Bren 101 for MESM Students— Part 2 Laura Haston Assistant Dean

Bren 101 for MESM Students Information Sources Bren –Academic Programs section of webAcademic Programs –Services > Academic and Student AffairsServices > Academic and Student Affairs Graduate Division –Graduate student handbookGraduate student handbook Registrar

Bren 101 for MESM Students Summary of MESM Degree Requirements 81 units minimum Core courses (32.5 units) 401ABC (12 units) & group project An approved set of electives that develop strength in one of Bren’s specialization area –36.5 units minimum

Bren 101 for MESM Students Unit Load Grads are supposed to enroll in a min of 12 units - No real consequence if at least 8 units though Bren students = 13.5/qtr on ave to meet 81 unit requirement Generally, not recommended that you enroll in more than 16 units -Your graduate education also includes activities that don’t result in units -Ignore the myth that seems to be floating about Bren that you should load up early! Especially, do not load up in winter of 1 st year - You have important and time consuming career development work to do (i.e. summer internship)

Bren 101 for MESM Students Unit Load Fall ‘ Orientation Case Study Course (0.5) 203 Earth System Science (4 units) 201 Ecology of Managed Ecosystems (4 units) 210 Business and the Environment (4 units) 251 Introduction to Policy Analysis (2 units) Total = 14.5 Plus no-credit career workshop for 1 st years - Some sessions are required; others optional but highly recommended Plus no-credit stats workshop, if needed (probably most) -Meets for a total of approximately 12 hours Plus elective? -Most likely NO!

Bren 101 for MESM Students Core Courses Fall (’09) Previous slide Win (‘09) ESM 202: Env. Biogeochemistry (4 units) ESM 204: Economics of Env. Mgmt (4 units) [251 is prereq] ESM 206A: Data Analysis/Stats (2 unit) ESM 241: Environmental Politics and Policy (2 units) Many will also want to take ESM 437: Writing for Environmental Professionals (2 units), a “LINKS” class to 241 Total = units Spring (‘09) ESM 206B: Data Analysis/Stats (2 units) ESM 207: Environmental Law and Policy (4 units) ESM 401A: Group Project (4 units) Total = 10 units Under most circumstances, students are encouraged to and expected to complete the core courses in their first year

Bren 101 for MESM Students Core Course Deferrals Deferral of a core course means you don’t take it until your 2 nd year The following are NOT deferrable –ESM 251 –ESM 206AB –ESM 401A Deferral(s) are only recommended if your load will be too heavy because you need to take electives for your specialization that are only offered biennially Policy document on deferrals and waivers on Bren web site at services/academic and student affairsdeferrals and waivers Special Note: if you are going to pursue the eco-entrepreneurship focus then you likely will have to defer ESM 201 or ESM 203 this quarter… more on this in a bit

Bren 101 for MESM Students Core Course Deferrals con’t. Potential risks of deferring –Must make sure that that you won’t lack prerequisites for important elective classes for specialization e.g. defer 204 (econ) -> can’t take 245 (cost benefit) See prerequisite guide at academics/class scheduleprerequisite guide –If you defer a core class and you don’t pass the class, you won’t graduate; you will have to come back and re-take the class (no exceptions) –Class scheduling has to be done under the assumption that all 1 st years have completed core courses If you defer, the core course may be offered at the same time as an elective you want to take next year

Bren 101 for MESM Students Core Course Waivers Waiver of a core course means that you don’t have to take it You must make up units with another class(es) Not a lot of waivers approved BUT definitely pursue if appropriate You already have a SUBSTANTIAL portion of the knowledge & skills Some courses have waiver policy/procedures posted on web (academics/courses) Your responsibility to contact professor and make arrangements for evaluation If instructor approves, have him/her sign petition Special circumstance: since 207 is taught be a visitor, submit a Bren School Petition to LauraBren School Petition

Bren 101 for MESM Students Petitions Bren School Petition –To address issues governed by Bren School policy/procedures –On the web at Services/ASA/Forms –Free! Graduate Division Petition –To address issues governed by University policy/procecures

