Case Study: Supporting Graduate Professional Development at Michigan State

For more than a decade, Michigan State University has developed innovative models for graduate career and professional development, with communications training as a core component. From programs that prepare future faculty to those that for explore alternative careers, MSU offers graduate students and postdocs workshops and experiences for diverse career pathways.  Communications is considered an “essential competency” for academic success, as well as for career planning and success.  Faculty appreciation for the value of this training is critical for institution adoption. This talk will highlight MSU’s journey, with a focus on bolstering faculty buy-in and participation.  Three examples will be highlighted; the Setting Expectations and Resolving Conflicts program (offered face-to-face as well as via an interactive, adaptive website), the Career Success interactive website (with assessments of current skills and knowledge, plus the capability for building an electronic portfolio), and the Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate learning community program (focused on our diverse graduate student community and multigenerational mentoring).