Welcome to SPARK
SPARK: The Doctoral Success Program aims to provide support to doctoral scholars who are approaching or already in the post-coursework phase of their graduate journey.
In collaboration with institutional resources across Claremont Graduate University, the Office of Student Engagement invites our doctoral scholars to join upcoming workshops and events, make use of our academic affirming community space, and utilize toolkits aimed at accomplishing their next doctoral milestone.
Provide Feedback
As we continue to plan and develop sessions for SPARK, we ask that you share your feedback with us. Please click the button below to share any suggested sessions, workshops, or topics that you would like to see incorporated in our 2023-2024 academic year programming. Our goal remains to help doctoral students make progress towards degree milestones and feel successful as they advance towards degree completion.
Academic Affirming Community
Integral to SPARK is building community and establishing accountability with peers. We invite doctoral scholars to join our academic affirming community space via Microsoft Engage, where doctoral students can engage with each other regardless of location. We invite you all to connect and share your research, ask questions, ask for support, and build community with other CGU scholars. We encourage you to review our Viva Engage Community Guidelines as you look to engage with your peers.
Fall 2023 SPARK Recommended Workshops
This transformative event equips you with the skills and strategies to build a captivating digital profile, enabling you to showcase your unique talents and expertise in a way that resonates with your target audience.
- Date: Wednesday, October 11th
- Time: Noon PST
- Location: Burkle 14 | Hybrid
- Register here!
Weekend Dissertation Bootcamp | Hosted by: Center for Writing & Rhetoric
Weekend dissertation boot camp develops writers’ ability to set effective goals and to track their own writing processes. In addition to providing accountability for a weekend of writing, bootcamp helps students find sustainable writing habits that move their work forward. In addition, we become a community of writers committed to completing our dissertations on schedule, supporting and cheering each other on, and sharing strategies and experiences to help each other navigate the dissertation process with our sanity intact!
- Date: October 14 & 15
- Time: 9:00-3:00pm
- Location: Online
- Register here!
Adaptability and Flexibility | Hosted by: Center for Academic and Faculty Excellence
Embrace change and adapt to new environments, academic systems, and workplace cultures.
- Date: Wednesday, October 25th
- Time: 12 pm – 1 pm
- Location: Online
- Register here!
Growing Together: Nurturing the Mentor-Mentee Relationship | Hosted by: Career and Professional Development
An event that explores the power of mentorship. Discover the keys to fostering meaningful connections, gaining invaluable guidance, and unlocking your full potential. This is a Hybrid event. In collaboration with Dr. Gloria González-Morales
- Date: Thursday, October 26th
- Time: Noon PST
- Location: Burkle 14 | Hybrid
- Register here!
Productivity Saturday | Hosted by: Center for Writing & Rhetoric
The CGU Center for Writing & Rhetoric’s Productivity Saturday is designed to assist in the development of sustainable writing habits by providing a dedicated time for students to focus on writing and productivity while building a community of scholars and writers. Join students working towards coursework, qualifying exams, or thesis/dissertation milestones. Our CWR consultant-facilitated writing event is designed for students looking for an accountability group to drive them to get work done. This event offers guided work blocks, provides time for students to meet with writing consultants to discuss their work, and promotes student engagement in discussions about graduate writing and research.
- Date: Saturday, October 28
- Time: 10:00am-3:00pm
- Location: Hybrid
- Register here!
Reference management software is a scholar’s best friend! This workshop gives you tools to thrive during graduate school by showing how the free reference management software Zotero can save time and prevent citation frustrations. Organizing all your sources, reading notes, and entering citations manually can be overwhelming and cost precious time, especially when working on a long-term project like a thesis or dissertation. When working on a project, you may find that you forget what you have read, don’t remember where your notes are located, or can’t find the source of that amazing quote! The earlier you start using a reference management system, the easier it will be to take notes, write papers, make bibliographies, and organize your research. Come learn how to use Zotero and make grad life easier! This is part one of two workshops on Zotero. The next webinar covered the basics of Zotero setup and use. Please watch the first webinar recording before coming to this webinar.
- Date: Wednesday, November 8
- Time: 12:00-1:30pm
- Location: Online
- Register here!
Preparing for Qualifying Exams | Hosted by: Center for Writing & Rhetoric
Qualifying exams in different disciplines range from timed multiple choice or written exams to field work or teaching requirements to chapters of a dissertation. This webinar will cover strategies for approaching reading and notetaking for qualifying exams as well as writing under pressure. The topics will be applicable to any type of exam that requires some form of comprehensive knowledge on a topic to be expressed through an exam or a written response of some kind.
- Date: Thursday, November 9
- Time: 12:00-1:00pm
- Location: Online
- Register here!
Weekend Dissertation Bootcamp | Hosted by: Center for Writing & Rhetoric
Weekend dissertation boot camp develops writers’ ability to set effective goals and to track their own writing processes. In addition to providing accountability for a weekend of writing, bootcamp helps students find sustainable writing habits that move their work forward. In addition, we become a community of writers committed to completing our dissertations on schedule, supporting and cheering each other on, and sharing strategies and experiences to help each other navigate the dissertation process with our sanity intact!
- Date: November 11 & 12
- Time: 9:00-3:00pm
- Location: Online
- Register here!
Research Management Software Part 2: How to Organize Your Research with Zotero | Hosted by: CAFE
Reference management software is a scholar’s best friend! This workshop gives you tools to thrive during graduate school by showing how the free reference management software Zotero can save time and prevent citation frustrations. Organizing all your sources, reading notes, and entering citations manually can be overwhelming and cost precious time, especially when working on a long-term project like a thesis or dissertation. When working on a project, you may find that you forget what you have read, don’t remember where your notes are located, or can’t find the source of that amazing quote! The earlier you start using a reference management system, the easier it will be to take notes, write papers, make bibliographies, and organize your research. Come learn how to use Zotero and make grad life easier!
- Date: Wednesday, November 15
- Time: 12:00-1:30pm
- Location: Online
- Register here!
Join us at the California Botanic Garden for our Outdoor Writing Workshop, and read or write amidst natural surroundings to inspire our work. This workshop will take place on Saturday, December 2 from 10am-3pm. Please meet us at the front of the botanic gardens near the information booth 10 minutes prior to the workshop, as we will walk as a group to our destination. Before the event, please make sure all electronic devices are fully charged and other materials you need for the day are on your person before we depart for our destination. Our workshop will be followed by a brief tour of the gardens, courtesy of some of our own CGU botany students! Lunch will be provided.
- Date: Saturday, December 2
- Time: 10:00-3:00pm
- Location: Botanic Gardens
- Register here!
Continuous Learning: Empowering Your Postgraduate Journey and Career | Hosted by: CAFE
In today’s dynamic and ever-evolving world, continuous learning has become an indispensable tool for professional growth. This webinar will guide you through the transformative potential of ongoing education and provide you with the strategies needed to stay updated on developments in your field.
- Date: Wednesday, December 6
- Time: 12:00-1:00pm
- Location: Online
- Register here!