looking pretty heavy right about now. Balancing assignments for GA, school, and work as well as family duties, a social life, and sleep can be challenging at times.

Life as a graduate student can be significantly more demanding than it previously was when I was an undergraduate student. My teachers expect more of me at this point in my academic career. I am taking on new tasks at my GA (that will be revealed in a later blog). I live closer to home and try to make time to see family each weekend. I am also trying to work as often as I possibly can at my other job. This is where time management has become more important than ever before.

A few of important tools that I use to keep myself organized are the following:

1)      My weekly/monthly planner: I am an extremely visual person. Before the beginning of each week I look ahead to what needs to be accomplished. I schedule time to meet with classmates/advisors/ and teachers. I create my work schedules for the week. I look at due dates for assignments that are approaching in the need week or two. I block off time to study and read for each class. I block off time for family. I block off time to watch the Eagles and The Walking Dead each week (these are absolutely necessary).

 

2)      My to-do list: I carry around with me a master to do list of every single thing on my brain that needs to be accomplished in the near future. If I ever have a free moment to spare, I take out my list and see if I can cross something off.

 

3)      My expandable folder: I discovered a long time ago that I am the type of person who needs to have multi-subject notebooks and folders. By keeping an expandable folder with me, I always have every important piece of information from class/work with me. I am always ready to pull out something to study if I find that I have a free hour in the middle of the day.

Here is a website that I found helpful when thinking about how I manage my own time. It provides great strategies to apply to your own schedule.

http://www.studygs.net/timman.htm

Finish the semester strong, everyone!

Meet the New Grad Assistant!

Hello to anyone reading! My name is Caroline and I am so excited to get this chance to connect with the WCU Grad community through this blog! It is my responsibility to keep you informed on what is going on in West Chester. You will have the opportunity to see the world through the eyes of myself, a graduate student pursuing a Master’s degree in Higher Education Counseling/Student Affairs.

It has been a transition from small town Bloomsburg, PA where I completed my Bachelor’s degree to West Chester, PA, a town with a little more hustle and pep and close proximity to Philadelphia. The pace of grad school is a definite change as well! Classes meet just once a week for three hours. I am spending my mornings working in the Office of Graduate Studies as a Graduate Assistant, getting my feet wet in the Student Affairs world. On top of all of this, I am working part time catering at various locations in the Philadelphia area. 

Classes have been fantastic so far. Already, I have a better understanding of what it means to be a counselor. Teachers have been inspiring. Classmates have been friendly and eager to work alongside me. The work load is challenging, but interesting. 

 I have been fortunate to meet and work with such an amazing staff in McKelvie Hall, where the Office of Graduate Studies is located (on Rosedale Ave. next to Sykes Student Union). Here, it is my job to help process graduate applications, assist with tours, maintain social media, and visit other colleges to recruit at graduate fairs. It has been a wonderful experience so far and I look forward to the next few months when graduate applications start to pour in. 

I would love to answer any questions that you may have! Please feel free to comment below if there is anything specific that you would like me to cover on my next post. Thanks for reading!!