NRES Online M.S. Blog

Hello Fellow NRES Student,

Some of you may have heard of 350.org, a global grassroots movement to solve the climate crisis.  Myself and 8 fellow Chicagoans are starting a local chapter of 350 in Chicago.  Our first public meeting is Thursday May 30th in Lincoln Park at 1535 N. Dayton at 7:30-8:30pm.  In that meeting we will meet with other individuals who are passionate about Climate Change and want to work towards solutions.  One area of focus will be calling on the city of Chicago to divest its holdings in fossil fuel companies.  We will also be fighting against the Keystone XL pipeline (we will be participating in a demonstration on May 29th while President Obama is in town to remind him to reject the Keystone pipeline).  We will also use this first meeting to gauge what others are interested in working on (i.e. fracking or renewable energy).  If you would like to join our group please attend the first meeting!  We will meet regularly on the last Thursday of every month.  You can find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Chicago350.org (Like our page to stay up-to-date) Or visit our website at www.chicago350.org.  You can also email me at mbrice@illinois.edu or the group at getinvolved@chicago350.org.  Hope some of you will join us!  You can also find out more about 350.org on their website and watch environmentalist Bill McKibben's extremely inspiring and important movie "Do The Math".  Thanks!

NRES 499: Silviculture will begin June 13^th and run for 8 weeks, ending August 1. There is still plenty of time to enroll in this course. Taught by a practicing consulting forester, Silviculture will provide students with an introduction to the theory and practice of controlling the establishment, composition, structure and growth of forests, with an emphasis on practical applications to forest ecosystems common to Illinois and the surrounding region. Topics will include stand dynamics and growth, regeneration methods, managing forests for non-timber objectives, and forest health and protection. There will be one optional day- long field trip. For further information, please contact Piper Hodson at phodson@illinois.edu.

We would like to extend our best wishes to all NRES students graduating this weekend! Congratulations on your wonderful achievement!

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences would like to know if you are attending any of the following activities. If you will be joining us on campus this weekend, please let us know by sending an email to Renee Gracon at gracon1@illinois.edu.

Tassel Turning Reception College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES), Saturday, May 11, from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, in the Colonnades Club at Memorial Stadium. This is an intimate reception that offers graduates, their family members and friends a chance to gather with ACES faculty, administrators and alumni prior to the College of ACES Convocation ceremony.

The ACES Convocation Ceremony will take place Saturday, May 11, at 4:30 pm, at Assembly Hall. Doors will open to guests at 3:30 pm. Tickets are not needed for family members and friends that want to attend the ACES Convocation Ceremony.

Commencement ceremony , May 12 at 2:00 pm,  is the official University of Illinois academic ceremony. In long-standing tradition, the Chancellor presides and the President confers the degrees. This ceremony lasts about an hour and a half. For our online students, a streaming video can be viewed at  http://commencement.illinois.edu/ beginning at 2:00 pm.

Good luck to all of our graduates and please stay in touch! 

Getting ready to embark on a great summer NRES adventure? Whether you are working on your capstone or just enjoying the wonders of the world this summer, be sure to capture those special moments! The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science is hosting its Second Annual Photo Contest for online graduate students.  Sharing your favorite NRES moment, most memorable internship assignment, or unique research location could win you a great prize!  See information below!

The contest will end September 1, 2013.

PHOTO CONTEST CATEGORIES

Photography    

·         You In Action! Photographs in this category must show you at work on course-related work or your capstone project.  Make sure you submit a caption (maximum length 150 words) with your photograph to tell us about your experience.  Please be sure to obtain permission to take photos in the field, lab, or other work area.

·         Natural Resources/Nature: Photos should capture unusual, remarkable, or surprising things you encounter while working your capstone project or while taking a break from studies. It may be a unique landscape, a surprising species, or just something that amazes you.  Make sure you submit a caption (maximum length 150 words) with your photograph to tell us about your experience.  Please be sure to obtain permission to take photos in the field, lab, or other work area.

Videos

·         You in Action! Capture the sites, actions, and sounds of your experience in video. Be sure to include yourself in action! This is an outstanding opportunity for you to tell others of your adventure. Maximum length 2 minutes and only one video per student, please.  Videos may be comprised of moving video, still images presented in a slideshow format, animation or any combination thereof. Be sure to obtain permission to take video footage in the field, lab, or other work area.

JUDGING

Entries will be judged on creativity, composition and originality. Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of NRES faculty members not previously associated with the online program. All decisions will be final. Winning entries will be announced at the fall NRES Online Students On-Campus event, September 14, 2013.

