GLS eNews August 24, 2020
GLS Weekly News - August 24, 2020
Weekly Virtual Porch Sitting is back! Join us this Thursday at 5 PM via Zoom. Please note the new meeting room link: https://duke.zoom.us/j/99662930148
GLS House remains closed until further notice. GLS staff are working remotely and may be reached via email.
In this edition:
- Message from the Director
- Alum's Photography Featured in Washington Post
- Dean's Research Award Applications Open
- Upcoming Events
- Graduate School Updates and Coronavirus Resources
- Important Dates for GLS Students
Message from the Director
Dear GLS Community—
For those actively involved in the program, welcome to the second week of classes! I’m hoping that everyone’s courses are off to a good start, and I must say that I am very much enjoying the individual advising meetings that I have been having with many students this week and last. Those reinforce my sense of connection with many of you and restore my faith in the persistence of the desire to learn and grow even in the face of what now feels like a chronic crisis.
In that regard, the last week has been a sobering reminder that “normalcy” is probably a long way away. As many know, I live in Chapel Hill and have deep connections at UNC, and we all watched in dread as notices of COVID “clusters” on campus came day after day, ultimately leading to a rapid shutdown of the attempt to restart in-person learning. Things seem quieter at Duke so far, and we hope they remain so. Still, it’s hard to adjust to the idea that we may be in this “distancing” mode for a long time yet.
My GLS colleagues and I have discussed whether there are ways in which we can be more present for each other during this time. We wish we could somehow meet for outings or conversations. But for the moment, we have concluded that our best option for maintaining and nurturing our community is through our Thursday evening “virtual porch sitting” –5:00 to 6:00 pm eastern by Zoom each week. I invite you to join us for these informal gatherings of current students, GLS staff, faculty, and alums. Lisa will send out a reminder with the link on Thursday.
Meanwhile, we wish you the strength to stay positive and healthy during this very challenging time for all.
Warmly,
Alum's Photography Featured in Washington Post
Writer and photographer Sarah Stacke (MALS 2012) enlisted the help of her young son Errol to create a series of "pandemic portraits" marking their time together during lockdown. Their work appeared in the July 17 edition of the Washington Post.
Earlier this spring, Sarah documented the plight of classroom pets during the pandemic in this NPR piece, "Who'll Take The Tortoise? What Happens To Classroom Pets During The Lockdown. "
Sarah is the author of Photos Day or Night: The Archive of Hugh Mangum a book based on her master's project research.
From “The Bookmark Portraits,” a collaboration of pandemic portraits between a mother and son. (Sarah Stacke)
Applications Open for Dean's Research Awards for Master's Students
The Dean’s Research Award for Master’s Students will provide up to $1,000 to fund the purchase of materials and supplies relevant to a master’s student’s degree completion. Current students who are in one of The Graduate School’s master’s programs and in good academic standing are eligible to apply.
Application instructions for students are posted on The Graduate School's website. Please note that completed applications must be submitted via email to GLS.
The 2020-2021 application period runs from August 1 to August 31, 2020, and recipients will be notified by September 30, 2020, with the award being disbursed via noncompensatory payroll in October 2020. The awards must be spent by May 31, 2021.
TGS to Offer Virtual Professional Development Workshops for Master's Students
Each semester, The Graduate School offers several workshops specifically designed for students in the school’s research master’s programs as part of the Professional Development Series. Master’s students are also welcome at most other events offered as part of the Professional Development Series.
Next up:
FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2020, 2:00 pm to 2:45 pm
Key Connections: A Professional Development Workshop for Master’s Students
See the master's student workshop lineup here.
Check out the video below to see what GLS alum Ke "Coco" Xu (MALS 2018) and other master's students have gained from the TGS workshops.
Upcoming Events
Online Resources for Graduate Students
- COVID-19 updates for students are available on Duke's Coronavirus Response website.
- Graduate School-specific COVID-19 updates are posted here. TGS has also created a FAQ for continuing and incoming international students.
- The Duke Student Assistance Fund was established better support master's students who may be experiencing difficulty providing for their basic needs during this extraordinary time.
- Blue Devils Care is a new mental telehealth service that can provide support wherever you may be located currently. You can access the service by using the key DUKE2020.
- The Career Center now offers online drop-in advising for graduate students on Wednesdays and Fridays. View the schedule here.
Important Dates for GLS Students
Friday, August 28 - Fall 2020 Drop/Add ends
Tuesday, August 31 - Deadline to apply for Dean's Award
Monday, September 7 - Labor Day holiday - GLS office closed, classes in session
EVERY THURSDAY :
