The Graduate School Survival Series is a weekly workshop series running each Friday from September through October, designed to help graduate students build the practical, professional, and personal skills needed to thrive throughout their program. Across eight interactive sessions, campus experts, librarians, career advisors, and fellow graduate students address topics ranging from time management and mental health to advisor relationships, academic writing, library resources, and career planning. Students are welcome to attend any or all sessions, and each 90-minute workshop is designed to offer tools participants can put into practice right away.
Workshop 1: Mastering Time & Finding Balance
Facilitator: Ren Morton, PhD Candidate
Date: Friday, Sept. 11, 2026
Time: 10:00am -11:30am
Location: Lyman 312
Description: Graduate school demands can feel overwhelming, with research, coursework, teaching responsibilities, and personal life competing for your attention. This interactive workshop helps you develop practical strategies for managing your time effectively while maintaining healthy boundaries. Learn how to prioritize tasks, overcome procrastination, set realistic goals, and create sustainable routines that support both your academic success and personal well-being.
Learning Outcomes:
- Identify personal time management challenges and productivity patterns
- Apply prioritization frameworks to balance competing demands
- Develop strategies for setting and maintaining healthy boundaries
- Create a personalized time management system that works with your brain, not against it
Register here.
Workshop 2: Creating a Support System While in Graduate School
Facilitator: Brandon Koscinski, PhD
Date: Friday, Sept. 18, 2026
Time: 10:00am -11:30am
Location: Lyman 312
Description: Graduate school can be both exciting and overwhelming. Join Brandon Koscinski, PhD, Staff Therapist from the Barnes Center, for an engaging and supportive workshop designed to help you build a strong foundation for your well-being during your graduate journey. This session will introduce you to the mental health and wellness resources available at the Barnes Center, offer practical self-care strategies, and highlight the importance of finding your community. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to strengthen your support network, this workshop will provide valuable tools to help you thrive.
Learning Outcomes:
- Identify mental health and wellness resources available through the Barnes Center
- Apply practical self-care strategies suited to the demands of graduate school
- Recognize the role of community and connection in supporting well-being
- Develop initial steps for building or strengthening a personal support network
Register here.
Workshop 3: Professional Excellence in Academic Spaces
Facilitator: Susan Vernick, Etiquette Chics, LLC
Date: Friday, September 25, 2026
Time: 10am to 11:30am
Location: Lyman 312
Description: Understanding professional norms and expectations in academic settings is essential for your success and reputation. This workshop covers professional communication, academic integrity, email etiquette, meeting participation, conference behavior, and navigating power dynamics. Learn the unwritten rules of academic professionalism and how to build a positive professional reputation that serves you throughout your career.
Learning Outcomes:
- Demonstrate professional communication across various academic contexts
- Navigate power dynamics and hierarchical relationships appropriately
- Understand and uphold academic integrity standards
- Build and maintain a positive professional reputation
Register here.
Workshop 4: Navigating Library Resources for Graduate Success
Facilitators: Michelle Mitchell, Librarian; Steph McReynolds, Librarian
Date: Friday, Oct. 2, 2026
Time: 10am – 11:30am
Location: Lyman 312
Description: The Libraries at Syracuse University offer far more than books and databases—they’re a hub for academic success, personal wellness, and career development. In this session, librarians Michelle Mitchell and Steph McReynolds will guide you through the wide range of resources available to support your graduate journey. Learn how to access general library services, explore wellness-related materials, and discover specialized business resources with a focus on career development and international content. You’ll also gain practical tips on how to get help when you need it—from research support to navigating library tools. Whether you’re new to campus or looking to deepen your resource toolkit, this session will help you make the most of what the libraries have to offer.
Learning Outcomes:
- Navigate library services and resources effectively for graduate-level research
- Access wellness and career development materials available through the libraries
- Identify appropriate help resources and support services
- Develop research strategies using specialized databases and tools
Register here.
Workshop 5: Elevating your Academic Writing
Facilitator: Collie Fulford, PhD & Rhiana Perez, PhD Candidate
Date: Friday, October 9, 2026
Time: 10am – 11:30am
Location: Lyman 312
Description: Presented by Dr. Collie Fulford, Director of the Writing Center, Associate Professor of Writing and Rhetoric, and Rhiana Raquel Perez, [year, level, and program]. Join us for an engaging and informative session designed for graduate students in any discipline to elevate their academic writing craft. We will discuss how to understand the distinctive expectations for graduate-level writing in your field, and many ways to meet them. You’ll leave with practical resources and writing strategies to try while you build expertise in your field. Whether you’re just starting your graduate journey or looking to refine your writing, this session is a valuable opportunity to learn from experienced scholars and connect with peers.
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand discipline-specific expectations for graduate-level writing
- Apply effective writing strategies for various academic genres
- Develop revision and feedback integration techniques
- Access and utilize writing support resources effectively
Register here.
Workshop 6: Building a Productive Advisor Relationship
Facilitator: Dr. Era Jain &
Date: Friday, Oct. 16, 2026
Time: 10am – 11:30am
Location: Lyman 312
Description: Your relationship with your advisor is one of the most critical factors in your graduate school success. This workshop provides practical guidance on establishing clear expectations, communicating effectively, navigating challenges, and maximizing this mentoring relationship. Whether you’re just starting your program or working through complex dynamics with your current advisor, you’ll gain tools for building a productive and professional partnership.
Learning Outcomes:
- Establish clear expectations and communication norms with your advisor
- Navigate difficult conversations and address conflicts constructively
- Understand different advising styles and adapt your approach accordingly
- Develop strategies for seeking additional mentorship when needed
Register here.
Workshop 7: Reality versus Expectations in Graduate School
Facilitators: Hope Michael, MPH, CHP, Assistant Director of Health Promotion
Date: Friday, Oct. 30, 2026
Time: 10am – 11:30am
Location: Lyman 312
Description: Graduate school rarely unfolds the way students picture it before they arrive. This workshop creates space to name the gap between expectation and reality, whether that means the pace of research, the independence required, the financial realities of graduate life, or the shift in identity that comes with the transition. Participants will explore common mismatches between what they expected graduate school to feel like and what it actually feels like, and will leave with strategies for adjusting expectations without abandoning their goals.
Learning Outcomes:
- Develop personal strategies for recalibrating expectations throughout the program
- Identify common gaps between pre-arrival expectations and the lived experience of graduate school
- Normalize the disorientation that comes with unmet or shifting expectations
- Reframe setbacks and adjustments as part of the process rather than signs of failure
Register here.
Workshop 8: Charting Your Path Forward
Facilitators: Dan Olson-Bang, PhD, Director of Career and Professional Development
Date: Friday, Oct. 30, 2026
Time: 10am – 11:30am
Location: Lyman 312
Description: Your graduate degree opens multiple career pathways, but finding and navigating options can feel overwhelming. This workshop helps you explore tools and resources that will introduce diverse career possibilities both within and beyond academia, identify your transferable skills, build your professional network, and create actionable steps toward your career goals. Whether you’re pursuing faculty positions, industry roles, nonprofit work, or still exploring options, you’ll leave with clarity and concrete next steps.
Learning Outcomes:
- Explore diverse career pathways available to graduate degree holders
- Identify and articulate your transferable skills for various career contexts
- Develop networking strategies and begin building your professional connections
- Create a personalized career development timeline and action plan
Register here.