Newsletter 30th May 2012

Hi Postgrads!

Missed you! I’ve just gotten back from a conference, thus my silence for the last two weeks. Exciting times – we finalised the Small Grants and Travel Award recipients for the first round of 2012 and they have been informed by a nice letter. The process has led us to reconsider the format of the awards in 2012 and we will be making some changes before the next round opens. Keep your eyes peeled!

Coursework students, your new Coursework officer has been duly appointed! Congrats Brian!

How is everyone going with printing and pay? Is there any other issue I can help with?

Remember to pay your SSAF! Encumbrances are not your friend!

Aisling

Notices

Connect! Next Thursday (7th of June), 5pm, Uni Club! Be there or be a rhombus!

Law students: Join the PSA Committee and represent postgrad law students! Email Aisling at psa@guild.uwa.edu.au

Collaboration lovers: Love a bit of inter-disciplinary ‘collaboration’? Limina conference is for you! Register or be disappointed: http://www.limina.arts.uwa.edu.au/limina_conference

Are you a woman? Graduate Women WA bursaries/scholarships are open again until 12pm on the 27^th of July. I assume the old form is still valid: http://www.members.westnet.com.au/afuwwa/bursaries.html

Rookie teachers! The Centre for Teaching and Learning have a course for you! Check it out: http://www.catl.uwa.edu.au/pd/programs/iut

Opinionated ones: There is a Postgraduate Admissions Centre being set up, and the university is seeking our feedback on the current admissions, applications, and enrolments procedures, and the current course guide. If you want to be part of the process improving the postgraduate experience at UWA, join the focus group on Friday 8 June from 12.30pm - 1.30pm (venue TBC). Email Shelley by the 6^th of June for more info and to let her know you’re coming: shelley.giles@uwa.edu.au

3 Minute Thesis: I know little about this, so I’ll be at Gentilli LT from 10-11.30 am on Thursday 7th June! Come hang out?

Money? Money! Convocation and PSA co-fund some travel awards! Applications are open on the 1^st of July: http://www.graduates.uwa.edu.au/awards/pgrta

Threesome! By which, of course, I mean the three most awesome PSAs in WA (UWA, Curtin, and Murdoch) are co-hosting a networking event! It will be held at Curtin on the 19^th of July from 6pm to 9pm. More details for you when I have them!

Sleepy? You can nap in the PSA Lounge! Ask for the key at Guild reception. Also, there is a microwave you can use! (keep it clean, or I’ll write passive aggressive post-it notes).

You know where to find me:

Aisling Blackmore
President, UWA Postgraduate Students' Association
psa.guild.uwa.edu.au

Email:psa@guild.uwa.edu.au
Phone: 6488 3194

Twitter:@ACBlackmore
Facebook: facebook.com/uwapsa

Mailing List Walk-Through

Hi postgrads!

I’ve been getting a number of questions about the postgrad mailing list, both subscribing and unsubscribing. Rather than explaining it individually repeatedly, I’m writing a blog about it and hopefully should be able to direct future enquiries here. Also, there’s pictures!

To subscribe:

Go here: http://maillists.uwa.edu.au/mailman/options/postgrad

This page will appear:

Enter your email, click subscribe. You'll get a confirmation email and that's all you need to do to start receiving sunshiny emails in your inbox!

To unsubscribe:

Go to the same web address, scroll to the bottom of the page.

It's very important that you enter the email address you used to subscribe - otherwise it won't work!

Then you will arrive at this page:

Press the button, and you'll be free of the PSA's newsletters, event reminders, and fun times!

Hopefully this clarifies any confusion!

Post-Quiz Night!

Happy Friday!

Once again, thank you so much to you all for coming to the Quiz Night last night! I hope you had a fun evening, I had a lovely time with you all. I'm looking for feedback on the night from you all - you can send me an email, or just comment right here!

Did you have a good time?

Were the questions too hard? If so, how could we improve them/what level should we pitch them at in the future?

How about prizes? Good/bad/more/less? Any sponsors you'd like to see us approach in the future?

Did you not come? Is there something we could do to make it easier for you to come next time?

I'd love for you to answer as many of these questions as you'd like! Enjoy your weekend and the newsletter which should arrive in your inboxes very soon.

I'll post photos here, on Facebook, and on the website soon - feel free to tag your pretty faces when I do!

