Message from the Associate Head (Graduate)

Welcome, Graduate Students!

So, by now you’ve got your back-to-school supplies, you’ve come to the Fort Garry campus, and you’re wondering, where did the Department of Psychology go ...?  Well, if you happen to be standing in front of the Duff Roblin Building, you’re almost in the right place!

Since a fire in the Duff Roblin Building forced us to relocate, our offices have moved across the street to Chancellor Hall.  There you will find Linda Inglis, the Graduate Program Coordinator, Mary Kuzmeniuk, the Department Administrative Assistant, and me, Dr. Dan Bailis, the Associate Head (Graduate).  Your departmental mail and any external mail sent to you in care of the Department will also (automatically) come to this address, and you can pick up a copy of the Graduate Calendar here.  Please come by and say hello, or give me a call (474-8777).

Please also check in with your academic advisor in his or her new location on campus.  An updated list of faculty members’ temporary offices is posted on the Department website (http://umanitoba.ca/psychology), and their original phone numbers and email will continue to reach them in their new locations.  Your advisor will be able to help you with the usual academic matters of planning research and coursework, as well as changes due to the fire and limited or lost access to the Duff Roblin Building.

Your immediate top concern is apt to be research.  Most faculty advisors who previously had research space in Duff Roblin will soon have temporary research space available to them in the trailer village, now being assembled in Parking Lot B.  Some also have secured temporary research space in other buildings on campus.

Computers and other essential equipment, as well as documents, are gradually being returned to the trailer village (or other temporary labs), as they are cleaned or replaced.  At this time, the trailer village is expected to be operational in September.  Nonetheless, as I will also be emailing students about in the days ahead, any actual or expected delays in research progress due to the fire and resulting relocation should be reported to me as soon as possible (email: bailisds@cc.umanitoba.ca).

Information about your courses is available in the Graduate Calendar and in the online system called Aurora Student (follow links from the University of Manitoba home page: http://umanitoba.ca).  Other than the location of courses (found in Aurora Student), all graduate instruction by members of our Department will continue as usual.  Please refer to the course syllabus and attend the first class meeting for more information about your courses.

For other information and forms you may need, our department offices and website are your first stop (http://umanitoba.ca/psychology/graduate/index.html), followed by those of the Faculty of Graduate Studies (http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/graduate_studies) in 500 University Centre.

In closing, an exciting and challenging year lies ahead.  Your understanding, with respect to the fire and resulting disruptions, can make a difference as we all try to adapt to the “new normal.”  I assure you, however, our situation is improving, and you are going to be able to do the things you need to do, in order to make this a highly productive year for your research and education.  In the meantime, the entire staff of our department is behind you, and we are here to help -- please don’t hesitate to call on us at any time.

All the best!