Graduate Student Association

February 13, 2017 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Tyler McNeil, communications@sunysa.org

The SUNY Student Assembly applauds the State Assembly for passing the “DREAM Act” early last week. If approved by the Senate and signed into law by Governor Cuomo, this legislation will benefit the thousands of SUNY students who are undocumented, many of whom were brought to the United States as infants with no say in the matter.

The DREAM Act will allow undocumented New York students the promise of an affordable education, and greater legal protections as they pursue a future in the only country most of them have ever known as home.

This is the fifth time the Assembly has passed a version of the DREAM Act. Each time the Senate has taken no action to move the initiative forward.

We strongly urge the State Senate to finally take up and approve this Act so that all SUNY students can feel safe and secure on their campuses, knowing that they have equal access to all benefits provided to New Yorkers. The Student Assembly stands with our students, and the Senate should too. Top of Form

About the SUNY Student Assembly

The Student Assembly of the State University of New York (SUNY SA) is the recognized student government organization representing the nearly 600,000 students of the State University of New York. Comprised of student leaders elected by their peers from across SUNY’s 64 campuses, SUNY SA is committed to empowering students throughout the state, and ensuring the representation of its members on the state and national level, as well as throughout the SUNY system.

As many of you know – there is a national “March for Science” being hosted in Washington, DC on April 22, 2017 (Earth Day!) According to the organizers, there are marches in solidarity being planned all over the world. This is a march for fellow scientists, citizens, and those concerned about the welfare of our world.

In support of this national (and non-partisan) march – we have started a local group to host a “sister” march in conjunction with the march in DC. And your help is needed to join, support and spread the word so that OUR voice is heard around the world. To add a twist to our march, an Educational Outreach component is being planned. To assist in this aspect, the organizing committee is looking for those who have educational programs already in place that may benefit from this joining of minds and connection to volunteers or would like to help create such programs. Our hope is that this portion will lead to an exchange of ideas, knowledge and learning that will extend beyond just a one day march. We are also looking to highlight local scientists and research going on here in Buffalo on our websites in a language that is understandable to the public. If you have research that could be featured – please reach out!

Check out our official website: http://www.march4sciencebuffalo.com/

Please consider joining our official Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/march4sciencebuffalo/) our private Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/938153732985874/), follow our twitter page (@march4scibuff), and as always you can reach the local organizers via email (march4sciencebuffalo@gmail.com).

See you on April 22nd!

Fellowships and Scholarships for Graduate Students

This workshop will introduce graduate students to fellowships and scholarships for graduate-level work
as well as research and dissertation funding. The session will provide information and strategies to
maximize your success in pursuing these opportunities.

Open to all graduate students.

SESSIONS WILL TAKE PLACE ON:

• Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017, at 3 p.m. in 107 Capen Hall
• Friday, March 3, 2017, at 3 p.m. in 107 Capen Hall

PhD & MASTER’S VIRTUAL CAREER FAIR – March 2nd * Register Now * Employer List
Event FAQ’s * Students, Postdocs, and Alumni Invited to Attend – Meet Recruiters Live Online

Attached is the memo regarding the Student Union Space Allocation Process for all clubs and organizations.

This year we are opening up the process to all clubs and organizations on campus, including Graduate Student Association.

The Student Union Space Application will need to be completed using UBLinked and submitted by March 6th by 4:00pm.

If you have any questions, please contact Johnny Garcia, Mike Odojewski, or myself at 645-2055.

Spring 2017 SBI Programming Grant applications are due Monday, February 20th!

All grant applications must include the signature of the GSA Treasurer in order to be considered, so please make sure to bring all applications to the GSA office (310 Student Union) by Friday, February 17th at 4:30pm in order for them to be signed.

“The primary purpose of the Programming Grant is to fund programs that further the quality of student life, and enrich the educational, cultural and social experiences at the University at Buffalo. In light of these goals, organizations that receive awards are to use them to launch new programs, expand existing programs, or produce publications.”

Grants of up to $3,000.00 may be awarded to any recognized university affiliated student organization.

The application is attached here, and hard copies can be picked up from the GSA Office (310 Student Union) or the SBI Office (341 Student Union). The deadline for submission is Monday, February 20th at 4:30 p.m. Please note that this is a rigid deadline, after which grant applications will not be accepted.

SBI Programming Grant Notifications will be distributed to the grant applicants by Tuesday, February 28th at 4:30pm.

The UB Gender Institute is organizing a Solidarity Party to be held on Sunday, February 12, to honor and celebrate international scholars, students, immigrants, and Refugees.

February 1, 2017

MEMORANDUM

To:   SUNY Campus Presidents and Chief Academic Officers

From:    Alexander N. Cartwright, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor

Subject:  Fellowship Opportunity at UAlbany – Deadline 2/17/17

I am pleased to share some news about a prestigious Presidential Doctoral Fellowship for Research Training in Health Disparities that your campus’s undergraduate and masters students may pursue.

In Spring 2016, the National Institutes of Health awarded the University at Albany a $10 million health disparities endowment grant. A cornerstone of this historic award is the creation of a fellowship program for students from minority and underserved populations interested in pursuing doctoral degree studies in any field, while simultaneously receiving supplementary, transdisciplinary training in health disparities.

