TXGAP Summer Institute 2016 presentation by Jessica Smith

1. Best Practices for Helping Non-Traditional
Graduate Students with School/Work/Life Balance
Jessica Smith, Graduate Coordinator II,
Energy and Earth Resources, Jackson School of Geosciences

2. Examples of Non-Traditional Students
Out of School for Five, Ten, or more years
Military veteran
• May have military duties while enrolled
Special paperwork might be necessary in both
cases
Working professional
• Continues to work full or part-time
while enrolled

3. Readjustment To A Classroom Setting
• Classroom style has evolved with
technology
• Laptops, Tablets, Smartphones vs.
Paper
• Electronic deadlines for assignments
• Team Assignments
• Blogging & Vlogging Projects
• Lectures vs. Seminars vs. Independent
Study

4. Study Methods and Goals
• Study groups
• Tutors
• Team Assignments
• Office Hours with Professors
• Setting Attainable Goals
• Milestones

5. Email Management
• So Many Emails
• What is really urgent? What is just
noise?
• Calendars: Online or Paper
• Various calendar and personal
organization apps are found online
• Balancing Emails
• Multiple Email Accounts
• University Email vs. Work Email
• What about the time you emailed your
homework to your boss? Yes, it has
happened…

6. Resources for Student Veterans
• Military Educational Benefits Paperwork required each semester
• Registrar’s Office – School Certifying Officials
• Student Veteran Services Center/Dean of Students Office
• Student Veteran Mentors
• Local Military Bases/VA Clinics

7. Encourage Communication
• Attend Office Hours
• Professional Email Etiquette – no
“text” shortcuts
• Do not rely on just one method of
communication -
Trifecta: In person, Phone and Email
• Unsure how to approach faculty? Talk
with your program staff
• Do not assume that your professor is
unwilling to work with you, ask them
• Spark a conversation – they were once
graduate students

8. Encourage Communication, II
• Schedule time for advising before
advising begins
• Deadlines are deadlines
• Red Flags
• Lack of Communication between
students and faculty leads to delays in
graduation
• If you have to travel for work, tell your
professor ahead of time

9. University Resources
• Writing Center
• Career Center
• Students with Disabilities
• Counseling Center
• Library Services
• Computer Labs
• Entertainment, Music, Sports
• Student Group/Alumni Network

10. Questions?
Jessica Smith
jsmith@jsg.utexas.edu
512-471-9875