February 2022 Newsletter for Graduate & Professional Students

Vice Provost for Education
Newsletter for Graduate & Professional Students 
February 2022

Announcements from  
Vice Provost for Education Karen Detlefsen, Ph.D. 

Welcome to the second half of February! I hope you're as pleased as I am to see the significant drop this past week in our COVID positivity rate. With numbers dropping quickly, the University has eased restrictions on indoor social events. More information can be found on the Public Health Guidance page. I remain hopeful that these trends will continue, and as they do, that we'll see more restrictions lifted in the coming weeks. 

Wellness Competition  
As announced earlier this week, the University is sponsoring a friendly competition among our graduate and professional schools. Schools will be rated on the following goals: 

• students uploading their COVID booster shot information by February 28 (other than those with approved exemptions)
• students uploading their flu vaccine information by February 28 (other than those with approved exemptions) 
• students completing their once-every-two-week surveillance tests by February 28  

The School in each of 3 categories (organized by student population) with the highest percentage of 90% or greater on all three goals will receive an additional 25% of its GAPSA general fee allocation for its student government(s). In addition, the School showing the greatest increases in these areas will receive a $10,000 bonus for its student government(s). See more details at the University’s COVID website. 

Graduate Leadership Awards  
Nomination Deadline: March 1 
Nominate grad student leaders who have made significant and lasting contributions to graduate & professional student life at Penn for two awards: the President's and Provost's Honor for Developing New Initiatives and the Dr. Andy Binns Award for Outstanding Service. Students who graduated in December 2021 or will be graduating in May or August of 2022 are eligible. 

Graduate Degrees Updates 

• Deadline to apply for graduation: The Spring 2022 deadline for PhD and Research Master’s students to apply for graduation so that their name appears in the Commencement program is Friday, February 25. Students must submit their graduation application before that date or their name will not be printed in the May Commencement program. Find more details on the Graduation Calendar. 
   
• New! One on one formatting support for PhD Students: Graduating PhD students who have dissertation formatting questions, need technical support in Word, or just want peace of mind before they deposit can book a virtual appointment at calendly.com/elwebb/graduatefellow or, starting February 23, attend in person drop-in hours at the Grad Center. Please note that formatting appointments will be required for students who wish to deposit during peak periods or any student who uploads a dissertation with significant formatting errors. 
   
• New dissertation formatting guide: Check out the updated PhD dissertation formatting manual, which incorporates more of the previously unwritten rules and offers some PC-based technical guidance. The PhD Graduation Checklist, PhD Dissertation Formatting Checklist, Research Master's Graduation Checklist and FAQs are all available on the Graduate Degrees website. 

Highlighted Resources  

Visit the Grad Center on Locust Walk!  
I am excited to announce that the Graduate Student Center has resumed regular hours and operations at 3615 Locust Walk, with newly upgraded HVAC system, meeting rooms, and other improvements throughout the building. Stop by to see the space, study or hang out with friends, or just grab a free coffee or tea on the way to class (don't forget to bring your own mug!). Details and visitor guidelines at the Grad Center website.  

Let’s Talk  
Let’s Talk provides access to free and confidential drop-in conversations with a trained professional at various locations across campus. Students can talk about any stress and anxiety they are feeling, bounce around ideas, and work through their emotions. Some common concerns might include: stress, sadness, difficulty adjusting to graduate school, academic or relationship concerns, family and financial problems, or other topics. Learn more and see all locations and times on the Student Counseling website. 

Campus Resource Drop-in Hours and Consultations at the Grad Center   
Stop by the Grad Center’s Student Support Services Office (Room 301) to meet with campus partners offering weekly drop-in advising and consultations for graduate and professional students. Learn more and see upcoming dates. 

• Dissertation Formatting Support Drop-in Hours: Wednesdays, 2:00 – 5:00pm 
• Let’s Talk Drop-in Hours: Thursdays, 2:00 – 5:00pm 
• Penn Violence Prevention Drop-in Hours: Tuesdays, 10:30am – 12:30pm 
• Weingarten Drop-in Writing Consultations: Mondays, 1:00 – 4:00pm 

Additional University Resources 
The University offers a wide range of resources designed to enrich your graduate experience and support the many different dimensions of your wellness, including emotional, physical, social, spiritual, and financial. Read about all of the resources available to you at the Grad Center’s Resource Guide.  

Upcoming Events and Activities

Graduate Academic Support Groups  
Monthly on Fridays, starting February 18
Graduate Academic Support Groups are a partnership between the Weingarten Center, the Graduate Student Center, and other campus partners providing an affirming, supportive community for graduate students to make progress toward academic goals while pursuing their degree at a predominantly white institution. Sessions will be offered for 4 hours monthly and will include space for coworking and reflection, opportunities to connect with other students, and a supportive space for making progress on your goals.  

