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December 8, 2020In this issue: Winter Professional Development Challenge, backward planning, and more.
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| Congratulations, winter grads!
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Tips for Grads: Beginning with the End in Mind
Lack of structure can be a major challenge for graduate students, and the COVID environment has only exacerbated this common issue. If you find it difficult to get started and stay on track, it may help to first define your overarching goals. Identifying your desired results will help ensure that each step contributes to that outcome. Furthermore, working back from a “deadline” will allow you to prioritize your tasks and construct a timeline.
This method of placing your goals at the forefront is known as backward planning, sometimes called backward design or backward mapping. By keeping the big picture in mind, you will be less likely to fail to meet unfocused goals or to succumb to the distraction of everyday minutia. A roadmap is often used as an analogy—you must choose a destination before planning your route. Consider these basic steps when working backward:
- Identify your goal.
• For graduate students, perusing job postings related to your desired career can be a great place to start.
• Be as specific as possible during this process. Using the SMART format will help you articulate your goal in an effective way.
- List the steps needed to achieve the goal.
• Do not worry about the order of events at this point—simply brainstorm what needs to happen.
• Estimate the time and resources needed to complete each step on the list.
- Create a calendar or timeline.
• Now, begin assigning deadlines to each step.
• Identify the last step you must do before the completion of your goal and place that step on the calendar.
• Continue working backward and drop the rest of the steps into your calendar. You may need to move some things around, and this is an important part of the process.
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Seek support and advice.
• Run your plan by your mentors to receive feedback. They will help catch things you may have missed and connect you with useful resources.
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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Winter Professional Development PreviewAll event times and deadlines are listed in Central Standard Time (CST).
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This January the Graduate School is challenging students to invest in their personal and professional development. Participants will receive a curated schedule of activities to engage with and those who complete five activities will earn a limited-edition long sleeve shirt to show off their accomplishment!
Explore strategies to prepare to learn remotely, engage in your courses, and maximize your time.
Graduate Student Interest Groups
Take advantage of this great opportunity to meet graduate students from across campus. Topics and discussions are curated by group members, but a Graduate School staff member will facilitate the start of each session on Zoom. It will be up to the members to share strategies and seek advice from each other during each session.
This group will jump-start the Spring 2021 semester by exploring strategies for work-life integration and priority management.
Students in this group are preparing for prelims and will share preparation strategies and progress toward goals. Although exams can be very different across graduate programs, what we’ll likely have in common is a desire to be organized, reduce stress, and share accomplishments.
Find community among graduate students who are in various stages of job market preparation and share tips, tricks, and the journey with one another.
Work alongside other grad students in a virtual coffee shop setting. Choose to have your camera on or off as you sip your coffee or tea and take advantage of this great opportunity to work "next to" graduate students from across campus.
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Learn principles of project management and apply them to your own projects in this collaborative, virtual program.
If your accomplishments constantly feel like flukes, you may be suffering from the Impostor Syndrome. Luckily, there is a cure. Join speaker and author, Dr. Valerie Young, for an interactive presentation all about this common problem among graduate students.
Hear from graduate students about their groundbreaking research in a fun and engaging format, and vote for the People’s Choice Award winner at the first ever virtual 3MT® competition.
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Upcoming Professional Development EventsAll event times and deadlines are listed in Central Standard Time (CST).
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| Join Dr. Crystal M. Moten, curator of African American History in the Division of Work and Industry at the National Museum of American History and a UW-Madison alumna, as she shares her perspectives at two events on Tuesday, December 15.
As a panelist, Dr. Crystal M. Moten will focus on Beauty/cosmetics and her remarks will center on the museum's historic cosmetic collections; recent collections she has acquired as they related to women of color entrepreneurs in the cosmetics industry; and using makeup in the digital/virtual environment.
Join Dr. Crystal M. Moten from the National Museum of American History as she shares how they have pivoted and responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and recommitted to racial justice.
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- Python
- Photoshop 1
- Javascript 1
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Special Events & Symposia
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| Stay up to date on campus spaces, library services over finals week
As fall semester comes to a close, stay updated on which campus spaces and services are available to continue supporting you. The Campus Operations webpage is a good round-up of building hours for the Red Gym, Libraries, recreation centers, Unions, Student Activity Center, and more. If you need a space with high-speed internet to study or take a final exam, look at the campus Study & Exam Spaces page. You can reserve some spaces in advance, while others may be available for drop-in. In addition, the UW Libraries continue to offer robust online and virtual services, as well as Library by Appointment service for computer lab use, in-person collection access, printers/scanners, and materials pickup by appointment.
Before you travel: A reminder about international telecommuting
Graduate students with assistantship appointments or fellowships who are considering international travel during winter break are advised to discuss their plans with their faculty advisor in advance and review guidance on international teleworking. Graduate students with assistantship appointments need to make every effort to return to campus or telecommute from within the U.S. Individuals who cannot return to the campus or the U.S. due to immigration issues may be permitted to telecommute internationally under certain circumstances. Individual graduate students need to work closely with their admitting graduate program and that program’s Human Resources office. International telecommuting is prohibited from countries deemed to pose the highest risk associated with export control: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and the Republic of Sudan. This guidance applies to international graduate students with research (RA), teaching (TA), and project (PA) assistantships as well as fellowships.
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Help prevent the spread of COVID-19
With your help, we can help limit the spread of the disease by following campus, local, state and federal guidelines for COVID-19. This includes maintaining at least six feet of distance from people you don’t live with, wearing face coverings, and getting tested for the virus if you have symptoms or have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19. 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.
- YOU@WISC. This portal has tools and information to help you be well, with modules on stress management, self-care, social support, suicidal thoughts, mindfulness, academic wellness, and more.
- Virtual Lets Talk. An informal, confidential consultation with a counselor to help gain insight, support, and information about other resources. Virtual meetings are available daily and registration is required a day before the session.
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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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The Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E) within the U.S. Department of Energy funds transformational energy technologies that are too early-stage for private investment. ARPA-E is seeking the next generation of scientific leaders to help identify potential breakthrough energy technologies. The ARPA-E Fellows Program is a two-year, paid experience. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen and either possess a doctoral degree or plan to graduate from a doctoral program in science or engineering within the next year. Prior experience in energy and/or commercialization is not necessary.
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