Dear Graduate Students, Welcome back! The Fall 2024 semester officially begins this Wednesday, August 28. Please read carefully through these important beginning-of-the-semester announcements. In addition to the usual announcements about the academic calendar and course registration, please note the information about Brightspace (the new Blackboard) and Queens College’s new policy on cameras in online classes. We’re also hosting a virtual reception—which we’re calling a Zoom Café—on Thursday, August 29 from 6 to 7. We hope that you’ll be able to stop by to meet some of the students and faculty in the program. As I mentioned in my summer email, our new assistant director of graduate studies is Professor Cliff Mak. We’re happy to have him as part of our program. His contact information is listed below. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me. Wishing you a wonderful fall semester! Best, Bill ________________________________________ William Orchard Associate Professor Director, MA Program Department of English Queens College, CUNY QC English MA Program Fall 2024 Announcements Academic Calendar The Fall 2024 semester officially begins on Wednesday, August 28. You can find the CUNY Academic Calendar with important dates and deadlines at https://www.cuny.edu/academics/academic-calendars/<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.cuny.edu_academics_academic-2Dcalendars_&d=DwMGaQ&c=yJ4UutiJRKf_XEsHUtOboHQQfLtKBfRC_OV2xJVGo18&r=br-Th7aR5uJKuXg93psLajDQgygSeVMAF21YSNnjcRs&m=xexUJZsRjXhXLQFN_Jbsdqh8TB9XV9NR9PFTUp18-kJxxFtLJUp5CsEwC_qq5pdA&s=69E1MBnHtHUJF9ymgF524WcKH5jVBx3chxG4DJi1yNY&e=>. You can find the QC-specific calendar at https://www.qc.cuny.edu/communications/calendar-page/<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.qc.cuny.edu_communications_calendar-2Dpage_&d=DwMGaQ&c=yJ4UutiJRKf_XEsHUtOboHQQfLtKBfRC_OV2xJVGo18&r=br-Th7aR5uJKuXg93psLajDQgygSeVMAF21YSNnjcRs&m=xexUJZsRjXhXLQFN_Jbsdqh8TB9XV9NR9PFTUp18-kJxxFtLJUp5CsEwC_qq5pdA&s=gLH90viEZjy7xkHHsve8064cZpG51nfDQEx1MArE5q8&e=>. Important dates to keep in mind: * The last day to drop classes for a 100% tuition refund is Tuesday, August 27. The last day to add classes is Tuesday, September 3. * There are no classes scheduled on Monday, September 2 (Labor Day); Wednesday and Thursday, October 2 and 3 (Rosh Hoshannah); Monday, October 14 (Indigenous People’s Day/Italian Heritage Day); and Thursday, November 28 (Thanksgiving). * Tuesday, October 15 follows a Monday schedule. * Wednesday, November 27 follows a Friday schedule. * For students planning to graduate Fall 2024, the deadline to file for graduation via your CUNYfirst Student Center is November 1. * The last day of classes is Saturday, December 14, and the last day to drop a course with a W grade is Wednesday, November 6. The Fall 2024 semester officially ends on Saturday, December 21. Fall 2024 Advising For important info about our program and its policies and procedures, please consult the most recent English MA Handbook. We will be available for advising both virtually via email and Zoom, as well as in-person. If you have any questions, need advising, or want to make an appointment, please email us. Prof. William Orchard, Director of Graduate Studies (English MA) Email: william.orchard@qc.cuny.edu Faculty Office: Klapper Hall 604 Fall 2024 office hours: Tuesdays from 