== COVID-19 Adjustments ==

The 2020 April 24th deadline has been extended to June 30, 2020 for summer 2020 only. Travel is restricted and we do not know at this time when travel will open for in-person conference attendance. However, some students may be interested in attending conferences virtually to present virtual posters or virtual talks. In this case, expenses are expected to be much reduced, but there may still be conference registration fees. The PNB Graduate Travel fund will consider applications to cover a portion of these costs (matching funds from your supervisor are still required). Please see below for additional instructions. 

:: EXTENDED Deadline 30 June 2020: For virtual conference registration fees between 01 May – 30 September 
:: Deadline 25 September: For virtual conference registration fees between 01 October – 30 April 

== New online PNB Graduate Travel Application form ==

Paper is so last century. Going forward, please use the online PNB Graduate Travel Application:
* [https://goo.gl/forms/ambIIFUdNAyyC1tB2 PNB Graduate Travel Applications (Survey)]

Please note that PNB has a limited budget to support graduate travel, therefore the application process is a competitive one. The following criteria will be evaluated when reviewing travel support applications:

* To be eligible for PNB travel funding, you must be first author and present your own research as a poster or talk. Any deviation from this (e.g. you ARE presenting the research but you are second author) must be presented as a special request to the graduate chair.
* Unfortunately, PNB travel funding is not available for out-of-time students. A student is considered out-of-time if they are in their 3rd year at the masters level or in their 5th year at the doctoral level.
* Meet the deadline! There are two PNB deadlines in each fiscal year:
:: '''Deadline 25 September 2019: For travel between 01 October 2020 – 30 April 2021'''
:: '''Deadline 24 April 2020: For travel between 01 May 2021 – 30 September 2021'''
::: '''''Late applications are problematic because we have a limited budget and the amount that students receive is a function of how many students apply. That means that a late application has to be dealt with outside of the budget. If you miss the deadline, your award is very likely to be considerably less than you would have received otherwise.'''''

* Have you explored all possible avenues of obtaining travel grants (Supervisor, GSA: Graduate Student Association, Yates) before submitting an application for travel funding to PNB?
: Graduate Students Association (GSA) [https://gsamcmaster.org/travel-grants/ deadlines and links]
: Typically the GSA application periods are the month of September, January, and May for travel in fall, winter, and summer, respectively ([https://gsamcmaster.org/travel-grants/ check the GSA site] for exact dates which vary slightly from year to year).
::: You might be wondering about the selection process for GSA travel funding. Is it even worth applying? '''YES, IT IS WORTH APPLYING!''' The GSA selection process for funding applications is largely a random process within each faculty group. GSA accepts applications three times per year: September, January, and May. In each of these periods, the GSA travel awards are given out on a randomized basis, in which all eligible students who have completed the requirements of the application are put into five different pools based on their faculty. From there, an algorithm is used to randomly select one applicant from each pool until all the awards for a said period are given out. The bottom line is that your GSA application is not going to be rejected based on unstated criteria or some other mysterious evaluation. As long as you are eligible, you have a chance. However, if you do NOT apply, you do not have a chance.

* Have you secured matching funds from your supervisor?
:: The PNB graduate travel award serves as matching funds, in the sense that the amount awarded will not exceed the contribution of the faculty supervisor to the travel. PNB will match the supervisor contribution up to maximum $300 to $500 (depending on total number of applications we receive).

*Have you justified a reasonable budget?
:: Include only transportation, registration, accommodation, and food (PNB does not fund society dues or poster printing)
:: PNB funds a maximum $40/day for food, on official conference program days only

* Maximum PNB travel award per student per fiscal year (May to April) is $300 to $500 (depending on total number of applications we receive)

Carefully consider these criteria as well as the other information requested on the travel application form. Then complete the online PNB Graduate Travel Application:
* [https://goo.gl/forms/ambIIFUdNAyyC1tB2 PNB Graduate Travel Applications (Survey)]

== Things you should remember when travelling (tips from Sally): ==

* When sharing meals with others, ask for separate checks.
* All meal receipts must be itemized.
* Charge all alcohol to a separate check - alcohol cannot be charged to any Research Accounts.
* If meals are charged to your hotel room, you must provide an itemized receipt; if you do not get one, you are required to call the hotel and have one sent to you.
* An itemized hotel receipt is required unless the hotel is booked on a online website (eg. Expedia, Travelocity etc).
* When sharing accommodations, ask for separate receipts upon check-out.
* When booking airfare and/or hotels, please try to book your own, but if it is necessary to book together, please DO NOT book together with students in another lab, if you can avoid it. This presents a problem with using multiple grant numbers when the expense reports are submitted.

