Research Facilities and System
Campus Library
Library HP (Library Guide for students and Personnel)
Campus Library at Tsuru University supports learning, education and research activities for on-campus users, primarily consisting of undergraduate and graduate students as well as faculty members, in order to help develop people to take on roles in the 21st century. It also creates an atmosphere where people can relax, come together for intellectual study as well as interact. In addition, the library is open to off-campus users as well, such as residents of Tsuru.
The library is a prominent resource throughout the prefecture with its volume of books, and currently holds 368,506 books and references as of April 1, 2016. Out of that, the library itself houses approximately 295,569 books and references, and the teaching staff offices, department libraries as well as graduate student research rooms also house approximately 72,937 books and references.
The building stands 4 stories tall, has a total floor space of 4,553 m2, and can house up to 460,000 books and references.
The layout of the building includes a storage area on the 1st floor with compact stacks, mainly featuring complete works, magazines, newspaper back numbers and maps, etc. The 2nd floor features an open area, the Learning Commons, which provides a space for library users to engage in various intellectual studies and activities. There are a number of areas and booths designated for reading, information searches, audio and visual resources, newspaper reading as well as discussion. In addition, there is also an area that provides access to official city and prefectural gazettes and publications, representing a distinct group of resources unique to the campus library. In 2011, a picture book and children’s section was added. The picture books and children’s stories are arranged by grade level and by the publishing company in the Japanese textbooks for elementary and junior high school students. In addition, there are also foreign picture books and children’s book to support English education. The 3rd and 4th floors function as the main study areas in the library. The library resources are divided into two themes to support the broad scope of research areas at the university. The 3rd floor offers books and magazines that cover social sciences, history, geography, natural sciences, engineering and industry. The 4th floor offers books and magazines that cover philosophy, psychology, pedagogy, art, linguistics and literature. There are magazines, dictionaries and other books arranged according to the field to help support library users in their studies and research activities. The 3rd floor also has a reference counter, which not only provides investigative and consultation services for users to study and conduct research, but it also acts as a help desk for conducting academic research by helping users access an online database and by providing a collaborative service with other universities and institutions. In addition, there is an online journal system for foreign language magazines called “ProQuest Central” provided by ProQuest. Users can browse and search for important thesis articles freely inside the library and by accessing a terminal on-campus. Since 2013, the online “ebrary” by ProQuest allows users to browse through and search approximately 85,000 e-books (digital form) published in foreign languages. Users can now use their smartphones to browse through the system and download data.
The university earmarks an annual fund for graduate school book expenses in order to purchase books and references to support graduate student research.
PC corner
reference counter
Information Center
The university provides LAN connections in each building to ensure that there is Internet access from most locations. In addition, the university also provides access to wireless LAN on campus, and lets graduate students bring their own computer into the graduate student research rooms and use the LAN connection. (Note that students must apply for permission from the Information Center) Furthermore, our output resources include 9 on-campus locations with a total of 13 online printers, enabling students to print from anywhere on-campus.
There are computers available at the information education classrooms (rooms 1107, 2102, 2202, 2401, 2402 and 25WS), the Career Support Center, the printing rooms and the campus library. They feature various types of software, such as Microsoft Office, image processing, statistical analysis and multimedia programs. The computers set up at the campus library can be used freely during library hours (9:00 am to 9:00 pm during lecture terms including Saturdays and Sundays). Room 1107 can be used freely on weekdays from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
The Information Center operates and manages the on-campus network system and the information education classroom system, and updates the system regularly to improve student services.
Graduate student research rooms
The graduate school makes every effort to provide an environment and resources that allow graduate students to fully devote themselves to their classes and research. There are special research rooms for graduate students in each program, and this also includes individual desks to help them complete the course work. In addition, special library rooms for each program are available offering a collection of basic books and magazines.
System for extending the period of registration
The graduate school introduced the system for extending the period of registration for the incoming students in 2007.
The graduate school standards were partially amended, effective March 28, 2002, enabling students in this system who are currently employed or have special circumstances to apply for an extension that exceeds the standard term length for the graduate program and complete the course of study within a planned and specified period. The program fees for students who are eligible for this system shall be a maximum of 2 years regardless of 3 or 4 year period.
After the application is reviewed in the graduate school, approval is granted ahead of time for the student to stay registered beyond the term of study, enabling him or her to acquire an academic degree if he or she completes the course of study according to the plan.
Teaching assistant system
The teaching assistant system was introduced in 2001 for graduate students. A teaching assistant is a person who provides educational assistance in order to make classroom teaching more effective in a department at this university. The work of the teaching assistant adds to the educational experience while studying at the university and helps the assistant learn basic approaches and methods in education. The assistant also receives a stipend for his or her work, and it is also possible to change the conditions of the student’s research.
Research assistant system
The research assistant system was introduced in 2011. In this system, graduate students who have specialized knowledge required for research project activities in the graduate school and who can assist in work tasks are eligible to be appointed to research assistant positions. Graduate student appointed to these positions are expected to enhance their research skills as a research assistant. In addition, a stipend is also provided for their work.
Tuition waiver system and scholarship program
There is a tuition waiver system, and a scholarship program which provides aid to graduate students who are focused on conducting research and require financial assistance.
The tuition waiver system provides financial aid for all or half of the tuition fees per term for graduate students who have exceptional grades and who have difficulties paying the tuition fees due to financial constraints. Graduate students are eligible to receive financial aid starting from the second semester of their first year, and every year, there are some students who receive full or half of the financial aid package. The scholarship program are provided based on graduate student scholarship recommendations, selection criteria and procedures in accordance with the Japan Student Services Organization. Every year, there are two types of scholarships (Type I loans with interest and interest free Type II loans) that are used and awarded to the graduate student applicants.
Admission for working educators and working professionals in society
The Japanese Program, English Language and British /American Literature Program and Practical Studies of Clinical Education Program also offer a special entrance exam for working professionals in society and provide classes at night for the convenience of students who must work during the day. In addition, we actively admit working educators to further their education, and our students include not only graduates of this university but there are also a number of graduates from other universities. The entrance exam for this system features a different format from the standard entrance exam. Refer to the admission guidelines for further details.
Studying abroad
This university has concluded an exchange program agreement with the University of California. Each year several graduate students (and undergraduates), who satisfy the specified conditions, such as TOEFL and GRE requirements (Graduate Record Examination), are able to study for 1 year at a University of California graduate school.
Graduate student scholarship program for studying abroad
The graduate student scholarship program for studying abroad was established in 2015 to encourage graduate students to conduct short-term training abroad, participate in short-term language training abroad at specified schools, attend and present at overseas meetings and seminars, and conduct investigations abroad. Students can receive aid for up to 50% of the expenses.
Foreign exchange students
We actively admit exchange students from overseas at the graduate school. We currently have exchange students from China who are enrolled in the Comparative Cultures Program and conducting research. Students from different cultures learning and studying together really help broaden the perspective of the students and advance academic research.