Celebrating Black History Month: Sarah George is Creating Safe Spaces for the Next Generation

Sarah George is a student, staff member and instructor at Carleton. She was born in Zimbabwe and grew up in the United States and Canada. After earning her Bachelor of Arts at Mount Royal University, George joined Carleton’s Department of Sociology and Anthropology, where she completed her master’s with specialization in African Studies and is now working on her PhD. She says she was drawn to Carleton as it is the only university in Canada that has an Institute of African Studies, which is where she wanted to conduct her research.   

Office Hours for Engagement and Inclusion Officer

The Campus Safety Services (CSS) Engagement and Inclusion Officer Program represents the department’s effort to be an active partner in improving the campus climate. CSS believes our entire community should be invested in cultivating an inclusive campus and has collaborated with several university departments and student groups to continually improve these efforts.

Campus Safety Services’ Engagement and Inclusion Officer Jaymie Baldree will have office hours every Wednesday from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Her office is located at 223D, Residence Commons. All community members are welcome to come by with questions or just to chat.

To set up a meeting outside of office hours, please contact Jaymie at jaymie.baldree@carleton.ca.

For more information on the Engagement and Inclusion Officer Program please visit our website.

International Students: Making Friends in Canada Workshop is Today!

As we have returned to in-person interactions on campus, many of us are looking to meet new friends and build community. After two years of remote learning, making new friends may feel uncomfortable, but the International Student Services Office and Health and Counselling Services are here to help.

Join the Making Friends in Canada workshop on Feb. 2, 2023 for graduate students.

In this 90-minute session, students will: recognize how culture impacts our beliefs and behaviours when making friends; explore 3 main stages of meaningful conversations;
identify key campus events and everyday opportunities for starting meaningful conversations;
practice skills in a safe environment through one-on-one role playing and scenarios.

Graduate Level Writing Challenges Need a Different Kind of Mentorship

Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs own Karim Abuawad has written the following article for University Affairs:

The struggle to manage any writing process is one of the key challenges faced by graduate students. The consequences for them cannot be understated: longer completion times, financial hardship, poor mental health, to mention just a few.

It is common for graduate students who lack control over the writing process (framing, outlining, drafting, revising, editing, and proofreading)  to start doubting their capacity to do the work expected of them, which in turn negatively affects their sense of self-worth and harms their future outlook. This could extend well beyond their performance in graduate school and impact their overall development as competent professionals, especially given the importance of adaptable writing skills in many of the professions graduate students seek to enter.

This predicament is partly the result of how graduate training is delivered. While graduate students are trained in disciplinary conventions by their supervisors, many do not receive formal instruction on how to manage the writing process effectively. Too often, they are expected to hone these skills through trial-and-error — just like their supervisors might have done at the outset of their own careers. The remedy to this is to reframe the process of  writing skill development through the help of professional development mentors who play a more holistic role.

Writing Support by CSAS

Join the Centre for Student Academic Support (CSAS) this Winter 2023 term for their Academic Writing for English Language Learners sessions on Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Pick and choose the session that works for you or join all of them! Next session on Feb. 8, 2023 will focus on verbs and complements. Sessions are available both virtually and in person at 402 MacOdrum Library. For questions, email: csas@carleton.ca

TA Central Hub

TA Cafe

Drop in on Feb. 6, 2023 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Zoom to ask questions, chat and meet other TAs. 

• Join Zoom Meeting
  https://carleton-ca.zoom.us/j/91635970527
  Meeting ID: 916 3597 0527

Outstanding TA Award Nominations

Nominations for the 2022-2023 Outstanding TA Award are now open!

Psychology Wellness Centre is Open

The Psychology Wellness Centre is a virtual centre staffed by psychology graduate students who are trained peer wellness coaches. If you looking for non-urgent assistance with goal-setting, time-management, support to improve wellness goals, and information on other available wellness services at Carleton please complete the request form to meet with a peer wellness coach.

The Psychology Wellness Centre is open for the winter term and are accepting appointments.

International Student Services Office Events

Join the ISSO for the following workshops:

Employability Workshop – Feb. 7, 2023
https://carleton.ca/isso/cu-events/employability-workshop-feb-7-2023/

Legal Rights as an Employee – Feb. 7, 2023
https://carleton.ca/isso/cu-events/legal-rights-as-an-employee-feb-7-2023/