5 to 6 (online) and Wednesdays from 4:30 to 5:30 (in person) Prof. Cliff Mak, Assistant Director of Graduate Studies Email: cmak@qc.cuny.edu Office: Klapper Hall 323 You can also contact us by emailing MAEnglish@qc.cuny.edu<mailto:MAEnglish@qc.cuny.edu>. For general inquiries not specific to the MA program (e.g., for faculty contact info), please consult the English Department website at https://qcenglish.commons.gc.cuny.edu/<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__qcenglish.commons.gc.cuny.edu_&d=DwMGaQ&c=yJ4UutiJRKf_XEsHUtOboHQQfLtKBfRC_OV2xJVGo18&r=br-Th7aR5uJKuXg93psLajDQgygSeVMAF21YSNnjcRs&m=xexUJZsRjXhXLQFN_Jbsdqh8TB9XV9NR9PFTUp18-kJxxFtLJUp5CsEwC_qq5pdA&s=HudZkQU-3x0V4XeP98ivGHHjuZVcubGqR78Ri06_x_w&e=> or contact the English Department Office (english@qc.cuny.edu<mailto:english@qc.cuny.edu>, 718-997-4600). Please be sure to check your QC email regularly (and also add any other primary email addresses to your CUNYfirst account), as the College and your professors may be communicating with you that way. Check (and Double-Check) Your Schedule Before the semester begins, please take a moment to log-in to your CUNYfirst and check that you’re registered for your courses. If for some reason your registration has been canceled by the Bursar, or if you’re registered for the wrong courses, it’s much easier to sort out any issues before the semester begins. English MA courses will continue to be taught in-person, hybrid, or fully online. When you check your schedule, please also double-check the instruction modes for your courses. If you’re taking an in-person course, please confirm your classroom location the day of your first meeting, as classrooms can sometimes be changed at the last minute. If you’re taking a hybrid or fully online course, your professor should communicate how/where to join their class. If you don’t hear from them by the first day of the semester, please email them directly to request this info. Faculty contact info and office hours can be found at https://qcenglish.commons.gc.cuny.edu/people/<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__qcenglish.commons.gc.cuny.edu_people_&d=DwMGaQ&c=yJ4UutiJRKf_XEsHUtOboHQQfLtKBfRC_OV2xJVGo18&r=br-Th7aR5uJKuXg93psLajDQgygSeVMAF21YSNnjcRs&m=xexUJZsRjXhXLQFN_Jbsdqh8TB9XV9NR9PFTUp18-kJxxFtLJUp5CsEwC_qq5pdA&s=DqYzGw_WxxUu1xYVr0p0a-tcPwdxNEA7677ozKzBluM&e=>. Adding a Course / Requesting an Overtally If you are looking to add a fall course, there are open seats still available in ENGL 636, 639, 701, 703, and both sections of 781. Please review the attached course descriptions and confirm current availability by searching the Class Schedule on CUNYfirst<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__globalsearch.cuny.edu_&d=DwMGaQ&c=yJ4UutiJRKf_XEsHUtOboHQQfLtKBfRC_OV2xJVGo18&r=br-Th7aR5uJKuXg93psLajDQgygSeVMAF21YSNnjcRs&m=xexUJZsRjXhXLQFN_Jbsdqh8TB9XV9NR9PFTUp18-kJxxFtLJUp5CsEwC_qq5pdA&s=npE7noQWWfyEQBmVcZ1HWK1m526kWmKY5n6wQ0B-A4A&e=>. To add into these classes, please contact us at MAEnglish@qc.cuny.edu<mailto:MAEnglish@qc.cuny.edu>. If you wish to add a course that has been closed, please contact us and we will place you on the wait list. Currently, we have no one on the wait lists for any course and should be able to accommodate a few students seeking to add closed sections. Right now, the two closed sections are 640 (Comics & Graphic Narratives) and 726 (Early American Literature). 