Dear UConn Graduate Students,

Welcome, UConn grads, to a new semester! Thank you all for your many contributions to the UConn community as students, trainees, teachers, researchers, and more. UConn could not be what it is without graduate students.

As we begin a new year, I want to remind you that The Graduate School is here to support you. Members of The Graduate School's Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA) Team are available for private conversations with you. When concerns arise, The Graduate School works with students, faculty, and staff to determine the best steps to take and the most beneficial resources for the given situation. Contacting the GSPA team is a great starting place for any graduate student concern, especially if you are not sure where to begin.

The Graduate School is also here to assist you in your development as a scholar and professional. Throughout the spring semester, there will be numerous opportunities for you to build the skills required to thrive during your graduate program and beyond. Please see below for more information on upcoming events.

Best wishes for a happy, healthy, and academically successful new year,

Leslie M. Shor
Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of The Graduate School

Timely Topics

Timely Topics is a series of learning opportunities for students to engage with subject matter experts on topics relevant to graduate education. This semester, the student track of the Timely Topics Series events will include sessions on degree auditing, imposter phenomenon, web accessibility guidelines for your thesis or dissertation, and navigating a successful transition from graduate student to postdoctoral scholar. Visit the Timely Topics page for dates (the first sessions are on Wednesday, February 11!), full session descriptions, and to register.

Industry Insights

Are you interested in a career in the biotech/pharmaceutical industry? Register now for the upcoming series on Industry Insights. This virtual series, which takes place on the last Monday of every month this spring over lunchtime, will feature professionals from the biotech/pharma space who will share their thoughts on the skills necessary to succeed in this industry. They will also provide suggestions for how graduate students and postdocs might build the skills needed to land these jobs. The first event takes place on Monday, January 26, from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM. Once registered, you will receive a link to the program.

GRADCHAT

GRADCHAT is a casual, low-stakes conversation with students about the UConn Graduate Student Experience, hosted by Kimberly Curry, Director of Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Support. Conversations will be held virtually via Webex. Graduate students across all regional campuses are encouraged to attend and connect! Spring semester's GRADCHAT will begin January 30, 2026, from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (Join link).

Graduate Student Resource Fair

The Graduate School, together with the Graduate Student Senate, is hosting a Graduate Student Resource Fair on Friday, January 30, from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM in the Wilbur Cross North Reading Room. All graduate students are invited to attend to visit with 15 campus offices that support graduate students and their work. Stop by with your questions and enjoy a cup of coffee and snacks!

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) and Graduate Student Showcase

The Graduate School will be hosting the Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) and Graduate Student Showcase on April 8, 2026, from 8:30 AM-12:30 PM in the Konover Auditorium within the Dodd Center for Human Rights. This competition will feature 3-minute talks from graduate students in degree-granting programs. The talks must be accessible to a general audience. The winners of this competition will receive awards and may be eligible for the international 3MT® competition. If you are interested, please submit an application. The deadline to apply is Friday, February 6, 2026, at 5:00 PM. For more information on the event, please visit our Graduate Student Showcase webpage.

Graduate Student Appreciation Week 2026

The 2026 Graduate Student Appreciation Week at UConn, taking place from Monday, April 6 through Friday, April 10, is a week dedicated to celebrating the contributions and achievements of graduate students across all UConn campuses. The week includes a variety of activities and free events, such as a virtual GenAI Panel Discussion, Multicultural Food and Music Festival, Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) and Graduate Student Showcase, Trivia Night, and more, all designed by The Graduate School in partnership with all the regional campuses and Storrs campus affiliates to recognize the impact of graduate students in our community.

Add/Drop

February 2nd is the end of the Add/Drop period for Spring 2026. Classes dropped after this date will have a "W" recorded on the transcript. Students withdrawing from all of their credits, including during the Add/Drop period, must complete a Voluntary Separation Notification form and may be subject to the University's Withdrawal Tuition and Fee Adjustment Schedule.

As a reminder, graduate students must take action to enroll (or request an Academic Leave of Absence) every semester of their program.

Apply to Graduate

If you are planning to graduate this semester, you should apply to graduate by the fourth week of the semester through Student Admin. If you wish to attend Commencement, you must both apply to graduate through Student Admin and also RSVP to the ceremony after spring break. More information is available on the Commencement website.

Grad Announcements

Keep an eye on the Grad Announcements emails for important information and upcoming events throughout the semester. These digest-like emails land in your inbox daily with the subject line, “Announcements for UConn Graduate Students”. Announcements must be submitted at least 48 hours in advance. The Graduate School also has an Events Calendar.

Remote Work for GAs

GAs are expected to arrive on campus at UConn prior to the start date of their appointment and remain through the duration of their appointment. GAs may be able to work remotely within Connecticut, provided they have written faculty supervisor approval and the faculty supervisor finds that the responsibilities of the position can be completed from the remote location. In very limited instances, an exception to work as a GA while outside of Connecticut may be approved by the Dean of The Graduate School, however, such exceptions are typically limited to instances where the duties of the position require the GA to be out-of-state. If circumstances require a GA to leave Connecticut during their appointment, they must make arrangements with their GA supervisor to use time off or request a GA Leave through Human Resources.

Network for Enriched Mentoring (NEM)

The Graduate School's Network for Enriched Mentorship (NEM) is a UConn-wide interdisciplinary mentoring network for all graduate students, with a special focus on minoritized graduate students and those who come from backgrounds that may disadvantage them. Through NEM, graduate students can find mentors outside their department or field to talk with them about issues that arise beyond coursework and dissertations.

Learn more about NEM or contact Peter Chen (peter.chen@uconn.edu), Director of the NEM, for more information.

Check out The Graduate School's Mentee Guide for tips on finding a mentor and successfully navigating the mentor/mentee relationship.