NRES Online M.S. Blog

Deadlines

By the 10th Day of Classes, September 4, graduate students should be correctly registered for Fall 2020. It is important to check your registration before this date on Self Service to make sure your registration is correct. September 4 is the last day to submit a form to elect to audit a semester course, the last day to submit a form to elect to register "in Absentia," the last day to add a semester course via Self-Service, and the last day to drop a semester course and receive a refund if reducing assessment range.

October 23 is the last day to change your curriculum for the current term. This includes adding or dropping a campus approved minor or concentration. Please check your student program information in Self-Service to verify your program information is listed correctly. Information on how to change your curriculum is available online. 

Funding and Fellowships

The ability to craft an effective funding proposal can reap a lifetime of rewards. As a graduate student, now is the time to hone your grantwriting proficiency. In this workshop, designed for students in STEM, you will learn how to identify funding opportunities, strategize the components of an effective proposal, and think like a grantwriter. Come with questions about this mysterious genre; leave with a template to help you become competitive for prestigious fellowships. Register through our calendar for an upcoming session: Sept 2, Sept 4, Sept 8, or Sept 10.

The ability to craft an effective funding proposal can reap a lifetime of rewards. As a graduate student, now is the time to hone your grantwriting proficiency. In this workshop, designed for students in the humanities and social sciences, you will learn how to identify funding opportunities, strategize the components of an effective proposal, and think like a grantwriter. Register for the link to join this online workshop. 

Many funding agencies require a personal statement in addition to an applicant’s research proposal. Why?! What on earth are you supposed to talk about? If these questions have induced writer’s block, this workshop is for you. We will assess the range of personal statement prompts you may encounter and distill their shared essence. Participants will learn the qualities of a compelling statement and practice writing techniques to arrive at a complete first draft. Register for the link to join this online workshop. 

Career and Professional Development

How can you create a powerful resume for your job search in industry or the nonprofit sector? In this workshop, you will learn how to incorporate your transferable skills and customize your document to make the best impression with employers. You will also learn how to choose a resume type that will highlight your experiences.

Start your month of strong! In this interactive workshop, you’ll get advice and strategies to help you make the most of the weeks ahead and accomplish what you need to succeed. You’ll leave the workshop with a concrete plan for achieving your goals for September.

Going on the academic job market? Applying for fellowships or postdocs? You’ll need a strong CV that presents your academic background and experience convincingly. Join us and learn the basics of preparing an effective CV, like what sections to include and how to format the document to highlight your experience. Bring your CV to the workshop if you have one. 

Thesis Tips

The beginning of the semester is a great time to evaluate your thesis goals! Take a look at our blog “New Year – New Thesis Goals” for advice on planning long-term and short-term projects, setting priorities, and holding yourself accountable. Our informal monthly meet-up "Plan Your Month" is an opportunity to get advice and develop strategies to make the most of your time. You might also check out our calendar for upcoming workshops to help you sharpen your skills and get off to a good start this semester.

Research and Teaching

Looking for a productivity boost? Join the Writers Workshop for sustained writing in the company of your colleagues from across the disciplines. Our virtual writing group aims to provide community and accountability. Each session begins with a short conversation about goals and ends with a wrap-up of accomplishments. Our fall writing groups will be held on Zoom every Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., beginning 9/4, and every other Monday and Tuesday. Please visit our calendar to register in advance. 

The Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, along with experts across campus, developed a student resources page that provides tools and strategies for students to be successful in their online or blended courses this semester. Students also have access to an electronic copy of Teach Yourself How to Learn, an easy-to-read text that teaches you how to take charge of your learning. 

Opportunities

The Humanities Research Institute is pleased to announce the Reading Groups for the 2020–2021 academic year! These faculty and graduate student reading groups meet regularly throughout the year and may organize public events on topics of interest to a broad range of disciplines. Please contact the reading group organizers directly for more information about the groups and their activities. Details at the link above.

The ILC will be conducting a fall discussion club for University of Illinois students. This club will meet for 1 hour every other week beginning the week of September 21 through the first week of November. Participants will be given approximately 2 hours of podcast content to review prior to each session. The day of week and time will be determined based on those who express interest. If this opportunity interests you, please fill out the interest form by Tuesday, September 15. At this time the podcast club is scheduled to meet via Zoom. 

The Council of Graduate Schools is conducting a study to better understand the challenges for current graduate students during the COVID-19 pandemic. They invite students to participate in a survey, which will ask about your current student experience and prospective post-graduation plans. The survey takes 10 minutes and will be open until September 30, 2020. Participation is voluntary and you can access the survey by following this link.