New Students

New Graduate Student Welcome

Wednesday, August 27, 2025
11 am – 4:30 pm
Varsity Hall, Union South

The Graduate School invites newly admitted graduate students to participate in the New Graduate Student Welcome event each year.

New Graduate Student Welcome is an opportunity to hear from the Graduate School and campus leaders, get advice from a panel of current students about grad student life, learn about the many campus and community resources available to you, and meet other new graduate students from across campus.

Welcome Sessions

Below is an example of the 2024 event; details for the 2025 New Graduate Student Welcome will be posted in summer 2025.

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11 am - 1 pm: Resource Fair

Varsity Hall I & II

Meet representatives from campus and community services that support graduate students to succeed at UW–Madison. Learn about their resources and pick up some swag on your way through the fair.

11:00 am or 11:45 am: Resource Flash Talks

The Marquee

Note: Both 35-minute sessions have the same content, so plan to attend either session.

Hear directly from staff about the ways their offices can help you find and apply for funding, use databases and other tools to gather information related to your research, write better and smarter, and develop your professional and career-related plans and skills.

Presenters include:

  • Office of Professional Development, Graduate School
  • Writing Center
  • Libraries and Grants Information Collection
  • Software Training for Students (STS)
  • Office of Student Assistance and Support
  • McBurney Disability Resource Center
  • Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Funding, Graduate School

View the presentation slides from the 2024 Resource Flash Talks.

1:15 - 2:15 pm: Graduate Student Panels - Question & Answer Session

A panel of seasoned graduate students will answer the large and small questions you have about everything from what can make your graduate student life easier and less stressful to establishing and maintaining relationships with faculty and staff in your program.

Choose one of the following panels to attend:

  • Master’s Student Panel, Varsity Hall III: For students whose final degree goal is a master’s degree
  • Doctoral Student Panel, The Marquee: For students whose final degree goal is a doctoral/PhD degree (even if currently enrolled in a master’s plan)

2:30 - 4:30 pm: Welcome Remarks & "Meet and Greet" Reception

Varsity Hall III

Campus leadership will welcome graduate students to the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

  • Dean of the Graduate School William J. Karpus
  • Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Charles Isbell
  • Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Lori Reesor
  • Deputy Vice Chancellor and Chief Diversity Officer LaVar Charleston

The Welcome Remarks will be followed by a “Meet and Greet” Reception at 3 pm in Varsity Halls I & II. Refreshments will be served.

Four people stand together for a group photo while Bucky Badger spreads out in a show-off manner in front of them. The people in the photo are wearing red t-shirts with the words Graduate School Dash and Bash.

Graduate Student Welcome Week

August 26 – 30, 2024

Each fall, the Graduate School offers a lineup of events during the week or so before classes begin to welcome and help acclimate new graduate students to campus and to welcome back current graduate students.

2024 Welcome Week Events

This list provides a sample of past Welcome Week events. Stay tuned for details on the next Welcome Week in summer 2025.

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Communicating Effectively for Graduate School Success

Whether you’re just starting your graduate program or continuing it, this talk by Dr. Shalini Nag will provide you with practical tips that you can apply immediately. Dr. Nag will share the five types of professional relationships essential for grad school success and offer guidance on in-person and virtual communication. These strategies will enable you to initiate, nurture, and manage those relationships effectively.

Enhancing Your Graduate Degree with a Certificate

What are graduate certificates, and how can they add value to your graduate degree? In this virtual session, faculty and staff representing several graduate certificate programs (and their equivalent doctoral minors) discuss the multiple benefits that these programs provide to graduate students across campus—including fulfilling breadth requirements, expanding interdisciplinary knowledge, mastering new skills, creating community and networking opportunities, and building cultural competence. Attendees will also have the opportunity to speak with each certificate representative in smaller groups.

Flourishing in Graduate School: How to Manage Stress and Maintain Your Mental Health

Want to make graduate school a time to thrive and not just survive? This workshop will focus on promotion of psychological well-being in graduate school. Topics covered will arm graduate students with strategies to thrive through the challenges of graduate school, including managing the transition/adjustment process, coping with stress, promoting work/life balance, and establishing habits to maintain or improve mental health. This event is presented by the Graduate School Office of Professional Development in collaboration with University Health Services.

Time Management for Graduate Students

In this interactive workshop, you will learn tips and techniques for staying on track and managing your time. We’ll cover goal-setting, minimizing distractions and staying focused, and overcoming some of the most common challenges to staying on task. Participants will leave with strategies that they can apply immediately. The strategies we’ll cover are appropriate for students in any discipline.

Cool Tools: Apps and More to Increase Productivity

Prepare to maximize your time and energy this semester by taking advantage of software available to UW–Madison graduate students that can help streamline your workflow. This workshop, presented by Pete Valeo from Software Training for Students (STS), will introduce you to both basic and advanced software tools, including cloud storage services, notetaking apps, mobile scanners, research tools, tasks managers, password managers, lifestyle apps, and more.

Graduate School Dash & Bash

The Graduate School invites you to celebrate the start of the academic year at the Graduate School Dash & Bash. Whether you plan to “Dash” to the finish line, handcycle the route, take a scholarly stroll, or join the “Bash” activities just for the fun of it, all are welcome and encouraged to participate in this free event – new and current graduate students, faculty, staff, and family members.

Inclusive Horizons: Graduate Welcome Gathering

Join us for an evening of celebration and connection as we welcome underrepresented graduate students, both domestic and international, to the academic community. This event is designed to foster a sense of belonging and support among students from diverse backgrounds. You will have an opportunity to network and socialize with peers, as well as connect with campus resources and leadership. All graduate students are welcome to attend.

Anytime - Successful Online Learning

Explore strategies to prepare to learn remotely, engage in your courses, and maximize your time. This module, from the Graduate School, is for grad students taking their first online course or those looking for some new resources on online learning. Enroll in the Successful Online Learning Canvas course at any time.