Issue 8 - published 08/03/2010

Available newsletters:

Week 9 Newsletter

Representation Events

Postgraduate Forum

The Deputy Vice Chancellor and GSA Postgraduate Forum is on Wednesday 10th March at 4pm in the Treehouse (in the Berrick Saul Building).

Postgrads have the chance to voice their opinion to the university on teaching and learning provision, assessment and feedback, the application process, postgraduate accommodation, campus services (library, food, etc), careers and skill development, research provision, finance, PGWT Strategy, as well as feedback on the services provided by the GSA. Contact academic@yorkgsa.org for further information.

Food and drink will be provided!

Social Events

	Acoustic Night
	Come have some drinks and listen to some tunes! 8pm Friday March 12th in Or email events@yorkgsa.org to play!
	Pub Quiz
	Prove yourself intellectually worthy! And win free drinks! 8pm Friday March 19th at

Workshop Events

FELT workshop series on Employability and Learning and Teaching

Workshop 3: Creators - Innovators - Entrepreneurs - Decision-makers - Problem-Solvers

Wednesday 17 March 2010, 12.30 - 2pm

In Derwent Terrace Room (lunch will be available from 12.15)

This workshop will provide participants with the opportunity to hear about the practice of colleagues from a number of departments. These colleagues have taken risks by challenging themselves and their students to be creative and innovative within their subjects, developing in the process skills much valued by employers. The workshop will also provide an opportunity to learn more about funding opportunities for development in this area.

All colleagues involved in teaching and/or learning support, including postgraduates who teach and demonstrate, are warmly invited to attend.

Please register by contacting Janet Barton: email jcb503, ext 2155

Welfare Announcements

Mind Over Matters

As postgraduate students ourselves, the GSA is aware of the frequent strains of academic life. We acknowledge that at times you can lose interest in your work, suffer writers block, procrastinate, and to sum it all up get stressed and worried about your work often due to these things. We want you to enjoy your studies and get the best from your time at the University of York so we are looking into ways to help you overcome such emotional drains, freeing your mind to become healthier and more productive.

In conjunction with Open Door, the GSA is currently exploring ideas to set up a peer-to-peer support group for students feeling the strains of academic life. The aim of the group is to discuss approaches to enhance how you feel about your studies and provide support away from your tutor and class for you to discuss your concerns about your approach to work. The group will discuss issues such as writers' block, procrastination, along with other areas that are an issue for you. The support will be tailored to suit the needs of the group and as well as helping you through your studies, you will be able to help your peers by discussing how such issues effect you, passing on advice and tips creating a network of support.

Sound like something that you would be interested in? The group will meet on a weekly basis next term (pending sufficient interest) and you are asked to attend weekly to maintain the strength of the network. To facilitate such group we need initial support from you to help turn this group into reality therefore you are kindly asked to complete this survey. If you are interested you need to let us know so that we can add you to the peer-to-peer support mailing list to be notified of the sessions so please take a few minutes to complete this questionnaire by 21st March.

All information supplied will be kept in the strictest of confidence.

Sports Announcements

Departmental Football League

There will be an inter-departmental football league running through the Easter holidays, starting towards the end of March. Matches will take place on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, with kick-off around 4:30pm (to let people get a full day's work done first). All staff and postgraduates are welcome to play - if you would like to take part, the teams that are entering teams are as follows:

CONFIRMED:

Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Economaths (and other sciences)
Arts and Humanities

UNCONFIRMED:

Computer Science
Electronics

If you would like to take part, please e-mail with your name and department to sports@yorkgsa.org, and I shall forward your details to the relevant captain. Thanks!

From Samik (GSA Sports Officer)

Campus Security Announcements

Just a reminder about security on and around campus...

Burglaries on Campus

Firstly there have been a number of thefts from campus accommodation recently. To help prevent becoming a victim of theft, please remember not to leave windows open when you are not in your flat, lock them and keep valuables out of sight.

Register Your Bike

Op-Spoke, Yorkshire Constabulary’s operation to register bicycles on a Police database in case of theft and recovery, is coming to campus again on Wednesday 17^th March. Take your bike along to Halifax College car park between 11.30am and 1.30pm to register your bike free of charge on the national Police database.

Taxis

When using taxi services please ensure that you book a private hire vehicle and you use the vehicle designated for you. If you are unsure of reputable telephone numbers for taxis, just ask the porters who will be able to help you.

Personal Attack Alarms

Remember personal attack alarms are available free of charge from the GSA office. If you have not got yours yet, you can collect one from the GSA office (1st Floor in Wentworth College) between 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.

Security Service Numbers

Wherever you may be on campus, the security service is a phone call away. To call security from a campus telephone call 3333 or from a mobile its 01904 433333 – store this number into your mobile phone. If an incident arises please do not hesitate to call them, they are here to maintain York University’s high level of campus safety.

Acoustic Night

Edge Bar

Pub Quiz