Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA)
Needles Hall, second floor, room 2201
In the spring of 2015, Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA) began plans to develop a centrally coordinated program to help graduate students become better prepared for their professional life after graduate school. Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs was supported by a working group of stakeholders from across campus, including representatives from the Graduate Student Association, Library, Centre for Career Action, Centre for Teaching Excellence, Office of Research, Writing and Communication Centre, Student Success Office, and Organizational and Human Development.
The GRADventure program helps to advance the “Outstanding Academic Programming” theme of the University of Waterloo’s Strategic Plan, in which The University committed to having more graduate students engaging in professional skills development.
The GRADventure program name was a chosen from among over 60 submissions to our naming contest, which was launched in October 2015. Adam Kraft, a MSc student in the biology program at the time, explains why he liked this name:
Given the competitive nature of the professional job market and increasing expectations of employers, several organizations with an interest in graduate studies have released reports recommending changes to better support graduate student professional skills development:
Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA)
Needles Hall, second floor, room 2201
The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.