From the Dean: Welcome to campus, Grad Buffs!
Make the most of this milestone year with events and resources offered by the Graduate School
Dear graduate students,
I hope everyone had a wonderful summer break, and welcome back to campus! For those I have not met yet, my name is Scott Adler, dean of the Graduate School.
The start of a new academic year is always exciting, and this year especially so. We have so much to look forward to as we celebrate the university’s 150th anniversary. Moments like these give us a chance to reflect on where we came from—and there will be events throughout the year that do so—but also give us a chance to envision what comes next, which you all can help us shape.
But that’s not the only thing happening this year. In January we will be welcoming the Sundance Film Festival to campus for the first time, transforming the campus into a hub of creativity and discovery. In the lead up, CU Boulder is partnering with the Sundance Institute to launch a year of academic, creative and experiential programming that extends far beyond the festival itself. More information about volunteering or getting involved is available on the CU Boulder Sundance Film Festival page.
Big events aren’t the only thing happening this year. Whether you are brand new to campus or a returning student, I encourage you to participate in a few of the opportunities offered to graduate students in particular to help you make the most of your time here at CU Boulder.
Peer Mentoring
The Graduate School has a robust peer mentoring program that brings together new and established graduate scholars to provide personal and professional support, encouragement and vital information in areas such as graduate life, living in Boulder, work-life balance, and advisor-advisee relationships. This program is a great way to connect and build community across disciplines. While registration is now closed, you can still reach out to our assistant director of professional development, Hailey Herman, to see about getting involved.
For those already signed up to participate in the program, be sure to attend the Graduate Peer Mentoring Program Meet and Greet on Sept. 9 to share coffee and a pastry with your mentor/mentee match and kick off the semester. We also strongly encourage mentors in the program to attend the Mentor Orientation on Sept. 2.
Professional Development Workshops
Professional development is a vital element of graduate education. Throughout the year, we offer a variety of professional development workshops that allow you to build your skills in ways that are applicable not only in academia, but in the broader professional world.
We send out a list of upcoming opportunities every month in our Bulletin. These events can vary widely, covering everything from career decision-making workshops to writing retreats offered as part of our Grad+ programming. Additionally, Career Services and the Center for Teaching and Learning offer valuable workshops and trainings such as our Inclusive Research Mentoring (CIMER) trainings.
Every year we also hold the Three Minute Thesis competition, an academic competition where doctoral students compete against their peers to present their thesis in a clear and compelling way in only three minutes. 3MT participants have access to exclusive training opportunities to hone their research communication skills. The top three competitors are awarded prize money, with the winner getting $1,500 and a chance to represent the university at the regional competition.
There will be an information session happening soon for those that might be interested, so keep an eye out for details about that. If you are a doctoral student, I highly recommend participating.
Graduate and Professional Student Government (GPSG)
GPSG is the shared governance organization that advocates on your behalf at CU Boulder. They not only support initiatives that empower graduate and professional students, but promote academic, professional and socioeconomic well-being.
In addition to working closely with your advisor and graduate program assistant, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Graduate School if you have questions—we are more than happy to help. I also encourage you to pay attention to our monthly bulletins, CU Boulder Today and our social channels for the most up-to-date news and information.
Welcome again to campus, and I hope you have a fantastic new year!
Sincerely,
Scott Adler
Dean of the Graduate School
Vice Provost, Graduate Affairs
Professor, Political Science