Shut Up & Write Tuesdays
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Work Space
Writing alongside others is a best practice for academic writing! This weekly drop-in provides time and space to write while caffeinated - come late or leave early. We'll make the coffee; you do the writing.
Public Speaking For the Anxious and Not-So-Anxious
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
“There are only two types of speakers in the world: the nervous and the liars.”–Mark Twain. Speaking to an audience is important for your professional life, but that doesn’t mean we get a lot of training in it. Come learn the tips and tricks that will make you a more confident public speaker, convince your audience of your brilliance, and leave a lasting impression.
Resume Basics
- | Online with OPD!
Preparing for a job or internship search? This session will talk about the differences between a CV and a resume, help you understand how employers screen resumes, and provide tips for making yours stand out.
Teaching Difficult and Controversial Topics
- | Online with OPD!
Students come to our classes with a range of backgrounds, life experiences, ideologies, motivations, and aspirations. While this diverse student make-up has the potential for rich class discussions, it can also make both students and instructors nervous to approach difficult and potentially controversial topics. In this workshop, UMass grad student Tiarra Cooper will discuss preparing students for challenging conversations by introducing “whole brain living,” establishing trust and setting boundaries by way of community building, and cultivating skills that can be used to defuse a situation. Part of the Teaching Academy!
Grants & Fellowships: The First Two Years
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
Graduate students intending to pursue a PhD should develop their external funding plan as soon as possible. This session is designed for graduate students in the first two years of a research-based program to learn about early career funding opportunities and start drafting short- and long-term funding plans.
Emotional Intelligence and Empathetic Teaching as Tools for Inclusive Classroom Engagement
- | Online with OPD!
Are you struggling to build community in your classroom? You are not alone. Managing life post-pandemic is a challenge for both instructors and students. In this workshop, we will articulate what stressors impact students' lives and learn specific tools for creating an emotionally safe learning environment that fosters empathy, equity, and inclusion. Join UMass grad student Cielo Sharkus to learn how to use empathetic teaching and emotional intelligence as a tool to create resilient and compassionate learning environments. This workshop features evidence-based methods and real-world examples of conflict management and resolution. Part of the Teaching Academy!
Building a Mentoring Network
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
Research has shown that mentors play a vital role in future career success, but how do you know what mentors you even need? What are the differences between mentors, sponsors, and advisors? This session will help participants understand these roles and provide tips for building successful mentoring relationships.
Shut Up & Write Tuesdays
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Work Space
Writing alongside others is a best practice for academic writing! This weekly drop-in provides time and space to write while caffeinated - come late or leave early. We'll make the coffee; you do the writing.
Inviting Student Identities and Experiences into the Classroom
- | Online with OPD!
A core principle of an inclusive classroom is acknowledging that your students are whole people with rich identities and experiences. The goal then is to actually bring their diverse identities and experiences into the classroom to foster learning. The connections that students make between your class and important aspects of their lives actually help them learn course content better. Join UMass grad student Fatih Cetin to reflect on strategies to include not only personal experiences but also identities and special needs in the learning experience. Part of the Teaching Academy!
Grant Series Part I: Funding Search Strategies
- | 538 Goodell, Lounge
Need external funding to support your research? Get started by learning about basic tools available to UMass graduate students and postdocs to help find grants and fellowships. We’ll also discuss tips to manage your funding search.
Teaching an Unpopular Class
- | Online with OPD!
When something is required, not everyone is thrilled. Indeed, required courses (either in the major or gen-ed) are often met with resentment and negative feedback, or just a general lack of enthusiasm from many students. UMass grad student Rik Sengupta will offer tips to navigate the tricky world of teaching an unpopular class, and tuning out the feedback enough to be a caring and helpful instructor. Part of the Teaching Academy!
Developing Your Elevator Pitch
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
Whether your goal is to communicate the relevance of your work, recruit a potential collaborator, or impress a prospective employer, success hinges on your ability to articulate what you are doing and why it is worth doing. In this first session, participants will learn about elevator pitch structure and draft a baseline elevator pitch.
