Professional Development Team Meeting Summary

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Team Members Present:
Laura Carlson
Ann Amico Moran
Stew Markel
Kevin Mueller
Mandy Albrecht
Gretchen Busl
Melinda Gormley
Bianca Schonberg
Judy Bemenderfer
Erin Drew (Incoming TREC/GSU) / Team Members Absent:
Amanda McKendree
Matthew Capadevielle
Cheri Smith
Connie Mick
John Lubker

Highlighted Items of Discussion:

Postdoc Professional Development Activities Checklist

Two Postdocs joined the meeting to discuss this topic (Jean Marie and Laurent ). The team discussed ideas on how a Postdoc checklist would differ or stay the same from the Graduate Student checklist.

Career

  • Many of the items from the checklist would carry over

Ethics

  • Dissertation to book or shifting from grad student to post doc; plagiarizing self
  • Where to publish
  • advocacy/ethics
  • Logistics

Identify Funding Opportunities

Expanding Teaching Portfolio

International Students

  • How the American System works
  • Special needs of International Students (Visa issues, careers)

Postdoc Project

Discussion centered around the concept of an orientation or overview for Postdocs. Currently, most information is informal and comes from word of mouth or the individual seeking out the answers without much guidance. The group needs to identify what are the issues and needs and how do we get information to them.

Ideas included:

  • Develop a sense of community
  • Postdoc “Orientation” or Services Meeting
  • Covers the basics – ID Cards, Insurance, etc.
  • Outlines helpful services – career, etc.
  • Spouse support for careers, schools, etc.
  • Sessions, followed by a reception
  • Separate sessions for Postdoc who are international
  • Have sessions more than once a year
  • Possible 4x a year – 2 events for Postdoc only, 2 events for Postdoc and families

Possible outreach to consider:

  • Web site (Office of Research is developing a web page)
  • Portal, including discussion boards
  • Drop-in office hours
  • Handbook
  • Facebook

Can the logo be revised to represent Post Docs in some manner?

  • Symbol in center
  • Inverse spiral

Action Items

Team will identify the issues and needs of Postdocs (due to Karen by 6/20)

  • Before they arrive on campus
  • During the first week on campus
  • After being on campus one month and beyond
  • Special needs of International Students