|
|
|
December 21, 2021In this issue: Be proud of yourself, register for Welcome Back Week, and more.
| |
Editor’s note: This is the last issue of GradConnections Weekly for the year. We’ll be back on Jan. 11. Have a safe and happy New Year!
| |
|
Tips for Grads: Be proud.
Take a second and do something for me. Grab a piece of paper and writing utensil or pull up a blank document on your computer. We’re going to do a quick exercise in celebration of the end of the semester:
- List three academic things you did this semester that you’re proud of. These don’t all have to be headliners, like “published research” or “was awarded x grant”. They can be simple, like, “I actually started using Zotero”, or “I finally figured out the most effective notetaking strategy for me”. Be sure to give yourself proper credit for the bigger things, but the things that don’t necessarily make it onto your CV are still things to be proud of
- List three non-academic things you did this semester that you’re proud of. Sometimes it’s hard to remember that we are more than our academic accomplishments, or that it is important to be just as proud of what we do outside of academia as of what we do within. For example, I am very proud that I actually kept up with my laundry this semester, that I got six new plants out of propagating my tradescantia zebrina, and that I finally perfected my favorite soup recipe. You may include things like “didn’t stress adopt a cat”, or “stress adopted a cat, and I love her”.
- If you taught or mentored this semester, list three things that your students or a student did this semester that you’re proud of. Teaching and mentoring can be hard, and it is incredibly easy to be discouraged if you feel like you didn’t get through to or inspire every single student. But it’s valuable to remember that impacting the life of one student is not nothing. It is something big. Come up with three things that resulted from your teaching this semester that made you proud or happy, and if you’re feeling up to it, email the student or students involved and let them know you’re proud of them for whatever it was. Undergrads are in finals too, and they need a boost as much as we do!
- List three things, academic or otherwise, that you didn’t get to do this semester. This one may sound like a huge bummer, but the fact that you didn’t do these things does not make you a failure, and it does not mean you won’t do them in the future. (Spoiler alert, I did not actually start using Zotero this semester, that one is on my list.) In the past, I found that making my “I’m proud of me for…” lists wasn’t all that effective because all I did was read between the lines to focus on what I didn’t do. Acknowledging that what we didn’t do does not undo what we did. Putting everything side by side paints a more honest picture and makes it easier to actually and truly be proud of yourself.
You might be saying, “Olivia, it is way too soon for this, classes are over but finals most certainly are not. I can’t stop now to look back; I have to push through to the end!” I understand that, but I’m asking you to consider giving this exercise a try because remembering how far you’ve come may give you the boost you need to finish strong! But, if you find you don’t have the time to do this now, it’s a good exercise to have in your back pocket for when you’re doubting yourself, no matter the time of year.
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.
| |
|
DiscoverPD is an innovative tool for UW–Madison graduate students to advance their academic and professional goals. Review the eight facets of professional development, complete a self-assessment, and get a customized report and recommendations.
| |
|
Upcoming Professional Development EventsAll event times and deadlines are listed in Central Time.
| |
Winter Welcome Back Week
Save the date and register now for these upcoming events:
| |
This session will focus on utilizing visioning and intentional professional development plans to craft your career path. Dr. Christina Olstad, UW-Madison Dean of Students, will facilitate the interactive session and participants will take away tangible resources to assist them with their career path planning. Lunch will be provided.
This session will explore the definition of ableism and how it has been institutionalized in higher education. Attendees will learn about the different forms of ableism that exist on college campuses and how this affects disabled students, staff, and faculty. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in discussion and ask questions related to able-bodied privilege. Finally, attendees will also discuss actionable steps to address ableism. This is an introductory level session aimed at graduate students, but staff and postdocs are also welcome. Presenters include Mari Magler, Director of the McBurney Disability Resource Center; Patty Cisneros Prevo, two-time Paralympic gold medalist and Student Life Manager for Diversity and Inclusion at the Wisconsin School of Business; and Amy Van Aarten, graduate student in public health and organic chemistry. Lunch will be provided at 12:15 pm after the presentation.
In a survey of UW–Madison graduate students, a large percentage rated work-life balance as one of the most important factors when deciding on their future career paths. But what about during graduate school? How can graduate students achieve healthy and satisfying work-life balance? In this workshop, we will explore what work-life integration can look like with campus wellness experts. A panel of experienced graduate students will share their experiences navigating diverse commitments and offer advice and peer-to-peer support. Light refreshments will be provided.
Project management is a set of skills that can be applied in academic, non-profit, laboratory, business, and many other settings. Learn principles of project management and apply them to your own project in this collaborative, day-long program. You will think creatively, define a problem, establish project goals, create a plan, and prepare for implementation. Since no project runs perfectly, the program will also address how project leaders manage change and other common challenges. You will leave better prepared to lead a team and deliver results. Students will also hear from a panel of successful project managers. Lunch will be provided, with vegetarian and gluten free options.
Join an Aurora Cohort - Career Assistance for Graduate Students
Starting January 2022, Aurora by Beyond the Professoriate is hosting “cohorts”, monthly group webinars, to help graduate students and PhDs navigate the professional job search and career transition. Join these cohorts to get access to Beyond the Professoriate’s foundational course for career transition and learn how to translate the lessons from this course into practice in your own job search. Register for January cohorts!
| |
|
On-demand professional development resources from the Graduate School:
DiscoverPDDiscoverPD helps master’s and doctoral students at UW–Madison advance their academic and professional goals. Use the Individual Development Plan (IDP) to reflect, plan, and discuss in order to achieve your academic and professional goals.