639 (Studies in Poetry/ Documentary Poetics), 703 (Composition Theory and Literacy Studies) and 781-01 (Black Queer Studies) are very close to full. QC Hub The QC Hub is a centralized office with staff from the Registrar, the Bursar, Financial Aid, etc., and is the easiest way to get any financial or registration problems resolved and your bureaucratic questions answered. You can make a virtual appointment with them via the QC Navigate app (https://qc-cuny.navigate.eab.com/<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__qc-2Dcuny.navigate.eab.com_&d=DwMGaQ&c=yJ4UutiJRKf_XEsHUtOboHQQfLtKBfRC_OV2xJVGo18&r=br-Th7aR5uJKuXg93psLajDQgygSeVMAF21YSNnjcRs&m=xexUJZsRjXhXLQFN_Jbsdqh8TB9XV9NR9PFTUp18-kJxxFtLJUp5CsEwC_qq5pdA&s=x70jIc-KnjgsWiXviRjOUzsGUx3HxzUAR1XsNi19wBQ&e=>, using your CUNY Login<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.cuny.edu_cuny-2Dlogin_&d=DwMGaQ&c=yJ4UutiJRKf_XEsHUtOboHQQfLtKBfRC_OV2xJVGo18&r=br-Th7aR5uJKuXg93psLajDQgygSeVMAF21YSNnjcRs&m=xexUJZsRjXhXLQFN_Jbsdqh8TB9XV9NR9PFTUp18-kJxxFtLJUp5CsEwC_qq5pdA&s=FgZpw9jTQSApLA58G1E3jWwniySqF58eslL0OKmpCzw&e=>) or email them at QCHub@qc.cuny.edu<mailto:QCHub@qc.cuny.edu>. For more info and their hours, see https://www.qc.cuny.edu/qchub/<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.qc.cuny.edu_qchub_&d=DwMGaQ&c=yJ4UutiJRKf_XEsHUtOboHQQfLtKBfRC_OV2xJVGo18&r=br-Th7aR5uJKuXg93psLajDQgygSeVMAF21YSNnjcRs&m=xexUJZsRjXhXLQFN_Jbsdqh8TB9XV9NR9PFTUp18-kJxxFtLJUp5CsEwC_qq5pdA&s=bgYWXjHyXEwcMpjoWuhvWmLQ9eiGcRE264YCxLKTUgs&e=>. Please note that, unfortunately, the QC Hub is understaffed and can get overwhelmed. If you contact the QC Hub and don’t get a response within a week or two, please let us know so we can help follow up. Information Technology Services (ITS) For help with online account or tech issues, contact ITS (https://www.qc.cuny.edu/its/<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.qc.cuny.edu_its_&d=DwMGaQ&c=yJ4UutiJRKf_XEsHUtOboHQQfLtKBfRC_OV2xJVGo18&r=br-Th7aR5uJKuXg93psLajDQgygSeVMAF21YSNnjcRs&m=xexUJZsRjXhXLQFN_Jbsdqh8TB9XV9NR9PFTUp18-kJxxFtLJUp5CsEwC_qq5pdA&s=VmHMBtAlJUNZg-JOFKRy8jSEinwNxZwzwb97EFtx9T8&e=>). You can try live chat support<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__chat.qc.cuny.edu_UserForm.aspx-3Fbusy-3Dtrue-26deptid-3D14-26userid-3D&d=DwMGaQ&c=yJ4UutiJRKf_XEsHUtOboHQQfLtKBfRC_OV2xJVGo18&r=br-Th7aR5uJKuXg93psLajDQgygSeVMAF21YSNnjcRs&m=xexUJZsRjXhXLQFN_Jbsdqh8TB9XV9NR9PFTUp18-kJxxFtLJUp5CsEwC_qq5pdA&s=5kRR377JwKsJxN1bkxVU9HgaNTymv3cAUsrjGw2VvjE&e=> (Mon–Thu 9am–10pm; Fri 9am–5pm), call them at 718-997-4444 (Mon–Fri 9am–5pm), email support@qc.cuny.edu<mailto:support@qc.cuny.edu>, or submit a ticket online<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__support.qc.cuny.edu_support_tickets_new&d=DwMGaQ&c=yJ4UutiJRKf_XEsHUtOboHQQfLtKBfRC_OV2xJVGo18&r=br-Th7aR5uJKuXg93psLajDQgygSeVMAF21YSNnjcRs&m=xexUJZsRjXhXLQFN_Jbsdqh8TB9XV9NR9PFTUp18-kJxxFtLJUp5CsEwC_qq5pdA&s=xwzx-snRZXKJ0lDiQolZGGYO2UIW93QI9_Pg2a_pQ2s&e=>. You can also check their knowledge base for potential solutions to common issues<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__support.qc.cuny.edu_support_solutions&d=DwMGaQ&c=yJ4UutiJRKf_XEsHUtOboHQQfLtKBfRC_OV2xJVGo18&r=br-Th7aR5uJKuXg93psLajDQgygSeVMAF21YSNnjcRs&m=xexUJZsRjXhXLQFN_Jbsdqh8TB9XV9NR9PFTUp18-kJxxFtLJUp5CsEwC_qq5pdA&s=mju44ExPJQEggAW3HIDri9RBYJSi74bzFtUgw_5sS3k&e=>. QCard