Message to Students from the Vice-Provost and Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research

A welcome message to students from Dr. Brooke Milne

Brooke Milne - 5 September 2019

Welcome to a new academic year!

The Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research (FGSR) is home to more than 7000 graduate students in over 500 programs, with the most diverse student body of its kind on the University of Alberta campus. You are among 2297 incoming graduate students this year. The varied experiences and perspectives you each respectively bring will enrich our ways of thinking, innovating, and doing.

The mission of the Faculty is to support you by providing the highest quality service to ensure that you reach your full potential both as a scholar and a professional. Our staff and team of Associate Deans are committed to partnering with the Departments and Faculties to make every stage of your academic journey a success.

If you need assistance navigating university regulations, if you want to access various resources on campus, or if you require information on registration and fees, scholarships, and special funding opportunities, please visit us in Triffo Hall, explore our website, or e-mail grad.mail@ualberta.ca.

Everyone at FGSR works collectively to see each student achieve positive, transformational experiences during their graduate school years. We offer a variety of programs and supports that are designed to help students meet their academic goals, including thesis-writing boot camps, sessions on research ethics and intellectual property, scholarship writing seminars, and the Graduate Teaching and Learning (GTL) Program. FGSR is also focused on graduate student professional development, and through our Career Mentoring and Graduate Student Internship Programs (GSIP), students can connect with mentors, entrepreneurs, and enthusiastic employers within our local community and beyond. An essential component of a positive graduate school experience includes maintaining one's health and overall well-being, and we encourage you to take time out from your studies to participate in the various wellness activities that are offered by FGSR throughout the year.

FGSR engages campus stakeholders in lively discussions on a variety of important questions: How do we build future-focused interdisciplinary and community-engaged graduate programs? How can we be thoughtful allies in the process of reconciliation, and work towards better supporting students from all of our diverse communities? How can we create healthier work and research environments for graduate students? We want to involve you in these discussions while you are here so that you feel invested in your university and become an informed advocate for these important issues post-graduation. I hope you make the most of all that FGSR and the University of Alberta have to offer you as you embark on your journey of growth and discovery.

With best wishes,

Dr. Brooke Milne
Vice-Provost and Dean
Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research