School of Culture and Communication - Graduate Student Association
University of Melbourne Graduate Student Association
Research Student Reference Group
About Dis/course
Dis/course, the School of Culture and Communication Graduate Student Association, is an independently run collective which provides fair and equitable representation for all graduate students within the school. Formerly known as the School of Culture and Communication Postgraduate Association (SCCPA), Dis/course receives funding from both the University of Melbourne Graduate Student Association (GSA) and from the school itself. From this support, Dis/course works to build a spirit of collegiality among graduate students and address concerns facing both research and coursework students. These include running a variety of social events; acting as the graduate student voice in the formation of policy within both the school and the university; running a weekly seminar series that provides graduate students an opportunity to present their work to peers in a safe and friendly environment; and directing the students’ questions and concerns to appropriate channels and forums in an attempt to improve their academic and social experiences.
Dis/course automatically offers free membership to every graduate student from any discipline within the school including the following: Art History, Australian Indigenous Studies, Creative Arts, Creative Writing, Cultural Management, Cultural Studies, English, Media and Communications, Publishing and Communications, Cinema Studies, and Theatre Studies. All graduate students are welcome and encouraged to attend meetings, raise issues regarding any aspect of candidature, offer suggestions and organise activities. Elections for the association take place at the beginning of each year at the annual general meeting, and all graduate students in the school are strongly encouraged to be involved.
Join the Dis/course:
Dis/course circulates regular emails with information regarding these activities and more. For more information, please contact a Dis/course officer.
Dis/course Executive, Committee, and Representation
Executive Officers
President – Caroline Wallace
Vice-President – Aaron Mannion
Secretary – Jocelyn Hargrave
Treasurer – Joseph Shero
Committee Members
Amy Espeseth
Emily Royal
Rachael Kendrick
Sara Taylor
Committee Representatives
Graduate Studies – Aaron Mannion
Research and Research Training – Aaron Mannion
School Committee – Jocelyn Hargrave and Lynn Thomson
Research Students Reference Group – Amy Espeseth
Dis/course Buddy System
The Dis/course Buddy Program is an initiative that introduces new graduate students to current students. Melbourne Uni is a big place and Culture and Communication is one of the biggest schools in the university. The idea of the Buddy Program is to help make the place smaller and friendlier by teaming rookie graduate students with old-timer buddies who know their way around.
New graduate students or those who have may have missed orientation, started mid-semester or would like to get to know the school better are also invited to download the Buddy Program pdf, find an appropriate buddy and make contact themselves.
The Dis/course Buddy Program is quite informal. Interested graduate students should email one of the other graduate students on the list who have generously offered their time for this program. Then, they could choose to meet for a coffee, chat, university tour, or tag along to a research seminar or reading group. The Buddy Program is a great way for new students to meet other graduate students in the School of Culture and Communication and to get information on graduate life that may not be available through more formal channels. Graduate students who have may have missed orientation, started mid-semester or would like to get to know the school better are also invited to download the Buddy Program pdf, find an appropriate buddy and make contact themselves.
Download the Buddy Program pdf here.
Project Officer: Aaron Mannion
Please contact Aaron for further details.
Dis/course Skills Bank
In 2007, Dis/course implemented an online Skills Bank. The Skills Bank is a means of connecting graduate students experiencing difficulties with academic issues with those who can help. As every graduate student has many skills to offer, the potential of this project is enormous. All School of Culture and Communication graduate students are welcome to suggest, provide, and access information and skills. Skills Bank aims to be a site that can provide solutions to common graduate student obstacles whilst encouraging an interactive community.
Interested graduate students should email one of the other graduate students on the Skills Bank pdf who have generously offered their skills and time for this program.
Download the Skills Bank pdf here.
Project Officer: Aaron Mannion
Please contact Aaron for further details.
Dis/course - Other Concerns or Opportunities
Dis/course, the School of Culture and Communication Graduate Student Association, organises events for graduate students in the school as well as providing representation on university and school committees. We aim to foster a collegial experience for all graduate students in the school by hosting seminars, supporting other school groups and consortia, and by providing graduate students with a chance to socialise in various settings.
If you have questions or concerns about your studies or academic processes at the University of Melbourne, we are happy to offer advice where possible, direct you to appropriate people when necessary, and represent your views to the university through our representative positions on committees. If you have an idea for an academic, social or combined event, feel free to contact us so we can help you get it off the ground.
Dis/course - GSA Affiliation
Dis/course is proud to be affiliated with the University of Melbourne Graduate Student Association (GSA), the representative body for graduate students at the University of Melbourne.
University of Melbourne Graduate Student Association (GSA)
The University of Melbourne Graduate Student Association Inc. (GSA) is your voice on committees and a great provider of community and social activities for the thousands of graduate students at the University. GSA also provides the only independent advocates on campus specifically for graduate students, so if you run into any trouble in your degree, give GSA a call on 8344 8657 or drop by the Graduate Centre for advice. GSA manages a range of graduate-only study spaces, lockers, computer labs, meeting rooms and carrels in the Grad Centre as well, available for all of the University's graduate students.
It provides valuable services directly to graduate students:
- Traffic (a refereed interdisciplinary postgraduate journal)
- student advice and advocacy
- funding for student groups and activities
- Publishing Centre & Print Room (through the Graduate Centre)
- 24-hour computer labs
- meeting rooms, study carrels and lockers
- assistance with thesis writing (Thesis Writing Guide)
- student groups
Research Student Reference Group
The Research Reference Group is the primary avenue for feedback from the research higher degree student body to the Associate Dean (Research and Postgraduate Studies). It is also a means of disseminating information from Faculty to research students in the schools of each of the representatives.
More information on the Faculty of Arts Research Student Reference Group