News
The library program offers personalized help to more than 6,200 students in two faculties.
Using the library is a daunting task for many first-year students. That’s why University of Toronto has established Continue reading, a program that pairs first-years with a librarian.
“As a personal librarian, I thi...
https://www.universityaffairs.ca/news/news-article/university-toronto-personal-librarian/
From PhD to Life
In the three years I've worked as a career and life coach, and through the years of my own transition, I've learned lots about the process of changing careers. What fascinates me most are the thoughts and feelings that accompany such a shift.
When I talk about transition with my clients and other...
https://www.universityaffairs.ca/career-advice/from-phd-to-life/career-transitions-dont-happen-overnight/
From PhD to Life
Joseph Fruscione (PhD, English) contributed to the Transition Q & A series in December 2013. You can read his interview Continue reading. He was then teaching first-year writing in George Washington's University writing program and beginning a post-ac...
https://www.universityaffairs.ca/career-advice/from-phd-to-life/transition-update-joseph-fruscione-carolyn-harris-and-andrew-miller/
From PhD to Life
Kimberley Yates (PhD, English) contributed to the Transition Q & A series in March 2013. Read her interview Continue reading. She was then associate director of the
https://www.universityaffairs.ca/career-advice/from-phd-to-life/transition-update-kimberley-yates-veronica-rubio-vega-and-rachel-mueller-lust/
News
A registrar who helps school leavers qualify for university understands their mindset.
The University of Toronto welcomes some 14,000 first-year students every September, but for many individuals the prospect of a university education appears out of reach. Yet, some of them will graduate, with the help of a little-known program for people who lack the formal education to qua...
https://www.universityaffairs.ca/news/news-article/meet-the-registrar-for-u-of-ts-transitional-year-program/
The Black Hole
Quick hit: Beth forwarded something interesting to me in a follow up to my slightly controversial critique of the Three Minute Thesis article - Jorge Cham of PhD Comics fame has justContinue reading to have your thesis...
https://www.universityaffairs.ca/opinion/the-black-hole/quarterly-summary-transition-success/
The Black Hole
Hello readers!
If you didn't catch it already, we have relocated the blog and this month and have posted our first set of articles:
https://www.universityaffairs.ca/opinion/the-black-hole/facilitating-the-transition-new-posts-at-university-affairs/
The Black Hole
Read Jonathan's earlier related entries to catch up on the series:
Making the Case for Increased Federal Support of Biomedical Research and The Problem: A lack of faculty positions at top-tier Canadian Universities and Research Institutes
One approach, in which Canada is laggi...
https://www.universityaffairs.ca/opinion/the-black-hole/pitching-solutions-transition-awards-and-targeted-hiring/
News
Program targets first-generation students.
Andre Matte had heard all the horror stories about transitioning from high school to first year university. To add to his anxiety, Mr. Matte is the first in his family to go to university. So when he was flipping through the application for residency at the University of Alberta last spring, somethi...
https://www.universityaffairs.ca/news/news-article/easing-the-transition/
From PhD to Life
This is a guest post by Raj Dhiman, PhD, who works as an inside sales manager (small business) at Rogers Communication.
Unemployment hurts. Plain and simple.
I experienced it when I left academia about five years ago. I was PhD in hand and applying for the “obvious” jobs: assi...
https://www.universityaffairs.ca/career-advice/from-phd-to-life/sales-great-career-path-phds/
From PhD to Life
The name of this blog is changing.
The new school year is a time of change, and I can attest that feels true even for those of us who aren't enrolled in school, don't work in education, or have school-aged dependents. I started blogging for University Affairs under the From PhD to Life banner in September 2013. At that poin...
https://www.universityaffairs.ca/career-advice/from-phd-to-life/phd-beyond-professoriate/
From PhD to Life
I'm gearing up to co-host the Continue reading once again this May. It's the fourth annual event, and there's a great lineup of speakers presenting. I asked our Day 1 (Career Day) panellists to share advice they have for graduate ...
https://www.universityaffairs.ca/career-advice/from-phd-to-life/advice-phds-seeking-non-faculty-jobs/
From PhD to Life
Seeking employment outside academic faculty positions? Then this conference is for you.
This is the third year I'll co-produce an online conference -- a series of interactive, live webinars. Continue reading is aimed at graduate students and PhDs who are curious about or actively seeking employment outside ac...
https://www.universityaffairs.ca/career-advice/from-phd-to-life/3rd-annual-beyond-the-professoriate-the-online-career-conference-for-phds/
From PhD to Life
One of the pieces of advice I give people considering their options after a PhD is to take risks. Not big ones, but small ones. One at a time.
These risks can take the form of drafting a resumé, just for yourself. Or conducting an informational interview, even with someone you already know. Or ...
https://www.universityaffairs.ca/career-advice/from-phd-to-life/taking-risks-key-successful-career-change/
From PhD to Life
I recently spoke with a humanities PhD who's having difficulty securing meaningful employment. After a one-year stint as a professor soon after he graduated, he's worked for a private company for the past 18 months. “General office work,” he told me. “This used to be a summer job, and they hir...
https://www.universityaffairs.ca/career-advice/from-phd-to-life/stalled-career-search-dont-give/
From PhD to Life
Occasionally I’m asked about quitting, particularly "quitting" a PhD program. This happened several times last week, when I was in Vancouver.
Contrary to what you may hear or what your own internal critics tell you, there’s no shame in moving on. I remember a long post on a
https://www.universityaffairs.ca/career-advice/from-phd-to-life/ok-quit-phd/
From PhD to Life
Last week I participated in an event for engineering graduate students at McMaster University. I was interviewed over Google Hangout by three students. They asked me excellent questions about my career. It was a fun experience, and one that got me thinking.
I went “straight through”: high sch...
https://www.universityaffairs.ca/career-advice/from-phd-to-life/grad-school-is-part-of-your-career-too/
In my opinion
Lessons learned from successful campus implementation efforts.
Over the past 30 years I have helped facilitate 120 strategic plans on campuses in the United States and Canada. Most plans are well written and aspirational. But when it comes to implementing them, unfortunately many campuses are less than successful. Over the past two years I have done a “deep d...
https://www.universityaffairs.ca/opinion/in-my-opinion/7-tips-for-executing-a-strategic-plan-successfully/
News
Lack of clarity around on-campus testing for British Columbia students, more universities plan to bring more students back to campus for the winter semester and Ryerson University updates its COVID policy.
Editor’s note: please check back regularly for more updates.
October 20, 2021
Meet Noah Little: the USask student behind COVID-19 Tracker Canada
https://www.universityaffairs.ca/news/news-article/covid-19-updates-for-canadas-universities/
Career Advice
Universities need to offer more opportunities and resources to the 80 per cent of graduate students who will not end up as tenure track professors.
I find it troubling that an overwhelming majority of graduate students don’t know where their PhD is going to lead them. Simply asking, “when will you be finished?” or “what do you want to do after your PhD?” can be viewed as taboo. With tenure track position availability on the decline, a...
https://www.universityaffairs.ca/career-advice/career-advice-article/empowering-the-other-80-per-cent-changing-graduate-student-career-outlooks-through-mentorship-programs/