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Graduate Student Events

Upcoming Events

Extended Orientation Resource Fairs

Graduate and Professional Student Extended Orientation Resource Fairs, Wednesday via Zoom noon-1 p.m.

Each resource fair will feature speakers who will give a brief overview of their University office and the support and services they offer to graduate and professional students. The last 15 minutes of each event will be reserved for a question-and-answer period. Sessions will focus on a particular theme.

Wednesdays from noon-1 p.m. ET (via Zoom)

  • September 8: Academic Support - Access event recordings and slide decks under Recent Events

  • September 15: Professional Development - Access event recordings and slide decks under Recent Event

  • September 22: Student Life - Access event recordings and slide decks under Recent Event

  • September 29: Healthy U Fair, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

    • This event takes place on campus at the William Pitt Union lawn

Recent Events

Fall 2021 Events

Extended Orientation Resource Fairs

View the session recordings and slide decks for each area's presentation: 

Orientation Resource Fair: Academic Support (Video and Slide Decks)

In this resource fair, hear from the following areas regarding academic support opportunities for graduate and professional students.

Learn more about: School Ombudspersons; Fellowships; Financial Aid; Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies; University Center for International Studies; University Library System; Writing Center; Applied Data-Driven Methods Certificate; and Pitt IT.

Slide Deck PDFs

Orientation Resource Fair: Professional Development (Video and Slide Decks)

Hosted by the Office of the Provost - Graduate Studies, this extended orientation graduate and professional student resource fair will introduce you to University areas that focus specifically on professional development.

Learn more about: University Center for Teaching & Learning, CIRTL, Career Services, OACD, National Center for Faculty & Development & Black Doctoral Network, Pitt Commons, and Pitt Alumni Association.

Slide Deck PDFs

 

Orientation Resource Fair: Student Life (Video and Slide Decks)

Hosted by the Office of the Provost - Graduate Studies, each resource fair will feature speakers who will give a brief overview of their University office and the support and services they offer to graduate and professional students. 

Hear from: GPSG, Campus Recreation and Intramurals, Center for Creativity, PittArts, Pitt Concern Connection, Office of Veteran Services, PittServes, Healthy U

Slide Deck PDFs

Graduate and Professional Student Orientations

Visit Graduate & Professional Student Orientation Activities for more information.

Spring 2021 Events

Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week Programming
April 5-April 10, 2021

View the Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week 2021 page for details about events taking place throughout the week.

Provost's Award for Excellence in Doctoral Mentoring

Join Provost Ann E. Cudd from 4-5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 31, to recognize faculty members who serve as outstanding mentors to graduate students seeking a research doctorate degree. This virtual event will recognize both the 2020 and 2021 winners of the Provost's Award for Excellence in Doctoral Mentoring. Hear from all seven recent award winners on their expertise in mentoring. Register to attend.

Graduate Student Fitness Competition

A three-week fitness contest just for graduate students! This step-based competition will run from Thursday, March 18–Wednesday, April 7. Join with a team of four or simply register to be paired with a team and make new friends. Get outside and exercise safely while you compete for great prizes. Here’s what you can win: Apple Watch, Fitbit, AirPods or Beats, iPad, Electronic Gift Cards, Ninja Blender, Wellness Consultation + Personal Training sessions with Campus Rec, and MORE! (View detailed Prize Offerings list.) Register by March 17 to be paired with a team. Register any time to compete for individual weekly prizes. Details and registration.

Three-Minute Thesis

The 3MT competition celebrates the exciting research conducted by Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and  Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) students. Developed by The University of Queensland (UQ), 3MT cultivates students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills. The competition supports their capacity to effectively explain their research in three minutes, in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience. 

View the nine Pitt 3MT competitors' presentation videos and find guidelines to cast a vote for your favorite at Pitt 3MT People's Choice Award 2021. 

Winners will be announced live via Zoom at noon on Monday, April 12, 2021.

 

Graduate Programs and Career Paths in the Social Sciences: The Perspectives of Black Faculty
Thursday, April 15, 2021
5-6 p.m. ET

Curious about graduate programs and careers in the social sciences?

During this virtual panel session, faculty members will share insights into their own career paths and the graduate and professional programs their schools offer.

Featuring:

  • Dr. Yodit Betru, School of Social Work
  • Dr. Yolanda Covington-Ward, Department of Africana Studies, Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences
  • Dr. Waverly Duck, Department of Sociology, Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences
  • Dr. Esohe Osai, Department of Health and Human Development, School of Education
  • Lesha Greene, University Honors College (Moderator)

 

Pitt Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition: Speaking to Non-Specialists Workshops
Come and learn all you need to know to compete in the 4th annual Pitt Three Minute Thesis (3MT), to be held virtually on April 6, 2021. In this workshop, Meghan Culpepper (Office of the Provost) will review the rules and eligibility requirements for the 3MT Competition, and Dr. Joel Brady (Center for Teaching and Learning) will provide students with helpful hints and tips to prepare a three minute oration and an accompanying presentation slide of their research.

Wednesday, March 3 
noon-1 p.m.

Thursday, March 11
noon-1 p.m.
 

2021 Mentoring and Advising Summit: Inclusive Excellence in Mentoring and Advising — Graduate Studies Track

Thursday, March 11, 2021
9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

This year the 2021 Mentoring and Advising Summit: Inclusive Excellence in Mentoring and Advising includes a track specifically for graduate studies topics.

Click on the image below to view and download an agenda summit sessions in the Grad Track.

Mentoring and Advising Summit Grad Track Agenda

Supporting Trans and Non-Binary Students: A Resource Fair
Thursday, January 21
noon-1:30 p.m.

At this virtual resource fair, students will be provided with the opportunity to talk with faculty, staff and students about University resources, including preferred/chosen name initiatives, student organizations, campus facilities and much more. This event is sponsored by the University’s Transgender Working Group.

Improvisation for Mentoring Conversations
Thursday, February 11
noon-1:30 p.m.

Participants will be introduced to the principles of improvisation and practice using improv in everyday situations. Focus will be placed on building conversational and networking skills, in particular as they relate to initiating and cultivating mentoring relationships. 

Fall 2020 Events

Graduate and Professional Student Orientations

Visit Graduate & Professional Student Orientation Activities for more information.
 

Graduate and Professional Student Activities Fair
Monday, September 21 
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Parenting Resource Panels
Tuesday, September 29
1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Thursday, October 1
5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Graduate and Professional Student Town Hall
Thursday, October 8, 2020, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.



SETPoint Training
FORCE Training: Saturday, October 17, 2020, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Empowerment Self-Defense Training: Wednesday, October 21, 2020, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Fall 14-Day Writing Challenge
Register by October 14, 2020

Election and Reflection for Graduate and Professional Students
We do not know what the results of the 2020 Election will be, but we know that given the high stakes of the 2020 Presidential Election, people are likely to have strong emotions in the days following the election. This session, moderated by Vice Provost Amanda Godley, will provide a space for Pitt graduate and professional students to come together to process thoughts and feelings about the election and to begin to envision a positive path forward as one community. A member of the University Counseling Center will be present at each session. 

Sessions:
Wednesday, November 4, 2020, 9:00-10:00 a.m. EST
Wednesday, November 4, 2020, 4:00-5:00 p.m. EST
Thursday, November 5, 2020, 12:00-1:00 p.m. EST

2020 Election Results Postmortem
Monday, November 9, 2020, 6-7:30 p.m.
Registration required.

Do you have questions either about the electoral system in the United States or the results of the 2020 election? If so, please join us for an analysis and Q&A surrounding the 2020 election.

Engaged Scholarship 101 for Graduate Students
Monday, November 16, 2020, 12:00-1:30 p.m. EST

Graduate students are invited to participate in the Engaged Scholarship Development Initiative (ESDI) to learn how to implement Engaged Scholarship, connect with other engaged scholars, and advance their own work. For more information on EDSI, visit Engaged Scholarship Development Initiative at the Year of Engagement website.

