Workshop Series

The Graduate School Workshop Series offers students the opportunity to learn from members of the Graduate School and various other offices on campus about guidelines, processes, opportunities, and possibilities for assistance. The individual sessions cover a wide range of topics and will be offered each semester.

If you have any questions, please contact the Graduate School.

Fall 2026

Writing Support

Writing Fellows Begin Regularly Scheduled Hours - August 24th - December 11th
Writing Support Webpage

Saturday Writing Sprints - 10:00 am - 1:00 pm (MIL 6th Floor SW) and Online
Saturday September 26th Online Zoom Link
Saturday October 31st Online Zoom Link
Saturday November 14th Online Zoom Link

Are you easily distracted trying to work from home? Do you wish you could work with others in a quiet friendly space? Want to take in a little daylight? Join us for Saturday Writing Sprints! Coffee and light breakfast will be provided, and writing fellows will be on hand for support. Please register individually for each date you plan to attend to help us plan food counts.

Register for the September 26th In-Person Session
Register for the October 31st Session (Pending)
Register for the November 14th Session (Pending)

Getting Through Your Lit Review: A Grad Student Workshop
Writing a literature for a course or dissertation? We are here to help! Come to this session for practical tips on organizing and drafting your lit review AND hands-on help with your writing. Bring questions, ideas, or confusion.

September 29th 04:30pm (Online)
October 1st 06:30pm (Online)

Breaking Through Writer's Block
Every writer finds themselves fighting the blank page. Come to this workshop for support!

October 13th 04:30pm (Online)
October 15th 06:30pm (Online)

Fall Writing Retreat (MIL 6th Floor SW) and Online
Monday October 16th 10:00am - 5:00pm (Online)
Tuesday October 17th 10:00am - 5:00pm (Online)

One of the hardest things about writing as a graduate student is making time for the work. This writing retreat will allow participants to spend two days prioritizing their writing in a supportive and focused environment. The Graduate School will provide lunch and snacks so that you can progress on your thesis, dissertation, capstone, coursework, or any other writing project. The Graduate Writing Fellows will also be on hand to provide any one-on-one writing support you need.

You are welcome to attend for as many days as you like, but please register separately for each day to help us plan food counts.

Thesis/Dissertation Preparation

The Grad Student's Guide to Everything Milner
Tuesday September 1st 4:30 - 5:30pm Online

Looking for a partner to assist with your information needs? Your campus library is here to help by providing resources to support your research, scholarship, study, and community on campus. Milner Library's Colby Cilento will provide an overview of some of those supports for graduate students and answer your questions about library services.

Key Workshop Takeaways:
- Navigate resources available through Milner Library
- Discuss how those services and resources can help with research
- Provide opportunities for questions on library resources and research assistance

Navigating Thesis/Dissertation Requirements: Understanding the Process, Forms, and Deadlines
Tuesday September 15th 4:30 - 5:30pm In-Person Milner 213C
Tuesday November 10th 4:30 - 5:30pm Online

As part of your thesis or dissertation journey, you'll be required to execute certain forms, complete milestone steps, and meet deadlines. To help set you up for success, the Graduate School's Kayley Mikuleza and Milner Library's Colby Cilento will go over these in detail with you, from the proposal stage through your defense, and answer any questions about the process.

Key Workshop Takeaways:
- Discover what forms you'll need to complete and how/when to submit them
- Find out about copyright and IRB approval procedures and committee composition requirements
- Learn about planning and holding your defense and post-defense steps

One-Click Citations and Bibliographies
Tuesday September 22nd 4:30 - 5:30pm Online

Whether you're working on a course research project, finishing your comps, or writing your thesis/dissertation, keeping track of your sources can be dauting. Not to mention making sure your citations and references are formatted correctly! Facilitated by Jennifer Sharkey from Milner Library, learn how to use a free source management tool called Zotero so that you can easily and quickly collect and organize your sources; AND in Microsoft Word insert in-text citations and generate bibliographies with a click of a button.

Key Workshop Takeaways:
-How to keep track of sources and format citations
-Learn how to use Zotero, a free source management tool
-Insert Zotero citations into Microsoft Word

Intro to Theses & Dissertations: An Orientation for ISU Grad Students
Tuesday August 25th 4:30-5:30pm In-Person Milner 213C
Tuesday, October 27th 4:30-5:30pm Online

Are you a first-year or early career graduate student who is will be completing a thesis or dissertation? This is the orientation for you! The Graduate School's Kayley Mikuleza and Milner Library's Colby Cilento will provide an overview of the process for completing a thesis or dissertation at ISU, from start to finish, to help you understand what to expect and how to prepare for your own journey. You'll have the opportunity to get answers to your questions and connect with us in a casual session. While geared towards students starting out in the process, all thesis/dissertation graduate students are welcome.

Key Workshop Takeaways:
- An overview of the thesis/dissertation process and milestones at ISU
- Learn about available resources and supports

Formatting your Thesis/Dissertation: An Overview
Tuesday October 6th 4:30 - 5:30pm Online

The Graduate School's Kayley Mikuleza will show you how to flawlessly format your thesis/dissertation by sharing available writing resources and tips, then walking you through the Graduate School's formatting template(s) so you feel confident in preparing your work for submission.

