Graduate school students of the University of Calabar have been urged to identify their rights and privileges in order not to fall prey to campus culprits.
The Vice Chancellor, University of Calabar, Prof. James Epoke gave the advice during a graduate school orientation exercise for new and returning students held at the International Conference Centre of the institution.
Prof. James Epoke, who was represented by the Dean of Graduate School of the institution, Prof. Francis Bisong thanked the students for attending the exercise which will sensitize them on anti social vices and groups inimical to their success and academic progress on campus.
He used the occasion to stress that the students should be on the watch in order not to fall as victims in unscrupulous hands.
In a paper titled,� stress management �, the Director, Health Services in the University of Calabar, Dr. Mrs. Eno Ebong identified stress as a major challenge, faced by graduate school students.
Dr. Eno Ebong enumerated symptoms of stress to include, lack of concentration, sleeplessness, headaches and moving sensation otherwise called body itching, which she said could lead to poor performance.
The Director urged the students to be both emotionally and psychologically prepared to be able to embark on the post graduate studies, adding that premium must be placed on time management if the students must excel.
In another presentation the Deputy Registrar and Academic Secretary, Dr. Mrs Hannah B. Oboho stated that there is no cash transaction in graduate school, and urged students to be on guard and report any case of extortion from any staff to management.
Dr. Mrs Oboho, who spoke on �Registration procedures in graduate school�, explained the process of registration of students in graduate school, which she stated is categorized into different units and also stressed on a stipulated time of registration which students are to adhere to.
In a similar presentation on � Programmes Duration/ Procedure and guidelines for Preparation of Theses and Desertation � . Prof. Lucas O. Ogunjimi stated clearly that while Post Graduate Diploma programme is expected not to exceed (3) semesters, MSC and Ph.D Programmes were to run for a maximum of six semesters and ten semesters respectively.
Prof. Ogunjimi further explained requirements for the completion of theses to include, originality and must be satisfactory as regards literary presentation, neat, well written in formal clear English, concise and logical.
Others include italicizing foreign words and phrases, numbers used statistically are expressed in Arabic numbers, writing of percentage in words as well as absence of dedication page. Presenting a paper titled � Assertive rights of student �, Chairman, Students Rights Committee, Prof. Emmanuel Agiang stated that Graduate school does not allow the status of a full worker to be full time student.
Prof. Agiang stated that the rights of students are noted in the area of discrimination on the basis of gender, disability, undue delay in attending to student�s project and supervision, failure to supervise, lecturer�s non attendance at lectures as well as sexual harassment.
Making his presentation, the Administrative Secretary Unical Research Africa Linkage Committee, Mr. Friday O. Idiku listed the funding opportunities to include scholarships, early career, seminar research grants, travel grants.
Speaking on �Students affair division�, Prof. Eyong U. Eyong, Dean Students Affairs, urged graduate students to avail themselves of the enormous opportunities of using the guidance and counseling unit of students Affairs Division.
Prof. Eyong stressed that the utmost concern of the University is to produce graduates who will be useful to the university and community at large.
The occasion featured a question and answer session, and a vote of thanks by the Deputy Dean, Graduate School, Prof. Mrs. Margaret Okon.