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May 14, 2019In this issue: Communication Tips for Grads series, Teaching Academy nominations, and more.
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Tips for Grads: Communication
By Kirby Livingston, PhD student Communication skills are critical for all graduate students. Regardless of your program or degree goals you will likely have to present thoughts and ideas to a variety of audiences, write reports on your work, and build professional relationships. Job postings across fields commonly request candidates with good communication skills, and developing and demonstrating these skills is important not only for seeking a job, but also for sustaining a successful and fulfilling career. With the abundance of resources on and off campus, graduate school is an excellent time to hone your communication skills. UW–Madison’s professional development framework, DiscoverPD, offers a self-assessment that will help you identify strengths and areas for improvement within the domain of communication, as well as providing resources to address your professional development needs. This summer, we will run a “Tips for Grads” Communication series, which will include topics like: - Using elements of storytelling to communicate your research
- Tailoring your media and message to a specific audience
- Specialized writing skills like grant writing and academic publishing
- Communicating with mentors
- Conflict resolution for graduate students and professionals
- Intercultural communication for collaboration
Keep an eye out for our bi-weekly edition of GradConnections for information and resources to help you develop your communication skills. Also, if you have advice or tips for other UW grad students about communication or another professional development topic, you’re invited to write a guest column for “Tips for Grads.” If selected, your column could be featured in GradConnections this summer or fall, and you will be credited with a byline. If you are interested, check out this infographic for more information 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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| In this workshop designed for the nonnative English-speaker, participants work on telling their research or scholarship story to discipline-specific and general audiences with a focus on universal cultural relevance, delivery strategies, and pronunciation tips. The workshop is led by applied linguists from language connectED, who are highly trained in the ways that language choice and cultural differences impact communication. This event will be useful for job interviews, networking, conference presentations, and building confidence. Due to overwhelming interest in this event, we have opened a wait list, please sign up for the wait list if you are still interested in this event.
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Coming this fall: higher stipends for TAs, new policy document for TAs and PAsThe minimum stipend for teaching assistants will increase by 8.99% for the 2019-20 academic year. This marks six consecutive years of increases for TAs, with stipends up 42% since 2013-14, and places UW–Madison above the estimated AAU peer median. The increase reflects the university’s continued investment in graduate assistantships. Additionally, the new Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures (GAPP) document, available now, provides formal guidance, clarity, and transparency on employment-related matters for TAs, PAs, and their supervisors. GAPP formalizes practices that are already established at UW–Madison such as appointment letters, probationary periods, job orientation and training, performance evaluations, leave benefits. We are continuing to work with graduate assistants to develop and improve workplace policies and procedures. Research assistantship policy will be added later, after further consideration of the nature of these appointments and requirements of extramural grant sponsors. Apply or Nominate for the UW-Madison Teaching Academy
The UW-Madison Teaching Academy is seeking applications and nominations for new Future Faculty Partners (FFP). Nominees should be outstanding graduate students actively involved in teaching on this campus who advance teaching and learning at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Membership in the Teaching Academy is an honor bestowed on individuals who have demonstrated teaching excellence and are committed to advancing the mission of the Academy. Please consider self-nominating or nominating colleagues that meet the following criteria: minimum of three semesters of teaching experience, demonstrate service or leadership in education at UW–Madison, and willingness to be an active participant in the Teaching Academy. To apply, visit the Teaching Academy website.
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Play at the Madison ParksKeep up-to-date with events in the Madison community and check out the City of Madison website for events and activities to participate in around Madison. Some examples of activities happening this summer: learn to play pickleball, free golf instruction on Saturdays, bird and nature outings and more! Mental Health Resources for Grad StudentsAccording to the 2016 UW–Madison Healthy Minds Study, 94% of UW–Madison students do not think any less of a peer who seeks mental health care, and 90% of students who used mental health care found it helpful. As a student, there are a variety of mental health resources available to you at no cost. A few of these resources are listed here. 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.
Group Counseling for Graduate Students. UHS offers support/theme groups for graduate students, including groups for all graduate students, groups for dissertators, groups for graduate women, and groups for graduate students of color. This supportive environment is a great way to share experiences around the challenges of grad school with other grad students.
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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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| Student Research Grants Competition
Applications reviewed on a rolling basis
Have you been invited to present at a conference or do you need travel funds to conduct research towards your dissertation? The Graduate School’s Student Research Grants Competition (SRGC) is accepting applications for both conference and research travel support for the current academic year. Awards of up to $1,500 are available to all eligible UW–Madison graduate students in programs supported by the Graduate School. Award levels vary depending on the demonstrated need. Funds may be applied retroactively, so even if you have already completed your research or conference travel, you may be eligible to apply.
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Follow us on social media to connect with more opportunities and resources:
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