As you well know, one of the greatest national public health challenges facing our country today is the lack of scientists, healthcare professionals, and researchers from diverse backgrounds trained and working to understand and eliminate health disparities–a serious concern facing a number of campuses across SUNY as well.  The Presidential Doctoral Fellowship for Research Training in Health Disparities program based at UAlbany will go far to help close this gap, while fortifying our collective efforts throughout our SUNY family to enhance the recruitment of doctoral students from minority populations and underrepresented groups.

I am so pleased we can open the opportunity across campuses and write today to encourage you to promote and raise the visibility of the Presidential Doctoral Fellowship for Research Training in Health Disparities program to undergraduate and master-level students from diverse backgrounds across your campus community. This pioneering transdisciplinary training program will afford students with a wide-range of academic, research and experiential learning opportunities including:

• Training through placements in research labs, community groups, NGOs, state/local health departments
• Participation in a national conference on health disparities hosted by the University at Albany President
• Engagement with local community health taskforces
• Ph.D./doctoral degree in academic program spanning UAlbany’s offerings
• Receipt of a Health Disparities Graduate Certificate
• Mentoring by an experienced and trusted Ph.D. advisor, together with four (4) rotational mentors for experiential learning placements
• Dedicated writing & statistical support
• Rich engagement with junior and senior-level faculty in health disparities.
• Part of a learning community which is home to one of the leading research and training hubs for health disparities in the northeastern United States.

At this time, the Presidential Doctoral Fellowship for Research Training in Health Disparities program is recruiting a wide range of high achieving, students from underrepresented groups from across the SUNY System.  By being named aPresidential Doctoral Fellow, a student will receive a broad array of financial benefits including full tuition and fees, $18,000 in compensation, a personal computer, travel support to national professional meetings, membership in health disparities related professional association(s), and more.

In order for students on your campus – both in-state and out-of-state – to apply to this distinguished doctoral level fellowship program, they must be well prepared for doctoral study and a member of a minority population or an underrepresented group.  If your campus has students interested in the Presidential Doctoral Fellowship for Research Training in Health Disparities, they must apply before the application deadline of February 21, 2017, and concurrently apply for admission into a UAlbany Ph.D./doctoral program starting in Fall 2017.

Please find below informational weblinks to the fellowship webpage, application, brochure, and flyer to share and help promote the Presidential Doctoral Fellowship for Research Training in Health Disparities program across your campus community:

• Fellowship Webpage:                    www.albany.edu/cemhd/fellowship
• Fellowship Application:                 www.albany.edu/cemhd/application
• Fellowship Brochure:                     www.albany.edu/cemhd/brochure
• Fellowship Flyer:                              www.albany.edu/cemhd/flyer

Copy:    Vice Chancellor Wang

Vice Presidents for Research

Dear Graduate Student:

It is my pleasure to introduce you to The Versatile PhD (VPhD) – the largest online community dedicated to non-academic careers for PhD graduates in humanities, social sciences and STEM fields.  As a UB graduate student, you are eligible to register for access to premium content on the VPhD website free of charge.

VPhD premium content includes authentic resumes and cover letters and inspiring bios of PhD graduates who have embarked on non-academic career paths, job listings, information on a wide variety of possible careers, and community discussion forums.

VPhD Career Panel Discussions offer detailed inside information on a wide range of specific PhD-friendly careers.  Panelists are PhD or ABD and currently employed in the career being discussed.  The discussions happen online over a five-day work week; because it is asynchronous, you can participate at any time. VPhD members may post questions and interact with the panelists through the end of the week on Friday.

Spring 2017 Career Panel Discussions

PhD Careers in Conservation
February 6-10, 2017
STEM forum

STEM PhDs can make a positive impact on the planet by working in Conservation – the protection and preservation of biodiversity, the environment, and natural resources toward sustainable use for future generations.

Panelists

– An earth scientist with a long successful career at the USGS and the USDA
– A behavioral ecologist who is now a Wildlife Biologist at the US Fish & Wildlife Service
– A hydrologist working at a hydrology consulting firm
– An environmental conservationist working at a geographical software firm
– A forestry/natural resource scientist working for a major urban parks & recreation agency

PhD Careers in Think Tanks – Humanities/Social Science Edition
March 6-10, 2017
Humanities/Social Science forum

Humanities and Social Science PhDs can positively impact society by working in think tanks, non-academic research organizations that influence public policy around an important issue or cluster of issues. Think tanks hire PhDs to conduct and evaluate studies and help develop policy recommendations.

PhD Careers in Think Tanks – STEM edition
April 3-7, 2017
STEM forum

STEM PhDs can positively impact society by working in think tanks, non-academic research organizations that influence public policy around an important issue or cluster of issues. Think tanks hire PhDs to conduct and evaluate studies and help develop policy recommendations.

To get started, log in to the University at Buffalo’s VPhD portal and create your member account.

The Graduate School is pleased to provide this service in collaboration with Career Services, the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and University Libraries.

Please contact us if you have any questions at gradprofessionaldevelopment@buffalo.edu.