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July 16, 2026
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With summer in full swing, this GradConnections special edition is here to remind you of the checklist items to complete when you arrive on campus. Plus, we share funding and professional development resources to help you start the year strong.
Watch for regular issues of the newsletter to arrive in your inbox on Tuesdays starting the first week in September.
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Provide feedback on these messages for new students
Take this brief feedback survey to help us improve the information new graduate students receive. There are two questions plus an opportunity for open-ended feedback.
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How to work with faculty advisors
Your relationship with your faculty advisor will be one of the most important relationships you build to support your academic success. The 20-minute, self-paced course " A Graduate Student Guide to Working with Faculty Advisors" helps you learn about the characteristics of functional and dysfunctional relationships with faculty advisors. You'll learn strategies for communicating effectively and aligning expectations, and learn about options if you have a grievance.
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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:
- Update your contact information, including mailing address, in your UW–Madison Profile.
- Get your Wiscard, your official campus ID card.
- Pick up your student bus pass.
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Complete these health requirements
- Share your vaccination status by August 7.
- Complete required consent forms to access University Health Services.
- Share your health history to help UHS providers better care for you.
You can access MyUHS starting July 15.
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Apply for fellowships early with help from Funding Forward
The Funding Forward series from the Graduate School will help you apply for external fellowships with confidence and competence. Even if you already have funding, external awards on your CV demonstrate grant-writing success and your promise as an exceptional researcher or scholar. Upcoming Funding Forward events
Featured event:
Tuesday, July 28 | 9:30 - 10:30 am
Online
Join us for an informational session on applying for the prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP), with a focused look at drafting a strong research plan statement. This session is designed to guide senior undergraduates and first-year graduate students through one of the critical components of the application—the research plan.
Thursday, August 27 | 11:45 am - 1 pm
WARF Seminar Hub, Morgridge Hall
Join us at this dynamic event where you’ll discover why fellowships are crucial funding opportunities. Learn from faculty and peers from various disciplines who will share insights on the importance of applying for fellowships and how to write competitive applications, including crafting compelling research descriptions, demonstrating your impact, and involving your advisor.
Save the date:
- Ask the Experts: Q&A with NSF Graduate Research Program Faculty Reviewers and Fellows on Monday, September 14 from 9 - 10:30 am
- Funding Resources for International Students on Monday, September 21 from noon - 1:30 pm
- Writing Personal Statements for Funding Applications on Tuesday, November 10, from 2 - 3:15 pm
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Orientation for international 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 hundreds of 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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Writing your Individual Development Plan (IDP) helps you assess your current skills and plan to meet your academic and professional goals. An IDP also helps you develop strategies to communicate effectively with your advisors and mentors.
DiscoverPD will also help you advance your goals. Its 5-minute self-assessment 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.
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Do your career goals include teaching or mentoring?
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Master's students: Think about career development from day one
Is it your goal to earn a master's degree? Then now is also the time to start thinking about your broader career goals and how you'll achieve them. Beyond Graduate School is an online tool with learning modules, webinars, and video interviews that help master's students explore career options and learn proven job search strategies. Log in with your UW–Madison NetID and password.
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Disability-related accommodations
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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 you whether you 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 their 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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Campus safety
Madison is a relatively safe city to live, work, and study, but like anywhere else, crime sometimes happens. These services are available to help:
- The BadgerSAFE app turns your smartphone into your own personal safety device, with features like crime alerts, a virtual friend walk, and an easy way to connect with the UW–Madison Police Department.
- SAFEwalk volunteers will meet you at your location and walk with you to your near-campus destination if you feel unsafe walking alone.
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