LEGAL INFORMATION

Ownership

Students submitting photos and/or video files to this contest grant the University of Illinois (UIUC) and the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science (NRES) permission to use these photos/videos for promotional purposes.

Entries are not permitted to violate the rights of any third party. Entries that violate copyright or

contain copyrighted music or images will be automatically disqualified unless entrant can prove

authorization from the copyright holder to use said content.

Disclaimer

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science is not responsible or liable for any submission problems, damage or loss arising from, or connected with, this photo contest. Submissions that do not comply with contest rules will not be eligible to win. By submitting photos/videos to this contest you are declaring your understanding of the rules.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

1.)    Catch those fabulous moments in either digital photography or video format.

a.       Photos must be high resolution, minimum 300 dpi.

b.      Photos will be accepted in JPEG, GIF or PDF format, and should be no larger than 3 MB.

c.       Videos should be in MOV, WAV, or MP4 format, narrated, and no longer than 2 minutes in duration. Large video files can be submitted on disc or via YouTube. Email the YouTube link to Piper Hodson, Student Services Coordinator, at phodson@illinois.edu.

2.)    Entry must be the original work of the student.

3.)    Students may submit up to 3 photographs and/or one video entry.

4.)    Whether doing a research project or an internship, the written approval of a facility manager, employer, supervisor, and/or any other additional person(s) in the photo is required.

5.)    Provide entry information for each photo and/or video you submit. You must include: your name, NETID, phone number, location of picture, date taken (must be between Sept. 1, 2012 and Sept 1, 2013), category, title of picture, brief caption (150 words max), and whether this photo was edited or altered in any way.

6.)    All entries must be received by September 1, 2013. Clearly mark your entry “Photo Contest” and  submit it by:

a.       Attaching an electronic file to your email

b.      Submitting a disc and the required entry information to the NRES office at N-509 Turner Hall (MC-047).

c.       Mail the  entry to Photo Contest, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign, N – 509 Turner Hall, 1102 S. Goodwin Ave. Urbana, Illinois 61801.

QUESTIONS?

If you have any questions regarding the photo contest, please email gracon1@illinois.edu

Get ready to start snapping those pictures!

Renée Gracon

The 2013 NRES On-Campus Event hosted specifically for our online graduate students will be Saturday, September 14. This is a golden opportunity for you to meet the faculty and staff, tour the campus, learn more about the University’s resources, and network with other graduate students. We are in the process of developing the schedule of events, so please let us know if there is a special topic you would like on the agenda and what experiences would most interest you. For more information, contact Renee at gracon1@illinois.edu.

We hope you will plan to attend this fun-filled and information-packed day!

Renée Gracon

May 2 Reading Day Deadlines

• Last day for faculty to submit a grade to replace an “I” grade or “DFR” grade in a non-thesis course from Fall 2012 to prevent an F by rule (The F may affect Academic Standing calculated at the end of the semester.) If you have an I that will not be completed, you can petition to extend the I at http://www.grad.illinois.edu/gsas/gradpetition. You can find the rule to which you are requesting an exception in Chapter IV.A of the Graduate Student Policies at http://www.grad.illinois.edu/gradhandbook/chapteriii/section01. 
• Deadline to Drop a course with department approval with a W recorded
• Deadline for Withdrawals from all semester courses with department approval with W’s recorded 
• Deadline to Add a semester course with instructor, student’s department, and course enrolling department approval

If you have questions, contact the Graduate College at GradAcServ@illinois.edu.

 May 12 Summer Deadlines

Deadline to cancel summer 1 (4 week) and SF (summer full term) registration if not registered for any other summer course

If you were unable to join us for last night’s presentation on Summer and Fall 2013 course offerings, you can view the video recording by going to:

https://sas.elluminate.com/site/external/jwsdetect/playback.jnlp?psid=2013-04-18.1603.M.87F36996661A8600209E1FEAD763DC.vcr&sid=407

This session included information about upcoming NRES core and non-core courses and other outstanding online courses available through ACES. If you need further information about upcoming courses or assistance with your Plan of Study, be sure to contact Renée at gracon1@illinois.edu

Renée Gracon

Online Program Advising Specialist

Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences

Join us Thursday, April 18 at 5:30 pm for a look at the upcoming online course offerings for Summer and Fall 2013. You can join the broadcast by going to https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?password=M.19C11EA0056D5D3BC3797830F6AFA1&sid=407

We will briefly describe summer/fall course offerings and also ask your input regarding what future courses you would like to see offered by the NRES department.

