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May 3, 2022In this issue: Giving constructive feedback, mental health resources, and more.
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Tips for Grads: Giving constructive feedback
The end of the semester is a big time for giving and getting feedback. Whether it’s through grading, presentation preparation, group work, or bouncing ideas off of your fellow graduate students, it’s an opportunity we are often given in graduate school to help others succeed. But it can be intimidating to figure out how best to give feedback in a way that feels truly helpful to the other person. Here are some tips for giving the most helpful and constructive feedback:
- Think about it: If you can, take the time to fully articulate your thoughts to yourself before offering them to the other person. Off-the-cuff feedback isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but taking a moment to digest what you’re being asked to look at will make your feedback stronger and better contextualized for the person you’re talking or writing to. Just be sure to still give the person that feedback in a timely manner!
- Balance it: Some people like the “sandwich method”, meaning you give positive feedback, a criticism or concern, and then wrap it up with another positive. Personally, I prefer the even distribution of a 1:1 positive and constructive feedback combination. That allows you to be as honest as you need to while staying as genuine as you can about what you liked and didn’t like, all while being considerate and supportive of the other person.
- Support it: When giving feedback on how someone did on a paper, project, or presentation, it’s most helpful to be specific as possible. Cite examples from their work whenever you can so they’ll be able to apply your feedback in the areas you’re actually talking about, making the most out of the time you spent on it. General thoughts are nice and a great way to get things going, but the more you can link your feedback to exact parts of the other person’s work, the more likely they are to understand what you’re saying and to see where they can improve on their work in the future.
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.
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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.
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Upcoming Professional Development EventsAll event times and deadlines are listed in Central Time.
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82% of hiring managers prefer to hire people with direct industry experience. So what do you do if you don’t have any linear work experience? You make sure you have an effective job search strategy. Join Beyond Graduate School Founder L. Maren Wood, PhD, for this webinar on how to apply for jobs as a Master’s student when you don’t have any work experience.
Beyond Prof’s online career conference is for you if you want to learn: About nonacademic career opportunities for PhDs and explore your options; How to leverage your education and launch a nonacademic job search with confidence; What it takes to build a successful nonacademic career as a PhD.
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Research Mentor Training
5-week course with multiple sections available for Summer 2022
In-person and online sections available
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Special Events & Symposia
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Rainbow Graduation
Thursday, May 12 | 5:30 - 7 pm
Wisconsin Institute for Discovery and Online | Register by Monday, May 9
The UW–Madison chapter of Graduate Women in Science (GWIS) is pleased to invite abstract submissions for a 10-minute quick talk or poster abstracts at the Graduate Women in Science National Conference. They welcome abstract submissions, research or expository, from any field. Please note that you must register for the conference by May 12 to present a poster or give a talk. You will be notified by GWIS by May 26 of acceptance. Please contact madison@gwis.org with any questions.
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Enrollment deadlines
- Friday, May 6 - Deadline for Graduate students to withdraw from the spring term
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Monitor yourself for symptoms of COVID-19
It remains important to monitor yourself daily for COVID-19 symptoms. If you develop symptoms, stay home and get tested. At-home antigen tests are available for pickup at no cost on campus and PCR tests are available by appointment in MyUHS.
Given the current state of the pandemic, mandatory, on-campus testing of unvaccinated individuals – employees and students – is paused effective April 4, 2022.
UHS services available remotely
University 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 Students
According 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.
- 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.
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| 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.
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| Hostile and Intimidating Behavior
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is committed to preventing hostile and intimidating behavior (HIB) and will take prompt and appropriate corrective action whenever it learns that it has occurred. If you have experienced HIB, there are resources to help and staff available to talk.
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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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Tia (left) and Cora (right) are feeling the stress of finals week. Don't worry, friends – you're going to do great! Tia reminds Libby Brungardt (Chemical and Biological Engineering) of the importance of eating greens (green tortilla chips totally count), while Cora helps Karly Cody (Neuroscience Training Program) reach that page limit.
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