The QCard is your official QC student ID, and you will need it to gain access to and throughout campus. If you don’t already have a QCard, you can find info on how to obtain one at https://www.qc.cuny.edu/its/qcard/<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.qc.cuny.edu_its_qcard_&d=DwMGaQ&c=yJ4UutiJRKf_XEsHUtOboHQQfLtKBfRC_OV2xJVGo18&r=br-Th7aR5uJKuXg93psLajDQgygSeVMAF21YSNnjcRs&m=xexUJZsRjXhXLQFN_Jbsdqh8TB9XV9NR9PFTUp18-kJxxFtLJUp5CsEwC_qq5pdA&s=P0-4vOzgUYPH660jrR1eAisPS2hwgdiXNW4r6qW1ZK8&e=>. Rosenthal Library You will need to tap in with your QCard to access the Rosenthal Library building. There are study areas located throughout the library, including Zoom Rooms and Group Study Rooms<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__library.qc.cuny.edu_services_spaces_&d=DwMGaQ&c=yJ4UutiJRKf_XEsHUtOboHQQfLtKBfRC_OV2xJVGo18&r=br-Th7aR5uJKuXg93psLajDQgygSeVMAF21YSNnjcRs&m=xexUJZsRjXhXLQFN_Jbsdqh8TB9XV9NR9PFTUp18-kJxxFtLJUp5CsEwC_qq5pdA&s=t76UGY1rtOOU6gaVSeqwKPNTdZMo6eLLG8XhqesggQo&e=> on levels 4 and 5. Visit their website (https://library.qc.cuny.edu/<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__library.qc.cuny.edu_&d=DwMGaQ&c=yJ4UutiJRKf_XEsHUtOboHQQfLtKBfRC_OV2xJVGo18&r=br-Th7aR5uJKuXg93psLajDQgygSeVMAF21YSNnjcRs&m=xexUJZsRjXhXLQFN_Jbsdqh8TB9XV9NR9PFTUp18-kJxxFtLJUp5CsEwC_qq5pdA&s=PMzCUxHeOmCIpzxg02kNlweZs3JB6H1nSbULsY-SAa4&e=>) for their hours and for help with your research (https://library.qc.cuny.edu/services/research/ask-us/<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__library.qc.cuny.edu_services_research_ask-2Dus_&d=DwMGaQ&c=yJ4UutiJRKf_XEsHUtOboHQQfLtKBfRC_OV2xJVGo18&r=br-Th7aR5uJKuXg93psLajDQgygSeVMAF21YSNnjcRs&m=xexUJZsRjXhXLQFN_Jbsdqh8TB9XV9NR9PFTUp18-kJxxFtLJUp5CsEwC_qq5pdA&s=-fk1IddLIKBNXc4CpnLq8ej9UBPphXbOJ5ludYaoB4Y&e=>). Our librarian, Prof. Leila Walker<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__library.qc.cuny.edu_profile_leila-2Dwalker_&d=DwMGaQ&c=yJ4UutiJRKf_XEsHUtOboHQQfLtKBfRC_OV2xJVGo18&r=br-Th7aR5uJKuXg93psLajDQgygSeVMAF21YSNnjcRs&m=xexUJZsRjXhXLQFN_Jbsdqh8TB9XV9NR9PFTUp18-kJxxFtLJUp5CsEwC_qq5pdA&s=LK2hSF7TkumIHwLPjXbD9FXtvXug6bH78stEaA-_uhE&e=>, can also help you with any research-related questions; you can email her at leila.walker@qc.cuny.edu<mailto:leila.walker@qc.cuny.edu>. Counseling Services Being a grad student can be really stressful. For free and confidential mental health services, check out QC’s Counseling Services (https://www.qc.cuny.edu/cs/<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.qc.cuny.edu_cs_&d=DwMGaQ&c=yJ4UutiJRKf_XEsHUtOboHQQfLtKBfRC_OV2xJVGo18&r=br-Th7aR5uJKuXg93psLajDQgygSeVMAF21YSNnjcRs&m=xexUJZsRjXhXLQFN_Jbsdqh8TB9XV9NR9PFTUp18-kJxxFtLJUp5CsEwC_qq5pdA&s=23tkfWLPRoCIq7jMxBYWQPvHVmiM0MUDaND6iWusnuM&e=>). You can call them at 718-997-5420 or email CounselingServices@qc.cuny.edu<mailto:CounselingServices@qc.cuny.edu> to make an appointment. Learn more about CUNY mental health services at https://www.cuny.edu/current-students/student-affairs/student-services/counseling/<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.cuny.edu_current-2Dstudents_student-2Daffairs_student-2Dservices_counseling_&d=DwMGaQ&c=yJ4UutiJRKf_XEsHUtOboHQQfLtKBfRC_OV2xJVGo18&r=br-Th7aR5uJKuXg93psLajDQgygSeVMAF21YSNnjcRs&m=xexUJZsRjXhXLQFN_Jbsdqh8TB9XV9NR9PFTUp18-kJxxFtLJUp5CsEwC_qq5pdA&s=QfRjDuzA8zc-ljzyXe6XFClV0J3DLVa0Tm_P6KDo9iA&e=>. And