Students from various programs joined us at Saffron Cafe & Bakery for some delicious food and delightful conversation. We hope the students had as much fun as we did! Check out some of the pictures (taken by Cassandra Foster) from the event:

Be sure to view the rest of the event’s photos by visiting The Graduate School on Facebook.

Call for field biologists, naturalist and taxonomic experts:

I would like to invite you to participate in a BioBlitz at Sinnamahoning State Park on May 20^th and 21^st. We will take 2 days to collect as much data as possible on the biological diversity of Sinnemahoning State Park. The primary objective of the BioBlitz is to find and identify as many species as possible yielding valuable biogeographic data.  The event has added benefits as a forum for public outreach and environmental education. Few areas of science are accessible for public participation however a BioBlitz thrives on the participation of both scientists and community members.

The event location, Sinnemahoning State Park is in the heart of the Pennsylvania Wilds on the border of Potter and Cameron Counties. The park encompasses more than 1,900 acres and hosts a diversity of habitats including high quality and exceptional value streams, emergent wetlands, forested wetlands, mixed hardwood forests, grassy fields, vernal pools and a reservoir.  We would love your help exploring these habitats and as a thank you for your participation we have established free camping, food and drinks.  Please pass this information on the others so that we may recruit interested field biologist, naturalists and taxonomic experts!

For more information, and updates visit the Sinnemahoning BioBlitz Website:

https://sites.google.com/site/sinnemahoningbioblitz/

You may join our growing team of scientists by contacting:

Jennifer Gross via email: Jennifer144@hotmail.com

Or

Arthur Metzger via email: greenbullet@hotmail.com or phone: 814-274-8004

GRADUATE CLASS OF 2013: AWARD WINNERS

Outstanding Graduate Scholar

• Andrew Rosen (accountancy)
• Louisa Charpia and Darian Lunne (early childhood education)
• Emily Zimmerman (elementary education)
• Joseph Ford and Andrea White (performing arts)
• Sarah Risher and Abby Sharpe (special education)
• Kristina Held and Courtney Proffitt (English)
• Laura Coggins and Amanda Szwarc (environmental studies)
• Jessica Stollenmaier and Megan Valentine (history)
• Katie Anweiler and Timothy O’Donnell (marine biology)
• Alaina Cordes (communication)
• Morgan Collins (teaching, learning and advocacy)
• Catherine Tumbleston (public administration)
• Kathryn Schertz and Alice Sorensen (science and math for teachers)

Other Awards

• Broadcast Education Association Top 3 Paper Award – Rachel Adams and Alaina Cordes (communication)
• LaGrant Foundation Scholarship – Jose Aviles (communication)
• Kristen Young (MPA, for research in Morocco. See her blog here)

When you are in the processional line, you will carry your hood on your LEFT arm with the color of your program pointing outwards.

When you are on stage, you will sit on a bench in front of the Dean of your school. Your Dean will loop your hood over your head and arrange it. Please be sure to sit straight, but not so far forward that the Dean cannot reach around you.

Description: The Graduate Assistant assists with the coordination of large-scale programs and events coordinated through the Office of Student Life (Georgestock, Family Weekend, Moonlight Breakfasts and Late Night programs). The Graduate Assistant will also provide support to the Assistant Director for Student Life Services and Events and the Coordinator for Business Services for Student Life by providing staff support for programs and events, assisting with the operation of the Stern Student Center and Student Life-managed facilities and assisting with the management of Student Life and student organization budgets and finances. This position reports to the Assistant Director for Student Services and Events and the Coordinator for Business Services for Student Life.

Requirements: Prior experience in campus programming, student government or student organization leadership required. Must be a graduate stude…nt in good standing currently enrolled in coursework at the College of Charleston.

Pay: $12,400.00 per year

Work Hours: 20 hours per week. Must be available to work some weekends and evenings throughout the academic year.

