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September 10, 2019In this issue: Tips for reading for class, Beyond the Tenure Track series, and more.
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Tips for Grads: Personal EffectivenessBy Kirby Livingston, PhD student
Whether you are just starting graduate school or you’re nearing graduation, you may be feeling overwhelmed by the amount and density of reading you are expected to do for classes or research. With the many roles and responsibilities of graduate students, it can be easy to let reading take a back seat to commitments that feel more pressing. Rather than letting your reading fall through the cracks, follow these tips to increase your efficiency and information retention:
- Read as much of each article or book as you need to identify:
a. The central research question
b. The data/methods used to answer the question
c. The central argument or answer
d. Any limitations to the piece
e. How you would cite the article/book/chapter in your work
- Draw connections between each reading and others, especially if they’re from the same author or subfield. Does the study:
a. Support, explain, clarify, or challenge what’s been said before?
b. Develop a new theoretical model?
c. Use a new method or study a new case/population?
- Identify which books, articles, or chapters to read in full. These will include those that speak directly to your research interests and projects you’re planning or working on.
- Choose a citation manager, which is a tool for storing digital copies of readings and easily producing citations for your writing. Some popular options include Zotero, Mendeley, and EndNote. Put your readings into the citation manager, use it to take notes, and to organize readings by subfield, method, and argument.
- Remember that using this reading method or other alternative reading methods is common among academics, and you shouldn’t feel like you need to read every article or book in its entirety.
When the work starts to pile up this semester, remember that the solution isn’t to simply skim or skip your readings. Approach your reading like research – with a set of questions to answer and a clear set of strategies to utilize.
This edition of Tips for Grads is adapted from Beyond the Abstract: Reading for Meaning in Academia by Jessica Calarco.
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 Events
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Do you struggle to share your writing at early stages because it’s not perfect? Do you find yourself devastated by criticism of your work? If any of these things sound familiar, congratulations! You’re a perfectly normal perfectionist! This webinar will explain the causes and consequences of perfectionism, features of academic life that may exacerbate it, strategies to identify perfectionism, and the secret to finding real satisfaction in every step of the writing process.
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During this session, participants will explore the career landscape for PhD graduates, highlighting the myriad of employment opportunities across business, government, non-profit and non-tenure track academic jobs. Students will reflect on their interests, skills, and talents and how to connect them with a job that aligns with their values. Participants will learn about the importance of identifying mentors in potential career fields, and a panel of PhDs in diverse professions will share top tips for preparing for careers beyond the tenure track. This session will be useful for students who want to get a better sense of their career options, as well as reassurance that support is available as they consider job opportunities across sectors. Lunch will be served with gluten-free & vegetarian options.
This session will explore ways to make the most of your time in graduate school to prepare for a career beyond the tenure track. With experience working in business, government, non-profit, and non-tenure track academic jobs, the presenter will offer advice on the skills, opportunities, and questions to ask yourself when searching for a career that aligns with your values. From business terminology to lifestyle considerations, learn insider tips to help you land your non-tenure-track career. This presentation will be useful for students who want to frame their expertise and work experiences in ways that translate across job sectors. Lunch will be served with gluten-free & vegetarian options.
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| This week's Software Training for Students (STS) courses:
- Illustrator 1
- Illustrator 2
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Special Events & Symposia
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TA and PA employment policy grievance procedure available online
The grievance section of the Graduate Assistant Policies and Procedures (GAPP) document has been finalized and is now available on the Office of Human Resources website. It outlines a process for graduate student teaching and project assistants to address alleged violations of GAPP, which was published last spring and provides formal guidance, clarity, and transparency on employment-related matters for TAs, PAs, and their supervisors. The GAPP document came out of a two-year collaborative process involving a workgroup of graduate students, faculty, staff, and administration. The group designated the past summer to focus on and complete the grievance procedure. The Office of Human Resources, in collaboration with other campus stakeholders, is reviewing research assistantship policy language with consideration of the nature of these appointments and requirements of extramural grant sponsors. Now open: Student Food Pantry (The Open Seat)
The Open Seat, a student food pantry for all UW –Madison students located at 333 E. Campus Mall in room 4209, is now open. The hours this semester are Sunday, 2:30 - 5 pm, Tuesday, 5 - 8 pm, and Thursdays, 5:30 - 7:30 pm. Visit the Open Seat website for more information. Enroll in MFA-Duo to “Prove it’s You!”
UW–Madison started rolling out multi-factor authentication from Duo Security (MFA-Duo) to students beginning Sept 9. This additional step to your NetID login helps to prevent unauthorized access to your online identity. Enroll early to get used to authenticating. Once you register a device, you will be required to use MFA-Duo. Learn more at “Prove it’s You!” with Multi-factor Authentication. Campus bus forums scheduled for proposes 2020-21 service changes
All UW-Madison employees, students, and interested community members are invited to attend informational forums about proposed changes to the campus bus service (Routes 80, 81, 82, and 84). Proposed changes are intended to help reduce crowding, improve on-time performance, and improve ADA access. Any changes to campus bus service will not go in effect until September 1, 2020. Three open sessions are scheduled beginning Sept. 16. An additional session only open to Eagle Heights residents is scheduled for Sept. 25. Session dates and times are available on the Transportation Services website. Build and take your product to the market with Discovery to Product programs UW–Madison’s Discovery to Product (D2P) is accepting applications for two summer programs that help campus innovators bring their ideas for groundbreaking products and services to the marketplace, Innovation to Market (I2M) and Igniter. Both programs are free and open to UW–Madison faculty, staff, and students. The Innovation to Market (I2M) program is a 5-week course starting Oct. 9. The Igniter program is an intensive, 8-week course starting Oct. 8. Applications are due for both programs on Thursday, Sept. 19.
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Mental Health Resources for Grad Students
Let’s Talk. If you’re on-campus, Let’s Talk provides free, informal, and confidential consultations at locations across campus. Drop in to talk to a counselor about any topic – stress, sadness, relationships, academic performance, financial struggles, and family problems are common topics. Counselors can help you explore solutions from their perspective, or, if you’re interested, introduce you to what it’s like to talk to a counselor more regularly.
Individual Counseling. University Health Services (UHS) offers individual counseling in a confidential, caring space. Individual sessions are typically 45-50 minutes, and most students attend anywhere from one to four sessions to address their concerns. Counseling topics can be any issue that causes distress – emotional, psychological, interpersonal, or academic, for instance. UHS also has a bilingual mental health provider for students who are more comfortable speaking in Mandarin.
24-hour Crisis Services. UHS provides a 24-hour mental health crisis help line. 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. If you are concerned for your own well-being or the well-being of someone you know, call the UHS crisis line at 608-265-5600. For situations that are immediately life-threatening, call 911.
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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 Dean of Students Office's Graduate 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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The Dr. J. Abiodun Elegbede Cancer Research Award was established through the generosity of Elegbede family in honor of the late Dr. J. Abiodum Elegbede. Enrolled graduate students traveling to present cancer-related research at a conference (domestically or internationally) between Jan. 1, 2020 and Dec. 31, 2020 are eligible to apply. Applicants will need to submit a preliminary draft of their abstract and a PI/mentor will need to email a recommendation to be eligible for the $1,500 award.
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Follow us on social media to connect with more opportunities and resources:
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