Alumni Career Paths
UW–Madison alumni go on to a variety of successful careers. In these career profiles, alumni share their career paths advice for current graduate students interested in the same field of work.
Aurora by Beyond the Professoriate
Aurora empowers PhD students to make informed decisions about their career path and learn successful job search strategies from other PhDs. Aurora provides resources to help you navigate the faculty job market, and/or explore professional careers beyond the professoriate.
Handshake
Handshake is UW–Madison’s career-focused platform. You can browse career fairs, explore jobs and internships nationwide, and get recommendations based on your interests.
ImaginePhD
ImaginePhD is a free online career exploration and planning tool for graduate students in the humanities and social sciences.
National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (NCFDD)
NCFDD is an independent professional development, training, and mentoring community for faculty members, postdocs, and graduate students. It provides online career development and mentoring resources in a ready-to-access format that you can view anytime.
| |
| Teaching at UW: Pre-Semester Course Preparation Workshops
| |
| Share Your Research CompetitionThe Share Your Research (SYR) Competition provides focused, personalized science communication training and mentorship for scientists from all early career stages. SYR participants will hone their scientific presentations and record a video of their talk with the help of iBiology’s professional science communication trainers, videographers and editors. Beyond improving your own science communication skills, you will develop a toolkit for guiding others in sharing their research. This virtual professional development opportunity will be offered to eight winners. Apply by 1/15.
Library Micro-Courses
Online, on-demand
These short, non-graded online courses are a great introduction to various topics in graduate research. Micro-course topics include:
| |
|
Special Events & Symposia
| |
|
Construction to affect traffic and pedestrian routes near Charter St. and Lathrop Dr.
Construction related to the Bascom-Lathrop utility project will impact motor vehicle, public transit, bicycle, and pedestrian routes on and around Charter Street and Lathrop Drive. See the full announcement for any impact to your daily route.
Self-nominate for the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society
The Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society recognizes outstanding scholarly achievement and promotes diversity and excellence in doctoral education and the professoriate. The Bouchet Society seeks to develop a network of preeminent scholars who exemplify academic and personal excellence, foster environments of support, and serve as examples of scholarship, leadership, character, service, and advocacy for students who have been traditionally underrepresented in the academy. All PhD students who reach dissertator status before January 25, 2022, and postdoctoral researchers are eligible to nominate themselves for consideration as 2022 inductees. To nominate yourself, please see the nomination materials section on the Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society webpage. Nominations, including letters of recommendation, are due to bouchet@grad.wisc.edu by January 31, 2022.
| |
|
Protect yourself and others from COVID-19
All students, employees, and visitors to campus are required to wear masks when inside campus buildings, unless working alone inside an office or lab with the door closed or while actively eating and drinking. Employees and students who have not shared proof of COVID-19 vaccination with UHS are required to test weekly on campus. University Health Services continues to offer free COVID-19 vaccines to all students and employees. For more information, see the COVID-19 Response FAQs.
| |
UHS services available remotelyUniversity Health Services is committed to supporting you. Many medical, counseling, and wellness services are available by phone and accessible online. Find out more on the UHS Remote Health and Connection webpage.
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.
- Let’s Talk. Sign up for a free, informal, and confidential consultation about any topic at locations across campus. Common concerns include stress, sadness, relationships, academic performance, financial struggles, and family problems.
- 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.
- Healthy Minds Program app. Train your mind to be more focused, calm, and resilient through meditation with the Healthy Minds Program. This program is informed by research from the Center for Healthy Minds at UW–Madison and is free to use.
| |
| Graduate Student Support and Assistance
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.
| |
|
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.
| |
|
The Virginia Horne Henry Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowship was established in 1998 by a bequest from the estate of Patrick Henry in honor of his wife, Virginia Horne Henry, a leader in the field of women’s physical education, including knowledge and appreciation of women’s movement, activity and the female body in culture. The primary purpose of the fund is to support and enhance the area of women’s engagement in physical activity. Preference will be given to students in the School of Education. A major criterion for selection will be the potential research contribution of the candidate(s) to the area of women’s physical education, movement, activity and the female body in culture.
This program is designed to identify exceptional graduate students in research areas aligned with INL's strategic agenda to enable the current and future mission of mission of the Department of Energy (DOE) and INL. This collaboration is designed to provide meaningful research, financial support, and mentorship throughout the fellow’s PhD program. Selected students will receive a salary of $60,000/year, plus tuition coverage from INL. Applicants are invited to apply online through job posting numbers 16803 (for applicants in the fields of Nuclear Energy and Clean Energy Development) and 16806 (for applicants in National & Homeland Security)
The Center for the Humanities invites applications for two Mellon Public Humanities Fellowships designed to provide advanced graduate students in the humanities with experience outside of academia. By placing fellows in partner organizations around Madison including museums, hospitals, non-profits, community centers, and emerging businesses, the program facilitates the reciprocal sharing of resources and expertise, and highlights the significance of the humanities both on and off campus. The Center for Humanities aims not only to provide graduate students the opportunity to explore diverse career paths, but also to cultivate a practice of public humanities within their academic work.
| |
|
|
|
|
