Save the date for Graduate Student Appreciation Week 2023! Throughout the week of October 9-14 we'll be celebrating our incredible graduate students. More details are coming soon to our website, and stay tuned for updates in GradLINKS closer to GSAW 2023!

Looking for a new listen to add to your queue? Need a little company on that upcoming trip? We asked graduate students at Illinois to recommend their favorite podcasts, and you delivered! Whether you're interested in comedy, sports analysis, business news, or tech tips, our list of your favorites has something for everyone.

The reality of grad school and the kinds of jobs many people get after grad school means that moving to new communities is often a fact of life. And moving to a new place means renegotiating what one’s community looks like (How do I stay in touch with people I care about? How do I make a new friend?) and dealing with the loneliness that can bring up. In our new GradLIFE blog post, Andrea Bridges shares four tips from former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy aimed at helping us foster a sense of community in our lives-- no matter where or when we find ourselves. 

August 3 is the last day to add/drop (with a "W") a SF (12 wk), POT 1 Ind Study, S2 (8 wk), or S2B (4 wk) course (via Student Portal, dept approval req.); and the last day to withdraw from ALL courses for these terms if not also registered for S1 or S2A (prior 4 wk sessions) with “W’s” recorded (form and dept approval required; ISSS approval required for intnl students). Forms must be submitted by 5pm Reading Day, Aug 3. Students in non-standard part of term courses should refer to their program for deadlines. Questions about deadlines or submitting a form? Click for an advising appointment!

July 28 is the last day to submit a form to drop a S2B (4 week) course without a grade of “W” recorded; and the last day to submit a credit/no-credit request form for a S2B (4 week) course (students initiate these registration requests via the Graduate College Student Portal).  Students enrolled in non-standard part of term courses should refer to their graduate program for deadline information. Have questions about registration deadlines or submitting a form? Click here for an advising appointment!

Are you preparing to go on the academic job market? The Writers Workshop will review genre expectations for statements of teaching philosophy and provide examples from a range of disciplines. We will share strategies for brainstorming and drafting your own statement. This event will be held through Zoom. It is open to current University of Illinois affiliates (students, faculty, and staff). Please register with your University of Illinois email account by 11:59pm CT on July 24, and we will send a reminder email with the Zoom meeting invitation on the morning of the event.

The Writers Workshop will review genre expectations for diversity statements and provide examples from a range of disciplines. We will share strategies for drafting and tailoring your own diversity statements. This event will be held through Zoom. It is open to current University of Illinois affiliates (students, faculty, and staff). Please register with your University of Illinois email account by 11:59pm CT on July 26, and we will send a reminder email with the Zoom meeting invitation on the morning of the event.

Create the "write" habit! Our hybrid writing group provides graduate students with dedicated time to make progress on thesis or dissertation writing in a supportive atmosphere. Each meeting consists of a short goal-setting conversation, quiet writing time, and a concluding reflection and wrap-up. Use this time to create or return to a writing routine, make progress and meet deadlines on long-term projects, or jump-start a new writing project. You only need to register once with your UofI email to receive weekly email reminders all summer!

During the week-long retreat, you’ll benefit by establishing a regular and sustainable writing habit, becoming more aware of your own writing processes, setting and reflecting on writing goals, and refining your revision strategies. Each day, you'll have time to work independently on your writing as well as to participate in optional afternoon workshops about common concerns that arise during long-term writing projects, such as maintaining momentum, asking for and using feedback, and finding work-life balance. This event is open to U of I affiliates. Please register in advance.

In May, the university and bike sharing partner Veo launched a pilot program to explore the use of Cosmo-e bikes on campus through Aug 7. Click the link above to share your observations and comments about the ongoing trial period. Ridership data and community feedback will help determine guidelines for motorized class two e-bikes on university streets and bicycle lanes before the fall semester. Rental bikes were previously restricted to pedaling only in these areas. More information about the program is available at https://fs.illinois.edu/News/campus-pilot-project-for-motorized-bikes.

Are you interested in sharing your research and building science communication skills? Consider joining the Community Seminar Series, a program that gives graduate students and postdocs an opportunity to share their health-related research with the public. We are currently recruiting presenters for Fall 2023. Presenters will be responsible for delivering one webinar and will work closely with Extension mentors to develop, practice, and deliver their webinar. Webinars will be hosted on Wednesdays from noon - 1 p.m. CT beginning October 4th. Please reach out to mmw3@illinois.edu to participate.

Beat the heat by coming indoors and watch exciting soccer action! The Illini Union Courtyard Cafe will be streaming select games of the 2023 Women's World Cup. The tournament is held in Australia and New Zealand this year so due to the time difference, the Illini Union is only able to show a few of the games. Complete schedule

Negotiating salaries, raises, and promotions can be a daunting and uncomfortable task. You need to advocate for yourself, and we're here to help and share tips for success. Join Women@NCSA on Wednesday, July 26 from 2–3 p.m. via Zoom for an exciting free talk on equal pay and benefits in "Prove Your Value: Successful Negotiation at Work and Beyond" by Beatrice Perkins, Marketing Director for College Board and U of I Alum.

Join Sinfonia da Camera, July 24 — 29, in Smith Memorial Hall as we welcome renowned piano faculty and students from around the globe at the Illinois Summer Piano Institute. Featuring: Daily Masterclasses (open to the public!), Student Gala Concerts and evening Faculty Recitals presenting works from Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, Schumann, Lutosławski, Ben-Haim, Ravel, and Debussy – to name a few! On Saturday, July 29, this incredible week concludes with Aviram Reichert in a performance of Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F and winners of the Student Concerto Competition with Sinfonia da Camera!

Illinois researchers are invited to join IHSI and OPD to learn about the ARPA-H Broad Agency Announcement, generate or refine project ideas, and connect with researchers interested in applying for this opportunity. Lewis-Burke’s Eve Granatosky will provide an overview and advice on proposal preparation followed by a networking lunch with discussion and Q&A, and breakout discussions by focus area. 

NCSA will host a satellite site for the next PSC/ACCESS training event on Machine Learning and BIG DATA from July 31 - Aug 1, 2023. This will be an in-person event hosted by various satellite sites; there will not be a direct-to-desktop option for this event. The number of seats is limited. To register, please create an ACCESS ID, then sign up by Friday, July 28.