Supporting Graduate Students' Academic and Professional Success
Though we’re still in the hazy days of summer, it’s time to start thinking about the Fall 2021 quarter. While the situation with regards to the COVID-19 pandemic remains fluid, we currently expect 80% of instruction to take place in person, and many campus offices to be open and staffed again, with masks expected indoors. At the same time, there will still be online classes, Zoom meetings, and remote and hybrid options for many services, and we must be prepared to move more fully online again should health and safety conditions require it.
What does this mean for GradSuccess? We plan to offer our resources and programs in a variety of formats, in order to meet the widest range of students as accessibly as possible. So let’s go over what’s in person, what’s online, and what’s a little bit of both in the current plan for Fall.
[Image Depicted: A white cat climbs out from under a pile of autumn leaves.]
Pictured: Emerging from your confusion about Fall plans in GradSuccess.
GradSuccess In Person
I’m excited to let you know that coffee socials will be back with ACTUAL FREE coffee again! Every Wednesday from 3-4pm in the shady Life Sciences Courtyard, we’ll be on hand to pour you coffee, hand you prepackaged sugar and creamer, and tell you about campus resources – or just support you as you re-learn how to make small talk in social settings. Grab a friend, get out of the overactive A/C in your lab or the library, and enjoy some companionship and caffeine outdoors.
[Image Depicted: Mary Steenburgen and Bernadette Peters from Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist smile and walk outside with coffee.]
Pictured: Even better with masks!
While we cannot, as yet, go back to providing free coffee and snacks out of the GradSuccess office in University Office Building 141, we do have in person drop-in hours Monday-Thursday so you can get your questions answered if you’re on campus. Members of the GradSuccess staff will be available in the office Mondays 9-11am, Tuesdays 2-4pm, Wednesdays 11am-1pm, and Thursdays 10am-12pm every week this Fall starting September 20th, excepting the week of Thanksgiving when the office is closed.
[Image Depicted: A woman smiles and waves from behind a desk in an office.]
Pictured: We're always happy to see you!
GradSuccess Online
The New TA Orientation will remain entirely online as an asynchronous eLearn course available beginning September 20th. If you will be a first-time TA this Fall and haven’t yet registered for this mandatory orientation, sign up at: https://tadp.ucr.edu/ta-training/orientation.
Graduate Writing Center and GradQuant consultations will remain online over Skype for the time being, although it’s possible that GradQuant may add in person drop-in hours to their current ones on Zoom if it seems safe to do so. Grad-to-Grad student support hours will also be offered on Zoom. In addition, the Fall cohort of the University Teaching Certificate program, as well as most GradQuant, TADP, and Graduate Writing Center workshops, will remain online.
Hybrid GradSuccess
Academic Pathways Week, which will take place this Fall between November 1st and 5th, will be a mix of in person and online events. While the larger keynote and new faculty panel sessions will be held on Zoom, smaller events such as the Cover Letter workshop will be offered in person in the HUB with appropriate physical distancing.
[Image Depicted: The camera dramatically pulls in on RuPaul, wearing a tailored suit and glasses, as they say "You're Hired."]
Pictured: What happens when people read your cover letter after you attend Academic Pathways Week.
What Grad Students Want
In order to learn more about grad student preferences in regards to GradSuccess offerings and how they can be accessed, we plan to send a survey to all grad students during the Fall term. Please keep an eye out, and fill out the survey when it arrives – in addition to helping us ensure we are providing you with services in the formats that work best for you, you’ll have a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card!
Winter is Coming
If Fall 2021 still seems a bit nebulous, it’s definitely too far out to say much about Winter 2022 with any certainty. But I am holding out hope that we’ll be able to bring back the Stress Relief Fair on the 4th Tuesday of the quarter, with tacos and lawn games and miniature ponies too. In the meantime, stay safe, and we look forward to seeing the physical AND virtual you again in September!