== Things to remember when submitting your Expenses to Sally for reimbursement: ==

* In order to be reimbursed, you will first have to [[Account Delegates | assign a delegate]] to your account in MOSAIC.
* When handing in receipts for reimbursement, let Sally know if you received funding from the department or the GSA. Also, let Sally know if you received any travel awards and what account number your supervisor would like her to charge.
* Provide a conference programme (noting name of conference, location, and dates of conference). A schedule at a glance is sufficient and can be printed off the internet.
* Provide the itemized airfare/train itinerary with cost of airfare AND boarding passes.
* Provide all original receipts, unless they are on-line receipts. Please do NOT take photos of receipts and email them to Sally.

* Important: When charging your credit card, the receipt must say "charged to Visa/Mastercard ... noting the last four digits of card number", if your receipt does not say this, you must provide your credit card statement showing proof of charge.

* If you are missing any receipts (eg. boarding pass, taxi receipt etc.) you must complete and submit a "Missing Receipt Form".
* If amounts are in a currency other than Canadian dollars, you must provide proof of exchange, a credit card statement (an online statement) or a banking receipt showing the exchange rate you paid when exchanging money. If you cannot supply proof of exchange, Sally will use the University Exchange for USD or the Bank of Canada rates for all other currencies on the date of purchase.
* If meals are being charged to an Departmental/University/PDA/Start-Up grant, only "Meals with Receipts" can be claimed. "Meals-per-Diem" are can only be charged to Tri-Council grants (NSERC/CIHR/SSHRC).

2020-09-23T17:38:59Z

Khalesi: /* Student Wellness Centre */

= When you need a bit of help =
There are lots of reasons you might feel like you need a bit of help during your tenure as a graduate student.

=== Nancy Riddell, Graduate Administrative Assistant ===
For technical issues like questions about forms, deadlines, requirements, course registration issues, etc., talk to Nancy Riddell.
: You can reach Nancy [mailto:riddeln@mcmaster.ca by email], or by phone: 905-525-9140 x23298. Nancy will be able to help you with all your technical questions.

=== Dr. Judith Shedden, Graduate Chair ===
If you have questions or concerns about supervisory issues, supervisory committee meetings, progress through your program, finances, requests of leave of absence due to medical or other reasons, or really any concern at all, talking to the Graduate Chair is a good first step:
: I am Dr. Judith Shedden (Judy), the PNB Associate Chair (Graduate), aka Graduate Chair. You can reach me [mailto:shedden@mcmaster.ca by email] and I would be most happy to set up a time to chat.
: Don't hesitate to contact me! You can talk to me confidentially about any concern you have and I will either provide support or help you find the support you need.

=== PNB Graduate Peer Support Group ===
Sometimes a student might prefer to talk to other graduate students before exploring more formal paths to asking for help. We are in the process of setting up a PNB Graduate Peer Support Group, consisting of senior PNB graduate students who have volunteered to provide confidential advice to other PNB graduate students.
: Contact information for our PNB Graduate Peer Support Group is coming soon (time stamp November 8, 2018).

== Other Support on Campus ==
There are several other resources on campus which provide support of various kinds:

=== Student Wellness Centre ===
The McMaster Student Wellness Centre offers a variety of resources and support for mental and physical health and well-being. Explore the menus and links on their site to discover what is available.
: Student Wellness Centre: https://wellness.mcmaster.ca/
:: Including:
::: [https://wellness.mcmaster.ca/crisis-support/ Crisis Support], [https://wellness.mcmaster.ca/topics/mental-health-and-illness/ Mental Health and Mental Illness], [https://wellness.mcmaster.ca/services/counselling/ Counselling], [https://wellness.mcmaster.ca/services/medical-care/ Medical Care], [https://wellness.mcmaster.ca/services/wellness-education/ Wellness Education], [http://www.studentcare.ca/talkitout/ Talk It Out Online Psychology help], and more.

