January 7, 2026
Thesis and Dissertation Writing Camp Day 3
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January 7, 2026
Thesis and Dissertation Writing Camp is an opportunity for MSU grad students to have dedicated time to work on writing their theses or dissertations before the hectic semester starts!
Students can use this time to set structured goals and find social accountability with facilitators from the Writing Center and peers who are also writing theses and dissertations. For in-person attendees, food and coffee will be available, and crafts will abound to encourage brain breaks.
Thesis and Dissertation Writing Camp will take place in 300 Bessey Hall, January 5-7, 2026, from 9am-3pm, both in-person and on Zoom. This registration form will remain open until December 28, 2025.
If you have questions or need to change your registration, please contact Beth Sabo at bethsabo@msu.edu.
Register for Thesis & Dissertation Writing Camp Here.
GTA Roles: What to Expect
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January 7, 2026
GTAs take on multiple roles while managing their own courseload. In this session you will have the opportunity to connect to and learn from experienced GTAs.
Four graduate students who have served as grader, lab leader, recitation leader, and section leader share what their workload looks like and how they manage their time, tips and tricks on how to work with students, and challenges they have addressed. GTAs will walk away with a set of tools for successfully working in their roles.
This session is part of the 2026 Spring GTA Preparation Program.
Presenters(s):
Dr. Stefanie Baier, Director of the GRaduate Educator Advancement and Teaching (GREAT) Office
Temilade Adegoke, German Studies
Eleanor Carr, Genetics
Dakshesh Vasan, Statistics & Probability
Dangkamol Wongthanaroj, Packaging
Building Confidence in Academic Integrity: A Guide for Emerging Educators
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January 7, 2026
In this session, Dr. Shannon Lynn Burton (University Ombudsperson) will offer practical strategies tailored to graduate teaching assistants and postdocs who are building their instructional identity while upholding academic integrity in the classroom. Participants will learn how to communicate expectations with confidence, prevent common forms of misconduct, and manage difficult conversations that may arise when concerns occur.
The session will also outline key university policies and procedures for responding to suspected misconduct, with opportunities to discuss real scenarios that help early-career instructors strengthen their judgment, clarity, and sense of authority in fostering a culture of integrity.
This session is part of the 2026 Spring GTA Preparation Program.
Presenter: Dr. Shannon Lynn Burton (MSU Ombudsperson)
Responding to Student Challenges as Instructors
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January 7, 2026
Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) play a critical role in fostering student learning and success; however, not everything is smooth sailing! In this workshop, GTAs will be alerted to common academic and personal challenges—such as absences, late or missing assignments, and early withdrawals - which may come up during the semester.
Participants will learn when and how to utilize institutional tools to intervene effectively and compassionately. The workshop also will touch upon cultural differences in student engagement and expectations, particularly for those navigating U.S. classroom norms from an international perspective. We hope GTAs will leave better prepared to recognize student needs early, respond more confidently, and create a supportive and successful learning environment.
This session is part of the 2026 Spring GTA Preparation Program.
Presenters:
Pat Walters and Amy Kroesche (English Language Center)
