newsletter

NEWS ITEMS ----

EDITING OF RESEARCH THESES BY PROFESSIONAL EDITORS

The University of Newcastle has adopted the Policy developed by the Deans and Directors of Graduate Studies collaboratively with the Council of Australian Societies of Editors.
More details for the policy are provided on the University's Research Higher Degrees web site page.
Briefly the policy has been developed to give guidance to professional editors. The document has been developed with close attention to the current Australian Standards for Editing Practice (ASEP).
It is expected that students will seek guidance on editorial advice from their academic supervisors.
Students writing up a thesis should be aware of the requirements under this newly adopted Policy - so please check it out.
The Australian Standards for Editing Practice web address is provided, or click on the link
http://www.postgraduate.uwa.edu.au/__data/page/41563/Aus_Standards_Editing_Practice.pdf

NUPSA has become aware of a publication -
"Copyright Guide for Research Students: What you need to know about copyright before depositing your electronic thesis in an online repository".

The publication is produced by the Open Access to Knowledge (OAK) Law Project - Faculty of Law, Queensland University of Technology.

A copy of the guide can be downloaded from: http://www.oaklaw.qut.edu.au, and by following through with the links - Reports, Guide and Publications; then Guides.
(http://www.oaklaw.qut.edu.au)

NEWSLETTER ----

The newsletter is regularly distributed by email to all enrolled postgraduate students.

Articles from postgraduate students are welcome - please contact the NUPSA office for further details.

You will find recent newsletters below.

October 2008 newsletter -

1. Call for nominations - 2009 NUPSA Executive Committee
2. FREE lunch - Wednesday 29th October 2008 - for postgraduate and honours students
3. For international (on-campus) students - IELTS preparation discussion group session
4. 2008 Annual Dinner - Friday 14th November 2008
5. Coursework Students - PG Expo - combined GScom and UoN Central Marketing event
6. Centre for Teaching and Learning Academic Pathways workshops
7. Ourimbah Students - vacant position on the 2009 Campus Central Board for a postgraduate student
8. 2009 Fathers and Families Program PhD Scholarship
9. Copyright guide - depositing your e-thesis in an online repository
10. How to contact NUPSA

1. CALL FOR NOMINATIONS - 2009 NUPSA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Details for the elections follow.
If you wish to nominate for one of the Executive positions a nomination form is available from the NUPSA Office, Room HA150, Hunter Building, Callaghan Campus. Alternatively email NUPSA and a nomination form can be forwarded by email attachment, for completion and return.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS -

Nominations are called from Wednesday, 8th October 2008 for members of the Newcastle University Postgraduate Students’ Association (NUPSA) to serve on the NUPSA Executive Committee, from 1st January 2009 to 31st December 2009, in the following positions:

President
Vice-President
General Secretary
Education Officer (Research)
Education Officer (Coursework)
International Students Representative
Women’s Officer
Campus Representative (Ourimbah)
Campus Representative (Callaghan Satellite)
Media Officer
Activities Officer
Equity Officer
Three (3) General Executive Members

ELIGIBILITY -
Any member of the Newcastle University Postgraduate Students’ Association may propose or second a candidate and vote in the elections. All members of the Association are eligible for nomination. All currently enrolled postgraduate students are members of NUPSA, by virtue of their enrolment.
The Education Officer (Research) shall be a member enrolled in a research degree; the Education Officer (Coursework) shall be a member enrolled in a coursework degree; the Campus Representative (Callaghan Satellite) shall be a member studying primarily at a Callaghan Satellite; the Campus Representative (Ourimbah) shall be a member studying primarily at the Ourimbah Campus; and the International Students Representative shall be a member whose country of origin is other than Australia.

NOMINATIONS -
A nomination shall be proposed and seconded by two persons entitled to vote in the election and shall bear the written consent of the candidate to the nomination. A separate nomination form must be completed for each candidate. Members wishing to nominate for more than one position can do so but each such nomination shall be on a separate nomination form.
A policy statement of approximately 200 words is requested from nominees and is to be included with the completed nomination form.
To be valid, a duly completed nomination form must reach The Returning Officer, C/- NUPSA Office, Box 5 Hunter Building, University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW 2308, NO LATER THAN 5.00pm ON Friday, 31st October 2008.

PUBLICATION OF NAMES OF PERSONS NOMINATED -
The names of the persons nominated will be published on the NUPSA Noticeboard, situated in the Hunter Building (Callaghan Campus), University of Newcastle by Wednesday 5th November 2008.

VOTING -
If, at the close of nominations, more than one valid nomination has been received for any particular vacancy, a ballot will be conducted.

Returning Officer for NUPSA

2. FREE LUNCH - Wednesday 29th October 2008 - for postgraduate and honours students

A reminder for the lunch -
Date - Wednesday 29th October
Time - 12.30pm
Venue - The Glasshouse, Bar on the Hill, Callaghan Campus

If you will be attending the lunch you are asked to let the NUPSA office know by Wednesday 15th October, so your name can be included on the attendance list.

Should you find out about the lunch after this date, or are not sure if you will be able to come along or not, you are still encouraged to attend on the day, but those who have responded will be served first.

The lunch will provide an opportunity to meet some of your fellow postgraduate students; and ask questions from the executive members in attendance.

3. FOR INTERNATIONAL (ON-CAMPUS) STUDENTS - IELTS PREPARATION DISCUSSION GROUP SESSION

As an international student you are probably familiar with the IELTS - International English Language Testing System.
NUPSA is holding an IELTS Preparation discussion group session -
Date - Thursday 30th October 2008
Time - 11.30 am to 1.30 pm
Venue - The Hunter Meeting Room (HA158), Hunter Building, Callaghan Campus.

