Design MFA Gateway

>> Download Variable Unit Form for Des 299. Fill out in detail with the sponsoring faculty. Signature needed in sequence: faculty, student, Grad Chair, Grad Coordinator. Submit the completed form to the File upload portal above. 

FIRST YEARS //

Fall Quarter:  DES 221 (Theory and Issues in Design) + DES 225 (Studio Practice in Design) + one Elective or DES 299

Winter Quarter:  DES 226 (Studio Practice & Critique) + DES 222 (Research Methods and Writing) or DES 223, when offered (Professional Practice and Ethics in Design) + one Elective or DES 299

Spring Quarter:  DES 222 (Research Methods and Writing) or DES 223 (Professional Practice and Ethics in Design), whichever was not offered in the winter quarter  + Two Electives or DES 299s

RETURNING STUDENTS //

Fall Quarter: Three Electives or DES 299s

Winter Quarter: DES  226 (Studio Practice & Critique) + Two Electives or DES 299, or DES 223, when offered (Professional Practice and Ethics in Design) + one Elective or 

DES 299

Spring Quarter: DES 227 (Thesis Exhibition & Critique) + DES 299D (Thesis Exhibition Independent Study) 

Week 3 and 4: Meet with Thesis Committee

Week 8: 

Friday, May 23 (1st and 2nd years all join) MFA Oral Presentation

8:40 AM Door

8:50 AM Introduction

1. 9:00 – Rafael Bertacini

2. 9:30 – Zahra Baxi

3. 10:00 – Elieza Delaney-Lewis

4. 10:30 – Nathalia Guimaraes

15 minute break

5. 11:15 – Nidhi Mittal

6. 11:45 – Meghan Plunkett

7. 12:15 – Emily Tonnos

12:45-1:45 / lunch provided.

Week 9: 

Friday, May 30 (2nd years only) Complete the filing process in Gradsphere (see email including screen recording from Rachelle)

Friday, May 30: (1st and 2nd years all join) MFA Oral Presentation
location TBD  >>> PPT Due on the 29th by 5 pm (Box Submission Link)

8:40 AM Door

8:50 AM Introduction

1. 9:00 – Jordan Blandino

2. 9:30 – Latrell Broughton

3. 10:00 – Isadora Goldschneider

4. 10:30 – Dassie (Chengjie) Jin

5. 11:00 – Zarina Majidova

6. 11:30 – Diego Martinez Fernandez

7. 12:00 – Magda Rojas Valdez

12:30 lunch provided (department celebration)

Friday, May 30, 12:30-2: All Department Celebration (Cruess Courtyard following the Graduate reviews)

Week 10

All Graduate Students (1st and 2nd years) should set up a meeting with committees members for this week (latest June 10)

Thursday, June 5, 5:30-9 pm: 2025 MFA Exhibition Opening Celebration, Manetti Shrem Museum

Week 11 (finals week)

Monday, June 9: Last day to have met with committee members (Timeslot Sign up)

Monday June 9: MFA Written Thesis final version Due (box submission link)

Thursday, June 12: Graduate Commencement Ceremony

>> MFA Thesis Filing Deadlines

+ Emails of MFA Students (Link to Bio Page)

• First-Years: Zahra Baxi | Rafael Amorim Bertacini | Elieza Delaney-Lewis | Nathalia Guimaraes | Nidhi Mittal | Megan Plunkett | Emily Tonnos

• Returning:  Jordan Blandino | Latrell Broughton | Isadora Goldschneider | Dassie (Chengjie) Jin | Zarina Majidova | Diego Martinez Fernandez del Castillo | Magda Rojas Valdez