Know Your Funder
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
To write a good grant or fellowship application, you need to know your audience! This session will offer tips to help you get to know your funder, locate and understand the funder’s review criteria, and respond to those prompts in your application using the "show, don’t tell" approach to writing.
Setting SMART Goals
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
Setting the right goals can make life easier and you more productive! Learn how to apply the SMART goal framework to design realistic goals that are clearly defined and easier to complete.
Time Management Strategies
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
Strong time management skills are a requirement for success. If you struggle with time management—or if you don’t— learn how you can do more in less time. We will talk about systems and tips to increase your productivity and leave you more time to enjoy life.
Addressing Microaggressions in the Classroom
- | Online with OPD!
Whether conscious of it or not, instructors and students bring who they are to the learning environment, including their stereotypes and implicit biases. Such biases can emerge in the form of (micro)aggressions during class discussions, in student-student interactions during group or lab work, or in interactions between students and instructors. If left unaddressed, microaggressions negatively impact the learning climate and can hurt students’ academic progress. UMass grad student Cierra Abellera will offer an introduction to communication frameworks used in addressing microaggressions in university classes. You will learn how to identify some microaggressions and explore a few strategies that can help you effectively respond. Part of the Teaching Academy!
How to Grade Writing Without Completely Alienating Your Students
- | Online with OPD!
Many students struggle with the high stakes of writing assignments when grading feels so subjective. Join UMass grad student Jeremy Levine to talk about inclusively supporting writing development through feedback and grading. To do so, we’ll check our assumptions about what good writing is, refocus on our course’s learning goals, and learn strategies for giving feedback that will actually help students become better writers. Part of the Teaching Academy!
Grant Series Part II: Framing & Writing the Proposal
- | 538 Goodell, Lounge
A successful grant proposal requires good ideas that are organized well. This session will outline various application elements, provide tips to craft a clear, cohesive proposal, and discuss common reasons proposals fail.
Interview Strategies
- | Online with OPD!
The thought of interviewing can feel stressful when we don't know what to expect or how candidates will be evaluated. Whether interviewing in person or online, this session will offer a framework that can help reduce anxiety and boost confidence. If you are considering jobs outside academia or non-faculty positions inside academia, this session is for you.
How to Use Group Work to Increase Student Engagement
- | Online with OPD!
Dread group activities? Hate group projects? As an instructor or as a student, group work often inspires trepidation: unequal workload, quarrels, disappointing results, lack of communication, more work for the instructor... However, group work is essential in most careers. Join UMass grad student Brian Wermcrantz to learn to create a class environment to make group work thrive! This includes both in-class small group discussion activities, as well as group projects, papers, and presentations. We will share tips and best practices, and survey sample activities and projects. Part of the Teaching Academy!
Semester Writing Plan
- | Online with OPD!
This workshop explores practical strategies for setting manageable goals toward becoming a happier, healthier, and more productive writer. Whether you already feel overwhelmed with the writing you have to do or just want to set up a writing plan to tackle this semester, come develop a personalized writing management plan to start writing with healthier habits.
What’s It Like to Be a Teaching Assistant at UMass?
- | Online with OPD and CIRTL!
This short orientation session will introduce you to the role of being a teaching assistant at UMass, including supportive offices, logistical concerns, and the pedagogical approach that UMass values: inclusive, active classes that support all learners as they grapple with the intellectual challenges of our disciplines. The Graduate Employee Organization (GEO) will also join us at 3:45pm to welcome you and share how they can support your teaching. Come for tips on teaching and navigating the TA role! Part of the Teaching Academy!
Funding Proposals: Let's Write!
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
A funding application needs to include a description of your proposed research, but how do you know what’s most important to include? At this session we will outline four critical areas every grant proposal needs to address, with time to brainstorm and start writing. Join us to get your project description off to a strong start!
Setting and Holding Boundaries in Our Classrooms
- | Online with OPD!