Aisling

***UPDATE***
Photos!!
http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.346489155423379.77171.171103122961984&type=3

Newsletter 3rd of May 2012

Hi there postgrads!

Do you find my normal newsletters too long?  I’m trying a different approach this time, let me know what you think! I'd like to merge it with the purple box formatting if you like the more concise style.

·        

      ALBANY STUDENTS: I’m coming to visit this Friday! I don’t know if you have a formal branch of the association down there (or anyone is interested in starting one) but I’ll be down on Senate business for one day, so send me an email if anyone would like to meet up.

·     HUMANITIES STUDENTS: There is a Masterclass you should go to! It’s about articulating the impact of your research. See more here: http://www.ias.uwa.edu.au/masterclass/chubb

·     SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING STUDENTS: There is also a Masterclass for you! It’s also about articulating the impact of your research. See more here: http://www.ias.uwa.edu.au/masterclass/chubb2

·     QUIZ NIGHT: There is free pizza! There are prizes sponsored by T. Sharpe and Co., Uni Club, Co-op and more! There are questions! There is a raffle!
I know there have been difficulties getting tables registered – my profuse apologies! We’re bringing the forms to Connect, so you can also register a table there. Bring 8 names, and $10 from each person and you’ll be set.

·     CONNECT: Thursday the 3^rd at 5pm, Uni Club Balcony – be there or be square. I unfortunately can’t stay for the whole time, but hope to catch up with at least some of you!

·     SLEEPY PEOPLE:  Sherilyn Tan is a psychology honours student at UWA looking for participants between the ages of 25-50 to participate in her honours project as part of the "Sleep Across the Lifespan" study. Participants will be asked to complete a series of questionnaires regarding sleep, general well-being and mood. Anyone who would like more information or is interested in participating may email her at tanh08@student.uwa.edu.au. 

·     PSYCHOLOGY STUDENTS: I want to make a survey for postgrads, but I’m a History student! I don’t know how to measure what people think and feel, but if you do and want to help PSA and other postgrads, please email me!

·     LAW STUDENTS: You don’t have a faculty rep! This makes me sad – so nominate yourself or an unwitting currently enrolled friend in that faculty by emailing me!

·     COURSEWORK STUDENTS: You don’t have an officer! This makes me sad as well – so nominate yourself or an unwitting currently enrolled friend in a coursework course by emailing me!

·     COURSEWORK STUDENTS: Ideas are being floated about where postgrad coursework students should fit into the structure of student representation. I think you should stay with the PSA – because you’re postgrads who have different issues, focuses, and priorities to undergraduates. The Guild is talking about taking over representing you – so you would go through their structures rather than the PSA when you have a problem. I want to know what idea you prefer. Lacking a coursework officer, I’d appreciate it if you could talk about this with other postgrad coursework students and let me know your thoughts through email/Connect/Quiz Night.

·     LOUNGE USERS/FANS: I think it’s excellent and very important that the PSA/Guild provide a free space dedicated for postgraduate students to use. Do you agree? Do you use the lounge, for discussion groups, seminars, chilling out, or other? Do you disagree? Please send me an email so I can push for us to keep a lounge as the Guild reorganises the distribution of space.

·     PSA TRAVEL GRANTS: Close on Friday at 5pm! Don’t miss out, get your applications in!

·     PSA SMALL GRANTS: Guess when they close? Friday at 5pm! Don’t miss out, get your applications in! (please)

·     COURSEWORK STUDENTS: (I think you’re secretly my favourites) How do you like the application procedures for your courses? What do you think of the information you have available? How accessible is it? Guess what I’d like you to do with the thoughts you’re having right now – write them in an email and send them to me!

I think that is everything! I can always send you more emails... so if you reply to this one you might just keep me busy enough to minimise my (lovingly sent) spam.

Also, please pass on these links for me:
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/uwapsa
Mailing list: maillists.uwa.edu.au/mailman/listinfo/postgrad
Blog: uwapsa.blogspot.com.au/

Have a lovely end to the week postgrads – let me know of any problems/concerns/queries/successes/births/deaths/marriages/alligators.

Kind regards,
Aisling Blackmore
President, UWA Postgraduate Students' Association
psa.guild.uwa.edu.au

Email:psa@guild.uwa.edu.au
Phone: 6488 3194
Twitter:@ACBlackmore