Graduate education occurs in many venues, formal and informal. It is critical that first year students immediately begin to integrate themselves into the department. Special effort should be made to introduce yourself to as many faculty members and students in Women Studies as possible. This can be done through classes, meetings with faculty during their office hours, informal meetings in the TA offices or hallways or through departmental social and/or scholarly events such as receptions and colloquia.

Many of the sections of this manual are pertinent to the concerns of students throughout their years of graduate study. However, there are several activities of importance which relate only to first year graduate students:

First year graduate students typically are required to attend the TA Conference sponsored by the Center for Instructional Development and Research (CIDR) prior to the start of Fall Quarter classes. This is a University requirement for students admitted with TA funding. Since we hope that all of our graduate students will gain experience as a TA at some point during their graduate education, the Women Studies Department requires all students, to attend this training at some point. In the case of students admitted with RA funding or fellowship funding, attendance may be delayed until the September of the second year of graduate training. Many of the sessions offered as part of the TA Conference become more useful as your education and teaching opportunities progress. Graduate students beyond the first of second year may find attendance at some conference sessions useful. More information can be found at:

http://depts.washington.edu/cidrweb/TAConference/2006/index.html

During your first year you are required to two of our three core courses: Women 501 (History of Feminism) in Fall, and Women 502 (Problems in Feminist Theory) in Winter. Women 503 (Feminist Research and Methods of Inquiry) is offered in Spring and must be taken no later than the end of your second year of graduate study. Typically, full-time students enroll in two five-credit courses each quarter during their first two years in the program. In the first year, students typically take one course pertinent to their area of interest or a research methodology course in addition to a core course each quarter. Students postponing Women 503 until the second year typically enroll in two five credit courses in their area of interest or in methods during Spring quarter.

All students funded by TAs, RAs, or GSAs MUST be registered for a minimum of 10 credits during Fall, Winter and Spring quarters. Students receiving funding during summer quarter MUST be registered for a minimum of 2 credits during that quarter.

After you have been offered admission, the Registration Office sends a request for $100 Enrollment Confirmation Deposit to indicate the intent to register. This nonrefundable deposit will apply toward the first quarter's tuition. Once this fee has been paid and your immunization records approved, the Office of the Registrar will send you a "registration appointment" with information on how and when to register. Generally, first year graduate students do not register for courses until after they arrive on campus. The Women Studies Department will automatically enroll first year students in Women 501. (More details about registration are available later in this section.)

You will have been assigned a primary and secondary Faculty Advisor at the time of admission. These individuals will assist you with planning your program of courses for the first year. Although many students continue with their primary advisor past their first year, this is not required. You should feel free to pursue work with another faculty member in the department if that better fits your educational needs. The selection and role of advisors is discussed further below.

During the first 2 weeks of the first quarter you are enrolled in the graduate program, you will be asked to submit a plan for your first year in the program. These reports are prepared in consultation with your primary and secondary advisors. They lay out your plans for coursework, teaching, and research during the current academic year. During subsequent academic years you will be asked to submit a plan by the start of Fall quarter. These plans can be changed with the written approval (signature) of your advisors at any time during the academic year.

It is wise to review your current plan at the start of each academic quarter to assure that you are making adequate progress.

In order to ensure that each student is progressing satisfactorily, the faculty of Women Studies conducts an annual review of each graduate student near the end of Spring quarter. This review will assess performance in courses, research, and teaching where appropriate. You will be asked to submit a self-assessment of your progress during the academic year prior to the faculty evaluation. For both the self-assessment and the faculty assessment, your progress will be measured in relationship to your academic plan for that year. You will receive a letter providing feedback on your performance and any appropriate recommendations prior to the start of Fall quarter.