Feeling burnt out or resentful of the labor of teaching? Feeling like your students might even be taking advantage of you? You might need clearer boundaries and expectations for your classroom! Join UMass grad student Sam Davis to learn how to establish boundaries that work for you and (as countless studies have shown) actually help your students learn! Part of the Teaching Academy!
What’s It Like to Be a Teaching Assistant at UMass?
- | Online with OPD and CIRTL!
This short orientation session will introduce you to the role of being a teaching assistant at UMass, including supportive offices, logistical concerns, and the pedagogical approach that UMass values: inclusive, active classes that support all learners as they grapple with the intellectual challenges of our disciplines. The Graduate Employee Organization (GEO) will also join us at 10:45am to welcome you and share how they can support your teaching. Come for tips on teaching and navigating the TA role! Part of the Teaching Academy!
Writing Competitive Personal Statements
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
What do fellowship reviewers want to learn from personal statements? How do personal statements differ from, and complement, research proposals? And what’s too personal? This session will help demystify the personal statement and provide tips for framing, writing, and revising a winning essay. Attendees have the option to stay for "Fellowship Personal Statements: Let's Write!" from 11:15am-12:15pm to get started on your personal statement draft.
Fellowship Personal Statements: Let's Write!
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
Are you planning to apply for a fellowship that requires a personal statement, but are stumped on where to begin? This is a common challenge! Students are often unsure about what to include in these short statements and are not used to writing about themselves. This session will offer several prompts, followed by time to brainstorm and start writing. Join us to get your fellowship personal statement off to a strong start! You are invited (but not required) to attend "Writing Competitive Personal Statements" which will be held immediately prior to this session (10-11am).
Succeeding as an International Teaching Assistant (Graduate Student Panel)
- | Campus Center, Room to be announced
What do American undergrads expect from you and your class? A panel of international graduate students will share their knowledge of UMass undergrad culture, their first-hand experiences teaching, and strategies for teaching success so that you can feel comfortable in the classroom! Please note that this session will not be repeated. Co-sponsored by OPD and IPO as part of the Teaching Academy and International Student Orientation (ISO)!
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Info Session
- | Online with OPD!
Advanced undergraduates and graduate students in their first or second year, who plan to pursue a graduate degree in STEM and social science disciplines, may be eligible to apply for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). Our panel will share tips for crafting compelling GRFP proposals, offer insight on what reviewers look for, and outline UMass resources to help you prepare your application. Check your eligibility on the GRFP website.
Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowship Info Session
- | Online with OPD!
The recently launched Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowship program aims to support students in the dissertation research development stage, before they have done much writing. Awards will be made to doctoral students in the humanities and social sciences who aim to conduct research with the promise of taking their field in an exciting new direction. This session will outline the new fellowship and provide tips on how to prepare an application. Check the Mellon/ACLS website for more information on eligibility.
Time Management Strategies
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
Strong time management skills are a requirement for success. If you struggle with time management—or if you don’t— learn how you can do more in less time. We will talk about systems and tips to increase your productivity and leave you more time to enjoy life.
What’s It Like to Be a Teaching Assistant at UMass?
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
This short orientation session will introduce you to the role of being a teaching assistant at UMass, including supportive offices, logistical concerns, and the pedagogical approach that UMass values: inclusive, active classes that support all learners as they grapple with the intellectual challenges of our disciplines. The Graduate Employee Organization (GEO) will also join us at 1:15pm to welcome you and share how they can support your teaching. Come for tips on teaching and navigating the TA role! Part of the Teaching Academy!
Grant Series Part I: Funding Search Strategies
- | Online with OPD!
Need external funding to support your research? Get started by learning about basic tools available to UMass graduate students and postdocs to help find grants and fellowships. We’ll also discuss tips to manage your funding search.
Making the Most Out of Your Reading (or How Not to Read Forever)
- | Online with OPD!
Are you overwhelmed by the list of things you have to read? Are you reading the right things? How do you know when you’ve read enough? To make your reading more efficient in the short and long term, we’ll break the reading process down into concrete steps that will help you organize both your time and your project.
