Workshops and Development Series
The Graduate School offers several writing, teaching, communication, and professional development workshops and series. All workshops and development series adhere to the Attendance Policy and the Synchronous Zoom Workshop Policy. Both policies are posted at the bottom on the page.
Development Series
Development Series are non-credit course-style workshop series that provide sustained support, practice, and feedback on key aspects of teaching, communication, writing, and career management. Graduate students and postdoctoral scholars at any stage of their careers and in any discipline should enroll in these Development Series to improve their teaching, writing, speaking, and presentation skills, and preparation for industry. Development Series are non-credit bearing and free of charge (although some may require materials or refundable deposits).
Development Series that count toward the Teaching and Communication Certificate are indicated by an asterisk (*). Development series that count toward the Writing Certificate are indicated by a plus sign (+). Development series require compliance with the attendance policy. Email questions about Development Series to the instructor listed.
Summer 2021
A2i Industry Job Search Strategies
Industry Job Search Strategies (IJSS) offers students the flexibility to attend up to five talks given by A2i’s industry experts as well as complete up to five interactive workshops during the current IJSS semester series.
Topics may include:
- Preparing Application Materials
- Leadership
- Corporate Culture
- Negotiating First Offers
- Career Pathways
- Communication
- Interview Strategies
- Entrepreneurial/Intrapreneurial
How to Write Grant & Fellowship Applications+
Mondays, June 7 – June 28 | 1 – 3 p.m. | Zoom Webinar
Facilitators: Katie Homar, Courney Hughes, Kristen Hetrick
In this four-part workshop development series, we address best practices for finding and applying for key research funding opportunities: grants and fellowships. Specifically, participants will discuss and practice strategies for:
- Locating grant and fellowship opportunities
- Aligning your proposed research project with the needs and values of the funding organization
- Articulating the broader impact of your work in relation to the funding organization
- Describing your project to non-specialist audiences
Participants will leave the workshop with strategies for starting and/or strengthening their applications drafts and will have the opportunity to follow up with individual feedback/advising on their application with Fellowships Coordinator Courtney Hughes.
This workshop series might especially interest graduate trainees looking to get a head start on grants/fellowships with early fall deadlines.
Participants can apply up to 8 hours towards the Graduate Writing Certificate.
Workshops
Workshops that count toward the Teaching and Communication Certificate are indicated by an asterisk (*). Workshops that count toward the Writing Certificate are indicated by a plus sign (+). Workshops can only be counted for credit once unless otherwise indicated. Please be aware of the workshop attendance policy (below).
Summer 2021
July
Engineering Cafes: How to Compose Professional Emails+
Wednesday, July 7 | 1 – 3 p.m. | Zoom Webinar
Facilitator: Katie Homar
Contact colleagues at NC State and beyond with tact and ease! In this workshop, you will gain strategies for crafting effective professional emails. Specifically, participants will practice and discuss strategies for:
- Organizing a professional email message
- Making inquiries and requests
- Creating a professional tone or voice in email
Students may apply up to 2 hours of credit towards the Graduate Writing Certificate.
How to Write a Statement of Teaching Philosophy*
Monday, July 19 | 10 – 11 a.m. | Zoom Webinar
AND
Monday, July 26 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Zoom Webinar
In this two-part workshop, we will explore strategies for writing a teaching statement that is professional yet personalized. In the first session, we will look at models of effective and ineffective teaching statements and hone our ability to critique and revise them. In the second session, participants will present their own draft teaching statements for peer review. Open to ALL graduate students and postdocs regardless of your teaching experience.
Attendance at both sessions is mandatory.
Students may apply up to 3 hours of credit towards the Teaching and Communication Certificate.
How to Deliver a Job Talk*
Tuesday, July 20 | 1 – 2 p.m. | Zoom Webinar
AND
Tuesday, July 27 | 1 – 3 p.m. | Zoom Webinar
Facilitator: Vanessa Doriott Anderson
In this two-part workshop, we will explore strategies for delivering a compelling, accessible academic job talk. In the first session, participants will reflect on the purpose of their talk as well as its audience, and will engage in a number of exercises to help them pitch their research to an interdisciplinary audience. In the second session, 1-3 speakers will present their job talk for peer review. Open to ALL graduate students and postdocs regardless of your teaching experience.
Attendance at both sessions is mandatory.
Students may apply up to 3 hours of credit towards the Teaching and Communication Certificate.
Professional Development Team Certificate Information Sessions
Thursday, July 29 | 10 – 11 a.m. | Zoom Webinar
Facilitator: Vanessa Doriott Anderson and Katie Homar
Learn about opportunities to develop your professional skills through the Graduate School’s Professional Development Team offerings! This information session is designed to acquaint trainees with resources of the professional development team, including noncredit workshops, classes, and certificates including our Teaching Communication and new Graduate Writing certificate. PD Team certificate directors will explain how to make the most of your career at NC State and beyond with these opportunities as well as how to get involved, as our programs have recently changed. This session is recommended for any masters, PhD, and postdoc trainee who wants to know more about our certificate programs and other ways to enhance their skills with the PD Team.
How to Manage Conflict in the Classroom*
Thursday, July 29 | 1 – 2 p.m. | Zoom Webinar
AND
Thursday, August 5 | 1 – 3 p.m. | Zoom Webinar
Facilitator: Vanessa Doriott Anderson
In this two-part workshop, we will explore strategies for managing conflict in the classroom. In the first session, we will examine various approaches to preventative and reactive conflict management, using real-life examples. In the second session, participants will role-play a variety of scenarios to practice assertive conflict management. Open to ALL graduate students and postdocs regardless of your teaching experience.
Attendance at both sessions is mandatory.
Students may apply up to 3 hours of credit towards the Teaching and Communication Certificate.
August
How to Process Course Evaluations*
Thursday, August 5 | 10 – 11 a.m. | Zoom Webinar
AND
Thursday, August 12 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Zoom Webinar
Facilitator: Vanessa Doriott Anderson
In this two-part workshop, we will consider best practices for reading, analyzing, and using the data from your course evaluations. How can you make your evaluations work for you, so that they become part of a cycle of reflective teaching practice? How can you use them as evidence of effective teaching in your job materials? How can you separate constructive criticism from ad hominem attacks and excessive praise? And how can you supplement your standard course evaluations to get the information you really need to improve your teaching?
Attendance at both sessions is mandatory.
Students may apply up to 3 hours of credit towards the Teaching and Communication Certificate.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, NC State will honor requests for reasonable accommodations made by individuals with disabilities. Requests can be served effectively if notice is provided at least 10 days before the event. Direct accommodation requests for professional development programs to professional-development@ncsu.edu.
Synchronous Zoom Workshops Policy
Unless otherwise noted, our online workshops and development series are synchronous Zoom meetings. These events are designed to facilitate discussion of the material through interactive exercises, polls, small group discussions, and other activities. When you register for a workshop or series, you are indicating that you are able to participate in a Zoom call at the scheduled date(s)/times(s). Only participants who attend the Zoom session(s) will receive access to workshop materials.
If you have a schedule conflict, you should drop the workshop or series using REPORTER to allow participants from the waiting list to enroll.
Attendance Policy
Participants who cancel their registration for any Professional Development event (e.g., workshops, seminars, symposia) more than 24 hours before the first session of an event will not be penalized. Registrants who fail to attend an event or who cancel their registration less than 24 hours before the first session of an event will be marked as a “No Show” for the event. Those with two recorded “No Shows” will automatically be dropped from all future Professional Development events for the remainder of the semester in which the two “No Shows” occur.
This policy is in place to encourage students to practice time management and professionalism. The instructors create materials and activities based on attendance so this information needs to be as accurate as possible in order for participants to get the most out of the session.
For development series, please review the syllabus for the attendance policy specific to your course.
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Digital Badges
The professional development team is pleased to announce new opportunities for digital credentialing. We will be issuing evidence-based badges through the Graduate School NC State account at Badge List. You can display the badges you’ve earned on your LinkedIn page. Create an account to get started, then join our group using this code: gradpack. We will add new badges throughout the year, so check back often.