Bren 101 for MESM Students Registration Review info about registration for new graduate students on the Registrar’s web site: New Graduate student for the Fall Quarter Review info on registration and enrollment on the registrar’s website Enrollment in an Academic Quarter Review info on Bren website under academic programs/class schedule How to Register for Classes and Make Adjustments to Your ScheduleHow to Register for Classes and Make Adjustments to Your Schedule PLEASE– review info sources and try to find answers to your registration questions first and then iff you still need help, please contact for assistance

Bren 101 for MESM Students FAQ’s Related to Registration Schedule changes without penalty by the end of 1 st week of quarter Any changes to schedule after 1 st week is $3 per change Can drop a class using GOLD up until the last day of classes Any additions to schedule during the 2 nd and 3 rd weeks require an approval code Classes with discussion sections or labs: –If no code listed for lecture, enrolling in section or lab will also automatically enroll you in lecture

Bren 101 for MESM Students FAQ’s Related to Registration, con’t. Approval Codes –Required to register if: Course is restricted Course enrollment is at max AFTER THE FIRST WEEK OF CLASSES – to obtain code for a Bren class –Enter when you register on GOLD –You may need an approval code to enroll in a class offered by another department Ask instructor of course who you should obtain a code from We can only give codes out for Bren classes

Bren 101 for MESM Students FAQ’s Related to Registration con’t. What to do if GOLD says a Bren course is full –If a course: Staff will try to increase enrollment max and move room to new location, if necessary, so you will be able to enroll –If a section (i.e. one of a few discussions/labs for a course) Must enroll in another section; we have to balance sizes Only exception is if other classes that you are taking overlap with all other sections In above case, and explain problem (bearing in mind that staff can verify your schedule) and they will give you an enrollment code so you can enroll in the full section –PS Sorry, not liking time not a valid reason

Bren 101 for MESM Students FAQs Related to Registration, con’t. You CAN NOT add a class using GOLD after the 3 rd week Must submit a Registrar’s Schedule Adjustment Petition Copies in the student mail room Get instructor’s signature if possible (if not I’ll sign for them) The only other signature you need is mine (graduate advisor) Put in my mailbox in Dean’s suite or mail room and I’ll sign and return to your mailbox Once signed, you turn it into the registrar Enrollment counts are frozen after 3 rd week so it hurts us if you don’t register by then PLEASE get your schedule settled before the end of 3 rd week (and you’ll never have to hassle one of these forms)

Bren 101 for MESM Students FAQs Related to Registration, con’t. Variable Unit Courses –Courses that do not have a set number of units, which is the same every time the course is offered –Be careful to only register in the number of units listed on the Bren schedule of classes! –For example, ESM 299: Advanced Topics in Environmental Science is set up as a variable unit class (2-4 units) to accommodate a variety of topics and formatsESM 299 –This quarter, the specific offering of 299 (Advanced Topics: River Restoration) is offered for 2 units only When GOLD queries you, only enter 2 units even though it would let you enter more –Note: non-variable units classes can not be variable

Bren 101 for MESM Students FAQs Related to Registration con’t. ESM 595 – Group Studies (Seminar Classes)ESM 595 –Single letter courses are open to MESM and PhD (i.e. 595F) –Double letter courses are only open to PhD (i.e. 595AA) MESMs can’t take without instructor approval Specialized research focus generally not appropriate for MESMs –Only S/U Grading Option ESM 596 – Independent Research –Requires completion of Bren School 596 Form and instructor approvalBren School 596 Form –Submit petition to Student Affairs office prior to registration –Must enter instructor code when you registerinstructor code List of codes on web at academics/class schedule –Maximum of 4 units of ESM 596 can count toward unit total

Bren 101 for MESM Students Registration Problems Guestimate: 20% of students have a registration problem that they are not aware of including wrong classes, wrong units, wrong grading option –Check your schedule on GOLD before then end of the third week! –Check your schedule on GOLD before the last day of classes!! NO CHANGES AFTER THE LAST DAY OF CLASSES –Retroactive changes are huge hassle for us and you and you run the risk that GRAD DIV won’t approve it Caution– faculty are not registration experts; check with staff about anything out of ordinary

