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November 24, 2020In this issue: Graduate Student Groups, 3MT finalists, and more.
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Grad School Chef
Tomato-based Pizza feat. Roasted Veggies
The Graduate School has partnered with Executive Chef Paul Sprunger and Dietician Agnes Sherman of University Housing and Dining to bring you Grad School Chef, a cooking demonstration of tasty, budget-friendly recipes designed with graduate students in mind, including vegan and gluten-free options. Enjoy this week’s recipe, a Tomato-based Pizza with Roasted Veggies. Once you're done cooking, tag @uwmadgsed and #GradSchoolChef on Twitter or Instagram to show off your finished dish.
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Tips for Grads: Protecting Your Time and Planning Ahead as a Teaching Assistant
As the holiday season approaches, those of you working as teaching assistants may feel especially burdened during this busy time of year. Furthermore, as you have likely noticed over the course of the semester, online teaching can be more time-consuming than in-person instruction. Simple classroom interactions take longer than they normally would, and the amount of time necessary for preparing lessons and materials has increased. To avoid overwork and excessive stress, try to keep these few points in mind:
- Deliver information concisely and clearly.
Unclear instructions are a ubiquitous complaint among undergraduate students. By investing the time upfront to polish your messages and instructions, you may save hours in later clarifying the information. If possible, have a friend or colleague proofread your materials. - Stick to an organized, easy-to-follow syllabus.
Virtually, more coursework will be completed asynchronously. Try to chunk material into modules, follow a consistent routine or pattern, and be explicit about timing and deadlines. Respect that you and your students may be in different time zones and be clear about the time zone you are operating within. In the event of a necessary adjustment to the syllabus, try to make the change as early as possible and allow students some flexibility in meeting the new requirement. Having a clear course structure will help both you and your students budget your time and fit responsibilities into your calendars. - Resist the pressure of perfectionism.
Of course, not everything will go as planned. There will be some bad days, and that is okay. You can only do so much in the time allotted by a 33-50% appointment. Seasoned professors may make teaching look effortless, which is a testament to the power of practice and preparation. Stay positive, learn from your mistakes, and you too will be an enviable instructor. - Utilize campus resources.
Remember that the UW–Madison Instructional Continuity Initiative is here to help. Please explore the resources on their website and reach out to them for further guidance.
GradConnections Weekly is looking for fresh perspectives on the graduate student experience.
If you have advice, counsel, or tips for UW grad students, you’re invited to write a guest column for “Tips for Grads.”
If you’re interested, check out our infographic for details and email gspd@grad.wisc.edu to let us know.
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DiscoverPD is an innovative tool for UW–Madison graduate students to advance their academic and professional goals. Review the nine facets of professional development, complete a self-assessment, and get a customized report and recommendations.
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Upcoming Professional Development EventsAll event times and deadlines are listed in Central Standard Time (CST).
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| Graduate Student Groups
Are you looking to make connections with other graduate students while learning together about a topic of interest? We want to create some virtual spaces where grad students can come together to discuss ideas and meet others from across campus.
Let us know which of these topic groups (job market preparation, work-life integration and priority management, prelim preparation, and/or virtual coworking space) you would want to join by completing this survey.
Three Minute Thesis® (3MT®) is an international competition in which graduate students explain their research to a general audience in three minutes or less. 39 UW–Madison graduate students competed in the first ever virtual 3MT® competition this November, and on Friday 9 finalists were announced. Now for a limited time you can view submissions from the semifinalists.
3MT® videos will only be available to the public until Nov 29. Don’t miss your opportunity to watch these fascinating and accessible videos and learn about the groundbreaking research that UW–Madison graduate students are doing right now!
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If you’re a news buff — and curious about non-academic careers — come learn about the AAAS Mass Media Fellowship. This 10-week, paid internship places graduate students in the sciences at leading news organizations around the country. As full-time science reporters, fellows work with top journalists and hone their skills in science communication, which can lead to careers in the media, science policy, private industry, or research. Three past fellows will share their experiences and tips for applying.
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The UW Libraries offer seven "Library Micro-Courses," short, nongraded online courses focused on aspects of the research process. Highlighted topics for the fall include Graduate Research, Grants & Funding, Intellectual Property, and Research & Data Management
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Special Events & Symposia
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The Innovation Cup is designed to support the professional development of graduate students interested in the pharmaceutical and chemical industry. PhD students and postdocs in biology, chemistry, physics, medicine, biotechnology, bioinformatics, computer sciences, data sciences, informatics, biochemistry, pharmacy, engineering or related fields are invited to apply.
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Deadlines
Share your thoughts on graduate program handbooks
The Graduate School Office of Academic Analysis, Planning and Assessment needs your help! Consider taking 5-10 minutes of your time to share your experiences with graduate program handbooks via this survey that will remain open through November 30. By taking this survey, you will help make graduate program handbooks more useful for future generations of graduate students.
