Session Description:
Individuals working in higher education across Canada are facing a period of uncertainty and ambiguity. In response many are investigating new opportunities for personal and professional development. For those considering a return to the classroom, questions of accessibility, preparedness and the challenges of managing competing priorities are paramount. Through a panel discussion, we will explore the major considerations relevant to balancing work, school, and life’s diverse responsibilities while navigating graduate studies. This panel will include current graduate students who are full-time UWaterloo staff, an expert in graduate student success, and a faculty member with experience supporting students who work full-time. Panelists will share findings from recent research in addition to sharing candidly about their personal experiences. This discussion will be of interest to those who are thinking about pursuing a graduate degree while working, those who are currently balancing work and school, and those who support these students (such as faculty and staff).
Learning Outcomes:
Registrants will:
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Gain insight into how to prepare for success as a graduate student.
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Recognize the personally relevant factors to be taken into account while discerning whether to pursue further studies.
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Understand the impact graduate studies may have on their personal and professional development.
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Acquire access to tools that may help them in their discernment and decision making.
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Identify the relevant services on campus that provide support to graduate students and those exploring the option of graduate studies.
Session Structure:
Panel discussion
Presenters:
Monica Munaretto, PhD (she/her), Academic Development and Retention Specialist, Student Success Office
Ashely Ryan, PhD (she/her), Graduate and Postdoctoral Programming Specialist, Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs
Zoe Tipper, BA, MASc (she/her), Manager, Communications, Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs
Kari Hueber (she/her), Manager, Graduate Marketing and Recruitment, Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs
Kathleen Clarke, PhD (she/her), Associate Professor, Faculty of Education, Wilfrid Laurier University