SERIES GOALS

The purpose of this series is to increase graduate students’ access to career planning expertise at the program level by building basic career development knowledge and referral skills in graduate program coordinators/managers. The intent is not to train graduate program coordinators/managers as career services professionals; rather, through active participation graduate program coordinators/managers will build knowledge and skills that allow them to have career-related conversations and provide referrals for graduate students considering careers outside of the academy. This series is optional for graduate program coordinators/managers.

WORKSHOPS

An Overview of International Graduate Students’ Career Journeys in the United States

Thursday, June 22

Presenters: Colleen Hutchison, Associate Director for Advising, International Student Services (ISS); Xin Cui-Dowling, Graduate Program Manager in the Department of Mathematics, Member of the International Student Career Development committee

This session provided an overview of the career development journey of international graduate students, from work opportunities upon arrival in the U.S. through completion of Optional Practical Training (OPT). The presenters walked audiences through all of the employment options, work authorizations, and common work visa types, and provided strategies for advising international graduate students on career-related decisions. 

Video and slides are available.

Quilters of Our Own Lives: A Holistic Approach to Career Decisions and Life Planning

Thursday, July 27
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Signe Skott Cooper Hall, Room ​​1321 (Next to Revive Coffee Shop)
Light breakfast items, coffee, and tea offered at 8:30 a.m.

Presenter: Judy Ettinger, Continuing Education Instructor, Department of Counseling Psychology 

The Integrative Life Planning model (authored by Sunny Hansen) is a framework that supports individuals as they examine various aspects of their career decisions. This is a holistic approach that is built upon the metaphor of a quilt. The pieces of the quilt are life tasks that reflect ourselves and our priorities that factor into decision-making. The framework is less linear and more comprehensive than the traditional approach to making decisions about work. These tasks include:

• finding work that needs doing within changing global contexts
• attending to our health (physical, mental, and emotional)
• connecting family and work
• valuing pluralism and inclusivity
• exploring one’s life purpose
• managing personal transitions and organizational change

Those who attend this training will:

• learn about the model
• study several of the model’s life tasks in detail
• understand how these pieces and priorities can come together by practicing an interview protocol that was designed to support this model

Registration is required: https://bit.ly/quilters2023_registration 

Designing Your Life Summer Book Club

Tuesdays July 11, July 18, August 1, August 8
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Genetics-Biotechnology Center Building, Room 1360 
Please feel free to bring your lunch. The Graduate School will provide lemonade and dessert. 

Facilitator: Martha Reck, Graduate Program Manager in Genetics

Join fellow Graduate Program Coordinators/Managers to discuss Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived Joyful Life. The book, originating from the work of the Design Program at Stanford University, has been used as a guide to develop career planning resources for graduate students of all disciplines at other institutions. Discussion, facilitated by Martha Reck, Graduate Program Manager in Genetics, will take place in four one-hour sessions and will focus on themes from the book and how lessons learned can be used to support graduate student career development in our programs and units. We will also learn about ourselves and our own career development!

Space is limited and participants should plan to attend all four sessions. Books will be supplied by the Graduate School. Short videos and discussion questions will be disseminated before each session.

Registration for the book club has closed.

On-Demand Training

Looking to learn about graduate student career development at your own pace? Explore six key career planning and professional development resources for graduate students, offered through the Graduate School and our partners: 

• DiscoverPD
• ImaginePhD
• myIDP
• Beyond the Professoriate
• Beyond Graduate School
• National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity