Professional Development
Teaching Resources
You might be given the opportunity to teach; as a grader, TA, or instructor of record. You might be interested in pursuing careers in academia or in other teaching roles.
Career Readiness
You need more than academic training to find, land, and succeed in your career.
New TA Orientation
Learn to navigate the resources available to TAs, as well as dip your toes into inclusive teaching approaches. This half-day orientation is required by some departments and recommended for all TAs.
GRAD 6000
Take a deeper dive into pedagogy (teaching approaches) and inclusive teaching practices with this 1 credit course. GRAD 6000 is offered every spring and fall semester.
Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL)
UConn’s Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) offers a variety of resources, from websites to workshops, to in-person consultations and observations.
Center for the Integration of Research Teaching and Learning (CIRTL)
UConn is a member of the Center for the Integration of Research Teaching and Learning (CIRTL). Make the most of this partnership to learn nationally recognized levels by participating in online and in-person trainings, joining a community of folks curious about the theory underlying good teaching, and by developing a project to improve your teaching.
Graduate Certificate in College Instruction (GCCI)
Earn UConn’s Graduate Certificate in College Instruction on your transcript by participating in 9-10 credits of pedagogy coursework.
Career Center
UConn’s Career Center is your go-to for career advice, resources, career focused workshops, a 1:1 career consultation.
Timely Topics
The Graduate School’s timely topics series often includes workshops or webinars that touch on these issues.
Academic Job Search Series
Learn the ins and outs of the academic job search.
CIRTL @ UConn workshops
Participate in hybrid workshops to build soft skills needed to succeed.
UConn is a member of the Center for the Integration of Research Teaching and Learning (CIRTL). Make the most of this partnership to learn nationally recognized levels by participating in online and in-person trainings, joining a community of folks curious about the theory underlying good teaching, and by developing a project to improve your teaching.
National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD)
UConn is a member of NCFDD (National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity), which provides you opportunities to engage with online content to prepare yourself for an academic career.
Mentoring
As a graduate student or postdoc you are a mentee. You might also be a mentor to undergraduate students or junior graduate students. No matter what career you pursue, you will likely be in a mentor role too.
CIMER (Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experience of Research) Entering Mentor (EM) and Mentoring Up (MU)
Build your skills as a mentor while also empowering yourself as a mentee through this program that combines the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences of Research’s (CIMER) Entering Mentoring (EM) and Mentoring Up (MU) trainings. This training program is 8 weeks long for 1.5 hours a week.
Equity and Inclusion
Recognizing how our backgrounds affect our experiences in academia and the workforce and learning to work with people different from ourselves are key to success here and beyond.
Timely Topics
The Graduate School’s timely topics series often includes workshops or webinars that touch on these issues.
Dodd Center for Human Rights
Periodic workshops on having difficult conversations and other topics.
Communication Skils
Oral and written communication skills are key to success at UConn and beyond.
Writing Center
Work with UConn’s writing center to find a tutor, take a class, or come for a writing retreat.
CIRTL @ UConn workshop
Learn the basics of communication science and apply it to your own research.
UConn is a member of the Center for the Integration of Research Teaching and Learning (CIRTL). Make the most of this partnership to learn nationally recognized levels by participating in online and in-person trainings, joining a community of folks curious about the theory underlying good teaching, and by developing a project to improve your teaching.
3MT (3 Minute Thesis Competition)
Build and show off your communication skills in the three-minute thesis competition.
Postdoc Research Day
Build and show off your communication skills by presenting your research in 3 minutes, or in a poster for a technical audience.
OVPR Grantwriting Trainings
The Office of the Vice President for research offers Grantwriting trainings periodically.
Leadership and Management
Learn effective leadership and management strategies.
CIRTL @ UConn workshop
Learn the difference between leadership and management and how to handle conflicts.
UConn is a member of the Center for the Integration of Research Teaching and Learning (CIRTL). Make the most of this partnership to learn nationally recognized levels by participating in online and in-person trainings, joining a community of folks curious about the theory underlying good teaching, and by developing a project to improve your teaching.
GSS and Graduate Student Organizations
Build leadership experience by participating in the Graduate Student Senate or other Graduate Student Organizations.
John Lof Leadership Academy
Open to engineering MS and PhD students, the John Lof Leadership Academy supports graduate students to build their leadership and communication skills, as well as earn a professional certificate and access funding for conference travel.