Health Sciences Graduate Programs and Career Paths: The Perspectives of Black Faculty
Wednesday, November 18, 2020, 5-6 p.m. EST

Curious about graduate programs and careers in the health sciences? During this virtual panel session, faculty members will share insights into their own career paths and the graduate and professional programs their schools offer.

Making Difficult Conversations Less Difficult
Thursday, November 19, 2020, 2:30-5:00 p.m. EST

Join this interactive session to learn how to 1) successfully lead those difficult conversations most people dread by embracing the need to fully prepare with a sense of deep reflection, gratitude, and humility; 2) identify and apply personal preferences, approaches and tactics to influence success when resolving conflicts that include difficult conversations; and 3) discuss skills and techniques that serve to mitigate or prevent harmful conflict and difficult conversations. Registration required. This event is a part of the Center for Doctoral and Postdoctoral Career Development professionalism series.

How to Negotiate for Your Next Opportunity
Tuesday, December 15, 2020, 3-5 p.m. EST

Whether you are seeking a job, a training opportunity, or just the chance to acquire more resources or experience, effective negotiation skills are vital to your career. In this presentation, you will learn how to develop a negotiation strategy that will contribute to your success. Registration required. This event is a part of the Center for Doctoral and Postdoctoral Career Development professionalism series.

Spring 2020 Events

  • Personal Financial Planning, Presented by the Center for Doctoral and Postdoctoral Career Development, January 23, 2020, 3–5 p.m., S100 Thomas E. Starzl Biomedical Science Tower
  • Bystander Interventions for Sexual Harassment Workshop – Just for Graduate Students, January 28, 2020, Noon–1:30 p.m., 2500 Posvar Hall
  • Three Minute Thesis Preparation Workshop, Co-sponsored by the University Center for Teaching and Learning, February 4, 2020, 4-5 p.m., 528 Alumni Hall
  • Tax Preparation Appointments, For international graduate students and postdocs, February through April 15, 2020, More information can be found in this flyer (PDF) »
  • Graduate Studies Retreat, March 2, 2020, 8:30 a.m.–4:45 p.m., University Club, Ballrooms A & B
  • Three Minute Thesis Preparation Workshop, Co-sponsored by the University Center for Teaching and Learning, March 5, 2020, Noon–1 p.m., B26 Alumni Hall
  • CANCELED: Graduate and Post-doc Poster Fair at Pitt Day in Harrisburg, March 17, 2020
  • CANCELED: Parenting Resources Panel, For graduate students and postdocs, March 23 and Tuesday, March 24, 2020
  • CANCELED: Anti-Bias Workshop, Facilitated by Anti-Defamation-trained facilitators, Co-sponsored with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, March 24, 2020
  • Graduate-Professional Student Appreciation Week, April 6–10, 2020
  • VIRTUAL: Improvisation for Mentoring Conversations, For masters and doctoral students, April 9, 2020, 3–4:30 p.m., Zoom (details sent to participants upon RSVP completion)
  • CANCELED: Graduate Student Leader Appreciation Luncheon, Advisors welcome, By invitation only, Date TBA
  • CANCELED: Graduate and Postdoctoral Honors Convocation, For postdocs and graduates who received prestigious awards, By invitation only, April 6, 2020
  • VIRTUAL: Bystander Interventions for Sexual Harassment Workshop, Part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Co-sponsored with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, April 14, 2020, noon-1:30 p.m., Zoom (details to be posted)
  • VIRTUAL: Reveal of Pitt's Three-Minute Thesis University Competition, Co-sponsored with the University Center for Teaching and Learning and the University Library System, Due to the impact of COVID-19, the University-wide 3MT has moved to a virtual competition. Visit Pitt's 3MT website for details. April 20, 2020, 12-12:30 p.m., Zoom (details to be posted prior to event)
  • Creating Community: A Virtual Art Gallery Exploring Resilience and Creativity During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Created by Sara Baumann, Post-Doctoral Associate in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, and Jessica Burke, Professor of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences and Associate Dean for Education at the Graduate School of Public Health. Submissions are due April 20, 2020.

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