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About the Graduate Student Success Series (GS3)
About the Graduate Student Success Series (GS3)
The Graduate School has worked with a select group of faculty and staff to create a series of professional development workshops that will offer a coordinated effort for enhancing professional development across targeted topics and engagements for the entire University community of graduate students here at USD. The series will provide opportunities for students to better meet industry and academic expectations.
Successfully completing the GS3 will provide graduate students exceptional opportunities to. . .
Improve oral presentation skills
Improve writing skills / reporting abilities
Mental Health Resources
Communication Strategies, such as Active Listening
Learn interviewing and negotiation skills
Practice social networking skills
Understand grant proposal writing
Graduate students will also have the opportunity to earn a digital badge (a verifiable, digital credential that can be added to CV’s, resumes, email, social media, etc.). To earn a digital badge over the course of graduate school enrollment, participants must attend and successfully complete the required assessments for 4 workshops; and successfully complete at least 2 courses from the Beyond Graduate School/Beyond the Professoriate web-based platform modules.
Please direct any questions to the Graduate School: 605-658-6173 or grad@usd.edu
All workshops will be held in Continuing Education 116 (The Center for Teaching and Learning) and via Zoom or in the Science and Technology Building 107 at USD-Sioux Falls (new 2025!).
Fall 2025 Workshop Dates/Times
Fall 2025 Workshop Dates/Times
Graduate students should sign up for any workshops they are interested in attending. If students need to change modalities or are unable to attend after signing up, that is not a problem. Only in-person attendees who rsvp’d will receive a box lunch. If the workshop is recorded, we will send a link to the recording. If not, students are welcome to sign up for the workshop the next time it is offered.
Workshop #1
Sept. 18 (Thurs.) 11:30-1pm: What is Professionalism and Professional Development (Vermillion or Zoom)
Sept. 29 (Mon.) 11:30-1pm: What is Professionalism and Professional Development (USD-Sioux Falls)
Workshop #2
Nov. 3 (Mon.) 11:30-1pm: Chart Smart: Mastering Data Visualization (USD-Sioux Falls)
Nov. 20 (Thurs..) 11:30-1pm: Chart Smart: Mastering Data Visualization (Vermillion or Zoom)
Spring 2026 Workshop Dates/Times
Spring 2026 Workshop Dates/Times
Graduate students should sign up for any workshops they are interested in attending. If students need to change modalities or are unable to attend after signing up, that is not a problem. Only in-person attendees who rsvp’d will receive a box lunch. If the workshop is recorded, we will send a link to the recording. If not, students are welcome to sign up for the workshop the next time it is offered.
Workshop #3
Jan. 27 (Tues.) 11:30-1pm: Mental Health and Sustaining Joy in Grad School (Vermillion or Zoom)
Feb. 9 (Mon.) 11:30-1pm: Mental Health and Sustaining Joy in Grad School (USD-Sioux Falls)
Workshop #4
March 23 (Mon.) 11:30-1pm: Networking, Interviewing, and Negotiating Jobs (USD-Sioux Falls)
March 26 (Thurs.) 11:30-1pm: Networking, Interviewing, and Negotiating Jobs (Vermillion or Zoom)
Earn a Digital Badge
Earn a Digital Badge
To earn a digital badge over the course of Graduate School enrollment, participants must attend and successfully complete the required assessments for 4 workshops; and successfully complete at least 2 courses from the Beyond Graduate School web-based platform modules.
GS3 Frequently Asked Questions
GS3 Frequently Asked Questions
Can individuals who are not USD graduate students attend workshops in the GS3?
No. The GS3 workshops are for USD graduate students only. This is an intentional decision as we want to ensure graduate students feel comfortable while participating in the workshops.
How do I sign up for workshops?
You can fill out this form to sign up. You will receive a meeting invite to the workshop within a couple of days with the relevant information, Zoom link (for those attending virtually) and meeting room (for those attending in-person).
Can I attend workshops virtually?
Yes, workshops will be delivered in person and streamed via Zoom. in Vermillion and Sioux Fall and streamed via Zoom on the same day as the Vermillion Workshop. You are welcome to attend which ever modality works best for you at the time.
Do I have to attend all of the workshops?
No. You are welcome to attend the workshops that fit in your schedule. However, if you would like to earn the digital badge, you have to attend all 4 GS3 workshops; and successfully complete at least 2 courses from the Beyond Graduate School/Beyond the Professoriate web-based platform modules.
Where are workshops held?
If you are attending virtually, you will attend via Zoom at the same time and date of the Vermillion workshop. If you are attending in-person in Vermillion, you will come to UCE 116. If you are attending in person at USD-Sioux Falls, you will come to Science and Technology Building 107. This information will be included in the meeting invite you will receive for the workshop as well.
Do I have to complete the GS3 in one year?
No. While it is possible to complete the GS3 in a year, this is not a requirement of the program.
How long are workshops?
Faculty developers have planned workshops that are 1.5 hours long.
Can I watch the recorded workshop instead of attending live in-person or via Zoom?
Maybe. If the faculty developer is ok with recording the workshop and with asynchronous attendance counting, this will be an option for graduate students.
Besides attend workshops, what else will I have to do?
Workshops will also include a deliverable of some kind. Successful completion of the workshop will include both participating in the workshop and completing the deliverable assigned during the workshop.
You will also need to complete 2 courses from the Beyond Graduate School web-based platform modules.
Resources
Resources
The GS3 will use guidance from Strategies for Navigating Graduate School and Beyond! Edited by: Kevin G. Lorentz II, Daniel J. Mallinson, Julia Marin Hellwege, Davin Phoenix, and J. Cherie Strachan. Click here for access to a FREE COPY of this text.
Beyond Graduate School / Beyond the Professoriate (FREE for graduate students)
One-of-a-kind, training platform; helps graduate students make the most out of their investment; build their careers.
Provides scalable, research-driven career training designed for the unique needs and demands of graduate students.
Uses video lessons on career exploration, to writing application materials, to interviewing and negotiating for that next career step— the platform helps students to degree completion and through each stage of their job search.
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