Leadership Certificate Series
Leadership Certificate Series is open to all UConn students (undergraduate and graduate; no postdocs, unfortunately) on any campus! Each leadership workshop runs for 9 weeks, with free, weekday evening sessions.
Consultations
Having someone to talk through a challenging situation with can open novel solutions that were not previously considered. Below are individuals dedicated to your academic, professional, and personal success, who you can reach out to for guidance and support.
Karen Bresciano (karen.bresciano@uconn.edu)
- Can help with: Formal Appeal and Hearing Procedures
Kimberly Curry (kimberly.curry@uconn.edu)
- Can help with: Conflict Mediation and One-on-One Private Support for Graduate Students
Megan Petsa (megan.petsa@uconn.edu)
- Can help with: Graduate Assistantships, Voluntary Separation and Reinstatement, and Enrollment Exceptions
Forms and Policies
The following covers the official guidance determined by The Graduate School and the University of Connecticut on various topics. They can be a great reference, but for any academic or personal challenges, please schedule a consultation.
Policy on Academic, Scholarly, and Professional Integrity and Misconduct
- Review the University of Connecticut’s policy on Academic, Scholarly, and Professional Integrity and Misconduct.
- Complete the mandatory, one-time online interpersonal violence prevention training to remove the hold on your registration.
- Overview on the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), which affords students certain rights concerning their student education records.
- Rules and expectations for students and organizations at the University.
Termination of Status and Academic Dismissal
- Policies and procedures about the termination of status or dismissal from the Graduate School.
Appeal and Hearing Procedures Policy
- A graduate student may file an appeal with The Graduate School when they disagree with actions taken or academic consequences imposed by an individual faculty member, graduate program, department, school, or college and when all good faith efforts to resolve their concern either through direct communication with the individual(s) involved or through applicable procedures in the graduate program, department, school, or college have failed.
- Graduate School Appeal Form
Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Interpersonal Violence
- Information concerning the University of Connecticut’s Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Interpersonal Violence.
Annual Security and Fire Safety Report
- The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report includes institutional policies on campus security, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, sexual assault reporting and investigation, educational programming, and other matters.
Identity-Based Resources
UConn's Cultural Centers
- The Cultural Centers/Programs at the University of Connecticut serve as vital resources in support of the social, behavioral, and cultural needs of students. They provide an important resource to the broader UConn community as a central point of reference for issues and historical context related to the particular demographic group represented by the center. The Cultural Centers/Programs also work collaboratively to bring light to issues that face the community of underrepresented populations at UConn.
Center for International Students and Scholars (CISS)
- The Center for International Students and Scholars (CISS) opened in July 2022 to create a welcoming space for international students and visiting scholars and bring together services for international students and visiting scholars at the Storrs campus.
Undocumented Student Resources
- The University of Connecticut strives to perpetuate an environment in which all students have the necessary resources and opportunities to be successful academically, socially, and professionally, regardless of their citizenship status. Our mission is to ensure that undocumented individuals have the support and reassurance of being able to pursue their goals of higher education, from the admissions process to navigating through campus.
Center for Students with Disabilities
- Learn about the accommodations process, the types of accommodations available, and how to connect with the Center for Students with Disabilities to obtain them.
- The Rainbow Center’s mission is to operate in the service of a more equitable world for all students, faculty, and staff at the University of Connecticut. Using an intersectional lens, we center our work on advocating for and increasing education, access, retention, identity development, and community-building for queer- and trans-spectrum communities.
- The mission of the Women’s Center is to educate, advocate, and provide support services for the achievement of women’s equity at the university and within the community at large.
Office for Diversity and Inclusion
- Here, you will find resources that the University has gathered to support the diverse communities that make up our student populations.
- InForm is a tool to help the UConn community navigate the reporting process and support available for a variety of incidents, including bias, harassment, safety concerns, and other types of misconduct. InForm is available to anyone coming into contact with UConn, including students, faculty, staff, visitors, and community members who have a concern to report, including bystanders.
- Faith-based organizations at the University of Connecticut
- The Graduate School is very happy to welcome our veterans and active service personnel, and their families to UConn. The decision to continue your education beyond the bachelor level is a serious one, and we are committed to supporting you as you strive to achieve your academic and personal goals.