Skip to main content

Training & Workshops

Training Materials & Workshops

Orientation for Graduate Contacts

Orientation Materials for new Graduate Contacts are available to help you get started in your new role.

Videos - Slate Enrolled student module series:

GC Essentials

GC Essentials sessions will cover Graduate College functions from different areas in the Graduate College. These topics are those that departmental staff need to know in order to assist with their daily responsibilities for graduate students. These workshops will be offered online. Email invitations are sent with topic, location and registration information to those subscribed to the Graduate Contact and Graduate Directors listservs two weeks in advance of the session.

admissions and enrollment 

These sessions are offered via Zoom and a link will be sent to all graduate contacts. 

  • Slate 101
    • This session offers the new user experience including how to navigate the system, how to find and review your applicants’ materials, and how to process admissions in the Slate system.
    • October 3, 2024, 9:00am-10:30am
  • Admissions 101
    • This session covers Admissions basics such as academic eligibility, English proficiency, and recodes, as well as how to evaluate both domestic and international applications for admission.
    • October 15, 2024, 9:00am-10:30am
  • SEVIS 101
    • This session covers SEVIS basics such as student visa options, late arrivals, and funding documentation requirements.
    • November 19, 2024, 9:00am-10:30am
  • Slate 102
    • This session offers a more in-depth look at Slate functionalities such as sending admission letters and other admissions communications through Slate's Deliver module, and an overview of Slate Reader for admissions. This session is for intermediate Slate users.
    • December 5, 2024, 9:00am-10:30am
  • Registration & Enrollment 101
    • This session provides users with an overview of the policies, deadlines, and processes for curriculum change and re-entry petitions and applications, registration overload petitions, and credit/no credit, GC 599, in absentia, and late registration change forms.
    • December 10, 2024 9:00am-10:30am
  • Slate 103
    • ​This session provides users with a detailed look at query building, including building queries using Slate’s Configurable Joins. Attendees can follow along on their own computers as we build queries in real time. Questions about building and running queries are encouraged. This session is for intermediate to advanced Slate users.
    • January 16, 2025, 9:00am-10:30am

Academic Affairs

  • Degree Audits in uAchieve
    • Spring 2023 TBD
  • Graduate Student Petition Process - Using the Petition Portal and Petition Requirements
    • Fall 2023 TBD
  • Degree Certification and the GCP Database (mandatory for new Certifiers but all are welcome)
    • Fall 2023 TBD
    • February 22, 2023, 11am-12pm
    • July 12, 2023, 11am-12pm
  • Student Records - Grades and Academic Standing
    • April 12, 2023, 11am-12pm
  • Academic Policy Updates
    • Fall 2023 TBD

Thesis Office

  • Graduate Faculty Database
    • Fall 2023 TBD
  • Doctoral Exam Committees
    • Spring 2023 TBD
  • Thesis Review & Deposit
    • Spring 2023 TBD

Career Services and student success

  • Career Services at the Graduate College
    • April 6, 2023, 11am-12pm

Fellowship Office

  • Nominating Students for Graduate College Fellowships and Grants
    • Fall 2023 TBD

Graduate College Annual Workshop

  • Hosted annually in March

Partnership for Success Series

Broaden your institutional knowledge about resources, services, and campus procedures in order to assist and support graduate students in your program. The Graduate College hosts monthly meetings with special topics aimed at this purpose. Email invitations are sent with topic, location and registration information to those subscribed to the Graduate Contact and Graduate Directors listservs two weeks in advance of the session. Registration for these sessions is required.

Graduate College Partnership for Success Certificate     

The Graduate College recognizes the invaluable service that graduate departmental staff provide to graduate students in their program. We are pleased to acknowledge their service through a professional development certificate for departmental staff who attend training opportunities at the Graduate College.

Certificate Eligibility

  • Departmental staff at Illinois with graduate program responsibilities
  • Must fulfill certificate criteria within 2 calendar years to be eligible for the certificate

Certificate Criteria

  • Attends Graduate College Annual Workshop annually
  • Attends 8 GC Essentials sessions
  • Attends 8 Partnership for Success sessions

Graduate College/Human Resources Presentation

The information in this presentation is applicable to all students who are also employees, Graduate Assistant Employee Orientation.

Campus Staff Training

The campus maintains a calendar of staff training events at http://illinois.edu/calendar/list/642.

Office of the Registrar Training Materials

The Office of the Registrar offers many resources and job aids that are helpful to Graduate Contacts.