Tuition Reimbursement
Robert Upchurch, Chair of Graduate Studies in English, told GSEA members in 2007 that the University of North Texas has decided to begin a tuition reimbursement program for qualifying students. These reimbursements--$50 per graduate credit hour--are only available for graduate students working in teaching fellow, academic assistant, research assistant, and other qualifying positions. According to Dr. Upchurch, students can expect to see the reimbursements from the Fall on their Spring semester bills. For more information on this new program, please contact the English Graduate Office.
2009 Critical Voices Conference Date Announced
This year's UNT Critical Voices Conference will be held Saturday, April 11. The interdisciplinary conference, held in the spring of each year by the Graduate Students in English Association, will accept conference proposals in any affiliated area, on the theme of "Critical Voices in Literature and Culture" until March 9. Please visit the Conference page for more information, including the Call for Proposals and other important dates.
Pearla Marquez Memorial Scholarship Returns
Thanks to a fruitful year, the GSEA has donated book sale proceeds to help fund the Pearla Irene Marquez Memorial Scholarship in Medieval and Renaissance Studies for 2009. Graduate students should submit their essays (on a medieval or Renaissance topic; no longer than ten pages, double-spaced) to Andrew Tolle in the main English office by March 1. For more information about the scholarship, visit the English department's fellowship and scholarship page here.
2008-2009 Officers Announced
Jessica Oxendine will serve as GSEA's president for the 2008-2009 academic year, taking over for last year's co-presidents, Danny Hoey and Karen Williams. Derek Bradford will serve as vice-president. Other officers for the GSEA will include Natalie Swindle, secretary; Renee Lyons, treasurer; and Joshua Miner, web administrator. For more information, please visit the Officers page.
Teaching Fellow Pay Raises
David Holdeman, English Department Chair, announced at the 2007 orientation meeting for teaching fellows that he had successfully lobbied with the university for English TFs to receive a significant pay raise. Additionally, compensation for teaching fellows will vary according to the individual student's progress in the program (i.e., starting MA, continuing MA, PhD and so forth). GSEA would like to thank Dr. Holdeman for his hard work and his ardent support of UNT's English graduate students.
2008 Conference a Huge Success
The GSEA hosted its annual Critical Voices conference on March 28, 2008. Professor Robert Darden served as the keynote speaker, speaking to the conference theme, "Critical Voices in Literature and Culture." The conference included several critical and creative panels, and Dr. Robert Upchurch was honored as 2008's Faculty Member of the Year.