+ MFA Committee

Brett Snyder, Grad Program Chair

Rachelle Agundes, Graduate Program Coordinator

Faculty Members: Beth Ferguson, Gözde Goncu-Berk, Akshita Sivakumar

Graduate Students: Damien Mitchell, Diego Martinez Fernandez del Castillo

+ Thesis Advisory Committee for First Year MFA Students

• Zahra Baxi: Glenda Drew, Brett Snyder, Thomas Maiorana

• Rafael Amorim Bertacini: Gözde Goncu-Berk (Chair), Katia Vega, Claire Napawan

• Elieza Delaney-Lewis: Brett Snyder (Chair), Claire Napawan, Beth Ferguson

• Nathalia Guimaraes: Beth Ferguson (Chair), Tim McNeil, Tom Maiorana

• Nidhi Mittal: Akshita Sivakumar (Chair), Gözde Goncu-Berk, Katia Vega, Katherine Kim 

• Megan Plunkett : Brett Snyder (Chair), Jiayi Young, Tom Maiorana, Sophia Mattingly

• Emily Tonnos: Tim McNeil (Chair), James Housefield, Jiayi Young

+ Thesis Committees for Continuing MFA Students

• Jordan Blandino: Beth Ferguson (Chair), Gözde Goncu-Berk, Simon Sadler

• Latrell Broughton: Glenda Drew (Chair), Tim McNeil, Simon Sadler, Darnel Degand

• Isadora Goldschneider: Tim McNeil (Chair), Brett Snyder, Jiayi Young, Ann Savageau

• Dassie (Chengjie) Jin: Gözde Goncu-Berk (Chair), Thomas Maiorana, Jiayi Young

• Zarina Majidova: Tanuja Mishra (Chair), James Housefield, Katia Vega

• Diego Martinez Fernandez del Castillo: Akshita Sivakumar (Chair), Christina Cogdell,  Gözde Goncu-Berk

• Magda Rojas Valdez: Beth Ferguson (Chair), Brett Snyder, Simon Sadler

+ Recent Alum Thesis Committees ( Spring 2024–Fall 2024 Graduates)

• Ladan Joharizadeh: Tim McNeil (Chair), Brett Snyder, Katia Vega

• Damien Mitchell: Susan Avila (Chair), Beth Ferguson, Tom Maiorana

• Dongqi Mo: Jiayi Young (Chair), Thomas Maiorana, Jae Young

• Pedro Ortiz: Simon Sadler (Chair), Brett Snyder, Jae Yong Suk

• Satomi Richardson: Katia Vega (Chair), Thomas Maiorana, Tanuja Mishra

• Maral Salehian: Tim McNeil (Chair), Simon Sadler, Jiayi Young

+ Recent Alum Thesis Committees ( Spring 2023 Graduates)

• Niloufar Abdolmaleki: Tim McNeil (Chair), Brett Snyder, Ann Savageau, Susan Verba (honorary)

• Hafsa Akter: Gözde Goncu-Berk (Chair), Katia Vega, Jiayi Young, Gang Sun (Engineering)

• Diana  Valeria Araiza Soto: Michael Siminovitch (Chair), Jae Yong Suk, Jiayi Young

• Cristina Gomez: Tim McNeil (Chair), Susan Avila, Susan Kaiser

• Justin G Marsh: Tim McNeil (Chair), Brett Snyder, Simon Sadler

• Alejandra Ruiz: Christina Cogdell (Chair), Beth Ferguson, Susan Avila

• Quinessa Stibbins: Susan Kaiser (Chair), Gözde Goncu-Berk, Simon Sadler, Erin Gray (English)

• Pachia Vang: Susan Avila (Chair), Susan Kaiser, Tim McNeil

• Ofelia Viloche: Beth Ferguson (Chair), Katia Vega, A. Haven Kiers (Landscape Architecture), Tanuja Mishra

• Martha Wacker: Glenda Drew (Chair), Brett Snyder, Simon Sadler, Susan Verba (honorary)

• Cigdem (Rova) Yilmaz: Gözde Goncu-Berk (Chair), Jiayi Young, Elif Ozden-Yenigun (Royal College of Art, Textile department)

