Graduate Student Newsletter - January 28, 2026
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- Soaring Together
- Be Prepared: How to Handle Inquiries from Federal Immigration Officials
- Honoring Erick Njue
- Funding, Opportunities, and Support
- Upcoming Events
- From DuckWeb to MyUO
- Meet the Division Staff: Sky Seymour
- Grad Student Spaces
- Winter 2026 Degree Completion Deadlines
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| Dear Graduate Students:
In the face of so many injustices, when fear and despair seem to prevail, many of us ask ourselves: "What more can I do?" I want to remind you that you are already doing something meaningful, with the potential to impact our world for the better. Graduate education shapes the next generation of leaders, supporting you as you transform the lives of families and communities and fight for the common good. Pursuing this level of education is not neutral. Every time you persist, every time you choose to conduct your work with integrity and excellence, you are propelling us toward a better world. And the division is here for you in that journey. Let's soar for a better world, together.
Sincerely,
Krista Chronister, Vice Provost for Graduate Studies
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| | Be Prepared: How to Handle Inquiries from Federal Immigration Officials
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| - Save the phone number for the UO's Office of the General Counsel in your phone under the first name that comes to mind, something you are likely to remember - (541) 346-3082
- In your notes, include the statement you may wish to say in the moment. It may be something like: "I understand that you are here to enforce immigration law. I am obligated to call our General Counsel's office before you proceed."
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| We are deeply saddened by the passing of Erick Munene Njue, a PhD student in the College of Education. A vigil is scheduled to honor Erick's memory on Friday, January 30, from 6 to 9 p.m. in Gerlinger Lounge.
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| Funding, Opportunities, and Support
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The UO Families ListServ provides information about family-related campus and community events and programs. A "Resources for UO Families" email is distributed on the first and third Tuesday of each month.
You can schedule a 30-minute career coaching session through the UO Career Center for support with interview strategies, job and internship strategies, negotiating job offers, your professional digital presence, or another topic of your choice.
The Dreamers Working Group is offering its annual Dreamer Ally Training, where faculty and staff will gain:
- Insight into challenges faced by Dreamer and immigrant students at the UO
- Knowledge of campus resources and referral options
- Guidance on what to do if immigration enforcement agents come to campus
- Strategies for creating a supportive and inclusive environment
Friday, February 27 | 9 a.m. to noon | EMU Crater Lakes Room
Join physics professor Andrea Goering for an informal session where she will share her approach to alternative grading in STEM classes, how to move from policy into classroom practice, and ways to acclimate students to a culture of grading differently. As a bonus, you'll get to trade ideas with UO colleagues exploring unique alt-grading approaches.
Thursday, February 12 from noon to 1:30 p.m.
Theme: Reciprocity | April 20-22, 2026
Submissions may take many forms, including:
- Papers or student research projects
- Panels or critical examinations
- Creative, musical, or artistic presentations or performances
- Workshops, meditations, or explorations
- Material culture
- And more
We offer a number of funding opportunities, most with deadlines of Wednesday, April 1. Explore funding opportunities and begin to collect your materials! The application portal will open soon.
Follow us on Instagram for updates and reminders about scholarships and other funding offered by the division as well as other units on campus.
The Division of Graduate Studies is looking to fill four 0.49 FTE GE positions for the upcoming academic year (2026-2027). These positions are open in addition to others in units across campus.
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| February 17
Knight Library GradSpace Grand Opening
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| | | The UO is replacing DuckWeb with MyUO, your new, personalized university portal. You can use both systems until DuckWeb is retired later this year.
MyUO is modern, dynamic, mobile-friendly, and just getting started! Look for many new features in the coming year.
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| | | As a CRM Specialist, Sky Seymour works behind the scenes to develop, refine, and maintain the processes that support graduate admissions. His primary focus is Slate, the application system used by UO graduate applicants, while also ensuring seamless integrations with other key systems across campus.
With more than 20 years of experience at the UO, Sky brings a deep well of institutional knowledge to the team. His previous roles in the Registrar's Office and Undergraduate Admissions give him a broad understanding of the student journey and the systems that shape it.
Outside the office, Sky enjoys lifting, playing basketball, and spending time with his family.
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| Did you know the division offers space in Susan Campbell Hall just for grad students? Use the Grad Student Lounge to work, relax, meet friends, or collaborate. You can also reserve the lounge to practice presentations or host events.
Additionally, the Knight Library recently opened their new GradSpace, a dedicated environment designed to support you! GradSpace (Knight 148) offers flexible seating, a quiet space, and open monitors to support writing, collaboration, and presentation preparation. Be sure to request access before dropping in, as you'll need to unlock the space with your Flock Card.
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| | Winter 2026 Degree Completion Deadlines
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| February 20* - Final deadline to submit the application for advanced degree in GradWeb (*with an override from your department).
March 6 - Doctoral students only - Last day to hold final oral defense. Students defending after this date will be considered graduates of the next term. Final term registration information.
March 16 - Master’s students only - Last day to upload your completed and approved thesis and submit signed forms to the Division of Graduate Studies.
March 20 - Address changes for the diploma must be made directly in DuckWeb by the student.
March 21 - Official degree conferral date for winter 2026 (the date of your degree as it will appear on your transcript and diploma).
March 23 - Instructor deadline for submitting winter grades (noon).
March 30 through April 21 - Registrar’s office begins awarding winter degrees; one week following the grade deadline.
March 30 - Last day for department to submit the statement of completion of requirements in GradWeb.
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| 1219 University of Oregon, Eugene OR 97403-1219
P: 541-346-5129 | E: graduatestudies@uoregon.edu
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| You are being sent this message based on your affiliation with the University of Oregon.
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