Yes, Scholars are Using LinkedIn and You Should Too!
- | Online with OPD!
Are you missing out on jobs and internships? Searching in the right place is important, and so is letting companies find you! Learn how to use Linkedin and Handshake to find opportunities and set up a profile that will establish your reputation online.
Grants & Fellowships: The First Two Years
- | 538 Goodell, Lounge
Graduate students intending to pursue a PhD should develop their external funding plan as soon as possible. This session is designed for graduate students in the first two years of a research-based program to learn about early career funding opportunities and start drafting short- and long-term funding plans.
Teaching an Unpopular Class
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
When something is required, not everyone is thrilled. Indeed, required courses (either in the major or gen-ed) are often met with resentment and negative feedback, or just a general lack of enthusiasm from many students. UMass grad student Rik Sengupta will offer tips to navigate the tricky world of teaching an unpopular class, and tuning out the feedback enough to be a caring and helpful instructor. Part of the Teaching Academy!
Breakfast Reception for all Teaching Academy Participants!
- | 538 Goodell, Lounge
Drop in to celebrate the first week of class! Join us for coffee, tea, and pastries - and good conversation about teaching!
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Info Session
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
Advanced undergraduates and graduate students in their first or second year, who plan to pursue a graduate degree in STEM and social science disciplines, may be eligible to apply for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). Our panel will share tips for crafting compelling GRFP proposals, offer insight on what reviewers look for, and outline UMass resources to help you prepare your application. Check your eligibility on the GRFP website.
Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowship Info Session
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
The recently launched Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowship program aims to support students in the dissertation research development stage, before they have done much writing. Awards will be made to doctoral students in the humanities and social sciences who aim to conduct research with the promise of taking their field in an exciting new direction. This session will outline the new fellowship and provide tips on how to prepare an application. Check the Mellon/ACLS website for more information on eligibility.
Grant Series Part II: Framing & Writing the Proposal
- | 538 Goodell, Lounge
A successful grant proposal requires good ideas that are organized well. This session will outline various application elements, provide tips to craft a clear, cohesive proposal, and discuss common reasons proposals fail.
Academic Cover Letters
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
Applying for faculty jobs is stressful enough without all the little decisions that go into crafting the perfect cover letter: What do they want to know about me? Should I use letterhead? How much of the cover letter overlaps with my statements? Come to this workshop for an outline of cover letter expectations and get all your questions answered!
How to Grade Writing Without Completely Alienating Your Students
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
Many students struggle with the high stakes of writing assignments when grading feels so subjective. Join UMass grad student Jeremy Levine to talk about inclusively supporting writing development through feedback and grading. To do so, we’ll check our assumptions about what good writing is, refocus on our course’s learning goals, and learn strategies for giving feedback that will actually help students become better writers. Part of the Teaching Academy!
Work-Life Balance
- | 538 Goodell, Lounge
Academia is well-known for its high expectations, particularly when it comes to how many hours we work. How can we find a balance between our personal lives and the work we do? Finding that balance can lead to increased productivity and happiness. Come learn some tips to start on the right path.
Funding Proposals: Let's Write!
- | 538 Goodell, Lounge
A funding application needs to include a description of your proposed research, but how do you know what’s most important to include? At this session we will outline four critical areas every grant proposal needs to address, with time to brainstorm and start writing. Join us to get your project description off to a strong start!
Setting and Holding Boundaries in Our Classrooms
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
Feeling burnt out or resentful of the labor of teaching? Feeling like your students might even be taking advantage of you? You might need clearer boundaries and expectations for your classroom! Join UMass grad student Sam Davis to learn how to establish boundaries that work for you and (as countless studies have shown) actually help your students learn! Part of the Teaching Academy!
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Series: Personal, Previous Research & Future Goals Statement
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
Trained NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Mentors have organized this series to support students preparing NSF GRFP applications. Mentors, all NSF GRFP recipients, will lead sessions that focus on elements of a competitive application; this session will focus on crafting a compelling Personal, Previous Research & Future Goals Statement.