 

Support for Publishing Workshops  
Penn Libraries and the Grad Center are cosponsoring a series of workshops focused on elements of the publishing process. Join us online or in-person for sessions covering citation management, impact metrics, promoting your work, selecting the right publishing venue, fair use, and more. Upcoming workshops include:  

• Zotero 101 | February 17, 11:00am-12:00pm  
• Responsibly sharing your scholarship: what exactly is a Creative Commons License, and why should you care? | March 15, 2:00-3:00 pm 
• I finished my Dissertation, Now What? | March 28, 2:00-3:00 pm 

See the full series of workshops and check back as workshops are added to the list. 

Personal Finance Series  
Please join us for this series on Personal Finance for Graduate Students, hosted in collaboration with Financial Wellness @ Penn! Topics covered will include: Setting a financial goal, budgeting basics, understanding your relationship with debt, and investing options. All sessions will be held in Grad Center Room 304. Please register in advance!  

• Wednesday, February 23, 6:00-7:00 PM | Introduction to Personal Finance  
• Tuesday, March 15, 5:00-6:00 PM | Introduction to Budgeting  
• Monday, April 18, 5:00-6:00 PM | How Much Should You Borrow?  

Student Families Meet-Up at the Penn Ice Rink 
Sunday, February 27, 12:00-3:00 PM  
The Family Resource Center is hosting its first family meet-up event of the semester! Join us at Penn Ice Rink for an afternoon of fun on the ice with free skate rentals for everyone, followed by activities with other Penn families at the premises.  

Spring Break Writing Retreat  
Wednesday, March 9 - Friday, March 11 | Registration Deadline: March 1 
This 3-day program provides research students with the space, time, and encouragement to make progress towards completing your dissertation, thesis, or other major research writing project. $10 program fee (waivers available). Space is limited! Learn more and register at the website.   

Spring 2022 Language Chats  
Practice your language skills and meet other Penn graduate & professional students for weekly informal conversations in a new or familiar language. Snacks and good conversation provided! Learn more and submit an interest form.  

See more upcoming events and activities:  

• Grad Center Events Calendar  
• Grad Center “Events Around Campus” Calendar  
• University Life Calendar of Events  

 

Tips for Success in Graduate & Professional School 

Lessons About the Academic Job Market from Sorority Rush What the process of sorority and fraternity recruitment can teach us about the academic job market.  

Writing Reference Letters for People with Disabilities. Helpful guidance and equitable best practice for writing reference letters for someone with a disability.  

Classroom Inclusivity: Lessons Learned and Strategies Moving Forward. Lessons and advice from Dalmacio Dennis Flores, PhD, ACRN, Assistant Professor of Family and Community Health at Penn Nursing.   

 

Highlighted Opportunities 

Call for applicants: 2021 TA Trainers  
Deadline: February 18  
Do you enjoy teaching? Would you like to help prepare your peers to enter the classroom next fall? The Center for Teaching and Learning asks experienced TAs to apply to help train new TAs. CTL needs doctoral students in the humanities, social sciences, sciences, and engineering to lead new TAs in workshops and facilitate teaching demonstrations and small-group discussions of scenarios.  

Trustees’ Council of Penn Women (TCPW) Grants  
Deadline: February 20  
Grants of $1,000-3,000 for individuals or organizations promoting women's issues, the quality of graduate or undergraduate life for women, the advancement of women, and/or the physical, emotional, and psychological well-being of women. Awards will be announced in April/May and funds will be distributed in July/August for the coming academic year.  Visit www.alumni.upenn.edu/tcpw for more details and to apply. 

ARDRAW Grant Program 
Deadline: February 25 
The Social Security Administration’s (SSA’s) Analyzing Relationships Between Disability, Rehabilitation and Work (ARDRAW) Small Grant Program provides a one-year, $10,000 stipend to graduate students conducting research that fosters new analysis of work, rehabilitation, and disability issues. 

To see additional fellowships and award opportunities, visit CURF Resources for Graduate Students and Grad Center Grants and Fellowships webpages. For general information about graduate funding and need-based aid, please visit the Graduate Funding and Finances section of the Graduate Resource Guide.    

 

About the Vice Provost for Education 

The Vice Provost for Education oversees undergraduate and graduate education at Penn, developing and implementing policies that promote academic excellence, innovative teaching and learning, and interdisciplinary knowledge across the University. The Vice Provost chairs the Council of Undergraduate Deans, the Council of Graduate Deans, the Council of Professional Master’s Degree Deans, the Graduate Council of the Faculties, and the Faculty Advisory Council for Access and Academic Support Initiatives. 

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