The Center for Graduate Life (CGL) has developed a series of videos aimed at meeting the needs of graduate students who are unable to attend the center’s professional development workshops.
“The CGL has been aware of graduate students who cannot come to our regularly scheduled workshops due to conflicting class schedules or other commitments,” said Katherine Hall-Hertel, assistant dean of the Graduate School and director of the Center for Graduate Life. “Nevertheless, these students can benefit from professional development.”
These virtual training opportunities allow viewers to participate through online learning and share the experience throughout their cohort.
The current library of virtual training includes “Developing Your Teaching Portfolio” featuring Barbi Honeycutt, assistant professor in the Department of Leadership, Policy, Adult and Higher Education at N.C. State University. This step-by-step training outlines how to create and maintain a teaching portfolio throughout an individual’s academic career. “Conventions of Writing in the United States” is moderated by Debarti Dutta of the University’s Writing Resource Center. It includes a panel of graduate faculty who share their thoughts and expertise on writing. Justin Case from the Center for Academic Excellence leads “Speed Reading: A Tool for Grad School and Beyond.” This workshop focuses on the basics of speed reading and when and how to use the tools.
The CGL plans to build upon its virtual training library with additional workshops this fall.
“For example, it was brought to our attention that the Teach for America students have very little time to attend workshops outside of their classes, since they are teaching full time,” Hall-Hertel noted. “We started this initiative to benefit those TFA students specifically, but we believe these workshops are relevant for many of our graduate students. We intend to expand the topics and offer more virtual trainings next year.”
Along with the virtual training and professional development, the CGL offers a number of support and services to graduate students. Writing assistance, doctoral student development, graduate teaching, ombudsman and academic and social networking are just a few of the programs the CGL provides UNC Charlotte graduate students. CGL’s teaching, writing and research experts build programs and courses to serve the graduate community’s needs. The Center for Graduate Life is located in the Cone University Center, Room 268.