Project upGRADS Certificate

Description of and requirements to earn this certificate listed below

Fall 2024 Offerings

Establishing Culturally Responsive Relationships with Graduate Students
Taught by Dr. Leah Brew, Department of Counseling

• September 13 | 2:00pm - 3:00pm (In-Person)
• October 18 | 11:00am - 12:00pm (Zoom)

This workshop discusses the ways in which cultural differences in identities and discourses can hinder relationships between graduate students and faculty. Constructs of culture, intercultural communication, discourse and power will be defined. Attendees will get to practice skills in two areas: how to initiate a conversation about identity and cultural differences, and how to listen effectively. The information included in this workshop could also help improve relationships with other graduate students and colleagues.

Supporting First-Generation Students Using Community-Building Strategies
Taught by Dr. Edson Andrade, Department of Counseling

• September 18 | 11:30am - 12:30pm (In-Person)
• October 09 | 11:30am - 12:30pm (Zoom)

Establishing a sense of belonging can be challenging for first-generation college students, whose identities and cultures are often not represented in higher education. This workshop will explore community building as a vital strategy for nurturing these students’ success and belonging. Attendees will reflect on how their own identities and biases impact their teaching practices and community building. Together, we will exchange and co-create practical ideas for fostering inclusive and supportive learning communities that empower first-generation students to thrive academically and personally.

Supporting Graduate Students’ Mental Health
Taught by Dr. Adrian A. Rodriquez, Department of Human Services

• September 19 | 12:00pm - 1:00pm (In-Person)

This workshop addresses the crucial aspect of mental well-being. It offers insights into the complex dynamics of intersectionality, resilience, discrimination, and microaggressions. Faculty members learn how to become effective allies and support systems for students navigating these challenges.

The Nuts and Bolts of Mentoring Graduate Students: Building Relationships, Setting Goals, and Creating Success
Taught by Dr. Matt Englar-Carlson, Department of Counseling

• September 20 | 12:00pm - 1:00pm (Zoom)
• September 25 | 12:00pm - 1:00pm (In-Person)

Effective mentoring of graduate students of color is not mentoring as usual. It requires culturally responsive attention to the multiple identities and lived experiences of the mentee. This workshop explores evidence-based mentoring practices that focus on nurturing the relationship between mentor and mentee. Cultivating belonging, addressing overcoming barriers in higher education, and setting reasonable and reachable goals are the building blocks of graduate student success. Attendees will reflect upon their mentoring style, develop practical strategies for communicating with mentees, and gain an understanding of realistic ways to be an effective mentor.

Humanizing Graduate Students: Pragmatic Practices, Generative Dialogue, and Cultivating Peer Relations
Taught by Dr. Sarah Grant, Department of Anthropology

• September 25 | 12:00pm - 1:00pm (Zoom)
• October 29 | 12:00pm - 1:00pm (In-Person)

This discussion-oriented workshop emphasizes the need to humanize the graduate students we recruit, admit, celebrate, advise, and mentor while also recognizing the ethical obligation we have to guide them to completion and prepare them for a post-graduate future. Focusing on historically underrepresented and post-traditional graduate students, this session explores several approaches for supporting our students in the classroom. It also shares pragmatic techniques for cultivating graduate student peer relations that will foster well-being and a thriving community while working toward degree completion.

Workshop Flyer

Click to enlarge

Certificate Description and Requirements

This certificate focuses specifically on strengthening faculty abilities to support Black and Hispanic graduate students and build students’ sense of belonging with culturally sensitive advising and the fundamentals of mentorship. This certificate requires the completion of three different workshops from the series.

CSUF's Project upGRADS is a grant funded by the U.S. Dept. of Education's HSI Title V program.

Dr. Katherine Powers, Principal Investigator | Dr. Volker Janssen, Project Director, vjanssen@fullerton.edu | Angelly Barroso, Advising Coordinator, angbarroso@fullerton.edu | Stephanie Vega, Program Manager, sevega@fullerton.edu.

Certificate Completers