Bren 101 for MESM Students The Top 2 Student Questions (yep they relate to registration) Why won’t GOLD let me register for ESM XXX class? The answer depends on when you try during the quarter –Before week 1 Probably the class if full to see if enrollment can be increased –Between week 1-3 Answer: You must have an approval code scheduling –After week 3 You can’t do it using GOLD!; you need to submit an SAF Please try to remember these facts; help reduce the number of times that the SA Staff has to answer these same questions over and over and over

Bren 101 for MESM Students Schedule of Classes Always use the schedule of classes (SOC) on the Bren web site under academic program/class schedule for Bren classesschedule of classes Never use the University’s printed schedule of classes for info about Bren classes –It is done so many months in advance it is almost always not up-to-date (at least for Bren) Bren follows the Registrar’s Academic Calendar (i.e. classes start when the registrar’s calendar says they start) unless noted otherwise in the Bren SOCRegistrar’s Academic Calendar

Bren 101 for MESM Students Course Information Bren Course DescriptionsCourse Descriptions –On the Bren web site under academic programs/courses Course Descriptions for other Departments on Campus –Explore departments websites and/or the University CatalogUniversity Catalog Undergrad course work –Lower division can’t count toward graduate degree requirements –Up to 8 units of upper division can count with approval by specialization leader Bren Curriculum Plan for –On the Bren web site under academic programs/class schedule –Not necessarily the final word--what is there is pretty firm unless something extraordinary occurs but there may be some additions

Bren 101 for MESM Students Books Only a few instructors still submit orders for books through bookstore Most just recommend you purchase the books for the class on line As receives book info from faculty this info is added to the book list for the quarter file on the web (under academics/class schedule)book list Bren has a commitment to students to place two copies of each required core course text in the periodical room Bren does not buy copies of books for electives classes but will put donated copies or copies provided by the publisher in the periodical room

Bren 101 for MESM Students Syllabi & Course Materials Most instructors have syllabi and course materials posted on the Bren web (under academics/courses/specific course number) Last year’s syllabus usually stays on web until new one loaded; be careful that you are looking at current syllabus University is in the process of switching to a course management system called Moodle, however Our goal is to have all Bren courses on Moodle by winter 2009, not on the Bren website Some faculty will start this fall with Moodle and will give you relevant instructions

Bren 101 for MESM Students Grades UCSB uses standard A-F grading scale with +/- Core Courses –University rule (that Bren must comply with) that you must earn at least a “B” in all core course Elective Courses –Only “C” or better counts toward degree requirements S/U or P/NP –S/U for graduate classes; S = B or better Not much point in taking a grade class for S/U if it is offered for a grade –you have to get at least a B to pass and if you get a B- you won’t earn credit –P/NP for undergraduate classes; P = C or better If GPA < 3.0, Grad Div places you on probation –If performance does not improve you can be dismissed

Bren 101 for MESM Students Grades, con’t. Must take all courses that will count toward 81 unit min requirement for a grade unless only offered as S/U or P/NP Let me repeat that in another way (since this question is verging on being a FAQ)…if a course is only offered S/U or P/NP then you have no choice but to take it that way, so it WILL count toward unit requirement Undergrad course work –Lower division (< 100) can’t count toward graduate degree requirements –Up to 8 units of upper division (> 100) can count with approval by specialization leader

Bren 101 for MESM Students Grades, con’t. Incomplete (“I”) –Must file form before last day of classes –Must have good reason –Grade submitted when work completed and replaces “I” No Grade (NG) or No Record (NR) –May have on transcript temporarily if instructor does not submit grades before reporting deadline No need to worry; goes away once grades are submitted and we make sure they are –Will receive if “I” submitted by instructor but no paperwork submitted –Permanently turns into “F” “U” or “NP” if not rectified by the end of following quarter

Bren 101 for MESM Students Academic Conduct The University has standards for academic conduct and Bren expects students to uphold and adhere to these standards fully Guidance document on academic integrity on the Bren web at services/ASAacademic integrity We are required to report known instances of inappropriate academic conduct and there can be dire consequences It is YOUR responsibility to have 100% academic integrity; it is not the instructors’ responsibility to make sure you do by setting up deterrents and obstacles to limit or prevent dishonestly

