Graduate Student Appreciation Week
April 9-13, 2018
Graduate Students - We Appreciate You!
In 1993, the National Association of Graduate-Professional Students established Graduate-Professional Student Appreciation Week (GPSAW) as a mechanism to support and appreciate graduate and professional students, emphasizing the contributions, impact and value of graduate and professional students on campuses throughout the United States.
The Graduate School joins universities around the nation in this celebration by hosting the Graduate Student Appreciation Week (GSAW) at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. All graduate students, faculty, and staff are invited to join us for this year's events.
GSAW 2018 Schedule
Download the electronic version of the Spring 2018 GSAW Calendar of Events.
Monday, April 9, 2018:
Lunch & Learn Workshop - Keeping an Open Mind on Careers
Graduate degrees prepare you for multiple career paths. Join Dr. Taniecea Mallery (Director of Equity, Diversity, and Community Engagement at UL) and Dr. Josh Caffrey (Stuller, Inc.) for a candid discussion about alternatives to academic careers. How do you work to broaden your career prospects? What alt-AC paths are out there? And, of course, how and when do you have “The Conversation” with your faculty advisor?
Date: April 09
Time: 11:30-1pm
Location: Dupré Library, 2nd Floor Staff Lounge
Professional Etiquette Dinner and Mocktails
Nervous about sitting down to dinner with a potential employer or networking at a conference? Unsure about professional dinner etiquette? Do you have a drink or not? How much is too much when talking about your research over dinner? Here’s an opportunity to hone your professional networking and interviewing skills. Attendees will be guided through a mock interview dinner with University faculty and administrators and industry guests, providing valuable experience for scholars on the job market. Co-sponsored with the Office of Career Services.
Date: April 9
Time: 6:30pm
Location: the Picard Center
Dinner will be provided but space is limited!
Tuesday, April 10, 2018:
Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition Preliminary Round-Day 1
Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a research competition developed by The University of Queensland (UQ) that challenges grad students to present a compelling oration on their thesis/dissertation topic and its significance in just three minutes. Days 1 and 2 of the 3MT® competition will be the preliminary round to determine the finalists to compete Friday during the Research Showcase Awards (see below).
Date: April 10 & 11
Tues. Time: 3-4:30pm
Wed. Time: 3-4:30pm
Location: Moody 103
Audience welcome.
An Evening With Wiley Cash: Doctoral Candidacy Recognition Event & GSAW Keynote Speaker
It’s all about reaching the finish line. But how do you get there? UL Lafayette alum and New York Times bestselling author Dr. Wiley Cash will share his experiences and words of wisdom for staying focused and on track after reaching candidacy. Doctoral students who have advanced to candidacy, alongside their advisors, will be recognized for reaching this significant milestone.
Date: April 10
Time: 6pm
Location: the LITE Center
Open to the public.
Wednesday, April 11, 2018:
Lunch & Learn: Grad School is Hard on Mental Health - Sponsored by the James Jackson Community of Scholars
Grad students take a psychological beating. We’re prone to anxiety and depression, according to the results of a groundbreaking 2016 study of grad students at dozens of universities. It’s easy to lose sight of ourselves and even perspective on why our work matters. Join us for a frank discussion about managing our mental health in grad school and beyond.
Date: April 11
Time: 11:30-1pm
Location: Dupré Library, 2nd Floor Staff Lounge
Graduate Student Research Showcase-Poster (and Paper) Competition-Day 1
Co-sponsored by the Graduate School and the Office of the Office of the Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Economic Development, the Research Showcase will feature competitions (and monetary prizes!) for posters and papers authored by grad students from all disciplines. Posters will be presented in Dupré Library on Wednesday and Thursday afternoon. Awards will be presented on Friday afternoon at the 3MT® Finals and Research Showcase Awards (see below). Go to GradSchool.louisiana.edu for guidelines and to enter.
Poster Presentations
Date: April 11 & 12
Time: 2-4pm
Location: Dupré Library, 1st Floor Corridor
Click here to view the Showcase Guidelines.
Three Minute Thesis Competition Prelims-Day 2
Days 1 and 2 of the 3MT® competition will be the preliminary round to determine the finalists to compete Friday during the Research Showcase Awards (see below).
Date: April 10 & 11
Tues. Time: 3-4:30pm
Wed. Time: 3-4:30pm
Location: Moody 103
Thursday, April 12, 2018:
Graduate Student Research Showcase-Poster Competition-Day 2
Posters will be presented in Dupré Library on Wednesday and Thursday afternoon. Awards will be presented on Friday afternoon at the 3MT® Finals and Research Showcase Awards (see below).
Poster Presentations
Date: April 11 & 12
Time: 2-4pm
Location: Dupré Library, 1st Floor Corridor
Midnight Deadline: "Say It in 6" Competition Deadline for Submissions
Say It In 6 is a competition that challenges you to tell your story in a creative and succinct way. Based on the “six word memoirs” concept, Say It In 6 invites you to use only six words and one visual aid to tell a story — about your” Creative Research,” your “Louisiana Research,” or your “Radical Research.” Find out more and submit your entry at GradSchool.louisiana.edu/sayitin6. Entries must be received by 11:59pm on Thursday. Entries will be displayed as they come in on the Grad School’s Facebook page. We’ll announce the winners (and do a “People’s Choice” vote) on Friday at the 3MT® Finals and Graduate Student Research Showcase Awards.
Friday, April 13, 2018:
Research Showcase Awards Presentation and 3MT Finals
Celebrate graduate student research with us and watch the final round of the Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition. We’ll also announce the winners of the Research Showcase Paper and Poster Competitions as well as the Photo Contest.
Date: April 13
Time: 12:30pm
Location: Oliver 112
Light refreshments will be provided.
We've Got You: Just a Little Mixer
No agenda. No action items. Just people who understand you. Make some cross-disciplinary connections, celebrate your victory, and unwind. You buy the drinks, and we’ll provide good food and good company! All graduate students and faculty are welcome.
Date: April 13
Time: 2-4pm
Location: Jefferson Street Pub
ALL WEEK LONG
Special Deals for Grad Students! The Red Zone has donated great door prizes that’ll be given away throughout the week at all of our events.
Coupons for 20% off at the Red Zone and the UL Lafayette Bookstore will be distributed as well!
Many thanks to our Sponsors, Hosts, and Collaborators! GSAW would not be possible without you!
- The Graduate School
- The Office of the Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Economic Development
- Black Faculty and Staff Association of UL Lafayette
- Dupré Library
- Career Services
- University Bookstore
- All faculty and staff who volunteered to facilitate a workshop or judge for the showcase