Teaching Difficult and Controversial Topics
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
Students come to our classes with a range of backgrounds, life experiences, ideologies, motivations, and aspirations. While this diverse student make-up has the potential for rich class discussions, it can also make both students and instructors nervous to approach difficult and potentially controversial topics. In this workshop, UMass grad student Tiarra Cooper will discuss preparing students for challenging conversations by introducing “whole brain living,” establishing trust and setting boundaries by way of community building, and cultivating skills that can be used to defuse a situation. Part of the Teaching Academy!
Writing Literature Reviews
- | Online with OPD!
Many dissertations, research proposals, and articles require a literature review, but many writers get stuck on this deceptively simple genre of scholarly writing. This session will demystify the lit review by discussing its purpose and strategies for critical reading and writing to make moving toward effective synthesis easier.
Feedback: What Am I Supposed to do With This?
- | Online with OPD!
Do you enjoy feedback and criticism? Probably not, but a huge part of graduate and postdoctoral training is accepting and learning from feedback. This session will help you shift from a defensive position to a growth mindset and develop strategies to manage the anxiety associated with good, bad, and even just plain wrong feedback.
Writing Competitive Personal Statements
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
What do fellowship reviewers want to learn from personal statements? How do personal statements differ from, and complement, research proposals? And what’s too personal? This session will help demystify the personal statement and provide tips for framing, writing, and revising a winning essay. Attendees have the option to stay for "Fellowship Personal Statements: Let's Write!" from 3:45-4:45pm to get started on your personal statement draft.
Fellowship Personal Statements: Let's Write!
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
Are you planning to apply for a fellowship that requires a personal statement, but are stumped on where to begin? This is a common challenge! Students are often unsure about what to include in these short statements and are not used to writing about themselves. This session will offer several prompts, followed by time to brainstorm and start writing. Join us to get your fellowship personal statement off to a strong start! You are invited (but not required) to attend "Writing Competitive Personal Statements" which will be held immediately prior to this session (2:30-3:30pm).
Addressing Microaggressions in the Classroom
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
Whether conscious of it or not, instructors and students bring who they are to the learning environment, including their stereotypes and implicit biases. Such biases can emerge in the form of (micro)aggressions during class discussions, in student-student interactions during group or lab work, or in interactions between students and instructors. If left unaddressed, microaggressions negatively impact the learning climate and can hurt students’ academic progress. UMass grad student Cierra Abellera will offer an introduction to communication frameworks used in addressing microaggressions in university classes. You will learn how to identify some microaggressions and explore a few strategies that can help you effectively respond. Part of the Teaching Academy!
Grants & Fellowships: Don't Talk Yourself Out Of Applying!
- | Online with OPD!
Applying for a competitive grant or fellowship takes time, but it also takes determination and a willingness to take a risk. Not every application leads to success, but you won’t get the funding if you aren’t willing to try. If you’re wavering on whether you should apply for a great funding opportunity, join us for a quick pep-talk--we’ll remind you what you can gain just from applying while boosting your confidence!
Know Your Funder
- | Online with OPD!
To write a good grant or fellowship application, you need to know your audience! This session will offer tips to help you get to know your funder, locate and understand the funder’s review criteria, and respond to those prompts in your application using the "show, don’t tell" approach to writing.
How to Demonstrate “Fit” on the Academic Job Market
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
As you read the job ads for an “Assistant Professor,” you are faced with interpreting vague job descriptions and scrolling through college websites in hopes of finding something to help your application stand out from the pack. Learn to tailor your application in this workshop! We will look at how certain words in job ads carry important information and how these minor differences should change your application.
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Series: Research Statements
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
Trained NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Mentors have organized this series to support students preparing NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) applications. Mentors, all NSF GRFP recipients, will lead sessions that focus on elements of a competitive application; this session will focus on developing your Research Statement, often the most challenging aspect of the application.
