Graduate College Events for Graduate Students & Postdocs

Tuesday, September 2, 2025

• 

  • 1:00 - 3:00 pm

  Writing an Effective NSF-GRF Graduate Research Plan

  Learn to craft a compelling Graduate Research Plan Statement.

  • Professional Development
• • 3:00 - 4:30 pm

  Graduate Assistant Employee Orientation (for TAs, RAs, GAs, and PGAs)

  • Informational
• 

  • All Day

  Graduate Student Welcome (Back) Week

  • Social/Informal Event
• 

  • 4:00 - 5:00 pm

  Faculty Job Search: Research Statements

  • Professional Development

Wednesday, September 3, 2025

• 

  • All Day

  Graduate Student Welcome (Back) Week

  • Social/Informal Event
• 

  • 3:00 - 4:30 pm

  Writing Effective Personal Statements for Fellowship Proposals

  Master the art of the personal statement.

  • Professional Development

Thursday, September 4, 2025

• 

  • All Day

  Graduate Student Welcome (Back) Week

  • Social/Informal Event
• • 9:00 - 10:30 am

  Graduate Assistant Employee Orientation (for TAs, RAs, GAs, and PGAs)

  • Informational
• 

  • 4:00 - 5:00 pm

  Strategic Storytelling: Networking

  How to network effectively

  • Professional Development

Friday, September 5, 2025

• 

  • All Day

  Graduate Student Welcome (Back) Week

  • Social/Informal Event
• 

  • 2:00 - 4:00 pm

  Writing Effective Fellowship Proposals in the Social Sciences & Humanities

  Learn to craft a compelling fellowship proposal.

  • Professional Development

Saturday, September 6, 2025

• 

  • All Day

  Graduate Student Welcome (Back) Week

  • Social/Informal Event

Tuesday, September 9, 2025

• 

  • 4:00 - 5:00 pm

  Faculty Job Search: Teaching, Diversity & Service Statements

  • Professional Development

Wednesday, September 10, 2025

• 

  • 3:00 - 5:00 pm

  Writing an Effective NSF-GRF Graduate Research Plan

  Learn to craft a compelling Graduate Research Plan Statement.

  • Professional Development

Thursday, September 11, 2025

• 

  • 3:00 - 4:30 pm

  Writing an Effective NSF-GRF Personal Statement

  Learn to craft a compelling Personal, Relevant Background, and Future Goals Statement.

  • Professional Development
• 

  • 4:00 - 5:00 pm

  Strategic Storytelling: Your Online Presence

  How to use online resources to get noticed

  • Professional Development

Monday, September 15, 2025

• 

  • 1:00 - 3:30 pm

  Writing Effective Fellowship Proposals in STEM

  Learn to craft a compelling fellowship proposal.

  • Professional Development

Tuesday, September 16, 2025

• 

  • 4:00 - 5:00 pm

  Faculty Job Search: Interviews

  • Professional Development

Thursday, September 18, 2025

• 

  • 4:00 - 5:00 pm

  Strategic Storytelling: Interviewing

  How to stand out in a job interview

  • Professional Development

Tuesday, September 23, 2025

• 

  • 4:00 - 5:00 pm

  Faculty Job Search: Negotiation

  • Professional Development

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

• 

  • 3:30 - 5:00 pm
  • Graduate College 202 (507 E. Green St., Champaign)

  Mentoring: Developing Your Approach

  How do I become an inclusive and responsive mentor?

  • Professional Development

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

• 

  • 12:00 - 1:00 pm

  Industry/Nonprofit Job Search Essentials

  An overview of the industry/nonprofit job search

  • Professional Development

Thursday, October 2, 2025

• 

  • 1:00 - 3:30 pm

  Writing Effective Fellowship Proposals in STEM

  Learn to craft a compelling fellowship proposal.

  • Professional Development