Position Begins: Mid-August 2013

Contact:

The 2013 issue of the GRICE LOGBOOK, the newsletter of the Grice Marine Laboratory and the Graduate Program in Marine Biology at the College of Charleston, is now available for viewing:

http://grice.cofc.edu/Newsletter/gmllogbook2013.pdf (requires Acrobat Reader)

Here’s what you will find:

• Professor Studies Marine Life through a Genomic Lens
• The GML CORAL (Community Outreach Research and      Learning) Program
• Laboratory Renovations Completed
• In Memoriam: Frances Brigman

Want to learn more about Grice Marine Laboratory?  http://grice.cofc.edu/

 We don’t want you to show up for a Maymester course offered through The Citadel on May 15^th, when the class actually started on May 6^th!

 Courses offered jointly by both schools do have the correct date range listed in the College of Charleston system, and it should be showing up correctly on your schedule if you have registered for one of those courses.

 For your reference, the summer term start dates for both schools are listed below:

Second, if you get a chance (perhaps when you are taking a break from all that studying), check out the news article on the College of Charleston website. It features one of our very own students, Vanessa Bezy! Read it here.

            The Urban and Regional Planning Certificate’s Spring 2013 semester was all about students.  Two achievements are worth noting: the program is the second largest certificate program at the College of Charleston, and the Graduate Urban Studies club – which is run by urban planning certificate students – held several enlightening events and achieved officially recognized status within the Graduate Student Government (GSA).

            The certificate program exhibited continued interest and strength during the spring semester.   It is the 2nd largest of its kind at the College.  With 11 students enrolled in the program, only the Gifted and Talented Education certificate had more students at 15.   The initial trends for 2013 indicate continued health.  Three students applied to be admitted into the certificate, and three more students applied to be awarded the certificate.  There were 11 inquiries about the program at the graduate school, and Dr. Godfrey Gibbison (Dean of the North Campus) is exploring ways to further increase the visibility of the program via marketing campaigns. 

            The Graduate Urban Studies club, which is currently run by students who are pursuing the urban certificate, held several exciting events that directly advanced both the mission of the club and the larger educational goals of the certificate.  The club sponsored a viewing of a new film titled Detropia, which explored the theme of “ruin porn” as it is applied to declining cities, such as Detroit.  This idea argued that there is a selective obsession with showcasing decline and misrepresenting other aspects of the cities that challenge the sole discourse of decline.  The students held a field trip to Enough Pie’s Tactical Urbanism presentation in late February.  Enough Pie is a non-profit organization that is devoted to creative place-making on the upper-peninsula of Charleston.  The Tactical Urbanism event promoted the idea of ordinary people taking over and refashioning urban spaces in an effort to create public art and beautiful spaces.  The students concluded the semester by inviting Josh Martin, from Turnberry Consulting, to present his recent work on sustainable planning projects throughout the East Coast and in Canada. 

            In the spring semester, the Graduate Urban Studies club also secured a line in the GSA budget, indicating that it is now a permanent, funded entity at the College of Charleston.  Lina Wayman, also a student in the MPA program, will be taking over as president in the Fall semester.  Rachael Cechak, who was president for the last year, is headed to law school. 

          Priorities for the fall semester include several more academic and professional events for students, the continued exploration of moving some courses online, and another marketing campaign to keep the certificate in the spotlight.  The Urban and Regional Planning Certificate Program is a valuable contribution that directly advances the strategic goals of the College to use the City of Charleston as a learning laboratory.  It is well positioned for continued growth.

On Saturday, April 27th from 12:00pm to 3:00pm, the Graduate Education Organization (GEO) will be volunteering with Charleston Miracle League, a baseball league for adults and youth with mental or physical challenges. 

Those interested should email cofc.geo@gmail.com or whitwortha@g.cofc.edu if they are planning on attending for more information.

Also, please register on the website. Indicate “CofC Graduate Education Organization” where appropriate.

All are welcome, whether in education programs or not!