Bren 101 for MESM Students Acts of Academic Dishonesty 1)Cheating –Obvious, right? –What about working together when not allowed? Not following rules governing group work (i.e.can only work in pairs)? Asking your 2 nd year MESM roommate about a question on the take home exam? 2) Collusion –Helps others engage in academic dishonesty or willingly allows it to occur –There is no distinction between those who cheat and plagiarize and those who willingly allow it to occur 3) Plagiarism –Make sure you thoroughly understand what this means –Increasing incidents suggest that many students are unclear –Carefully review guidance document and the writing tip referenced in the document (Services/ASA)guidance document

Bren 101 for MESM Students Class Scheduling Winter schedule posted; spring coming soon If you see a mistake or problem, Have to overlap some classes; try to choose those that are less likely to be of interest to the same students; we spend A LOT of time trying to create optimal scheduling Generally no classes on Fridays except classes with special schedules, labs, field trips, workshops We welcome odd schedules if they allow good opportunities Weekends are fair game if this is the only way we can bring you a good educational opportunity Some classes don’t begin until mid-quarter (e.g. ESM 251 this quarter Some classes taught in intensive format (e.g. every day for week) Be warned ESM 207 in spring will be intensive (probably two 4-day periods) and will include weekends!

Bren 101 for MESM Students Special Circumstances “ 3-year program” –For those that have circumstances that make it hard to be in school full-time+ –Just take a lighter load (i.e. ~8-10/quarter) –We can advise you what would be best to take now and what to take larger –Start group project in 2 nd year not 1 st –Fee/tuition etc the same price no matter how many units you take so if you take longer it will cost more

Bren 101 for MESM Students Special Circumstances, con’t “Early Graduation”Early Graduation –Policy document at: Services/ASA –Not recommended or encouraged Workload too heavy and too little time to fully participate in the non- course part of your education –Possible if all requirements are satisfied at the end of winter quarter of 2 nd year –However, students must complete an adequate program of study (POS) for their specialization –Often not be possible within 5 quarters since some classes are offered biennially in spring –POS must be academically sound and will not be approved solely to enable and accommodate early graduation

Bren 101 for MESM Students Specializations MESM students must develop depth in one of six specialization areas –CMRM: Coastal Marine Resource Management (Lenihan & Costello) –CP: Conservation Planning (Davis & Kendall) –CEM: Corporate Environmental Management (Geyer & Libecap) –PEE: Political Economy of the Environment (Anderson & Young) –PPR Pollution Prevention & Remediation (Trish Holden) –WRM: Water Resources Mgmt (Dunne & Tague) Faculty specialization leaders for 1 st years noted in bold Not sure what do specialize in? –You need to figure this out soon! –Attend specialization info meetings noted on orientation schedule

Bren 101 for MESM Students Eco-Entrepreneurship (EE) Focus Students may add to any of the specializations a focus on eco- entrepreneurship –Attend info meeting next Tuesday (9/22), 430 pm, BH 1424 –EE Advisor = Gary Libecap For students who are interested in learning how to develop business plans to launch new technologies, products or practices that address important environmental or natural resources problems A joint initiative between Bren and the Technology Management Program in the School of EngineeringTechnology Management Program Unless you are CEM*, you may have to take a few more units than the 81 minimum required for the MESM to have both an acceptable POS for your specialization and satisfy the EE requirement *EE electives serve as acceptable CEM electives

Bren 101 for MESM Students EE con’t. EE Focus requires completion of 4 classes (12 units) AND development of a Business Plan AND participation in the TMP Business Plan Competition –ESM 274: Competitive Advantage Strategies for Environmental Innovation (4 units) –ENGR 291A: Entrepreneurial Marketing (2 units) –ESM 291B: New Venture Finance (2 units) –ENGR 285B: New Venture Creation: Entrepreneurship (4 units) OR –ENGR 285D: Business Planning for New Technology Ventures (4 units) The EE curriculum matches the requirements to earn a certificate in Graduate Program in Management Practice (GPMP) with two exceptions Graduate Program in Management Practice (GPMP) –If you want to earn the certificate, you must also take ENGR 285A: Art of CEO: Business Skills for Future Leaders (4 units) ENGR 285E: Managing Innovation (4 units)

