Graduate School
Professionals in Preparation
Graduate students, are you interested in developing skills that will make you more marketable and effective in the workplace? During the 2022-23 academic year, the Graduate School will sponsor “Professionals in Preparation”, a professional development workshop series open to ALL GRADUATE STUDENTS to help you improve those “transferable skills” that will set you apart from others in the increasingly competitive job market. Transferable skills include those abilities that cross disciplines, such as leadership, effective communication, ability to problem solve and manage projects, professionalism, and others.
Students may choose the option to earn a digital badge that can be affixed to digital CV’s or résumés, LinkedIn, and other social media accounts. The badge links to a description of the skills learned and provides a digital credential that can be viewed by prospective employers, hiring committees, and others who will be interested in your preparedness for the workforce.
Professionals in Preparation (PIP) is a two-semester professional development program consisting of:
Workshops and seminars which will be held approximately twice monthly from noon to 1:00 p.m. on Thursdays in the J.B. George Building, room 142.
Sessions will include:
- Interviewing tips
- Effective communication
- Publishing and peer review
- Etiquette and presence
- Interviewing skills
- Ethics and integrity in scholarship
Mentorship workshops including case study discussions with faculty experts will provide training on managing real life situations that may occur between faculty and their graduate students.
Three Minute Thesis: To be held November 2-4, 2022. Participants will compete in the annual 3MT competition which requires them to present the importance of their research to a general audience in less than three minutes. Participants will compete for the title Grand Champion and significant prize money.
Susan A. Siltanen Graduate Student Research Symposium: To be held Thursday, April 6, 2022. Participants will submit an abstract and present their research during the annual symposium. Students will compete with other graduate students for monetary prizes for best presentations in specific categories.
- Students will work independently to complete an IDP and submit electronically no later than Friday, March 10, 2023. The submission will be scored as based on thoughtfulness, completeness, and organization using a standard rubric (provided by Dean Coats).
- All students must address the requirements of the rubric and develop the IDP using a template appropriate to their discipline. Examples include: American Psychological Association; AAAS; American Chemical Society.
- Please do not simply fill out one of the templates, as there should be a synthesis of the information. All IDPs must be reviewed with your advisor/major professor before submission.
PIP Workshops and Seminars
All PIP workshops and seminars will be held in-person in the J.B. George Building, room 142 from 12pm-1pm (Hattiesburg Campus). A recording will be posted on our PIP website after each workshop. Students who are unable to attend in-person can view the recordings and complete a post workshop survey to receive credit for attendance.
Registration is required to attend. Limit of 35 students per workshop. Students who attend will receive a $5 Eagle Dining meal card.
In this interactive session, we will discuss how to adapt messages to various audiences, how to prepare for speaking in different professional settings, and considerations for virtual delivery and visual aid.
Presenter: Dr. Laura Stengrim - Director of the School of Communication
Password: GradSchool2022
Join Dr. Sam Bruton, Director of USM's Office of Research Integrity, for an interactive discussion of a variety of ethical issues that arise in research. Topics include human subjects research ethics, research misconduct, and authorship ethics.
Presenter: Dr. Samuel Bruton - Director of the Office of Research Integrity
Password: GradSchool2022
Introduction to grant writing from 1,000 feet. Find funding, structure a proposal, write to sell.
Presenter: Dr. Julie Cwikla - Director of Creativity and innovation in STEM, Director of Center for STEM Education
Password: GradSchool2022
Sketch a timeline for your dream project and build a budget.
Presenter: Dr. Julie Cwikla - Director of Creativity and innovation in STEM, Director of Center for STEM Education
Password: GradSchool2022
You have control over how others see you. Learn how to create and maintain your own personal brand for success. In this workshop, we focus on how to build your personal brand in a way that is authentic to who you are and where you want to go.
Presenters: Dr. Banu Bas – Assistant Professor of Marketing, Dr. Ali Fridley – Assistant Professor of Sport Management, Dr. Kristina Harrison – Assistant Professor of Marketing
Password: GradSchool2022
Learn strategies to create a compelling brand for easy recognition of credentials. Create a profile that focuses on what you can do, not just who you are. Identify strategies to build strong contacts through networking. Find groups to build your presence in LinkedIn.
Presenter: Rusty Anderson - Director of Career Services
Password: GradSchool2022
Presenters: Dr. Eric Tribunella - Associate Dean for Faculty and Operations, Dr. Jake Schaefer - Director of the School of Biological, Environmental and Earth Sciences
Presenter: Dr. Lachel Story - Dean of College of Nursing and Health Professions
You have done all the work to write an amazing thesis and earn your degree, but how can you make sure that you're competitive in a job market full of talented people? You would be surprised how many mistakes graduate students make when they're on the job market. Come to this session to learn the culture of the job market in higher education, and learn some tips and tricks to avoid the preventable pitfalls! Whether you're going on the market this year, or in the future—bring your questions and learn.
Presenters: Dr. Matt Casey - Director of School of Humanities, Dr. Scotty Piland - Director of School of Kinesiology and Nutrition
Presenter: Krystyna Varnado - Senior Associate Vice President for Human Resources, Todd Jackson - Executive Vice President of the Area Development Partnership
Presenter: Dr. Sarah Morgan - Associate Director and Professor of School of Polymer Science and Engineering
Presenter: Ms. Linda Montgomery
Professionals in Preparation Digital Badge
Upon successful completion of the program, participants will have the option to receive a digital badge that can be affixed to digital CV’s or résumés, LinkedIn, and other social media accounts. The badge links to a description of the skills learned as a part of the program and provides a digital credential that can be viewed by prospective employers, hiring committees, and others who will be interested in your preparedness for the workforce. For students choosing the digital badge option, the cost of the program is $50. A link to the digital badge application will be provided upon request.
- Attend a minimum of 5 regular workshops/seminars EACH semester
- Participate in the Three-Minute Thesis AND Graduate Student Research Symposium
- Submit Individual Development Plan
- Submit PIP digital badge application and $50 fee
1. Can students not on the Hattiesburg campus participate in the Professionals in Preparation program?
Yes, we will record each workshop and post the video on the Graduate School website. Students who are unable to attend a workshop in person can view the recording and submit a post-workshop survey to receive credit for attendance.
2. What if I am working on a research project or assignment? Will presenting on this work meet the communication competition requirement?
Yes, presenting on a project rather than a thesis will not be a problem. You will still be required to present your research at both the Three-Minute Thesis and the Graduate Student Research Symposium.
3. What is a digital badge?
A digital badge links to a permanent description of the skills learned in the program and provides a credential that can be viewed by prospective employers. It can be added to your curriculum vita, résumé, LinkedIn account, or other social media accounts.
4. Is there a cost associated with the digital badge?
For students choosing to earn the digital badge, the cost of the program is $50. A link to the badge program will be provided upon request.
For more information or to request a link to the digital badge application, contact Shaadi Shoubaki (Shaadi.ShoubakiFREEMississippi).