From May 1 to May 5, we’re celebrating graduate students by mixing into the GRAD schedule some extra special events (read: free food aplenty). Starting with Monday’s drop-in Brain Boost Breakfast and an evening of Virtual Trivia (win gift card prizes!), Tuesday is GRAD Swag giveaway day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Lounge, and Wednesday features a drop-in pizza lunch from 12 to 2 p.m. Also featured are some RSVP events: Professional Headshots (Wednesday), May the Fourth Be With You (Thursday), and Paint Your Thesis/Paint Your Dissertation (Friday).

Graduate Student Celebration Week 2023
*See below for sign up links*

MONDAY, MAY 1
Brain Boost Breakfast
9:00–11:00 a.m., GRAD HQ
(Drop-in; no need to register)

Virtual Trivia 
6:30 p.m. Zoom link here

TUESDAY, MAY 2
GRAD Swag Giveaways
9 a.m.–2 p.m., Grad Lounge

WEDNESDAY, MAY 3
Professional Headshots
10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m., Grad Lounge
Sign up via GRAD Gargoyle for your professional headshot

Email Communications Workshop (HEA Credential Series)
12:00–1:30 p.m., GRAD HQ
Sign up for the Email Comms Workshop via GRAD Gargoyle

Fulbright 101
2:30–3:30 p.m., GRAD HQ
Sign up for Fulbright 101 via GRAD Gargoyle

Career30 Interviewing Best Practices
3:30–4:00 p.m., GRAD HQ
Sign up for Career30 via GRAD Gargoyle

Bowling at Seven Ten Social
6:30–8:30 p.m., Seven Ten Social
*Spring Meet-up presented by UChicago Student Wellness + UChicagoGRAD
(Fully registered)

THURSDAY, MAY 4
Pizza Lunch 
12:00–2:00 p.m., GRAD HQ
(Drop in; no need to register)

“Gap Year” Jobs Workshop & Reception for Master’s Students in Humanities, Social Sciences, and Divinity
4:00–6:00 p.m., GRAD HQ
Sign up for Gap Year Workshop via GRAD Gargoyle

May the Fourth Be With You
6:30–9:00 p.m., GRAD HQ
Sign up for Star Wars Social via GRAD Gargoyle

FRIDAY, MAY 5
Paint Your Thesis / Paint Your Dissertation
4:00–6:00 p.m., GRAD HQ
Sign up for Paint Your Thesis/Diss via GRAD Gargoyle

Alumni are eager to connect with you! With Wisr, UChicago’s mentoring platform, you can find new contacts and grow your professional network. Wisr allows you to find UChicago alumni mentors working in your field of interest and schedule conversations with them. Wisr can give you a great advantage when it’s time to think about internships or landing your first job. All you need is a valid LinkedIn account (here are some tips for setting up a LinkedIn account if you haven’t already).

You can also search for alumni through UChicago’s Alumni and Friends’ Alumni Directory to reconnect with friends and expand your professional network. Search by name, or tailor your results with up to three search criteria.

The University has resources to help you protect your personal and digital security. Download the Safe App to access features including direct calling capabilities for the UCPD and CPD, mobile blue light (sends your location and calls UCPD simultaneously), links to safety resources, and information on safe transportation. Watch this video on the Safe App.

It’s also important to take steps to protect your personal data and practice digital security—especially during tax season. If someone asks for personally identifiable information such as your Social Security Number, make sure you ask 1) why they need this information and 2) how it will be used.

If you need to submit sensitive information (e.g., IRS forms such as a W-9) to a unit at UChicago, you should not include your SSN or other personally identifiable information in the body of an email or as an attachment. Email is inherently insecure. Instead, make the information available to a specific person via a secured folder such as Box.

Other steps you can take:
Use two-factor authentication on essential accounts such as email and banking apps. You can also register your phone with two-factor authentication and download the Duo Mobile App.

• Keep files secure (and protect against data loss) by backing up data on an external hard drive.
• Use a VPN when sharing sensitive information to maximize privacy.
• Check your credit report annually from the three credit bureaus (Equifax, TransUnion, Experion)

More information on how to handle and protect your personally identifiable information can be found through IT Services.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Award Program sends thousands of American students around the globe each year to study, research, teach, and carry out creative projects. Fulbrighters come from all disciplines—social sciences and humanities, as well as the arts, STEM, business, medicine, and0 law. The University has recently been named a top producing institution for Fulbright, and we are excited to continue contributing to our students’ many Fulbright successes in the next application cycle.

The fellowships team has scheduled the first two events of the Fulbright season. Join us for Fulbright 101: Exploring your Fulbright Options on Wednesday, March 8 at 2:30 p.m.

We are also thrilled to offer a joint info session with Fulbright staff on Monday, March 20 at 3 p.m. After a brief presentation from Fulbright, attendees will join UChicagoGRAD in a virtual breakout room to address questions unique to our campus nomination process. PLEASE NOTE: In addition to registering for this session through GRAD, students must also register through IIE to receive the meeting link.

Dissertation writing is a marathon. UChicagoGRAD is here to support you in building a sustainable writing practice and getting the feedback you need to move forward. 

 One-on-One Writing Consultations 

UChicagoGRAD’s graduate writing advisors provide feedback on a variety of academic writing projects, including dissertation chapters, conference presentations, and academic articles. Advising appointments focus on your goals and concerns. Your advisor will work with you to understand your audience, refine your strategy, and set practical steps for revision. Schedule an advising appointment.  

 Spring Break Dissertation Write-in 

UChicagoGRAD’s Spring Break Dissertation Write-in (March 13-16) is an intensive group writing retreat designed to help you build community and make progress on your work. Attendees will meet for breakfast and a quick tip session each day at 9:00 in UChicagoGRAD HQ. They will then move to the GRAD Lounge to write independently for a three-hour block. At 12:30 they will return to GRAD HQ for lunch and conversation. Space is limited, so participants should commit to attending three of the four days. Participants should be PhD students at the proposal stage or later. RSVP for the Write-in. 

 Structured Writing Accountability Groups (SWAG) 

Structured Writing Accountability Groups invite PhD students to join together in communities of writing practice. These groups help writers meet their goals by facilitating weekly meetings over the course of Spring Quarter. Please note that these groups are designed to support writing productivity and are not forums for receiving peer feedback. Students will be assigned a group upon registration. Groups meet at the same time for 2 hours a week for the duration of the quarter. SWAG is open to all doctoral students who are working on a major writing project. Students must attend an introductory workshop to participate in the program. Fill out this form to register for SWAG. 

 Support in Navigating Mentor-Mentee Relationships 

Whether you are brand new to dissertation writing or deep into your project, relationships with faculty mentors play a critical role in your success. If you would like to discuss strategies for building effective mentoring relationships, you can request a mentorship advising appointment with Amanda Young, Associate Director of Graduate Student Affairs. Schedule an appointment through GRAD Gargoyle or by emailing amanday@uchicago.edu. 

 

 

 

DAB wants to create spaces where students from across the UChicago graduate community can continue to unite around their differences. To kick off Black History Month, DAB hosted its first Donuts with DAB event in the Grad Lounge office. DAB ordered donuts from Krispy Kreme and spent time connecting with students decompressing from studying for mid-terms. For a brief moment, students could put down their books and share a few laughs with one another. For more information about DAB and future events, don’t hesitate to contact us at graddab@uchicago.edu.

The 2022 tax filing deadline is not until April 18, 2023, but it’s never too early to takes steps toward successful tax preparation. Please take some time to review our Graduate Student Tax resources resources including an updated FAQ and recorded Tax Information Sessions that can be streamed at your convenience. Remember to reach out to gradhelp@uchicago.edu with your questions related to taxes and University payments.

Are you unsure about therapy and wonder what it’s like to talk with a therapist? Are you not interested in therapy but would like the perspective of a counselor? Perhaps you have a specific problem you would like to talk through, or concern about a friend. Let’s Talk provides easy access to free, informal, and confidential consultations with therapists from UChicago Student Wellness. You can drop in, and if you prefer, you do not have to give your name.

Winter Quarter Let’s Talk runs until March 10 and is open to all undergraduate and graduate students. Sessions are in-person on a first-come, first-served basis.

Mondays, 1–2 p.m. with Jerome Wilczynski, PsyD
Center for Identity + Inclusion, 5710 S Woodlawn Ave, Room 301

Fridays, 3–4 p.m. with Jessica Bychawski, LCSW
Biological Sciences Learning Center, 924 E. 57th St., Room 305

Whether you are brand new to graduate school or deep into dissertation writing, relationships with faculty mentors play a critical role in your student experience. It is common for students to seek advice in learning how to identify faculty mentors, get what they need from these relationships, and approach challenges or conflicts with faculty when they arise. UChicagoGRAD supports graduate students across campus in navigating these foundational relationships by working with students to develop communication, interpersonal, and self-advocacy skills that will set them up for success both in graduate school and beyond.

If you are experiencing specific challenges or conflicts with faculty mentors or you want to discuss general strategies for building effective mentoring relationships, you can request a mentorship advising appointment with Amanda Young, Associate Director of Graduate Student Affairs.

These appointments aim to provide students a space outside their academic program to discuss experiences with faculty mentors, raise questions about all aspects of the graduate school experience, develop strategies for handling difficult conversations and situations, and identify resources, policies, or other individuals on campus who can help. Ultimately, these one-on-one conversations aim to equip students with tools needed to build resilience and address challenges within a supportive environment focused on addressing each student’s individual situation.

There is more information about the types of issues and questions students bring to these meetings available on our website. To schedule an appointment or to ask questions, email Amanda at amanday@uchicago.edu.

The fourth and final 2022 estimated tax payment deadline is January 17, 2023, and it’s not too early to make sure you’re ready for it. Do you need to make an estimated tax payment on this date? How much do you need to pay? Confused? Graduate students can find more information about quarterly estimated tax payments here or, watch the recording of our 2022 Estimated Tax Information Session. if you have general questions, please email gradhelp@uchicago.edu.