2020 AEM Graduate Student Orientation

Welcome to the department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics at the University of Minnesota! As the new academic year approaches, please look over some of the events that will take place starting in August, for the incoming graduate students.

An Introduction to the department policies and procedures has been emailed to new graduate students. More information can be found at the following links.


GEAR 1 (Graduate Education Resources for the First Year)

These are online orientation modules. The first two modules, which are available now, include general information about the University of Minnesota and living in Minnesota. Additional modules that coverTuition and Funding, Being a Graduate Student, Health and Wellness, and Planning After Year 1 will be rolled out over the summer. https://grad.umn.edu/gear


Mark Your Calendars

See below for additional information and pending events.

August 10–21: CSE: Teaching and Language Kick-off (CSE TALK) Orientation *International Students
The 2020 in-person orientation will run from August 10 - August 21 at the University of Minnesota. Students required to attend have already been notified. https://cei.umn.edu/courses-programs/cse-teaching-and-language-kick-talk

August 27-28: Individual meetings with Director of Graduate Studies take place.

August 27 – September 1: Global Gopher Events *International Students
This is an opportunity for new international students to meet other new students before classes start. Event schedule: https://isss.umn.edu/programs/ggumn/

New TA Orientation, offered via Zoom at two separate times *required for Teaching/Research Assistants only
Enroll here: https://training.umn.edu/courses/10280
Monday, August 31 – 10:00am – 12:00pm
Tuesday, September 1 – 2:30pm – 4:30pm

Additional TA workshops, offered via Zoom at varying times
(*required for Teaching/Research Assistants only)
Grading & Feedback: https://training.umn.edu/courses/19686
Office Hours & Communicating with Students: https://training.umn.edu/courses/19706
Strategies for Online Discussion Forums: https://training.umn.edu/courses/19708

September 1st - 10:00am - Virtual Graduate School Welcome and Resource Fair
See website for more details: https://grad.umn.edu/news-events/event/2020-graduateschool-virtual-welcome-resource-fair

TBD - AEM Database & Safety Training
TA Database Orientation, Professor Yohannes Ketema *required for Teaching/Research Assistants only
Safety training, Professor Yohannes Ketema *required for all students

Tuesday, September 8 - First Day of Classes
Teaching Assistants must attend discussion sections assigned to them.