For Fall 2026, The Graduate School is introducing an onboarding program for new Directors of Graduate Studies. Directors of Graduate Studies are key supporters and contributors to graduate student success. This role can include mentoring, problem-solving, and having difficult conversations, as well as being responsible for knowing and ensuring the program’s compliance with rules and regulations set by the Graduate Faculty Council of The Graduate School.
To support those taking on this new role, The Graduate School invites you to participate in the Directors of Graduate Studies onboarding program. This program is designed to bring faculty in similar roles together, establish connections, provide you with helpful resources for your new role, and create a shared understanding of our goals and opportunities.
Building relationships early is important to the success of any community, and we hope this program, including the initial kickoff sessions outlined below, will provide a foundation for ongoing collaboration and support throughout the academic year.
Virtual Preview Session: Thursday, August 27, 11am – 12pm
Join link (a separate invite will also be sent)
Before the in-person kickoff, we will host a brief virtual preview to introduce our intent, provide an overview of what to expect, answer questions, and take an opportunity to get to know each other.
In-Person Kickoff: Monday, September 14, 12pm – 1:30pm
Babbidge Library Heritage Room (located on Level 4)
Light lunch will be served
Please RSVP by September 3 (RSVP here)
What you can expect from the kickoff:
Explore how to leverage resources, policies and procedures to support the graduate experience and outcomes in collaboration with The Graduate School
Develop interdisciplinary connections and community with your colleagues in graduate leadership positions
Engage in Q&A with a panel of experienced Directors of Graduate Studies representing a variety of disciplines
We look forward to bringing everyone together and seeing a supportive community grow around this work going forward to support our students. Please reach out to graduatedean@uconn.edu with any questions.