Inviting Student Identities and Experiences into the Classroom
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
A core principle of an inclusive classroom is acknowledging that your students are whole people with rich identities and experiences. The goal then is to actually bring their diverse identities and experiences into the classroom to foster learning. The connections that students make between your class and important aspects of their lives actually help them learn course content better. Join UMass grad student Fatih Cetin to reflect on strategies to include not only personal experiences but also identities and special needs in the learning experience. Part of the Teaching Academy!
Funding Proposals: Let's Write!
- | Online with OPD!
A funding application needs to include a description of your proposed research, but how do you know what’s most important to include? At this session we will outline four critical areas every grant proposal needs to address, with time to brainstorm and start writing. Join us to get your project description off to a strong start!
Research Statements for the Academic Job Market
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
How can you make your research stand out among a sea of applications? Participants will draft language about their research that can be used in all facets of the faculty application, including the research statement, cover letter, and in interviews.
Convincing Funders That Your Work Matters
- | Online with OPD!
A critical component of any funding application is communicating the contribution that your work will make to academia and society. Using NSF’s Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts as our guide, we will brainstorm strategies to communicate the significance of your work to diverse audiences in any type of funding proposal.
Managing Procrastination
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
Even with our best intentions, we often put off doing the things we need to do. Why does this happen and what can we do about it? Come learn about the science of procrastination and concrete strategies to move past procrastination into productivity.
Emotional Intelligence and Empathetic Teaching as Tools for Inclusive Classroom Engagement
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
Are you struggling to build community in your classroom? You are not alone. Managing life post-pandemic is a challenge for both instructors and students. In this workshop, we will articulate what stressors impact students' lives and learn specific tools for creating an emotionally safe learning environment that fosters empathy, equity, and inclusion. Join UMass grad student Cielo Sharkus to learn how to use empathetic teaching and emotional intelligence as a tool to create resilient and compassionate learning environments. This workshop features evidence-based methods and real-world examples of conflict management and resolution. Part of the Teaching Academy!
How to Use Group Work to Increase Student Engagement
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
Dread group activities? Hate group projects? As an instructor or as a student, group work often inspires trepidation: unequal workload, quarrels, disappointing results, lack of communication, more work for the instructor... However, group work is essential in most careers. Join UMass grad student Brian Wermcrantz to learn to create a class environment to make group work thrive! This includes both in-class small group discussion activities, as well as group projects, papers, and presentations. We will share tips and best practices, and survey sample activities and projects. Part of the Teaching Academy!
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Series: Broader Impacts & Intellectual Merit
- | 538 Goodell, Lounge
Trained NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Mentors have organized this series to support students preparing NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) applications. Mentors, all former NSF GRFP recipients, will lead sessions that focus on elements of a competitive application; this session will focus on identifying and communicating Broader Impacts and Intellectual Merit, two critical review criteria.
Working with Your Cognitive Distortions
- | Online with OPD!
The human brain is amazing! It is also full of cognitive biases that constantly get in our way. Learn how to manage your own brain and get the most out of it, since it didn’t come with a user manual. We’ll cover the most recent neuroscience findings and how we can apply them to our own lives.
Teaching Statements for the Academic Job Market
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
How do you talk about teaching on the faculty job market? What are search committees looking for? How can you stand out? In this workshop, you will draft language about teaching that is suitable for all facets of the faculty application, including the teaching statement, cover letter, and in interviews. Please feel free to bring your lunch; snacks will be provided!
Writing Competitive Personal Statements
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
What do fellowship reviewers want to learn from personal statements? How do personal statements differ from, and complement, research proposals? And what’s too personal? This session will help demystify the personal statement and provide tips for framing, writing, and revising a winning essay.
How to Get Unstuck in Your Writing
- | Online with OPD!
Despite our best efforts, we can often become unmotivated, panicked, or just bogged down with our writing. Come to this workshop for an opportunity to share your own struggles, feel less alone in your (temporary) writing paralysis, and come away with some helpful strategies to restart your writing with healthier, more sustainable habits and create a more positive mindset around your writing in general.
