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

Check-in begins at 10:30 am. To avoid long lines, arrive early.

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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 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 Access, Engagement, and Funding, Graduate School

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

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 25 – 29, 2025

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.

Save the Date: Welcome Week 2025

Watch for more details and registration in July.

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Monday, August 25 - Mentorship Matters: Insights for Graduate Students and their Mentors

9:30 – 11:30 am
In-person on campus

Details and registration will be available in July.

Monday, August 25 - Navigating Mentorship (with Lunch) Workshop

Noon – 2 pm
In-person on campus

Details and registration will be available in July.

Monday, August 25 - Enhancing Your Graduate Degree with a Certificate

3:30 – 4:30 pm
Online (Zoom)

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.

Registration will open in July.

Tuesday, August 26 - Time Management for Graduate Students

10 – 11 am
Memorial Union: Check Today in the Union (TITU) day-of for room location

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.

Registration will open in July.

Tuesday, August 26 - Cool Tools: Apps and More to Increase Productivity

3 – 4:15 pm
1310 Sterling Hall

Prepare to maximize your time and energy 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 basic and advanced software tools, including cloud storage services, note taking apps, mobile scanners, research tools, tasks managers, password managers, lifestyle apps, and more. Meet other graduate students at the post-event reception.

Registration will open in July.

Thursday, August 28 - Flourishing in Graduate School: How to Manage Stress and Maintain Your Mental Health

10 – 11 am
Online

Details and registration will be available in July.

Friday, August 29 - Funding Forward: Equipping and Empowering Graduate Students to Apply for External Funding

11:45 am – 1:30 pm
Tripp Commons, Memorial Union

Details and registration will be available in July.

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.