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

Examples of Non-Traditional StudentsOut 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

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

Study Methods and Goals

• Study groups

• Tutors

• Team Assignments

• Office Hours with Professors

• Setting Attainable Goals

•Milestones

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…

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

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

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

University Resources

•Writing Center

• Career Center

• Students with Disabilities

• Counseling Center

• Library Services

• Computer Labs

• Entertainment, Music, Sports

• Student Group/Alumni Network

Questions?

Jessica Smithjsmith@jsg.utexas.edu512-471-9875