Key Workshop Takeaways:
- Discover available writing resources and services
- Overview of Graduate School formatting guidelines and resources
- Learn how to navigate the Graduate School's templates and properly format your thesis/dissertation to meet requirements

The Final Deposit: Submitting Your Thesis/Dissertation
Tuesday October 20th 4:30pm - 5:30pm Online

ISU ReD, the university's institutional repository, is the required depository for ISU theses and dissertations. Milner Library's Colby Cilento will lead you through the steps to create an account, add metadata, upload your thesis/dissertation in ISU ReD, and view and make requested corrections. We'll also go over your rights and options as an author and what constitutes your final deposit.

Key Workshop Takeaways:
- See a demonstration of how to create an account and submit to ISU ReD
- Navigate through the process for making revisions and corrections
- Learn about required final deposit materials and forms

Register for the October 20th Session

Unpacking Publishing for Graduate Students
Tuesday November 17th 4:30 - 5:30pm Online

Join Milner Library's Lindsey Skaggs and Colby Cilento as they provide information and insights into scholarly publishing for graduate students. Learn about publishing your thesis/dissertation research, including how to select a venue, the submission process, copyright agreements, and open access options.

Key Workshop Takeaways:
- Overview of the scholarly publication process
- Learn about open access and copyright transfer agreements
- Get answers to your questions about publishing your research

Register for the November 17th Session

Theses & Dissertations Assistance - Office Hours
Wednesday August 5th 4:00 - 5:00pm Online
Thursday August 20th 12:00 - 1:00pm In-Person Milner 215
Wednesday September 2nd 4:00 - 5:00pm Online
Thursday September 17th 12:00 - 1:00pm In-Person Milner 215
Wednesday October 7th 4:00 - 5:00pm Online
Thursday October 22nd 12:00 - 1:00pm In-Person Milner 215
Wednesday November 4th 4:00 - 5:00pm Online
Thursday November 12th 12:00 - 1:00pm In-Person Milner 215

The Milner Library and the Graduate School has made these sessions available to assist you with any questions pertaining to theses and dissertations. Please take advantage of this opportunity at any step of your graduate career to be better prepared and receive the assistance that you need in this process.

Career Preparation

Illinois State University has partnered with Beyond Graduate School and Beyond the Professoriate to offer Graduate Students access to a comprehensive set of career preparation tools. Participate in live webinars or access the library of content on your own schedule.

Beyond Graduate School (Master's Students)

Beyond Graduate School is a one-of-a-kind, online platform that helps master’s students make the most out of their investment and build their careers. From video lessons on career exploration, to writing application materials, to interviewing and negotiating for that next career step — Beyond Grad School helps master’s students through each stage of their job search.

To log in, visit Beyond Graduate School, select Illinois State University, and enter your ULID and password.

Upcoming synchronous online events offered through the Beyond Graduate School Platform

August 19th: Why Master’s Students Should Plan on a 9 Month Job Search (1:00-1:30pm)
September 2nd: How Master's Students Can Make the Most of Career Fairs (1:00-1:30pm)
September 14th - 18th: Don't Wait: What New Master's Students Need to Know About Finding a Job (1:00-1:30pm)
- September 14th: 3 mistakes master's students must avoid in their job search
- September 15th: The role of recruiters in the hiring process
- September 16th: How to build a network when you don't have one
- September 17th: Strategic resume writing for master's students
- September 18th: Career advice for international students job searching in the US
October 7th: AI Skills Employers are Looking For in Master's Students (1:00-1:30pm)
October 21st: 3 Mistakes Master's Students Make on LinkedIn (1:00-1:30pm)
November 4th: How to Stand Out in an AI-Driven Job Market (1:00-1:30pm)
November 18th: What International Students Need to Know About Job Searching in Canada and the US (1:00-1:30pm)
December 14th - 17th: Your Next Career Move: Strategies for Career Changers and Career Advancers (1:00-1:30pm)
- December 14th: How to Use Your Master's Degree to Successfully Move Into a New Career Field
- December 15th: How to Build a Professional Network in a Field Where You Have No Connections
- December 16th: How to Use Your Master's Degree to Get a Promotion or a More Senior Role
- December 17th: How to Build and Use Your Network to Find Better Career Opportunities

Beyond the Professoriate (Doctoral Students)

Beyond the Professoriate’s Career Training Platform is an online professional development tool where postdocs and doctoral students can explore career options and learn job search strategies. Through two programs of study (Academic Careers and Professional Careers), students are empowered to make informed decisions about their career path and learn successful job search strategies from other PhDs.

To log in simply visit Beyond Prof’s Career Training Platform, select Illinois State University, and enter your ULID and password.

Upcoming online synchronous events offered through the Beyond the Professoriate Platform

August 24th - 26th: Academic Job Market Boot Camp (11:00-11:45am)
September 2nd: How to Use the PhD Career Training Platform in Your Job Search (11:00-11:45am)
September 16th: Is a Faculty Job Right for You? (11:00-11:45am)
October 7th: The Key Difference Between Academic and Nonacademic Hiring — and What It Means for Your Job Search (11:00-11:45am)
October 21st: Going Beyond Subject Matter: How to Identify Skills Employers Want (11:00-11:45am)
November 4th: How to Research Career Options in Industry (11:00-11:45am)
November 18th: Building a Network to Help You in Academia and Beyond (11:00-11:45am)
December 7th - 10th: How to Decide Between an Academic and Nonacademic Career (11:00-11:45am)
- Prerecorded: How to decide and what you will need to consider
- December 7th: How to identify your values
- December 8th: How to identify your most marketable skills
- December 9th: How to build your network using on-campus resources
- December 10th: Practical considerations and your decision rubric