GRADUATION AND CAPSTONE INFORMATION
For My Advisees

HELLO SOON-TO-BE GRADUATING STUDENT AND CAPSTONER!

Here are some instructions about the Capstone Experience.  I pledge to help guide you through this process with the belief that you will do your part in it!

My advisees are encouraged to call me for an
advising appointment prior to Capstone ...
and for the Dr. Figa "pep talk!"

1. If you are graduating at the end of the CURRENT SEMESTER, send me an email ASAP alerting me to your intent to graduate. Please put in the subject line:  CAPSTONE STUDENT ALERT.  In the email, please provide me with the following information:

Your SLIS PROGRAM OF STUDY so I can have on file for you the proper PROGRAM OF STUDY DOCUMENT for your diploma "wall of fame".  Is your program of study:

1) YOUTH LIBRARIANSHIP

2) GENERAL LIBRARIANSHIP

3) YOUTH + GENERAL LIBRARIANSHIP

4) SOMETHING ELSE?

2. Subscribe ASAP (if you aren't already) to the SLIS-Announce Listserv so you get the earliest notification about the graduation process and Capstone.

3. When you get the dates for Capstone registration and other Capstone dates, write them down on your calendar and plan ahead for your timeline.

4. Check your "MY WEBCT" often and look for a new course to be added called CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE. Then, get into the CAPSTONE Website at your earliest possible time.

5. There are two important details you must take care of -- your degree plan and your practicum.

DEGREE PLAN PROCESS:  If you do not have a copy of your official degree plan in your possession that you can find immediately or if we have not yet done your degree plan, IT IS URGENT we get that accomplished so that you have a degree plan in hand.  If you lost your degree plan, call the staff in the SLIS office at 877-275-7547 and ask for a new copy.  If you do not yet have a degree plan completed, call for an advising appointment with me ASAP to complete one and have Vicki send you a copy.

PRACTICUM OR PRACTICUM WAIVER PROCESS: Students must either do a practicum fieldwork experience or get a waiver of that experience. If you wanted a waiver, if you have not completed the official form for a waiver, if you have not gotten approval from me along with a letter from SLIS confirming you have received a WAIVER for the practicum experience, then you need to take care of that ASAP.  You will fall into one of three categories:

A.  YOU DID A PRACTICUM -- GREAT -- YOU ARE ALL SET!

B.  YOU ARE PLANNING TO DO A PRACTICUM:
You need to complete the proper form and get approval from the Practicum Experience Advisor who is listed on practicum course Webpage. You will register for this and you will be required to pay a fee  for it (you may check on that fee scale with the SLIS office).  You will list the name of the Practicum Experience Advisor as the Instructor (this is not Dr. Figa), and you will get your registration restriction code from the Practicum Experience Advisor (this is not Dr. Figa, either).  Currently, the Practicum Experience Advisor is Dr. Barbara Stein-Martin.   

The Practicum Experience Webpage is located at:
http://web2.unt.edu/children/practicum/index.htm

C.  YOU WANT TO REQUEST A WAIVER FROM THE  PRACTICUM BASED ON FIELD WORK EXPERIENCE:

The Practicum Field Waiver Experience form is located at:
http://www.unt.edu/slis/resources/e-forms/Field%20Waiver%20New.htm

Your regular advisor approves your waiver. If you are an advisee of Dr. Figa, then Dr. Figa approves your waiver.  In requesting a waiver, you are providing evidence that you, indeed, have professional-level experience.  I expect the information on the form to reflect this in both content and in appearance.  You will mail this form directly to your advisor (the form says to mail to the "Fieldwork Committee Chair", but if you are an advisee of Dr. Figa, please mail it directly to:

Elizabeth Figa, Ph.D.
School of Library and Information Sciences
Information Sciences Building, Room 205
P.O. Box 311068
Denton, TX 76203-1068

Here are my instructions for complete the form:

a.  Type it so that it looks professional.

b.  Complete every entry on the form and obtain all required signatures.

c.  In the box that asks for description of Major Responsibilities, I recommend you put "See Attachment" in the box and prepare an addendum as a Word document outlining the scope of your work-related responsibilities.  This should be done in a series of categories with narrative descriptions following this type of format: 

• Management Responsibilities:  Do you supervise anyone?  Do you open/close the library or work place?  Do you do work planning and scheduling for other staff?  Do you do training of staff?  Describe and be specific.

• Reference Work:  Do you provide direct service to patrons?  Do you answer reference questions?  Do you do bibliographic instruction?  To you do reader's advisory?  Describe and be specific.

• Collection Development:  Do you help order books?  Do you do weeding?  Do you develop bibliographic finding aides?  Describe and be specific.

• Programming:  Do you plan and do library programs such as storytimes?  Are you involved in the summer reading program?  Do you do library training sessions?  Describe and be specific.

• Technical Services:  Do you do Interlibrary Loan?  Do you process orders?  Do you work with other local or state library networks?  Do you work at the circulation desk?  Do you work with media?  Describe and be specific.

• Technology:  Do you do computer/network problem solving, installation, repair?  Do you do Website/Webpage development? Describe and be specific.

• Committee Work:  Are you on any committees? Describe and be specific.

• Other activities:  Describe and be specific. 

For follow-ups about your Practicum status if you are not sure, call the SLIS Office toll-free via 877-275-7547.

6. As part of your Capstone, you will complete a series of print materials that will be mailed to your home in a packet, including the "application for graduation" to the Graduate School.  THIS APPLICATION FOR GRADUATION IS VERY IMPORTANT.  As part of that, you will be asked to send in a copy of your degree plan. When your degree plan was done in conjunction with me, a copy was mailed to you by SLIS Staff. You may send in a copy of that document to the Graduate School. If you no longer have a copy of your degree plan OR if you want an updated version of it, YOU WILL GET YOUR DEGREE PLAN FROM THE SLIS OFFICE, s, please call the office to request your degree plan via 877-275-7547, the toll-free number. In that paperwork, you will be asked which degree you would like.  You may choose: 

• Master's Degree in Library Science, or

• Master's Degree in Information Sciences

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THE CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE

My advisees are encouraged to call me for an advising appointment prior to Capstone ... for the Dr. Figa "pep talk!"

Best wishes with your CAPSTONE PROCESS!

My Contact Information
I can always be found/reached via the SLIS Faculty page or by calling either the SLIS office toll-free (877) 275-7547 or my direct line at (940) 565-2187. My email address is efiga@lis.admin.unt.edu.

I hope you have found this information to be of assistance to you.  I look forward to working with you on the Capstone Experience.

Always,
E.