Bren 101 for MESM Students EE, con’t. Must take this fall: –ENGR 285B: New Venture Creation (4 units) M/W pm; HFH 1104 OR –ENGR 285D: Developing New Products for Market Success (4 units) M ; Phelp 3523 This will give you a heavy load, probably too heavy –If so, defer ESM 201 or ESM 203

Bren 101 for MESM Students Program of Study (POS) An individual curriculum plan for developing depth in your area of specialization Complete a Class of 2010 POS FormClass of 2010 POS Form –On the web at services/ASA –Must be approved by the specialization leader –Must be submitted to Grad Advisor in winter quarter the end of the 4 th week of classes –Can be modified with approval (multiple times ) May include classes in other departments Can you double specialize? –Yes, if you POS is approved by both specialization leaders and builds adequate depth in both areas –Not the norm and not necessarily better than just one

Bren 101 for MESM Students Creating Your POS Guided by the specialization description –On the web academics/MESMacademics/MESM –An advisement and guidance document –Does not dictate the POS precisely –Students in the same specialization will different POS’s depending upon their unique background, interests, and goals Sample programs of study on web Your POS form will not will not be a precise list of classes but a sensible set of possibilities Detailed explanation and instructions on the web at Services/ASA – How to Prepare Your Program of StudyHow to Prepare Your Program of Study Will schedule help session in early winter if a number of you want it (as communicated to

Bren 101 for MESM Students Group Projects All students are required to complete a group project As part of this, you enroll in ESM 401ABC starting Spr ‘09 (4,4,4 units) ESM 401A includes formal class meetings

Bren 101 for MESM Students Group Projects Primary contacts –Amy Burgard, Staff, Academic Programs Coordinator –Christina Tague, Faculty, Chair of the Group Project Committee & Instructor for ESM 401A Group project pre-kickoff Nov 3; ; BH 1414 Focus will be on student preparation of group project proposals, which needs to start in fall quarter Project proposals due late Jan (exact date TBA) Optional– you don’t have to prepare a proposal

Bren 101 for MESM Students Why Propose or Not? You want to work on a project in specific area You have a research question that you want to work on and that fits the criteria for a Bren Group Project You want to interact with someone or some organization You want the experience of writing a proposal You want to have greater control over your GP destiny -Student proposers of accepted project are guaranteed spot on project (up to two per project) Project selection is a competitive process (just like the real- word) whereby a committee of faculty and students select “best” If you prepare and submit a proposal, your project may not be picked However, student initiated proposals are valued and they have a bit of an edge

Bren 101 for MESM Students Group Project Info Sources On the web at research/group projects –Last year’s info on submitting a suggestioninfo This year’s to be posted soon –Last year’s project proposals –Library of final group project reports and policy briefs Group project guidelines (on web at services/ASA) –Updated version for your class provided when you start your project

Bren 101 for MESM Students Group Project Selection Group project selection committee formed in fall, which includes 3-4 students Proposal evaluation/selection in winter qtr Group assignments end of winter quarter –Students given 100 points to allocate to projects (no more than 80 points per project) –Optimization routine determines optimal grouping of students based on revealed preferences based on point allocation Group project kickoff meeting first week of spring qtr –Focus is everything you need to know in order to get your project done and done well

Bren 101 for MESM Students Group Project Timeline Prepare project proposal and work plan spring quarter and hold a proposal defense meeting with advisors and stakeholders Group project defense in mid-winter –Critical evaluation of the project much like a thesis or dissertation defense. –Revise final report to address questions and criticisms communicated during defense –Might be beneficial to attend a few this year to gain understanding of what to expect and what’s expected of you Final report, policy brief, and draft presentation due at the end of winter quarter Grades assigned winter quarter (therefore groups MUST be done) Group project public presentations usually 1 st week of spring quarter (oral and poster)

Bren 101 for MESM Students MESM Advisors MESM students don’t have an advisor MESM not like an academic research degree in which your work with a particular faculty member who guides your education MESM students have –Group project advisor –Specialization leader (SL) Must approve program of study –Another faculty member(s) from whom you seek advise if you wish Can help you craft your initial POS but only SL can approve It is expected that you will manage your education well and develop relationships with faculty and seek their academic and career development advise –Be proactive; take initiative!

