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July 15, 2025
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In this issue: Getting the most out of grad school, Welcome Week, and more
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This special edition of GradConnections covers new student checklist items to complete as you arrive on campus, how to plan for your professional and career development in graduate school, and more. Watch for regular newsletters in your inbox starting the first week in September.
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How to work with faculty advisors
In graduate school, your relationship with your faculty advisor/mentor will be one of the most important relationships you build to support your academic success. The online, self-paced micro-course " A Graduate Student Guide to Working with Faculty Advisors" helps graduate students learn about the characteristics of functional and dysfunctional relationships with faculty advisors, strategies for communicating effectively and aligning expectations, and program grievance processes and Hostile and Intimidating Behavior resources. The micro-course only takes 20 minutes and is encouraged for all graduate students.
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Stay on track with the new student checklist
You'll have a lot to do when you get to Madison. At the top of the list of things to do when you arrive are:
- Update your contact information, including mailing address and phone number, in your UW–Madison Profile
- Get your Wiscard, which is your official campus ID card
- Pick up your student bus pass
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Update your health history and medical clearances in MyUHS
The purpose of the Medical Clearances at University Health Services is to best serve each student’s individual health needs and identify and collect specific information related to campus communicable disease prevention. We encourage you to fill out this section in MyUHS to the best of your ability. The information you provide is confidential.
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Funding Forward
The Funding Forward series from the Graduate School will help you apply for external fellowships with confidence and competence. External awards on your CV demostrate grant-writing success and your promise as an exceptional researcher or scholar.
Thursday, July 17 | noon - 1 pm
Online
Join us for an informational session on applying for the prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP). Designed for senior undergraduates and graduate students, this session offers a fellowship overview and practical steps to get started. Eligible applicants are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents pursuing research-based studies in STEM or STEM education. Full eligibility details and fellowship benefits are available on the NSF GRFP website.
And save the date for:
- Funding Forward: Equipping and Empowering Graduate Students to Apply for External Funding on Friday, August 29, 11:45 am - 1 pm
- Funding Resources for International Students on Wednesday, September 17, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
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Orientation for international students
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Back to school for online students
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Professional Development: Get the most out of your graduate career
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You're about to begin a new graduate program. Now is the perfect time to look at your professional skills and how you want to develop them during your time as a graduate student.
The Graduate School's Office of Professional Development is the central hub of graduate student skill and career development on campus. With nearly 600 professional development events each year, there's something for every facet of development and every stage of graduate study. Your first step: Create a plan.
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An Individual Development Plan (IDP) helps you assess your current skills, interests, and strengths, then make a plan to meet your academic and professional goals. An IDP also helps you develop strategies to communicate effectively with your advisors and mentors.
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DiscoverPD: Your tool for building academic and professional skills
DiscoverPD is an innovative tool for UW–Madison graduate students to advance their academic and professional goals. The 5-minute self-assessment in DiscoverPD provides you with a report of your strengths and areas of growth, allowing you to explore customized recommendations and add them to your Individual Development Plan.
By participating in professional development, you'll build the skills you need to succeed academically and thrive in your future career. Learn more by watching this introduction to DiscoverPD.
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Do your career goals include teaching or mentoring?
Hear from Delta participants in this video about the value of Delta's programs and pursuing a certificate. Join the Delta community to:
- Explore inclusive and engaging teaching practices
- Gain skills and experience toward strong job application materials
- Belong to a community committed to advancing effective teaching
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Beyond Graduate School is an online career training platform for master’s students. It features on-demand, self-paced learning modules that help master's students explore career options and learn proven job search strategies to secure employment after graduation. Coming up in early August, join Beyond Graduate School for a special webinar series on Job Search Strategies for Busy Master's Students. Log in with your NetID and password to get started.
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Campus Climate
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Disability-related accommodations
Students who have a need related to a disability should reach out to the McBurney Disability Resource Center on campus, which can provide students with academic accommodations. The McBurney Center can consult with students whether they have a long history of accommodations or are just exploring disability-related accommodations for the first time.
Student employees can request a reasonable accommodation to perform the duties of your job or access an employment benefit due to limitations from a disability or medical condition. Contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) for the division in which you are employed to start a confidential conversation. The Employee Disability Resources office serves as the campuswide hub for information on the disability accommodation process for employees and job applicants.
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Accessibility at UW–Madison
UW–Madison values all individuals and commits to a shared responsibility towards designing inclusively and accessibly for people with disabilities. Visit Accessibility@UW–Madison to learn about disability rights, ableism, accessibility resources, and information about creating accessible events and content.
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Hostile and Intimidating Behavior
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is committed to preventing hostile and intimidating behavior (HIB) and will take prompt and appropriate corrective action whenever it learns that it has occurred. If you experience HIB as a graduate student, know that there are HIB resources on campus and staff available to talk.
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Graduate Student Welcome Week
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Graduate Student Welcome Week events cover essential academic and professional skills and provide you with the opportunity to connect with other graduate students. Sign up in advance to save your spot in these great workshops!
Register to attend New Graduate Student Welcome!
In addition to the Welcome Week events above which are open to all graduate students, you're invited to New Graduate Student Welcome, happening on Wednesday, August 27, 2025. Check your inbox for an email invitation dated July 8 for more details and a link to register for New Graduate Student Welcome. For students enrolled in online programs
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