The G-R-A-D Program
This is a professional development framework, composed of several paths for students to pursue, with a view towards acquiring and improving the necessary skills for graduate school and the job market.
Detailed Information about the G-R-A-D Program
The Competencies
According to their preference, individuals interested in the program should aim to complete at least one, but ideally several, of the following five competencies (listed in alphabetical order) during the course of their graduate studies.
Additional competencies, adjustments, and amendments may be added in future.
Certificate of Completion
Upon the successful completion of each competency, “G-R-A-D”uates will receive a certificate of completion. In addition, those completing their first* competency will be invited to attend a dinner where business and dining etiquette will be demonstrated and discussed. Time & date TBD.
Go: attend at least 4 sessions advertised by the Graduate School, CETL, or other University entity. Examples of past sessions include:
- AI Lunch & Learn, Using AI Tools for Literature Searches and Mapping, Generative AI on the Syllabus, Teaching in the Age of AI, Beyond ChatGPT
Research: try out various AI programs, view AI generated work
Apply: apply the software to your project (e.g., ChatGPT in thesis or paper, AI artwork or computer modeling of research), with appropriate citation of the AI
Disseminate: give a short presentation in the Image of Research competition or a Lunch & Learn professional development showcase, publish your project in a journal or public facing online outlet, or blog about how you leveraged AI for your work.
Additional skills gained and possible language for a resume or CV: leveraging technology for efficiency, learning and adapting new technology (OpenAI, 2024), information literacy and critical thinking, iterative querying (OpenAI, 2024), flexibility, creative inquiry (OpenAI, 2024), responsive prompting, interactive technology literacy (OpenAI, 2024)
Go: attend at least 4 sessions advertised by the Graduate School, the Division of Access, Opportunity, and Community Engagement, or other University entity. Examples of past sessions include:
- Impostor Phenomena, Fair and Compliant Hiring (or Teaching) Practices, Disability Awareness Training, Engaging with Sex, Gender, and Sexuality, Supporting Neurodivergent Students with Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, and Dyspraxia, and the Forum on Race and Ethnicity
Research: pursue opportunities to engage with individuals from other backgrounds, read a book recommended at a training you attended, participate in a trip for Sites of Resistance/Sites of Healing
Apply: complete a diversity statement, either for an application, or to have your thoughts organized for employment interviews and societal discussions, join a student organization focused on supporting diverse students, conduct research drawing on a culturally informed perspective, volunteer with campus groups that support underrepresented students
Disseminate: present or publish your project, lead a new initiative that supports success of diverse individuals, write an op-ed on the value of cultural competency for you
Additional skills gained and possible language for a resume or CV: working with diverse individuals, facilitating inclusivity, self-awareness, empathy, humility, community building, increased capacity to adapt to needs of others, effective communication with individuals whose experiences and culture differ.
Go: attend at least 4 sessions advertised by the Graduate School, CETL, the Career Center, or other University entity. Examples of past sessions include:
- Night at the Museum, Making the Most of Career Fairs, First Generation Student Networking Event, Pastries on the Porch, ‘Sip-Stroll-and-Explore, Career Chicks, Black Trivia Night
Research: look into various campus groups according to interest (see UMForum), identify individuals whose work inspires/interests you on LinkedIn and connect with them
Apply: join (or create) a group with a view towards being an officer/senator, conduct an informational interview, collaborate with someone new from your regional/national professional organization on a project, attend a conference social hour and introduce yourself to someone new
Disseminate: participate on Graduate School Orientation student panel, serve as an officer in a campus-based student organization, volunteer as a student committee member in a national/regional organization in your field, mentor a student who is newer to your field, serve as a Graduate School Ambassador or similar roles on campus
Additional skills gained and possible language for a resume or CV: Growing a network, collaborating with a team to produce a tangible result, recruiting individuals for your organization; facilitating and initiating discussions; conducting efficient meetings; effectively navigating a bureaucracy, managing a team and delegating tasks; being proactive in identifying a need or creating a resource in a community; locating and obtaining institutional resources to solve problems, motivating others and enlisting leadership support for your initiatives.
Go: attend at least 4 sessions advertised by the Graduate School, Speaking Center, CETL, or other University entity. Examples of past sessions include:
- Facilitating Effective Discussions, Speaking on Your Scholarship, Three Minute Thesis info session, Three Minute Thesis competition rounds, Making the Most of your Teaching
Research: schedule a meeting with the Speaking Center or CETL, look into various presentation mediums like Beamer in LaTeX, PowerPoint, etc., or prepare your talk
Apply: departmental seminar, teaching
Disseminate: defending your thesis or dissertation, conference presentation, Three Minute thesis, speaking about your project with news outlets or on vlogs
Additional skills gained and possible language for a resume or CV: presenting research to academics, communicating ideas to a broad audience, managing audience engagement, gauging audience understanding of ideas, aligning presentation media with audience needs and presentation aims, collaboration and teamwork for multi-presenter speaking engagements, professionalism.
Go: attend at least 4 sessions advertised by the Graduate School, Graduate Writing Center (GWC), or other University entity. Examples of past sessions include:
- Writing Teaching Statements, Writing Diversity Statements, Endgame – finalizing manuscripts, proofreading and revision strategies, Beyond ChatGPT
Research: schedule a meeting with the GWC, attend a writing boot camp, discuss writing strategies with your major professor
Apply: join a writing group and advance your project, share your writing with your major professor and others, incorporate feedback on your writing
Disseminate: submit your finished project (thesis, dissertation, publication, etc.), write an op-ed
Additional skills gained and possible language for a resume or CV: distilling key information, writing for a specific audience and/or general audience, leadership skills for team projects, intensive editing, collaboration and teamwork for multi-author projects, revising work, resilience, persistence, composing persuasive arguments, organizing content, analytic skills, incorporating feedback.