Student Success
Striving for your success
Our efforts are focused on helping graduate students engage, achieve, and succeed. We know that your academic department provides superb resources to you, and that our support needs to extend beyond just our excellent academic resources. Let’s get started on your graduate education!
Graduate Student Success Programming
Graduate Student Success is dedicated to creating a supportive and enriching environment for all graduate students. Our mission is to ensure that graduate students are supported from enrollment through completion of their degree, and students have access to resources, guidance, and opportunities needed to thrive academically and professionally.
Campus partnerships along with a network of robust academic and professional development programs, Graduate Student Success provides students with tools to excel in research, scholarship, and career advancement. Our work is centered on expanding access, strengthening the campus learning community, and promoting meaningful engagement across disciplines.
Graduate Student Success develops and implements initiatives that holistically support students, empower academic progress, and cultivate a vibrant graduate community. Ultimately, we aim to prepare LSU graduate students to make lasting contributions to their fields and succeed at LSU and beyond.
Graduate Future Scholars
The LSU Pinkie Gordon Lane Graduate School Future Scholars Initiative aims to remove barriers to graduate education while providing holistic support and resources essential for the successful completion of doctoral and professional programs. This premier initiative seeks to produce the next generation of highly trained professionals, scientists, engineers, and scholars from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, who will become leaders within academia, industry, non-profit, and governmental sectors. Future Scholars will receive holistic development, engage in a structured mentoring community.
LEARN MORE ABOUT GRADUATE FUTURE SCHOLARS
Graduate School Events Calendar
- New Graduate Student Orientation
- For new graduate students admitted in the Spring 2026, Summer 2026, and Fall 2026
- August 20, from 9 AM to 2 PM
- For new graduate students admitted in the Spring 2026, Summer 2026, and Fall 2026
- Graduate Student Association (GSA) Orientation Mixer
- This mixer is an opportunity to connect and mingle with your fellow LSU graduate students.
There will be food, drinks, and giveaways, so come out, meet a new friend, and celebrate
the start of a new semester!
- August 20, from 4 PM to 7 PM
- This mixer is an opportunity to connect and mingle with your fellow LSU graduate students.
There will be food, drinks, and giveaways, so come out, meet a new friend, and celebrate
the start of a new semester!
- Write On! Fall 2026 Cohort
- Write On! is a semester-long writing group program that provides graduate students
with dedicated writing time, peer support, and structured accountability to help them
make consistent progress toward their writing goals. Students from all disciplines
and at any stage of their graduate program are welcome to participate.
- Starts on August 31, meetings are held multiple times out the week at varying times.
- Applications are open until Sept. 4, so apply before it's too late!
- Write On! is a semester-long writing group program that provides graduate students
with dedicated writing time, peer support, and structured accountability to help them
make consistent progress toward their writing goals. Students from all disciplines
and at any stage of their graduate program are welcome to participate.
- NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Workshop Series
- If you're interested in applying for the NSF GRFP, these workshops provide an overview
of the application process, guidance on developing competitive application materials,
and strategies for crafting compelling personal and research statements.
- September 1, from 12 PM to 1:30 P.M. (Develop Your Research Statements)
- September 3, from 12 PM to 1:30 P.M. (Develop Your Personal Statement)
- Both days will be held in the LSU Energy, Coast & Environment Building, Dalton J Woods Auditorium (Room 1001)
- If you're interested in applying for the NSF GRFP, these workshops provide an overview
of the application process, guidance on developing competitive application materials,
and strategies for crafting compelling personal and research statements.
- Career Development Workshop (Job Search Strategies Series)
- Learn how to approach your job search with intention by developing a personalized
strategy that aligns with your career goals. This workshop covers planning, networking,
and effective ways to organize your search for academic and non-academic opportunities.
- September 8, from 12 PM to 1 PM
- Olinde Career Center Classroom, Student Union Room 256J (virtual & in-person)
- Learn how to approach your job search with intention by developing a personalized
strategy that aligns with your career goals. This workshop covers planning, networking,
and effective ways to organize your search for academic and non-academic opportunities.
- Graduate Student Leadership Initiative (GSLI) Conference Weekend (Applications close on September 6)
- GSLI is a selective leadership development program designed to help graduate students
strengthen their leadership skills, expand their professional network, and apply their
strengths in academic and professional settings. Participants engage in workshops,
coaching, and experiential learning throughout the semester.
- The conference will be held from September 18-20
- GSLI is a selective leadership development program designed to help graduate students
strengthen their leadership skills, expand their professional network, and apply their
strengths in academic and professional settings. Participants engage in workshops,
coaching, and experiential learning throughout the semester.
- GRAD Skills Workshop: Transitioning to Graduate School
- Starting graduate school comes with new expectations and challenges. This workshop
offers practical strategies for managing the transition, building productive habits,
and setting yourself up for success during your graduate journey.
- September 22 at 12:30 PM
- Olinde Career Center Classroom, Student Union Room 256J
- Starting graduate school comes with new expectations and challenges. This workshop
offers practical strategies for managing the transition, building productive habits,
and setting yourself up for success during your graduate journey.
- GSLI Coaching Sessions
- All month long
- GRAD Skills Workshop: Rethinking Professional Networking
- Networking is about building authentic professional relationships - not just collecting
business cards. Learn practical conversation strategies, confidence-building techniques,
and ways to create meaningful connections that support your academic and career goals.
- October 6, from 12 PM to 1 PM
- Atchafalaya Room, Student Union 339
- Networking is about building authentic professional relationships - not just collecting
business cards. Learn practical conversation strategies, confidence-building techniques,
and ways to create meaningful connections that support your academic and career goals.
- Pizza & Painting
- Take a break from coursework and research to relax, create, and connect with fellow
graduate students. Enjoy free pizza, guided painting, and an evening of community
in a fun, low-pressure environment.
- October 27 at 5:30 PM
- Royal Cotillion Ballroom, LSU Student Union
- Take a break from coursework and research to relax, create, and connect with fellow
graduate students. Enjoy free pizza, guided painting, and an evening of community
in a fun, low-pressure environment.
- Graduate Fellows’ Town Hall
- Graduate Fellows are invited to connect with Graduate School leadership, receive important
program updates, and share feedback about their graduate experience. This is an opportunity
to ask questions, discuss concerns, and help shape future programming.
- October 28, 11 AM to 1 PM
- Held in Peabody 225
- Graduate Fellows are invited to connect with Graduate School leadership, receive important
program updates, and share feedback about their graduate experience. This is an opportunity
to ask questions, discuss concerns, and help shape future programming.
- GRAD Skills Workshop: Defeating Procrastination in Graduate School
- Discover research-based strategies for overcoming procrastination and maintaining
momentum on your academic work. Learn practical techniques to improve focus, manage
competing priorities, and build sustainable productivity habits.
- November 3, from 12 PM to 1 PM
- Olinde Career Center Classroom, Student Union Room 256J (virtual & in-person)
- Discover research-based strategies for overcoming procrastination and maintaining
momentum on your academic work. Learn practical techniques to improve focus, manage
competing priorities, and build sustainable productivity habits.
- Graduate Student Wellness Day (Mindful Miles)
- Take time to prioritize your well-being with Mindful Miles, a wellness event designed
to help graduate students recharge through movement, mindfulness, and community
- November 6, Time TBD
- Take time to prioritize your well-being with Mindful Miles, a wellness event designed
to help graduate students recharge through movement, mindfulness, and community
- Career Development Workshop (Job Search Strategies Series)
- A strong application starts with customization. Learn how to tailor your resume, CV,
and cover letter to specific positions while effectively communicating your skills
and experiences to potential employers.
- November 11, from 12 PM to 1 PM
- Olinde Career Center Classroom, Student Union Room 256J (virtual & in-person)
- A strong application starts with customization. Learn how to tailor your resume, CV,
and cover letter to specific positions while effectively communicating your skills
and experiences to potential employers.
- GSLI Workshop
- November 13, from 8 AM to 12 PM
- GSLI Closing Ceremony
- November 30, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Graduate Student Success Pillars
Graduate Student Success is dedicated to fostering a supportive, enriching environment where graduate students are guided from enrollment to degree completion, with access to the resources, mentorship, and opportunities needed to thrive academically and professionally —ultimately preparing them to make lasting contributions at LSU and beyond.
Below you will find the pillars (Academic Enhancement, Wellbeing, and Career Preparation) that our program uses to provide our graduate students with ample resources to aid their professional and academic development throughout their time here.
CliftonStrengths Trainings
CliftonStrengths is a strengths-based assessment and development program that helps individuals identify their natural talents and learn how to use them to achieve greater success academically, professionally, and personally. By understanding your unique strengths, you can build confidence, strengthen leadership skills, improve teamwork, and make more intentional decisions about your goals and career. The assessment is designed to help you focus on what you do best and apply those strengths in meaningful ways.
The Graduate Student Success team offers a CliftonStrengths workshop and presentation for graduate students, student organizations, departments, and campus groups. Interested in bringing a CliftonStrengths session to your group? Submit a workshop request by clicking the button below.
cliftonstrengths training request