=== Student Accessibility Services ===
McMaster’s Student Accessibility Services (SAS) provides a range of services to support students’ academic activities, including providing support to students who require academic accommodations. To receive accommodations, you will need to have support from a medical professional, and complete an intake package and appointment with SAS. It is important to note that diagnoses need not be disclosed to receive accommodation. Both temporary and long term accommodations are available through SAS.
: Accommodations are governed by McMaster University’s [https://www.mcmaster.ca/policy/Students-AcademicStudies/AcademicAccommodation-StudentsWithDisabilities.pdf Academic Accommodation of Students with Disabilities Policy].
: Student Accessibility Services (SAS) website: https://sas.mcmaster.ca/.

=== Ombuds Office ===
The McMaster Ombuds Office acts as a source of general information and referral regarding academic concerns including assisting in the resolution of individual complaints such as appeals or petitions, examinations, academic
dishonesty or research misconduct, withdrawals or reinstatements, course rules or management, and issues with a supervisor or instructor. The Ombuds can explain University policies and procedures and how they affect you,
objectively review your situation, help to develop options, and assist you in pursuing a resolution. The Ombuds will not make decisions about a course of action. Instead, they will help you to determine the facts of a situation and they may make a recommendation to remedy the situation.
: Ombuds Office: https://www.mcmaster.ca/ombuds/

=== Chaplaincy Centre ===
There is a Chaplaincy Center housed at McMaster University. It is not run by McMaster employees, but is available to all members of the McMaster community and provides an opportunity to receive spiritual guidance and support, as well as talk in a confidential environment. They also run weekly programming activities and assist religious student organizations.
: [https://multifaith.mcmaster.ca/where-to-worship Where to Worship; Prayer Spaces]
: [https://www.msumcmaster.ca/clubs-directory?utf8=%E2%9C%93&category=Religious%2FSpiritual&commit=Go McMaster Student Union (MSU) Religious and Spiritual Clubs]
: More information can be found here: https://www.mcmaster.ca/chaplain/index.html

=== English Language Skills ===
Help with the English language: speaking and writing for professional purposes. 
MELD, MERGE, MODEL: https://meld.humanities.mcmaster.ca/

The MELD Office (McMaster English Language Development Office) has launched a new project that they are calling MODEL (McMaster Office for the Development of English Language Learners). It is a free service designed to help both undergraduate and graduate students who may be struggling with the English Language. It is a two year pilot project made possible by the support of the Provost.

International graduate students should also check out the MERGE project (McMaster English Readiness for Graduate Excellence). This is an intensive program, offered over the summer, designed specifically for graduate students who require advanced ESL training for academic and professional purposes.

There are workshops as well as one-on-one sessions.
Learn more about MELD (for undergrads), MERGE (for graduate students), and MODEL (both undergrads and grads) here: https://meld.humanities.mcmaster.ca/

= Academic and Research Integrity =

* [https://www.mcmaster.ca/academicintegrity/ Office of Academic Integrity]
* [https://www.mcmaster.ca/policy/faculty/Research/ResearchIntegrityPolicy.pdf McMaster Research Integrity Policy]
* [https://www.mcmaster.ca/policy/Students-AcademicStudies/AcademicIntegrity.pdf McMaster Academic Integrity Policy]
* [https://www.mcmaster.ca/ombuds/ McMaster University and McMaster Students Union: Ombuds Office]
* [https://www.mcmaster.ca/policy/Students-AcademicStudies/ McMaster University Policies, Procedures & Guidelines]

= Career Planning =

=== [[Career Planning]] ===

=== Student Success Centre ===
Career services are available through the student success center for Alumni. Once you have finished your graduate work you can access their help for a variety of tasks including resume building, job shadowing, networking and more. If you completed an undergraduate program at McMaster University you may access their services at any time, as you qualify as an alumnus for the purposes of the center.
: They are located on the 2nd floor of Gilmour Hall, and can be reached at 905-525-9140 ext.24254