Grant Series Part II: Framing & Writing the Proposal
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
A successful grant proposal requires good ideas that are organized well. This session will outline various application elements, provide tips to craft a clear, cohesive proposal, and discuss common reasons proposals fail.
Diversity Statements for the Academic Job Market
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
If you are applying to faculty jobs, you are likely going to be asked to submit a diversity statement. This workshop will help you get started writing (or revising): we’ll discuss the two things that every statement should include, as well as tips and examples!
Working in the US: OPT/CPT for Graduate Students
- | 538 Goodell, Lounge
Ken Reade, Director of International Student & Scholar Services in the International Programs Office (IPO), will present the guidelines, limitations and application strategies for working/interning in the US with F-1 or J-1 Visas. Bring your employment questions about post-graduation, internships, OPT and CPT.
Fellowship Personal Statements: Let's Write!
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
Are you planning to apply for a fellowship that requires a personal statement, but are stumped on where to begin? This is a common challenge! Students are often unsure about what to include in these short statements and are not used to writing about themselves. This session will offer several prompts, followed by time to brainstorm and start writing. Join us to get your fellowship personal statement off to a strong start!
Rethinking Grades
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
Grading is often the most stressful (and time consuming) part of teaching and leads to students begging for and arguing about points, rather than focusing on content. What would it look like to have a grading policy that actually encouraged learning and growth? In this workshop, we will consider how we might re-envision the role of grading in our classrooms, using mathematical arguments, social justice pedagogy, and disability justice.
Informational Interviews: "How To" for this Important Career Exploration Tool
- | Online with OPD!
Have you heard that you should be doing informational interviews in order to explore your career options or to become a better job applicant? Not sure how to go about this? Come learn how to reach out to a potential contact, what questions to ask, and how to use the information for your job search.
Five Reasons Why Your Article Might Be Rejected
- | Online with OPD!
Learn how to navigate the world of academic publishing and peer review by considering the most common reasons articles are rejected – and what you can do as the author to improve your writing.
Getting the Most from Your Reading
- | Online with OPD!
A lot of your time is spent reading. Is your reading productive? Learn to read quickly and effectively. Keep track of your reading and keep up with your ever-expanding field. We’ll share tips from the pros and talk about software that makes it easier to keep up and stay organized.
Funding Proposals: Let's Write!
- | Online with OPD!
A funding application needs to include a description of your proposed research, but how do you know what’s most important to include? At this session we will outline four critical areas every grant proposal needs to address, with time to brainstorm and start writing. Join us to get your project description off to a strong start!
Less Time Preparing, More Time Teaching
- | Online with OPD!
Don’t have hours to spend preparing to teach, but want to do a great job? Unsure of how to fill the whole class period? In this workshop, you will learn about a reusable and customizable class structure, practice writing one-sentence lesson plans, and dispel the myth that spending more time planning means that your students will spend more time learning.
Adopting a Growth Mindset
- | Online with OPD!
Do you take failure hard? We all do, but the most successful scholars view failure as an opportunity. Learn how to grow from setbacks by adopting a growth mindset. While a fixed mindset tells us that we cannot improve, a growth mindset makes failure easier to bear and sets us up for success.
First Round Faculty Interviews
- | Online with OPD!
Are you hoping to interview for a faculty job this year? Often first-round screening interviews are scheduled with little notice, so it’s good to be prepared! Come learn the most common questions and discuss strategies for a successful Zoom or phone interview.
How to Write a (Better) Cover Letter
- | Online with OPD!
In an oversaturated job market, demonstrating “fit" is critical - and the cover letter is the best place to make the persuasive argument that you are right for this job! We’ll discuss common cover letter mistakes and discover some foolproof ways to write a cover letter that will make employers take notice. This workshop will be helpful whether you are writing your first or fiftieth cover letter! (Please note that this workshop focuses on cover letters for non-faculty jobs.)
Time Management Strategies
- | Online with OPD!
