Graduate Student News

The Graduate School Newsletter: Fall 2026

Dear UConn Graduate Students,

Welcome to the fall semester! I hope that the summer months were restorative for you. As we approach the new academic year, I’d like to share a few news items, resources, and events with you. One of the most critical updates is the change to Duration of Status for international graduate students. Please view our newsletter to read more about this important immigration update.

This summer, The Graduate School launched a new online Graduate Student Orientation platform for all UConn graduate students. Whether you are a new or returning student, this tool will assist you in finding the support you need when you need it. Click here to visit the new site.

During the fall months, we hope to see you either online or in-person at our events. Be sure to check out the Graduate Student Resource Fair, taking place on Wednesday, Sept. 2, from 2-4pm on the Storrs campus. We are expecting 15+ offices supporting graduate students to attend. Also, consider joining us for the online GRADCHAT series, designed to provide a safe space for you and to help you succeed in graduate school. We invite you to view our Fall 2026 newsletter to learn more about what we have in store for you.

As always, The Graduate School is here to help. Reach out anytime for assistance.

Best wishes for a successful fall!

Leslie M. Shor

Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of The Graduate School

Fall 2026 Graduate Student Timely Topics Series

The Graduate School’s Timely Topics is a series of learning opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to engage with subject matter experts on topics relevant to graduate education. The student track of this series features sessions that highlight University resources and supports, answer questions about academic processes and procedures, and provide strategies to help students successfully navigate their graduate career. All sessions are offered virtually.

Register for a Session | View the full student track schedule and session descriptions

Fall 2026 Student Sessions:

Difficult Subjects/Civil Conversations: A Structured Dialogue Workshop
In today’s polarized academic and social climate, graduate Teaching and Research Assistants play a critical role in fostering respectful and productive conversations. This one-hour, tools-based workshop introduces structured dialogue techniques that support active listening, constructive engagement, and communication across difference. Participants will gain practical strategies to navigate challenging discussions in classrooms, research settings, and collaborative environments. Join the Democracy & Dialogues Initiative to strengthen your ability to lead with clarity, empathy, and professionalism.

Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Time: 11am – 12pm
Facilitators: Nana Amos, Director of Community Outreach & Engagement, The Dodd Center for Human Rights; Co-Director, Democracy & Dialogues Initiative & Brendan Kane, Professor, History and Literature, Cultures, and Languages; Co-Director, Democracy & Dialogues Initiative

Researcher Privacy for Graduate Students
In today’s increasingly connected academic landscape, researchers face unique privacy and security challenges. This session will provide you with practical strategies to assess and protect your digital footprint, implement essential privacy measures, and respond effectively to potential issues. From managing your scholarly identity to handling controversial research areas, learn how to balance academic visibility with personal privacy.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Assess your digital footprint and identify potential vulnerabilities specific to your academic work and online presence
  • Implement essential privacy protection strategies including password management, identity compartmentalization, and data removal techniques
  • Develop a personalized response plan for managing potential privacy threats related to your research activities

Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Time: 11am – 12pm
Facilitator: Jennifer Schaefer, Research Services Librarian, Homer Babbidge Library

Being Strategic: Career Readiness Milestones
Have you ever wondered whether you truly understood everything involved in reaching your career goals?
Do you ever feel like you wished you had taken a career prep action step sooner?
Maybe you know you need to do something, but “what” remains a mystery.

By the end of the session, you’ll have a clearer understanding of the career preparation process, a roadmap of important milestones for different career paths, and actionable next steps to help you navigate your career readiness with greater confidence. Identifying and reaching your career goals requires intentional steps and a structured plan.

Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Time: 11am – 12pm
Facilitator: Kay Gruder, Associate Director, Graduate Student and Postdoc Career Programs and Services, Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills

Making Connections That Count: Professional Communication & In-Person Networking
Strong professional communication—whether in person, over email, or in professional settings—is essential to success in graduate school and beyond. This session highlights strategies for communicating clearly and professionally in a range of contexts, as well as strategies for starting conversations, navigating in-person networking events, and following up effectively to turn brief interactions into lasting professional relationships.

Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2026
Time: 11am – 12pm
Facilitator: Melanie Sinche, Director of Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Success, The Graduate School

Register for a Session

Learn more about all of The Graduate School’s Timely Topics

Onboarding Program for Directors of Graduate Studies

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.

Graduate School News from UConn Today

Community, Collaboration, and Preparation

The Graduate School is dedicated to the welfare and progress of its students. We strive to strengthen this through a commitment to the ideas of creating community, promoting collaboration, and addressing your academic, professional, and career preparation. UConn is committed to fostering a diverse and dynamic culture that prepares you to meet the challenges of a changing global society.

The Graduate School leads and coordinates a variety of activities and resources to navigate your pathway through graduate school and to enrich the overall personal and professional experience of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.  Our vision for training of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars rests on three pillars as outlined in our academic plan.

Community: The Graduate School will enhance the quality of life for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars by nurturing an engaged community of scholars that includes all disciplines and all campuses.

Collaboration: The Graduate School will foster the development of inter-, cross-, multi-, and trans- disciplinary research and teaching programs by removing barriers to cross-departmental, cross-program, and cross-campus graduate and postdoctoral education.

Preparation: The Graduate School will enhance career and professional development of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars through programs designed to enhance discipline-independent, transferable skills. We utilize a framework of three categories to help students and scholars prioritize their activity: Professional Engagement, Career Development, Personal Growth.