Minimum stipends for graduate assistants to remain the same in 2021-22
Due to budget challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, minimum stipend rates for graduate assistants (TAs, RAs, PAs, and LSAs) will remain unchanged for the 2021-22 academic year. Individual graduate programs can choose to set their stipend rates above the university’s minimum rate to be competitive in their field. Programs will finalize their 2021-22 stipend rates in December. In addition to stipends, which are above the estimated peer median for the Association of American Universities (AAU), graduate assistants with appointments of 33.3% or higher receive tuition remission and comprehensive benefits. Read the full announcement on minimum stipend rates.
Student survey results being used to improve fall, spring semesters
Campus leaders are using the results from just-completed student surveys of undergraduate and graduate students to improve the student experience during the remainder of the fall semester and to guide planning for the spring semester. Initial results of the survey are available and will be shared widely on campus so that administrators, faculty, and staff can benefit from the feedback as they finalize plans for the spring semester. A full report, including qualitative analysis of the open-ended survey questions, is expected in December. See the graduate survey highlights and summary here.
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Anonymous Mental Health Reflections
supportive space for student experience sharing
Ongoing throughout November
Male identified students can anonymously share their thoughts on the personal meaning or significance of mental health, as well as their experiences related to receiving support. We hope these disclosures will help to underscore the importance of support, assist in reducing the stigma of engaging in help seeking behaviors, and generally work to establish an ongoing meaningful conversation about men’s mental health.
Link to participate: Anonymous Mental Health Reflections
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Monitor for symptoms of COVID-19
All members of the campus community should monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 daily with the COVID Symptom Tracker. If you have symptoms, immediately get tested and quarantine. COVID-19 symptoms include: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea. COVID-19 Testing Information >>
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Virtual Care PackageUniversity Health Services’ Badger Virtual Care Package highlights ways to stay connected and healthy. Though it was made with people who are quarantined due to a positive COVID-19 test in mind, the resources listed here can be beneficial for anyone looking for some self-care ideas.
Mental Health Resources for Grad StudentsAccording to the 2019 Healthy Minds Survey, 93% of UW–Madison graduate students do not think any less of a peer who seeks mental health care, and 89% of UW–Madison graduate students who used mental health care found it helpful.
- UHS 24-hour Crisis Services. On-call crisis counselors can help address your most pressing concerns, address your safety, and help you connect with follow-up service needs. It’s available every day, including weekends, holidays, and semester breaks. Call the UHS crisis line at 608-265-5600. For situations that are immediately life-threatening, call 911.
- SilverCloud. This online, self-guided resource provides treatment options 24 hours a day through evidence-based modules on anxiety, depression, body image, and stress. SilverCloud is designed to help students manage day-to-day stresses and improve resilience.
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The Dean of Students Office provides resources to students struggling with a variety of issues, and can be your go-to spot for assistance as a graduate student. To contact the Graduate and Professional Student Assistance Specialist Elaine Goetz-Berman directly, email egoetz2@wisc.edu.
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Please note: Some graduate students may be ineligible to hold graduate assistantship appointments. Be sure to check with your graduate program coordinator about your eligibility before applying.
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Graduate students who have had a significant break in their education or who are single parents can apply for these scholarships from Adult Career & Special Student Services at UW–Madison. All applicants must demonstrate financial need and be US citizens, permanent residents, or eligible non-citizens as defined by FAFSA. All scholarships include a minimum enrollment requirement that varies by award.
Graduate Public Humanities Exchange Program
Applications accepted on a rolling basis
The Graduate Public Humanities Exchange (HEX) program funds innovative public humanities projects that forge partnerships between community organizations and graduate students. With up to $2,000 in funding, as well as mentorship from the UW–Madison Center for the Humanities, each HEX scholar builds a partnership with a community group that reflects both the partner's existing needs and the graduate student's research, interests, and expertise. Students can also apply to be a Humanities Responder through the HEX program to work on virtual projects that serve and bolster the current work of community organizations, non-profits, cultural institutions, and public agencies.
This competitive program is designed to support global health efforts of graduate students across campus, fostering a spirit of collaboration with local and global colleagues and communities. Graduate students are eligible for the Henry Anderson III Graduate Student Award in Environmental and Occupational Public Health and Graduate Student Research Awards. The Henry Anderson III Graduate Student Award in Environmental and Occupational Public Health supports graduate students interested in pursuing research in those topic areas. Grants awards are a minimum of $1,500 for one year. The Graduate Student Research Awards support doctoral students pursuing work in any relevant discipline whose graduate work will enhance global health activities on the UW-Madison campus and beyond. Grants of up to $3,000 each will be awarded. Visit the Global Health Institute website for more information.
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