Strong time management skills are a requirement for success. If you struggle with time management—or if you don’t— learn how you can do more in less time. We will talk about systems and tips to increase your productivity and leave you more time to enjoy life.
Why Are Student Presentations the Worst?
- | 538 Goodell, OPD Workspace
Although the title of this workshop sounds like a hypothetical question, the answer is pretty simple: we don't teach them how to present. But how can we do that when our class is already crammed with content and skills? This workshop will suggest some easy activities, assignments, and resources that you can choose from to help prepare your students to make engaging and confident presentations!
Work-Life Balance
- | Online with OPD!
Academia is well-known for its high expectations, particularly when it comes to how many hours we work. How can we find a balance between our personal lives and the work we do? Finding that balance can lead to increased productivity and happiness. Come learn some tips to start on the right path.
The Key to Getting More Useful Feedback on Your Writing
- | Online with OPD!
Do you get random, unhelpful, belated feedback on your writing? One way to get better feedback is to be clearer when asking for feedback: what do you actually need to move forward in your writing? In this workshop, you will learn concepts of the writing process and how to use these ideas when asking for feedback.
Feedback: What Am I Supposed to do With This?
- | Online with OPD!
Do you enjoy feedback and criticism? Probably not, but a huge part of graduate and postdoctoral training is accepting and learning from feedback. This session will help you shift from a defensive position to a growth mindset and develop strategies to manage the anxiety associated with good, bad, and even just plain wrong feedback.
Faculty Interviews: Tips for the Campus Visit
- | Online with OPD!
Join us for a discussion about what to expect, how to prepare, who to impress, things to avoid, and how candidates are often judged in an academic interview.
Faculty interviews: Why am I Meeting with the Dean?
- | Online with OPD!
Many campus interviews include a visit with the dean or other high-ranking administrator. What in the world do deans want to talk about? And how does one prepare for these meetings?
Student Evaluations: Collecting Evidence and Fighting Bias
- | Online with OPD!
In this workshop, we’ll discuss the ways that you can gather your own student evaluations that will support your teaching portfolio and ways that you can help overcome the research-proven biases in the evaluation process. This workshop is important for anyone considering a faculty career.
Faculty Interviews: Giving a Job Talk
- | Online with OPD!
At research institutions, the job talk (and following Q+A) can be a make or break part of the faculty interview. In this short session, we will discuss the expectations of your audience, the structure of your talk, and how to handle challenging questions.
Faculty Interviews: The Teaching Demonstration
- | Online with OPD!
A majority of faculty searches now include a teaching demo. Although the content of the demo is important, it is your engaging and interactive pedagogy on display. Learn how to plan a lesson that makes a positive impression on both the students and the committee!
Feedback: What Am I Supposed to do With This?
- | Online with OPD!
Do you enjoy feedback and criticism? Probably not, but a huge part of graduate and postdoctoral training is accepting and learning from feedback. This session will help you shift from a defensive position to a growth mindset and develop strategies to manage the anxiety associated with good, bad, and even just plain wrong feedback.
Applying to be a Lecturer, Instructor, or Adjunct
- | Online with OPD!
Many of the new faculty job postings will be for adjunct or non-tenure track instructors. In this workshop, we’ll consider the pros and cons of such positions, as well as how to tailor the application materials.
Managing Procrastination
- | Online with OPD!
Even with our best intentions, we often put off doing the things we need to do. Why does this happen and what can we do about it? Come learn about the science of procrastination and concrete strategies to move past procrastination into productivity.
Getting the Most from Your Reading
- | Online with OPD!
A lot of your time is spent reading. Is your reading productive? Learn to read quickly and effectively. Keep track of your reading and keep up with your ever-expanding field. We’ll share tips from the pros and talk about software that makes it easier to keep up and stay organized.
Adopting a Growth Mindset
- | Online with OPD!
Do you take failure hard? We all do, but the most successful scholars view failure as an opportunity. Learn how to grow from setbacks by adopting a growth mindset. While a fixed mindset tells us that we cannot improve, a growth mindset makes failure easier to bear and sets us up for success.