if you ever find yourself in crisis, you can also connect 24/7 with a trained crisis counselor by texting CUNY to 741741. Brightspace Remember that the college is rolling out a new learning management system this fall. Brightspace (brightspace.cuny.edu) replaces Blackboard. All online classes will be using Brightspace, and some of the in-person classes may use it as well. Since it’s a new system for everyone, please be patient with the inevitable glitches and hiccups we encounter as we grow accustomed to it. New Online Class Policy In the Spring, Queens College changed its camera policy for online classes. During the quarantine, turning one’s camera on was elective since all classes went online and we recognized that not everyone had a situation that allowed for their room to be visible during class meetings. Four years later, though, we have an ample array of in-person and online offerings, and those who elect to enroll in online class should be prepared to have their cameras on during class sessions. This is especially the case in graduate MA classes, which involve much greater participation by everyone present. If, in the course of the semester, you are not able to turn on your camera one day, make sure to communicate with the instructor and find other ways to actively participate during the class meeting. Thesis Writers If you are completing your MA thesis this semester, you have been enrolled in the 791 class (if you submitted a proposal and haven’t been enrolled, contact Bill immediately). During the semester, Cliff and I will hold workshops focusing on different aspects from the thesis: one focusing on the advising relationship and applying for graduation, one on tips about academic writing, and one on the thesis defense and submitting the final version of the paper for approval. At each of these workshops, you’ll have an opportunity to also share a page of two of writing with others, which will provide a chance to get feedback and to see how your peers are approaching thesis writing. These sessions are scheduled for September 12, October 17, and November 14. If you plan to write your thesis in the Spring 2025 semester, we’ll have an information session for that on Thursday, November 21. Zoom Café/ Virtual Welcoming Reception We are going to try to host a couple of virtual events this semester that provide students and faculty an opportunity to interact in a less formal setting. In previous years, we’d host an in-person reception, but, in order to accommodate the busy lives of everyone, we’re going to have these sessions online. We’re calling these “Zoom Cafés” and hope that they provide an occasion for students to get to know each other and faculty members better. The first such session will happen on Thursday, August 29 from 6:00 to 7:00 pm. The Zoom link for this first Zoom Café is: Topic: Zoom Cafe Time: Aug 29, 2024 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81003761298?pwd=W1wl2QrQ4PF4RRx2RnIhCYGzHbsxWR.1 Meeting ID: 810 0376 1298 Passcode: 463200 Feel free to stop by for the full hour or to drop by for just a few minutes. Our new assistant director of the program, Cliff Mak, will be there, and we’re hoping some of the faculty teaching classes this term will also stop by.