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GradMENTOR

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  • Helping Students Stay Motivated with IDPs

    Grad school is full of right-this-second deadlines and long-distance aspirations, and it can be challenging for students to find ways to plan everything that comes in between. Individual Development Plans can help student stay motivated and on the path toward their goals.

  • Lessons from AAU PhD Education Initiative

    The Association of American Universities’ PhD Education Initiative brought together eight universities to think about best practices for student-centered doctoral education, with special emphasis on enhancing career diversity and data transparency. Here are five particularly important lessons we learned.

  • Helping Students Finish Strong

    Graduate students have a lot on their plates at the end of the semester. What can you as a mentor do to help? 

  • Helping Students Start Strong

    As we near the end of summer break, our sleepy campus will soon be packed with students who are ready to tackle a new year and new semester. Our incoming graduate students, in particular, will likely feel equal parts excitement and anxiety in starting a new program on a new campus and (possibly) in a new state or country. We’ve got a few ideas to help students feel more at home at Illinois.

  • Compassion for our Mentees and Ourselves

    In a "normal" year, the end of the spring semester is a point when fatigue and stress can be heightened for both mentees and mentors alike. Add to that a few years of coping with a pandemic and all of its ramifications, and the end-of-the-year stress becomes even more palpable. It is a good time for compassion both for our mentees and ourselves.

  • Helping Students Develop Skills for Professional Growth

    Students need to foster independence and resourcefulness in identifying ways to advance their development, and as faculty mentors, you can help them get started with these simple steps.

  • Toolkits for Faculty and Staff

    The Graduate College recently updated our toolkits, which address crucial topics in graduate education. These toolkits connect faculty and programs to resources and strategies to support your work with graduate students from recruitment to graduation and beyond.

  • The Importance of Checking-in and Providing Feedback

    Providing a structured schedule of meetings with advisees will create space for them to connect and create accountability even in the most difficult situations. 

  • Making Campus Visits a Part of Your Recruiting Strategy

    You may be surprised at both the variety of ways to approach the virtual campus visit and some of its benefits. We recently talked with our Administrative Advisory Group about ideas worth pursuing. Here is a recap.