Spring is here and that means that the birds are chirping, the pools are heating up, and GradSuccess is hosting After Grad: Teaching Careers Week (TCW). For the uninitiated, this is a week full of virtual panels, workshops, and clinics that focus on different aspects of teaching and being part of the teaching profession.

This quarter, TCW will be held May 2-6 on Zoom! You can see the complete schedule and register for sessions here.

Looking at the schedule can seem daunting at first with all the events happening throughout the week. If this is how you feel, then have no fear, for in this blog post I shall be your guide through this week of teaching professionalization.

Image description: Andrew Pham (Andrew Phung) on the show Run the Burbs, beggingly tells Khia Pham (Zoriah Wong): “Please let me help you.”

Pictured: I just want to show you some cool stuff here.

I’d be remiss if I did not start by explaining that TCW is run by the Graduate Student Resource Center in collaboration with the University Teaching Certificate (UTC) Program. In fact, a sizeable portion of the programming are workshops held as part of the Teaching Development Track (TDT). These are workshops given by students who have attended the UTC Program and focus on topics they have covered while working towards their certificate. If you are thinking of applying for the UTC Program, you can register for and attend all the Teaching Development Track sessions in lieu of submitting teaching evaluations.

So, with that out of the way let us now get into the details of what exactly is being offered on the buffet that is Teaching Careers Week!

Image description: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig) asks in bewilderment: “Is that a buffet?” to which Miles O’Brien (Colm Meaney) replies: “Not for long” before heading resolutely off camera.

Pictured: TCW is a lot like a buffet in that it offers a variety of programming all of which I want to consume.

Monday, May 2nd

The week starts off with a bang on Monday, May 2nd with the first of the five Teaching Development Track workshops! After this, Dr. Barbara Junisbai is delivering a keynote address on “The Power of an Authentic Teaching Narrative." Dr. Junisbai is a phenomenal instructor, and we are very happy that she will be sharing her career trajectory and motivation for a teaching-focused career. Come to learn what she can share about thinking metaphorically about our identities as future faculty and how this can help center us when it comes to our roles as teachers, mentors, and coworkers.

Image description: A man in a brown beanie is stroking his beard while nodding and listening intently.

Pictured: Listening to the keynote address will open new angles of understanding.

Tuesday, May 3

Are you interested in working at a California State University or a Community College? The second day of TCW contains the second of the Teaching Development Track workshops before heading into the “Getting Hired Panel.” We have invited UCR alumni to talk about their experiences teaching at a variety of colleges and universities. Come and listen to their experiences and advice on the job search, creating competitive applications, interviewing, and their experiences in their current positions. There will be time to ask your own questions as well, so don’t miss out on this event!

Image description: Four pugs dressed as Iron Man, Captain America, the Hulk, and Thor from The Avengers are hanging out on a white couch.

Pictured: Like Nick Fury before us, we have assembled an excellent team for our Getting Hired Panel!

Speaking of exciting team-ups, we are as always collaborating with the Graduate Writing Center on a workshop and clinic for diversity statements! These types of documents are becoming more and more prevalent in faculty job postings so attending this workshop is one of the ways you can learn how to tailor your statement to best reflect the differing contexts and criteria the posting asks for as well as highlighting your own competencies. The workshop will be led by Alexis Smith, the Coordinator of the Graduate Writing Center on Tuesday, May 3rd and covers the general principles and strategies for drafting an effective diversity statement. The clinic will happen later in the week on Thursday, May 5th, thus giving you time to make edits before getting it reviewed!

Wednesday, May 4

The third day of TCW is dedicated to the last two Teaching Development Track workshops focusing on “Community Building in the Classroom” and “Incorporating Field Trips and Research into Undergraduate Courses.” After attending the five TDT workshops this week, you might have questions about the University Teaching Certificate. If so, then you’re in luck because the UTC Program is sponsoring the week’s Graduate Student Coffee Social in the Life Sciences Courtyard! Come one, come all to this event which gives you the chance to drink free coffee and eat free snacks while chatting with fellow graduate students. In addition, a UTC Program representative will be there to answer any questions you might have. It’s a winning combination for all in involved and you are cordially invited to attend – no registration necessary!

Image description: Miss Piggy (Frank Oz) on The Muppet Show turns around dramatically and asks, “I’m sorry, did somebody invite me to something?”

Pictured: The answer is “yes,” we are all invited to the UTC-sponsored Coffee Social in the Life Sciences Courtyard at 3pm.

Thursday, May 5

You attended the Diversity Statement Workshop and now you know the basics of how to write and frame your diversity statement. Why not then come to the Diversity Statement Clinic? Here you can have your statement reviewed by a consultant from the Graduate Writing Center. Spots for this clinic are limited, so sign up sooner rather than later!

Image description: A baby goat is laying on a scale while vets are petting it.

Pictured: Like with any visit to a clinic, your diversity statement will come out better than ever.

As with all good things, Teaching Careers Week must also unfortunately come to an end, but if you missed any of the sessions fear not! The virtual sessions will be recorded and uploaded for all with a UCR account! Access these and previous years’ sessions on our recorded workshops page.

After Grad: Teaching Careers Week will be hosted between May 2nd and May 6th, 2022. You can read more and register for sessions here.