For further information, please contact Renée at gracon1@illinois.edu

We hope you will join us tomorrow evening,

Piper and Renée

We have a great lineup of NRES courses for summer and fall 2013!

Do you need information beyond what is currently available in the abbreviated course description from the course catalog?

Join us April 18, 5:30 pm (CT) for a comprehensive look at the NRES online 2013 summer and fall courses, including insight into the content, teaching approach, and assessments that will be used in each course. You can join the session by logging in at: https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?password=M.19C11EA0056D5D3BC3797830F6AFA1&sid=407

For those unable to attend, we will post access to the recording of the session via a Blog on Friday.

For more information, contact Renee at gracon1@illinois.edu. We hope to see you online!

Renee Gracon and Piper Hodson

Hire Big 10 Virtual Career Fair Dates: April 9th -11th
Featuring Full-time, Internship, & Co-op Jobs
http://hirebig10.careereco.net/ 

Meet 68+ great companies including Accenture, ADP, Allstate, Amazon, DuPont, FAA, General Motors, Intel, International Atomic Energy Agency, KRONOS, Menard, NOKIA, Northwestern Mutual, Stryker, Tata Consultancy, Trimble Navigation, U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, and more!

To Register: http://hirebig10.careereco.net/students-alumni/virtual-career-fair-registration/.
- Students and alumni will have the opportunity to connect real-time with employers without the hassle of leaving your home or office
- You will meet recruiters online via chat rooms during the three-day event on April 9th -11th.
- Employers chat hours will be posted in advance. (a camera is not required for the text chat -- video chats will be scheduled by appointment in advance)
- To register, jobseekers simply need to upload their resume for employers to view.

You could win a Nano iPod and get a job. This is an easy way to potentially get hired. Give it a try!

Questions: send an email to hirebig10@careereco.com or 770-980-0088 

We hope you will join us on Thursday, March 14 at 5:30 (CT) for a webinar on how to maximize the effectiveness of your Capstone Presentation. This is not a tutorial on how to create PowerPoint, but rather a discussion of the important elements of your PowerPoint presentation and tips for designing the presentation to avoid the pitfalls of Collaborate (in case you or one of your committee members is attending virtually). We will share with you slides from several current students and recent graduates of the NRES program.

Hope to see you there!

To join the session login at: https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?password=M.19C11EA0056D5D3BC3797830F6AFA1&sid=407

For further information, contact me at gracon1@illinois.edu

Renée Gracon

NRES Online Program Advising Specialist

Interested in knowing how to design your presentation for delivery via Collaborate? Unsure how long to make your Capstone presentation? Need advice on slide composition? Join us Thursday, March 14, for a webinar aimed at helping you avoid some of the common pitfalls and maximize the effectiveness of your capstone presentation.

Thursday, March 14, 2013, at 5:30 pm (Central) via Collarborate.

To join the session go to: https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?password=M.19C11EA0056D5D3BC3797830F6AFA1&sid=407

For further information, contact Renee at gracon1@illinois.edu.

We hope to see you there!

Renee Gracon

Were you were unable to join us for the Advising Session on Thursday, March 7? Did you miss the helpful tips about content and delivery of your Capstone presentation?

If you would like to view the recording of the Advising Session on Making Your Oral Presentation, go to https://sas.elluminate.com/site/external/jwsdetect/playback.jnlp?psid=2013-03-07.1602.M.87F36996661A8600209E1FEAD763DC.vcr&sid=407

We hope to see you at the presentation on March 14, Avoiding PowerPoint Pitfalls.

Renee Gracon and Piper Hodson

Getting nervous about delivering a presentation in class? Getting ready to present your Capstone Project? Need advice about how to assess your strengths and weaknesses as a speaker? This seminar is designed for all graduate students who will be making oral presentations.

Renee Gracon, Online Program Advising Specialist, and Piper Hodson, Student Services Coordinator, will discuss the 4 key elements of a powerful presentation and provide some guidelines for designing your presentation. In addition, you will learn important information about what to expect as you stand before the Graduate Committee to present your Capstone project.

Join us Thursday, March 7 for the next advising seminar -  Making Effective Oral Presentations.The session begins at 5:30 pm (CST) and will last approximately 50 minutes. Join the session by going to: https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?password=M.19C11EA0056D5D3BC3797830F6AFA1&sid=407

For further information, please contact Renee at gracon1@illinois.edu

We hope to see you Thursday night.

Renee Gracon

If you were unable to join us for last evening’s outstanding Advising Session on NRES Related Careers, you can view the archive of the session at: https://sas.elluminate.com/site/external/jwsdetect/playback.jnlp?psid=2013-02-21.1606.M.87F36996661A8600209E1FEAD763DC.vcr&sid=407.