The session will provide an opportunity for international students to participate in the "pooling of ideas and/or thoughts" on the IELTS.

International students usually complete an IELTS test before they are accepted into degree studies at the University, and the University also provides, as a service to students completing their degree who wish to stay on in Australia, the opportunity to undertake the IELTS test for skilled workers.

One of the University's IELTS coordinators will attend the session, together with some of the NUPSA executive members.

A light lunch will be provided.

If you are interested in attending please contact the NUPSA office (email <nupsa@newcastle.edu.au>)

4. 2008 ANNUAL DINNER - Friday 14th November 2008

Just a reminder for the 2008 Annual Dinner
Date - Friday 14th November
Time - 7.00pm (for 7.30pm) through to 11.30pm
Venue - Bella Vista Function Centre, Corner Crebert and Church Street, Mayfield

GraduateSchool.com Pty Ltd is sponsoring the dinner and this enables tickets to be available at a subsidised price.
For University of Newcastle postgraduate students the cost is $20.00, whilst for other guests it is $30.00.

Savouries will be served on arrival followed by a three course dinner.

Reservations for the dinner are essential - no tickets will be available on the night.
Please contact the NUPSA office if you wish to attend, so a ticket can be set aside for you.
Alternatively the tickets are available from the NUPSA office - Room HA150, Hunter Building.
Tickets need to be arranged/confirmed by Wednesday 29th October to enable final numbers for catering to be decided.

5. Coursework Students - PG EXPO - combined GScom and UoN Central Marketing event

Details for the Expo -
Date - Thursday 6th November 2008
Time - 4-8pm
Venue - Harbourview Function Centre, Honeysuckle, Newcastle City

GraduateSchool.com Pty Ltd and the University of Newcastle Central Marketing Division will be holding the Expo - which is for students interested in undertaking a coursework degree.

The Expo will be a meet and greet type event for prospective students to come and meet with UoN academics and staff, to enquire about programs both on-campus and on-line.

How can you be involved? The convenors for the Expo are seeking some coursework students, who are undertaking their degrees at present, to be volunteers at the Expo - to provide advices to students about their experience studying at the University.

If you are interested in being a volunteer please contact Erin Chillingworth (email <Erin.Chillngworth@newcastle.edu.au>)

6. CENTRE FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING ACADEMIC PATHWAYS WORKSHOPS

Are you a Research Higher Degree (RHD) student at the University of Newcastle?

Then participating in the Academic Pathways program may be for you. The Academic Pathways program is a series of workshops designed to introduce RHD students to being a teacher at university, and provide professional development opportunities for those who are interested in pursuing an academic career.

For more information, including an application form, log onto - www.newcastle.edu.au/unit/ctl/tlsd/pathways.html

The workshops are scheduled for January and February 2009.

7. OURIMBAH STUDENTS - VACANT POSITION ON THE 2009 CAMPUS CENTRAL BOARD FOR A POSTGRADUATE STUDENT

Campus Central is the Student Union/Association at Ourimbah Campus.
They are in the process of renewing positions on the Board of Directors for 2009 and there is one position for a postgraduate student of the University of Newcastle.

Nominations will be re-opening for the position from 13th to 27th October 2008.

If you are interested you can obtain more information from staff at the Campus Central office.

8. 2009 FATHERS AND FAMILIES PROGRAM PhD SCHOLARSHIP

NUPSA has been asked to pass on the following details -
The Family Action Centre, Faculty of Health has established the Fathers and Families Research Program to conduct research into the role of fathers and family well being. A particular focus of The Fathers and Families Program is the parenting capacity of fathers and father figures, in non-Indigenous and Indigenous community contexts.

The Family Action Centre is offering a 3-year PhD scholarship, including a living allowance, funding provisions for research expenses and funding for an additional six months to enable completion. Through their research, the successful applicant will examine the use of parenting capacity measures with fathers in clinical and family-service contexts.

The PhD position will be based at the Family Action Centre at the University of Newcastle, and will form part of a new research team using a range of methodologies to investigate parent-child connection in settings ranging from families experiencing postnatal depression to commuting parents negotiating parenting plans after separation.

For more information please contact Richard Fletcher (email <Richard.Fletcher@newcastle.edu.au>)

To apply, send your CV plus 3 referees by Friday 31st October 2008 to:
Sharon Douglas
Fathers and Families Research Program
Family Action Centre
University of Newcastle
Callaghan NSW 2308

9. COPYRIGHT GUIDE - Depositing your e-thesis in an online repository

NUPSA has become aware of a publication -
"Copyright Guide for Research Students: What you need to know about copyright before depositing your electronic thesis in an online repository".

The publication is produced by the Open Access to Knowledge (OAK) Law Project - Faculty of Law, Queensland University of Technology.

A copy of the guide can be downloaded from: http://www.oaklaw.qut.edu.au, and by following through with the links - Reports, Guide and Publications; then Guides.

10. How to contact NUPSA

The NUPSA office is located in Room HA150 (opposite Huxley Library) Hunter Building, Callaghan Campus.
The office is open on a part time basis with core hours being from 9.30 am to 2.30 pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (closed Tuesday).
Telephone number is (02) 49218894
email - nupsa@newcastle.edu.au
Check out the NUPSA web site - www://nupsa.org.au