+ Recent Alum Thesis Committees ( Spring/Fall 2022 Graduates)

• Valentyna Hrushkevych: Gozde Goncu-Berk (Chair), James Housefield, Jiayi Young

• Tracy Manuel: Glenda Drew (Chair), Susan Avila, Tom Maiorana, James Housefield

• Fatema Mostafa: Brett Snyder (Chair), Mark Kessler, Michael Siminovitch, Katia Vega

• Edward Whelan: Tim McNeil (Chair), James Housefield, Susan Verba, Susette Min

• Iris Xie: Jiayi Young (Chair), Simon Sadler, Ann Savageau, Ryan Lee Cartwright

+ Recent Alum Thesis Committees ( Fall 2021 Graduates)

• Elyse Mack: Brett Snyder (Chair), Beth Ferguson, Haven Kiers (Landscape Architecture) 

• Sima Pirmoradi: Beth Ferguson (Chair), Katia Vega, Gözde Goncu-Berk 

• Dan Tran: Javier Arbona (chair), Tim McNeil, Gözde Goncu-Berk, Hulleah Tsinhnahjinnie (Native American Studies)

• Alireza Vaziri Rahimi: Glenda Drew (Chair), Susan Verba, Brett Snyder, Jesse Drew

+ Recent Alum Thesis Committees ( Spring 2021 Graduates)

• Erik Contreras:  Katia Vega (Chair), Jiayi Young, Thomas Maiorana

• Jude Mooney: Tim McNeil (Chair), Michael Siminovitch, James Housefield

• Kaylani McCard: Susan Kaiser (Chair), Javier Arbona, Mark Kessler

• Nicolle Navarete: Mark Kessler (Chair), Simon Sadler, Brett Snyder

+ Recent Alum Thesis Committees ( Fall 2020 Graduates)

• Tracy Corado: Beth Ferguson (Chair),  Jiayi Young, Brett Snyder

• Tara Halsted: Gözde Goncu-Berk (Chair), Susan Avila, Tom Maiorana, Susan Kaiser

• Harold Linde: Mark Kessler (Chair), Michael Siminovitch, Jiayi Young

// TOOLROOM  (101 Cruess Hall)

Fall 2021 Hours: M-TH 9 am - 6 pm, F 9 am - 5 pm

Equipment List and Check in/out

Webpage: https://arts.ucdavis.edu/design-tool-room, and look for the following.

Design Graduate Student Equipment

Note: Graduate student equipment is available for graduate student checkout for the duration of a quarter; undergraduates may check out available equipment for daily and overnight use.

View a complete list of equipment with pictures here. To check out equipment, click on “Check In/Out Link.”

// LADDER POLICY

Graduate students and employees need to complete Ladder Training to be able to use ladders. In order to access this training, they must:

1. Submit a request to sdps@ucdavis.edu

2. Go through the Ladder Training

3. Forward their completion notification email to javiramontes@ucdavis.edu  

// MAKERSPACE

OPEN LAB 1101

Very large pin-up walls. Please schedule with Javier A Viramontes <javiramontes@ucdavis.edu>.

PROTOTYPING LAB 1102 

Faculty in charge - Beth J Ferguson <bferguson@ucdavis.edu>

Staff - Ofelia Viloche Pulido <oviloche@ucdavis.edu >

We are doing our best to assess faculty needs, train new TAs, safely install equipment, and onboard new staff. 

Please contact Javier Viramontes (Prototyping Lab) or Jeff Farley (Woodshop) to schedule a tour or training. 

• Lab Hours 

• Grads must pass the makerspace test before using the facilities.

• Additional campus resource: email .stl files to the Start-Up Center (student run lab) : https://startup.ucdavis.edu/

WOODSHOP 1104 

Faculty in charge - Thomas E. Maiorana <tmaiorana@ucdavis.edu>

Staff - Jeffrey A Farley <jfarley@ucdavis.edu>

• Hours Link

• Grads are allowed to work in the Woodshop after they have done the training and hands-on demos and have been approved by staff.

• Training is two to three one-hour training sessions. 

• Only 2 students in the shop at a time for working and training. Email Jeff Farley to set up a training time or tour.

PROTOTYPING LAB CLASSROOM 1105

The classroom is reserved for Design grads Fridays 9am-noon. You can use the keycard app to access it. All grads must first sign the Use Form before using. Please submit a copy to your Digital Repository folder.

// SEWING LAB | Photos

Faculty in charge - Gozde Goncu Berk <ggoncuberk@ucdavis.edu>

• Only 2 students in the lab at a time for working and training.

// DYE LAB:

Faculty in charge - Susan Avila <stavila@ucdavis.edu>

• Graduate students have access when the dye lab isn't being used for classes. Please consult with Susan for schedule and training. 

-

Note:

6 classes are using the Makerspace classroom each quarter. Room 1105. 

- Class materials can be stored on the class-assigned shelf. 

- Materials must be cleared on the last day of class. 

-Room should be left clean and chairs and tables returned to the original location. 

Second year students are recommended to have weekly writing lab appointments to go through the thesis chapter by chapter. 

Please work with your thesis chair closely in the Spring quarter to go through your written Thesis.

Thesis Writing Assistance

The Univeristy Writing Program offers a list of Writing Resources: https://writing.ucdavis.edu/wac/resources/online-resources

Grad Writing One-on-one Consultation: https://writing.ucdavis.edu/gradwriting/consultations

Sample Title Page

• Sample Title Page

Thesis Filing

Three Forms to complete:

1. Advancement to Candidacy Form (Usually due in February). 

This form is signed by the grad student, the Grad Advisor, and the Grad Coordinator.

https://grad.ucdavis.edu/sites/default/files/upload/files/current-students/gs339-masters-candidacy-mfa-plani.pdf 

2. Report Form (To be signed after the Written Thesis is approved and after all members of the Thesis Committee are in agreement of a pass).

This form is signed by the Thesis Committee Chair and the Grad Chair.

https://ucdavis.app.box.com/v/MastersFineArtsReport (GS340)

3. Exit Information Form.

This form is signed by the student and the Grad Coordinator.

https://ucdavis.app.box.com/v/GradProgramExitInformationForm

Documents to read and Form to fill out:

• For each class, please fill out the Supplemental Notification Form and return to Rachelle Agundes <ragundes@ucdavis.edu> (Grad Program Coordinator) by the end of the second week of classes.

>> download and fill out Supplemental Notification Form.

Please Note: Depending on enrollment at the time, TA assignments can change.

*16+ students: 

For regular 25-student studio classes - 10 TA hours weekly, 25% FTE

For large 50-student studio classes - 20 TA hours weekly, 50% FTE

*11-15 students: 5 TA hours weekly, 12.5% FTE

*1-10 students: 0 TA hours

The TA contract states the following: "Your appointment begins on the first day of the quarter and ends no later than three (3) business days after the final examination or completion of duties, whichever is sooner.”

• The TA’d Guide to Effective Teaching at UC Davis by the UC Davis Center for Educational Effectiveness, Office of Undergraduate Education. https://cee.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk5371/files/files/event/TAGUIDE_2018.pdf

• Prototyping Lab: Safety Operating Procedures: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12ozW-nFZW1C-0YjWT1fDLqarlaDhhalTjSnPV-GeK_g/edit#heading=h.nann377s3x17

• TA Evaluation Questions: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YgwcAPMdQ786Vj383NmMudhENl0SWUkH/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=110635207984741728173&rtpof=true&sd=true

The appointment definition manual, top of page 9. 

https://aadocs.ucdavis.edu/policies/apm/ucd-app-ii/appendix-ii-b.pdf

• Definition: A Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) is a graduate student who performs research related to the student's degree program in an academic department or research unit under the direction of a faculty member or authorized principal investigator (APM 112). GSRs may not be assigned teaching, administrative, or general assistance duties. This does not exclude research-related duties such as quantitative analysis, bibliographic searches or summaries, text editing, lab projects, computer programming, and a reasonable amount of lab maintenance and cleaning. 