If you would like to receive a copy of the PowerPoint presentation from the session, please contact Renee Gracon at gracon1@illinois.edu

The next Advising session will be Thursday, Mar 7 at 5:30 pm. The topic will be Making Effective Oral Presentations.

Hope to see you then,

Renee

Thursday evening’s Advising Session on Careers in NRES and NRES Related Fields will feature NRES Student Services Coordinator, Piper Hodson, speaking on current employment trends, the vast range of career paths, how to network effectively, and how to market your skills and experience.

When: Thursday, Feb 21, 2013 at 5:30 pm CST

Where: Online – Join the presentation by logging in at  https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?password=M.19C11EA0056D5D3BC3797830F6AFA1&sid=407

For further information, or to suggest a question that you would like Piper to answer during the presentation, please contact Renee at gracon1@illinois.edu.

See you there!

Renee Gracon

Online Program Advising Specialist

Hi NRES graduate students,

Just a reminder that your 2013 Annual Review Form and associated documents (e.g., resume, plan of study, research approval, etc.) are due by February 25, 2013. The completion of this annual review process is a requirement of the Graduate College and must be completed by all students regardless of the circumstances. Please be sure to get your forms completed and submitted asap! Forms should be sent to me at gracon1@illinois.edu. If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know.

Thank you,

Renee Gracon

Online Program Advising Specialist

The University of Illinois Graduate College is participating with the Graduate Career Consortium to host a Ph.D. and Master's Virtual Career Fair Tuesday, February 19th. There is extensive information about how the virtual career fair works and how to register at http://gradtalent.careereco.net/students-alumni/virtual-career-fair-registration/. 

Please join us for the following upcoming NRES Advising Sessions:

February 21        Careers in NRES and NRES-related fields

March 3                Making Effective Oral Presentations

March 28             Avoiding PowerPoint Pitfalls

All sessions begin at 5:30 pm (CST) and will last approximately 50 minutes. Join the session by going to: https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?password=M.19C11EA0056D5D3BC3797830F6AFA1&sid=407.

Careers Advising Session – Feb 21

Designed especially for our graduate students seeking non-entry level positions, the Careers Advising Session will feature NRES Student Services Coordinator, Piper Hodson. Join her on Thursday, February 21, when she will give insiders tips on how to broaden your job search, take advantage of networking,  better articulate your work experience, use online resources to find the right position, and reach more potential employers. There will be ample time to ask questions at the end of the presentation. If you would like to submit a question in advance, please send it to phodson@illinois.edu. Be sure to identify the subject of the email as “Question for Careers Advising Session”.  We hope to see you all there!

Renee Gracon

Graduation is only 3 months away! This is an exciting time for you, and also a very busy one. Be sure that everything you need to do before graduation has been done. See the information below, so that you don’t overlook anything.

As you prepare for graduation, be sure that you have met all of the degree requirements. Thoroughly review the list on the NRES website by going to Non-Thesis Capstone Options Degree Requirements at: http://nres.illinois.edu/current_online/degree_requirements.

If you have been working on your Independent Research Project, you should already have the following documents on file in the NRES office: “Appointing Your Committee” and an approved “Research Proposal”. If not, both forms are available by going to http://nres.illinois.edu/current_online and scrolling down the page to FORMS. For more information on the research proposal, go to http://nres.illinois.edu/current_online/guide_to_research_proposal. It is not too late to submit these documents to Student Services, but don’t delay!

If you are working on an Internship, be sure you have met the requirements of two Periodic Reports for each hour of academic credit earned, and you have created both the Final Report and Oral Presentation.

Note that for graduation in May, all oral presentations summarizing the capstone effort must be completed by April 5, and all revisions based on Committee recommendations of projects/papers must be received in final, approved form by the NRES office no later than April 26. Now is the time to schedule your oral presentation by contacting your Academic Advisor and your Committee members to select a mutually convenient date and time.

Don’t forget to put your name on the pending degree list and to notify both Karen Claus (kclaus@illinois.edu) and me (gracon1@illinois.edu) of your progress! You will find this and other important instructions in the step-by-step guides on the NRES website. Go to http://nres.illinois.edu/current_online/capstone_options and select the Final Steps to Graduation file which corresponds to your Capstone Experience.

If you have any questions or need advising assistance, contact Renee at gracon1@illinois.edu.

The NRES faculty and staff look forward to celebrating with you in May!

Renee Gracon

Online Program Advising Specialist

Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences