Professional Development
January | February | March | April
January
Friday, January 18, 2:00 p.m.
Room 350, Bascom HallNew students are encouraged to attend the Graduate School’s orientation, which includes introductions to various resources and a diverse discussion panel of returning students who will offer advice on a wide range of topics useful to all graduate students.
Graduate Student Collaborative (GSC) & Multicultural Graduate Network (MGN) Spring Retreat
Saturday, January 26
1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
On Wisconsin Room, Red GymCome explore a variety of approaches for achieving balance in your life as a busy graduate student. Discover new ways to loosen up with relaxation and yoga techniques (no props needed), how reinvigorating self-expression can be, and look inward and forward with a guided labyrinth walk and reflection. Registration is required.
February
Taking the Terror Out of Public Speaking
Monday, February 11
Noon - 1:30 p.m.
Memorial Union (TITU)The first in a three-part series designed to help you improve your speaking skills, this workshop will increase your confidence, show you how to prepare yourself and your speech, and provide tips about how to effectively engage your audience. Registration is required.
Monday, February 11
4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Union South (TITU)Information will be provided on how to begin and organize the job search, build a network of contacts, and research employers and their opportunities. Participants will leave the workshop with a preliminary job search plan. Registration is required.
Securing Superior Letters of Recommendation
Tuesday, February 12
Noon - 1:00 p.m.
Memorial Union (TITU)Sharpen your competitive edge with tips and strategies for working with your recommenders for letters that connect your skills, strengths and experiences with specific applications. Registration is required.
Fostering a Productive Relationship with Your Advisor
Wednesday, February 13
Noon - 1:30 p.m.
Memorial UnionLearn how to optimize your relationship with your advisor, including strategies for effective communication, overcoming conflicts, and identifying more ways your advisor can help you. Facilitated by Chris Pfund, Associate Director, Delta Program. Registration is required.
Publishing Your Research Article
Wednesday, February 13
Arts and Humanities: 436 Memorial Union
Sciences and Social Sciences: 105 Steenbock
4:00 - 5:30 p.m.These concurrent workshops introduce library resources that will help you prepare your research article for publication, find an appropriate journal to which to submit it, and manage your rights when signing a contract with a publisher. Throughout your career, you’ll need to consider when and where to publish so that your work is disseminated broadly and how to maintain certain intellectual property rights. Join your colleagues to share your ideas and discuss the issues you face as an emerging academic author. Much of the content is discipline-specific, so be sure to select the appropriate workshop for your needs. Registration is required.
Thursday, February 14
4:00 - 5:30
Memorial Union (TITU)This panel is led by students from a variety of departments who have successfully secured funding to finance various projects, research, and academic expenses. Learn about various resources for identifying potential funding sources and application tips. Registration is required.
Relaxation Strategies for Graduate Students
Friday, February 15
Noon - 1:00 p.m.
Union South (TITU)University Health Services counselor Rob Sepich offers advice and simple but powerful strategies to help you focus better, reduce and manage stress, and regain energy. Registration is required.
Securing Academic Positions: Planning, Preparation, and Interviewing for Success
Wednesday, February 20
5:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Pyle Center
Registration RequiredWhat type of academic position would you like to have after completing your degree? Do you want to teach, do research, develop and conduct outreach programs, or a little of each? What kinds of institutions best fit your interests? What are the expectations for applicants at different kinds of institutions? What should you know before applying and interviewing for positions? What type of meetings might occur during the interview process and what “unexpected events” should you expect during an interview?
This workshop will be interactive with students and faculty from Michigan State University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison and will focus on how to interpret academic job announcements at a variety of institutions, how to prepare for interviews given the expectations at different types of institutions, and applying interviewing skills for success. Workshop participants will have the opportunity to decipher job ads, discuss what your itinerary might be when interviewing for a position, and participate in mock interviews for positions in the sciences, technology, engineering, or mathematics at two- and four-year institutions. Participants will interact with workshop facilitators (i.e., interview panel members) to discuss the strengths of candidates, what to do and what not to do in various types of interviews, what to do to make your application more competitive, and how to respond to the “unexpected” events that occasionally crop up during interviews.
Sponsored by the Michigan State University Graduate School, the University of Wisconsin-Madison Graduate School, and the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL).
Completion of the Ph.D.: Step-by-Step Guidance from the Graduate School
Tuesday, February 26
Noon - 1:00 p.m.
Union South (TITU)Learn the step-by-step program to make completing your degree easier. Discover tips and etiquette to work effectively with committees, faculty and staff in your department, and staff in the Graduate School. Discover an appropriate timeline for you to get things done and take charge of your degree. Presenter: Elena Hsiao-ching Hsu, Ph.D., Degree Coordinator, Graduate School. Registration is required.
Identifying Transferable Skills for Careers Outside the Academy
Wednesday, February 27
Noon - 1:00 p.m.
Room 350, Bascom HallAs you earn your graduate degree, you develop many skills that are valuable in myriad careers. Through individual exercises and group-based activities you will identify the abilities you possess that are transferable to non-academic settings. Information on how to best present your skills to potential employers will be provided. Registration is required.
March
Launching Your Career with a Postdoctoral Position
Tuesday, March 4
5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Room 260, Bascom HallAttend this panel discussion to learn how a postdoctoral position in academia, industry, or government can kick-start your career path. Find out if a postdoc could be the right choice for you. Registration is required.
Monday, March 10
4:30 - 6:00 p.m.
Union South (TITU)Jeff Ebel, from Toastmasters International, will offer advice on how to organize an effective speech by offering tips on how to write a captivating introduction, focus on main points, and make an impactful conclusion. Registration is required.
Networking: The Swiss Army Knife of Career Planning
Wednesday, March 26
Noon - 1:30 p.m.
Room 260, Bascom HallGet an overview of the career development process, learn how networking can be used in each phase, and discover how to network effectively. Facilitated by Sheila Jensen, Career Advisor for L&S Career Services. Registration is required.
Family Matters: The Unique Challenges of Balancing Family and Academics
Wednesday, March 26
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Eagle Heights Community CenterThis student discussion panel, including partners, single parents, and co-parents, will offer perspectives on the unique challenges presented by the intersection of real life and the rigorous academic life of graduate students. Panelists will talk about their personal experiences and share the advice they’ve learned along the way and the resources that have made their lives easier. Pizza and complimentary childcare will be provided. Registration is required.
Sponsored by the Graduate Student Collaborative, Office of Outreach & Graduate Student Professional Development, Childcare and Family Resources, University Apartments.
Thursday, March 27
Noon - 1:30 p.m.
Union South (TITU)Gain advice on how to prepare for and answer questions in interviews and participate in small group practice interviews with peer feedback. Registration is required.
April
Extemporaneous Speaking and Body Language
Monday, April 14
Noon - 1:30
Memorial Union (TITU)Jeff Ebel, from Toastmasters International, will provide tips on being prepared for impromptu speaking and refining your speeches through effective body language. Registration is required.
First Impressions: Developing Resumes, CVs and Cover Letters
Tuesday, April 15
Noon - 1:00 p.m.
Room 260, Bascom HallSheila Jensen, Career Advisor for L&S Career Services, will offer advice about what to include in resumes, CVs and cover letters and how to tailor application materials to individual career opportunities. Registration is required.