Student news and events

Congratulations to our 2013 graduates!
Watch the University of Windsor's convocation ceremonies here. Undergrdaute students graduating with Political Science and International Relations programs received their degrees on June 13. Students completing their MA degrees in the last year also received their degrees during the June 13 ceremony. 

Department's MA students receive awards
Several current and incoming master's students in the Department of Political Science have received academic and financial awards for the 2012-13 and 2013-14 academic years. Three current MA students - Sacha Atherly, Godwin Dei, and Charlene Keizer - were awarded the A. Rand & E.G. Ferriss Award by the Faculty of Graduate Studies, while Nada Abuzaid was awarded the 2012-13 Dr. Lois K. Smedick Graduate Award, and is planning to complete her major paper and MA degree this summer. Andrew Reaume and Sarah Cipkar, both of whom just finished the BA Honours program in Political Science in the department, will be continuing at Windsor in the MA program in Political Science with Ontario Graduate Scholarships (OGS) awarded by the university. Sarah also received a prestigious SSHRC award for MA research and will be working with Dr. Tom Najem on the Jerusalem Old City Initiative as part of her master's reserch. William 'Zack' Knechtel, graduating with a BA Honours in Politcal Science and Sociology, also received a SSHRC postgraduate award, but will be attending the University of Geneva in Switzerland for his MA work. Congratulations to all of our graduate student award winners! Read more about opportunities in our department's MA program here.

Volunteers needed for university's Peer Support Centre
The University of Windsor's Peer Support Centre is now looking for volunteers for the 2013-14 school year. Being a Peer Support Centre volunteer can be a very rewarding experience. It is an opportunity to gain valuable skills and knowledge, engage in personal growth, form new friendships, enhance your resume, add experience to your co-curricular transcript, and help the campus student community. If you’re interested in applying please go to /psc/4/volunteer-with-us. Please note that this is a university office and initiative and not managed by the Department of Political Science.

Opportunities with Engineers Without Borders
Looking for ways to get involved on campus? Engineers Without Borders is hiring for executive and general positions. Students from any and all academic programs are encouraged to apply, especially those with an interest in development issues in the Global South. Click here for more information on available positions, or click here for more information on the Windsor chapter of EWB. Please note that EWB is an independent student organization and not managed by the Department of Political Science.

Field course opportunities available through Queen's University
Political Science and IR students at Windsor may be interested in two field courses to be offered during summer 2013 by Queen's University, one in England and one in Costa Rica. The Field School in Sustainability Leadership will be offered June 17 through July 18 at Herstmonceaux Castle and other sites in England, and includes two taught courses and a practicum. The field course on Environmental Policy in Costa Rica begins May 12, and runs for three weeks. More information on the specific costs and courses associated with each of these offerings is available by downloading the brochures (the England program here and the Costa Rica program here). Please contact the appropriate faculty at Queen's for more information, and the University of Windsor Registrar's office if you have any questions about transferring credits and courses associated with these field programs.

Political Science Help Centre, Winter 2013
The Department of Political Science is pleased to announce the opening of the Political Science Help Centre. The Help Centre is designed to provide students taking Political Science courses with an additional source of academic support, and is run by senior students within Political Science who have a proven track record of academic success. These mentors will offer assistance on issues relating to academic research, effective exam preparation, note-taking, writing skills, avoiding common mistakes, and organizing study groups.

If you do not consistently secure ‘A’ grades on your exams, term papers, or Political Science courses, or just want advice on study tips, time management, and writing for your Political Science and IR courses, the Help Centre will be useful to you. The Help Centre is located in Chrysler Hall North 1146 (Political Science Conference Room, down the hall from the Cashier's Office in CHN), and is open during the following times during the Winter 2013 semester:

• Mondays, 11:30 am to 1:30 pm
• Tuesdays, 9:30 am to 11:30 am
• Wednesdays, 11:30 am to 1:30 pm
• Thursdays, 9:30 am to 11:30 am

OGS Applications due by January 31
Students interested in applying for the Ontario Graduate Scholarship for 2013-14 should note that the deadline for completed OGS applications is Thursday, January 31, at 4:00 pm. Completed applications must be submitted to the main department office (1149 CHN) by this time. No late applications will be accepted. For more information on the scholarship and the application procedures and requirements, please click here.

Department celebrates its first MA internship stream graduates
On December 13, the Department of Political Science celebrated its first class of MA graduates from its new internship stream with a public presentation of students' major research papers, attended by faculty and students as well as represenatives from internship placement employers, the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, and the offices of the university President and Provost. Five students are completing their master's degree through the internship stream this year, and coordinator Dr. Joanna Sweet noted that the department will be able to offer eight and potentially ten internship positions for this academic year. Click here to read more about this year's event, and click here for more information on the MA internship stream.

EU Study Abroad Program applications now being accepted
Applications are now being accepted for the joint University of Windsor/University of Michigan EU Study Abroad Program. The 2013 program, which will run from May 5-18, will focus on the theme of "The EU as a Global Actor", and students participating in the program will will stay at the Irish College in Leuven, Belgium, home of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. Dr Stephen Brooks, full professor in the University of Windsor Department of Political Science and adjunct professor at the University of Michigan, is the program director. Please click here for more inforamtion on the study abroad program, including information on course credit and costs, and to download the application form. Contact Dr. Stephen Brooks for more information or if you have specific questions about the program.

Election results are in!
Undergraduate and graduate students in the Department of Political Science's many programs recently voted for representatives to sit on the department's BAU Council, where they will represent and give voice to Political Science and International Relations students on important decisions related to curriculum and planning in the department. Three students - Michael Dodich, Paige Gouin, and Sammy Habib - were elected as undergraduate representatives, and Godwin Dei will represent the department's many graduate students on the council.

Elections were also held for executive positions in the Undergraduate Society for International Relations and Political Science (USIRPS), the official student group for the department's undergraduate majors. The following are the executive officers for the 2012-13 academic year:

• President - Michael Dodich
• Vice-President - Andrew Reaume
• Secretary - Jenna Bontorin
• Treasurer - Allie Bigg
• 1st year representative - Maddison Miller
• 2nd year representative - Catherine DeLuca
• 3rd year representative - Dan Monk

If you are a major and interested in learning more about USIRPS, please visit the society's office in CHN 1151, or check out their facebook page. Congratulations to all those students who won positions in USIRPS and on BAU Council, and thanks to all who voted and ran for these positions.

Sign the retirement Guestbook for our beloved Graduate Secretary Barbara Faria
Barbara will be retiring after 34 years of exceptional work at the University of Windsor. The Department of Political Science was extremely fortunate to have had Barbara for 28 of those years. In addition to her retirement Guestbook, there will be an open house in Barbara's honour on Monday April 30, 2012 from 2-4 in room 1137 in Chrysler Hall North. All are welcome to attend the open house in celebration of this wonderful woman and all she has done for our Department. Please feel free to sign the Guestbook at the link below:
http://cronus.uwindsor.ca/users/f/faria/guestbook.nsf/Input?OpenForm