• Academic credit for research: It is permissible for departments to grant course 299 credit to students for work done as a Graduate Student Researcher, provided research performed is to meet the degree requirements.

>> Link to the MFA Handbook (Fall 2022 revision, Forms updated on June 10, 2023) 

To contribute information to be published in the quarterly Design Newsletter, please email: artsupdates@ucdavis.edu. Please include “Design Newsletter” in the subject line. 

>> How to read like a graduate student. Developed for DES 222, UC Davis by Prof. James Housefield.

We are glad you asked! Please consult the Letters of Recommendation page on the Arts website. 

Additional resources:

• UCD Blog - How to request a letter of recommendation

• PoliSci

• English

• Asian American Studies

Walker Hall Graduate Center

https://grad.ucdavis.edu/graduate-center

Facility Use (including room reservations)

There are  4 small meeting rooms available for Graduate Students to reserve online at: https://grad.ucdavis.edu/graduate-center-facility-use-guidelines

Reservations are limited to 2 hours, one reservation per day, and must be placed 2 hours in advance. These rooms are in high demand so they may not be guaranteed on a week-to-week basis for office hours. They are suitable for zoom with large TV displays and videoconferencing sound bars.

https://grad.ucdavis.edu/resources/coronavirus-updates-and-guidance#overlay-context=

https://grad.ucdavis.edu/admissions/programs-and-deadlines

Registration is required. Please see details: https://globalaffairs.ucdavis.edu/travel/register

Student Resources For Navigating UCPath:

https://ucpath.ucdavis.edu/student-resources-ucpath

• Student Employee Checklist

• What to do in the case of a pay error

STAY IN TOUCH! EMAIL Jiayi on what you are up to!

Problem: accessing past Canvas courses that you TA'd or AI'd for?

Answer: Call Canvas Support Hotline to unlock account. 1-844-303-8285 (24 Hours/7 Days)

https://siss.ucdavis.edu/international-student-and-scholar-handbook

ESL Course requirements: 

“ESL course” UWP225 or UWP226 or equivalent, i.e. one course from the UWP 102 or 104 series or UWP 298

https://iae.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk3006/files/files/page/Policy%20on%20Graduate%20Student%20Course%20Requiremen%20ts%20%20English%20as%20Second%20Language_03.06.19.pdf

Here is the financial support the Design MFA program is able to commit to in the academic year 2023-2024. Please note that the amount is for this year only and financial situations change from year to year. But, this year, we are very glad to offer the following. You can use the funds toward material costs and conference registration/travel. The last day to seek reimbursement is June 1, 2024.

• up to $500 for first-year cohort

• up to $1000 for returning students mounting thesis exhibition in the Spring.

Please work with your MFA Mentor or Thesis Committee to prioritize your spending. Keep your receipt and work with Rachelle for reimbursements. 

Instructions for reimbursements:

Step 1: When your receipts add up to $500 or more, email Brett and Rachelle and we will process $500. When your receipts add up to $1000, email me and Rachelle again, and we will issue another $500. 

Step 2: Please put all receipts in your Digital Repository folder. Create a folder within it called "Stipend Receipts (academic year)."

Are there housing resources?

1. UC Davis Housing--Grad/Professional Students group on Facebook — you need a UC Davis email to log on, which makes it safer. Always seem to be options for sublets. 

2. Ecology Social listserv — people use this for literally everything, but there are often housing options that come up. Again, pretty safe. Make sure you read the rules! This list is full of Davis insiders and long-timers, so there are opportunities here that you don’t see anywhere else.  

(Thanks to Trace Manuel for this information.)