Supporting Doctoral Students Through Connection, Conversation, and Community
Doctoral work is intellectually demanding, but it can also be isolating, overwhelming, and emotionally draining. That’s why the Division of Student Affairs (DSA) is proud to offer three campuswide programs this fall designed specifically for doctoral students across UMB. These offerings, co-hosted by the Writing Center and the Student Counseling Center, create supportive, low-stakes spaces for doctoral students to connect with peers, reflect on their writing and research, and build sustainable academic practices. All doctoral students, regardless of program or discipline, are warmly invited to participate.
Each month, the PhD Lounge transforms the Writing Center into a relaxed, drop-in gathering space where students can take a breath, talk with other doctoral writers, and hear a 10-minute talk on topics such narrative strategies, AI tools, or writing routines.
The fall Reading Research Articles as Writers workshop invites students to take a closer look at the rhetorical strategies behind scholarly articles, especially those written in the IMRaD format, to strengthen their own manuscript writing. And for those navigating the emotional and interpersonal complexities of graduate school, the PhD Student Support Group, hosted by the Student Counseling Center, offers a confidential, student-centered space to talk, reflect, and find community.
Whether you’re writing your proposal, designing experiments, or revising chapters, these programs are here to remind you: You’re not doing this alone. DSA’s doctoral programming is built on the belief that writing, wellness, and mentorship are shared practices — and that building community is essential to doctoral success.
Learn more and register here:
- PhD Lounge
- Reading Research Articles as Writers Workshop
- PhD Student Support Group Info and Sign-Up: Call 410-328-8404