Bren 101 for MESM Students Colloquia Talks by visitors or Bren faculty/students –Research colloquia Faculty hosted Generally high level talks about research in particular areas of ES & M –Bren School Colloquia Arranged by colloquium committee Generally of broad interest and geared toward a diverse audience –Zurich Financial Corporation Distinguished Visitors Posted on the Bren events calendar and announced via bren-alerts (or if it is only open to Bren folks)Bren events calendar bren-alerts

Bren 101 for MESM Students Writing Center What do employers want more than anything? –Employees that have strong communication skills –If you want a good job after Bren and you want to advance more quickly into bigger and better positions, invest time now to improve your writing skills –Most incoming Bren students have adequate skills, at best, and many have less than adequate –It is very impt to us that you develop your skills if they are not already very strong and we have are investing resources to give you opportunities to do this –Writing assessment meant to provide you helpful info about your current writing skills

Bren 101 for MESM Students Writing Center, con’t. Tutoring available at the Bren Writing CenterBren Writing Center –Goal is to strengthen your skills while helping you with specific writing assignments for classes or other purposes –Goal is not to help you get your assignment done but to help you develop stronger skills in the context of your assignment (which will probably help you get it done)` –Not an editing service –Writing Center staff also send out writing tips over and hold non- credit workshops –Website contains useful writing resources Winter quarter 2-unit class, ESM 437, linked to ESM 241 –Based on your writing assessment, you may be strongly advised to take this We are considering offering a more “advance” writing classes in the future Writing Center Staff –Monica Bulger (Education, PhD student), Lara Polansky (2 nd year MESM), Kate Kokosinski (2 nd year MESM), Amy Burgard (Bren Staff)

Bren 101 for MESM Students Administration Faculty Deans –Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker, Dean –John Melack, Associate Dean Ernst term ends in mid-Dec, and he will leave the Bren School and return to Gemany Going away reception Friday 12/5 on the Decker’s Deck John will become Acting Dean –Recruitment for new Dean in progress A Chancellor’s Search Committee –While Bren has input and Tom Dunne is the chair of the search committee, it is a campus-wide (and ultimately Chancellor) decision Will likely be visits and recruitment talks this year and may be new Dean in place next academic year Administrative Staff

Bren 101 for MESM Students “Ladder Track” FacultyFaculty UC (and especially UCSB) operates under a strong system of shared governance between faculty and administration Faculty are primarily responsible for governance/decision- making in regards to academic matters Sabbaticals/Leaves –Kotchen & Kendall, –Kolstad, On leave from Bren to serve as Chair of the Economics Department but he will teach ESM 204 this year –Young, ½-time throughout year, –Dozier 1/2-2/3 time throughout year,

Bren 101 for MESM Students “Ladder Track” Faculty Calibrate your expectations of faculty appropriately –This a research University so faculty must invest a fair amount of their time in this regard This is partly what makes UCSB/Bren a premier institution and a degree from here so valuable Faculty Recruitment –Corporate Environmental Management –Empirical Social Science –Energy and Resource Productivity –Ecotoxicology?

Bren 101 for MESM Students Who’s Who – Other Faculty and Researchers Adjunct Faculty –Main affiliation elsewhere but involved in teaching and research at UCSB Affiliated Faculty –Ladder track faculty in other UCSB dept with 0% appt in Bren because they interact in some way(s) Visiting Faculty & Lecturers Professional and Visiting Researchers

Bren 101 for MESM Students Faculty Committees of InterestCommittees MESM Program –Chair = Holden; Primary Staff Support = Haston; Student Rep = TBD Group Projects –Chair = Tague; Primary Staff Support = Burgard; Melack = liaison to external clients; Student Reps = TBD Colloquium –Chair = von Weizsäcker; Staff Support = Danetra; Student Rep = Milena Viljoen PhD Program –Chair = Keller; Primary Staff Support = Prieto; Student Rep = TBA Recruitment, Admissions & Support (RAS) –Chair = Frew; Staff Support = Grad Advisor (TBD) Computing Resources Liaisons to Administration –Christina Tague & David Panitz (2 nd year MESM) Corlei will discuss election of student reps as well as some other student leadership opportunities at the Big Picture Session on Oct 1

Bren 101 for MESM Students Thanks for your time and attention! This presentation posted on Services/ASA