Professional Development
Provides innovative and inclusive programmatic approaches for our graduate students and postdoctoral scholars so that they become ethical, transformative and contributing citizens. The professional development training our scholars receive will equip them with the skills and knowledge to be proactive and impactful leaders.
Competencies
Career readiness is imperative to ensuring a successful transition from graduate school into the work environment. The best way to establish a pathway to a rewarding career is to develop the competencies employers are seeking in their new hires. Below are the core competencies the Professional Development Team has identified through a review of research by the National Association of College and Employers (NACE) and discussions with our partners. Professional development programs offered through The Graduate School focus on the following competencies to help our graduate students cultivate the talents, skills and strengths that will prepare them for a variety of positions and job functions.
Oral & Written Communication
Communicating effectively involves both verbal and written forms.
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Teamwork & Collaboration
Positive working relationships with teams and colleagues are crucial to the success of any organization.
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Career & Self Development
Self-awareness is the foundation for understanding how one best operates in both personal and professional environments.
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Wellness Wednesdays
Programs and Certificates
Graduate students and postdoctoral scholars are encouraged to pursue one or more of the certificates we offer to enhance their professional development. Please see the requirements below for each of the certificates. For those who wish to pursue our offerings in our professional development focus areas, we encourage you to explore more information about our career readiness, leadership, teaching and writing programs. Maintaining one’s well-being is an important component of being a thriving professional, so we also offer a series on wellness.
Teaching Certificate
Foundational Workshops (REQUIRED)
Four (4) workshops are required for the Teaching Certificate or attendance at the all-day New TA Workshop held each August:
- Teaching College
- Engaging Diverse Learners
- Using Learning Outcomes
- Mentoring 101
Electives (REQUIRED)
Four (4) electives are to be chosen for the Teaching Certificate from these options:
- Accessibility in the Classroom
- Avoiding Death by PowerPoint
- Emotional Intelligence and Teaching
- How to Survive Your First Day of Class
- Managing Conflict in the Classroom
- Processing Course Evaluations
- Working with First Generation College Students
- Writing a Statement of Teaching Philosophy
- DELTA workshop (no more than two can count as electives)
Experience (REQUIRED)
One (1) of the following is required for the Teaching Certificate:
- Teaching assistantship (and a reflection paper)
- Guest lecture (twice) (and a reflection paper)
- Mentoring an undergraduate student in a lab or through one of the Graduate School’s partnerships (and a reflection paper)
Deliverable (REQUIRED)
One (1) of the following is required for the Teaching Certificate:
- Statement of Teaching Philosophy
- Teaching evaluations
- Course syllabus
Writing Certificate
Foundational Workshops (REQUIRED)
Four (4) are required for the Writing Certificate
- Writer’s Toolkit/Engineering Cafes: Writer’s Toolkit
- User-Friendly Writing/Engineering Cafes: User-Friendly Writing
- Concise Writing/Engineering Cafes: Concise Writing
- Professional Emails/Engineering Cafes: Professional Emails
Electives (REQUIRED)
Four (4) electives are to be chosen for the Writing Certificate from these topics:
- Writing Abstracts & Introductions
- Lit Reviews (non-engineering)
- Results & Discussion Sections
- How to Plan a Journal Article
- How to Respond to Reviewer Feedback
- How to Write a Cover Letter
- How to Write CV
- How to Write Resume
- Any Summer Grants & Fellowships Writing Workshops
- Libraries’ Research Skills Literature Reviews Modules (counts as 1 elective)
Experience (REQUIRED)
One (1) of the following is required for the Writing Certificate:
- Four (4) days of Writing Retreats + reflections paper
- Serve as writing center consultant for semester + reflections paper
- Lead writing productivity group for semester + reflections paper
Deliverable (REQUIRED)
One (1) of the following is required for the Writing Certificate:
- Published Journal Article, Review Paper, or Book Review
- White paper or report
- Thesis, dissertation, or capstone project
- Statements for teaching, inclusivity, and research
- Professional Portfolio
Career Readiness Certificate
Foundational Workshops (REQUIRED)
Four (4) workshops are required for the Career Readiness Certificate:
- Career Exploration – Finding your career journey
- STAR Technique – Interviewing with a story
- Building your Strengths – Understanding you and your passions
- Professional Portfolio Basics for Non-Academic Careers
Electives (REQUIRED)
Four (4) electives are to be chosen from these options:
- Any Job Search Strategies Labeled Talk/Workshop
- How to Write a Cover Letter
- How to Write a CV
- How to Write a Resume
- Professionalism 101
- Communication Styles
- Networking Know-how
- Generations in the Workforce
- Accountability
- Company Site Visit through Accelerate to Industry (A2i)
Experience (REQUIRED)
One (1) of the following is required for the Career Readiness Certificate:
- Immersion Week + reflections paper
- Internship + reflections paper
Deliverable (REQUIRED)
The following is required for the Career Readiness Certificate:
- Find a job posting that you are interested in applying to
- Create a portfolio with Cover Letter, CV/Resume, LinkedIn Profile, Work Samples and the job description
Leadership Certificate
Coming soon.
Professional Development Team
Postdoc HR and Professional Development Support Specialist
