Week 1
Thursday, January 1: Happy New Year! Commit to writing 90+ minutes every day in 2026
Friday, January 2: Check out one-on-one or group wellness coaching at RecWell
Week 2
Monday, January 5: Complete a self-assessment in DiscoverPD
Tuesday, January 6: Update or create your Individual Development Plan (IDP)
Wednesday, January 7: Take a LinkedIn Learning self-paced class to develop your skills
Thursday, January 8: Explore meditation spaces on campus
Friday, January 9: Check out CIRTL self-paced courses, such as Incorporating Active Learning, Making Large Classes Feel Small, and many others
Week 3
Winter Welcome Back, hosted by the Graduate School and campus partners – Registration Required
Monday, January 12: The Proactive Mentee Workshop (with Lunch)
This interactive workshop moves beyond lectures to focus on shared best practices and evidence-based strategies for maximizing your role as a mentee in an academic setting. Participants will brainstorm together, learning from the successes and challenges their fellow mentees have encountered. Join us for this focused session to refine your approach and build high-value, mutually beneficial relationships with your academic mentors. Lunch with vegetarian options begins at 11:45 am.
Tuesday, January 13: Project Management for Graduate Students
Project management is a set of skills that can be applied in academic, non-profit, laboratory, business, and many other settings. Learn principles of project management and apply them to your own project in this collaborative, day-long program. You will think creatively, define a problem, establish project goals, create a plan, and prepare for implementation. Since no project runs perfectly, the program will also address how project leaders manage change and other common challenges. You will leave better prepared to lead a team and deliver results. Students will also hear from a panel of successful faculty and others who manage multiple projects. Participants will have an opportunity to earn a project management digital badge upon completion of the workshop. Lunch will be provided, with vegetarian options. Participation is limited to 30 students.
Wednesday, January 14: Funding Resources for International Graduate Students
Navigating funding as an international student can be challenging, but we’re here to help! This session offers practical guidance and connects you with fellowships and grants tailored to international graduate students. Discover tools to help you identify opportunities and build a strategic approach to your funding search. Also hear firsthand from current UW–Madison international students who successfully navigated the process and secured prestigious awards. Lunch will be provided, with vegetarian options.
Thursday, January 15: Navigating Graduate School with a Disability: Finding Community, Disrupting Ableism, and Advancing Inclusion in the Academy
This panel discussion will provide some deeper understanding of the complex ways ableism has been woven into institutions of higher education and the impacts it can have on graduate students with disabilities. Panelists will explore avenues for building a supportive community, including resources for students navigating disability themselves or supporting peers, mentees, and those they teach. The conversation will also address strategies for managing mentoring relationships as a graduate student with a disability, as well as actionable steps to advocate for oneself and others in order to advance inclusion and equity within—and beyond—the classroom in our campus community.
Friday, January 16: Strategies for Success in Graduate Student Professional Development
Discover how to make the most of your graduate experience through intentional professional development. Join us for this online session to explore practical strategies for getting started, building habits for sustained progress, and leveraging campus resources to strengthen the skills you need to succeed in graduate school and beyond. Leave the session with a clear professional development action plan.
Week 4
Monday, January 19: Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Join the campus community in learning about and honoring Dr. King’s legacy, Jan. 27-29
Tuesday, January 20: Happy First Day of Classes!
Wednesday, January 21: Build your Network: Connect with two new contacts through LinkedIn
Thursday, January 22: Take 45 minutes to update your CV or resume
Friday, January 23: Strengthen your happiness skills: watch “Five Tips for Cultivating Happiness”
Week 5
Monday, January 26: Listen to a guided relaxation podcast created by UHS
Tuesday, January 27: Have a writing goal? Check out the Writer’s Handbook
Wednesday, January 28: Learn about and join the Bridge and Build Community
Thursday, January 29: Master’s students: Explore careers and build job search skills in Beyond Graduate School
Friday, January 30: Doctoral students: Maximize your career competitiveness with Beyond the Professoriate