The Graduate College

RefWorks Citation Management Workshop

A two-hour, computer-based workshop conducted by WMU librarians Michele Behr and Barbara Cockrell that acquaints graduate students with RefWorks software and assists them in acquiring citation management skills that will sustain them throughout their programs of study.

Discipline-Specific Literature Review Search Workshop

A two-hour, computer-based library workshop, conducted by WMU library scientists, that imparts the skills necessary to convert students “lost in the library” into confident researchers who know how to locate information in their fields with relative ease. 

Writing for Scholarly Publication Workshop

Brand new and piloted with eight doctoral students in November 2006 for the first time!  An intensive four half-day session workshop conducted by a professional writing consultant who assists students in crafting articles for publication from their dissertation proposals.  Energetic, inventive, and stimulating, the workshop inspires enthusiasm for writing and demystifies the publication process.  Better yet – the consultant provides sustained support to students beyond the workshop experience until publication occurs.  The next workshop is slated for March 2007.  Contact the Graduate Center director for information.

Strategies for Empowerment During the Dissertation Process

First program in a series:
Communication Workshop for Doctoral Students:

A workshop structured to assist doctoral students in the development of productive advising relationships that result in high-quality dissertations completed in a timely manner. The presenters impart strategies for the following: facilitating the development of advisor-advisee relationships in which expectations for and conceptions of the dissertation are closely shared; introducing three advising models that provide the context for relationships with advisors; introducing specific task and relationship strategies that work most effectively with each advising model; providing students with options for empowerment in an advisor-advisee relationship.

Second program in a series:
Selecting a Dissertation Advisor and Configuring a Committee:

A workshop for doctoral students that imparts strategies for the following: selecting an appropriate dissertation advisor and configuring the dissertation committee; enhancing students' opportunities for productive and successful outcomes in their working relationships with advisors and committee members; engaging more fully in the dissertation process and becoming more proactive members of the dissertation team.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007 [link to flyer and more information about this session]

Third program in a series:
Aiming for Focus and Balance During and After the Dissertation Process:

A workshop for doctoral students structured to impart strategies for the following: understanding the interrelationships among the mental, physical, emotional, and social dimensions of health; identifying the manner in which personal health behaviors impact academic success during and after the dissertation process; developing a health plan that results in higher quality of life during and after the dissertation process; sharing with peers how healthy behaviors support and sustain during and after the dissertation.

Friday, October 12, 2007 [link to flyer and more information about this session]

Communication Workshop for Graduate Advising Faculty: A workshop structured to assist graduate advising faculty in the development of productive relationships with their advisees that result in high-quality dissertations completed in a timely manner. The presenters impart strategies for the following: facilitating the development of advisor-advisee relationships in which expectations for and conceptions of the dissertation are closely shared; facilitating more conscious communication with advisees; introducing three advising models that provide the context for relationships with advisees; introducing specific task and relationship strategies that work most effectively with each advising model.

Practical Strategies for Writing the Dissertation: a one-day workshop conducted in the fall semester provides a pragmatic framework through which the process of crafting the dissertation becomes an attainable goal. Issues such as procrastination, perfectionism, and time management are addressed.

Dissertation Proposal Conferences: a two-hour workshop structured to provide one-on-one collaborative interaction between the dissertation advisor, the student, and three writing strategists. The workshop provides guidelines to faculty serving in an advisory capacity for the first time, reinforcement to seasoned faculty lending support to their colleagues and students, and encouragement to doctoral students about to enter into the proposal phase of their graduate programs. In addition, it assists four doctoral advisor/advisee pairs, within a one-day time frame, in crafting clearly structured dissertation proposals upon which there is consensus and understanding.

Dissertation Retreat: a weeklong residential experience conducted in the spring semester and designed to facilitate students' progress through the dissertation process by providing the professional consultation, guidance, and support necessary to scholarly research and writing. The tranquil setting afforded to dissertation retreat participants provides the opportunity for a productive and rewarding scholastic engagement.

Advisors' Workshop: a three-hour workshop to help advisors develop productive relationships with master's and doctoral advisees that result in high-quality theses and dissertations completed in a timely manner. Two workshop formats provide optimum effectiveness across all disciplines: qualitative and quantitative. The workshops impart advising strategies to new advisors and the opportunity for seasoned faculty to collaborate with junior colleagues in their new roles as advisors, as well as to fine-tune their own advising skills.

Grant Writing Workshops: a series of one- and two-day workshops for graduate students who are interested in learning the intricacies of writing federal, corporate, and foundation grants.

Discipline-Specific Workshops in Grant seeking: one-day workshops tailored to meet the research funding needs of individual graduate students.