Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week, also known as GPSAW, will be held across the UT campus from April 6 to April 10. Please take a moment to post a message or say thank you to a UT graduate or professional student in your life by visiting tiny.utk.edu/thank-a-grad! Select messages may be shared on the Graduate School’s social media channels during the week.
Graduate & Professional Student Appreciation Week Brunch
Monday, April 6, 2026 from 10–noon
Join the Office for Campus Culture & Community, the Graduate Student Senate, and the Graduate School to celebrate your academic year and your impact on the campus.
April 6
Tailoring Academic Materials to Fit the Job
4:15pm–5:15pm, HSS 212
This workshop offers a deep dive into the iterative process of polishing academic application materials. The event is open to up to 25 graduate students and postdoctoral scholars, and participants are invited to bring one job posting in their field to practice tailoring and targeting materials to fit an advertisement. Apply to attend at tiny.utk.edu/AcademicJobMaterialsWorkshop
Judith Anderson Herbert Writing Center
April 7
2pm–4pm, Student Union 377 (The Executive Dining Room)
If you’re a graduate student or postdoctoral scholar who has been putting off writing or revising your job application materials, this drop-in clinic is for you. Grab your computer and join your peers in a quiet, collaborative environment to get cover letters, CVs, and other materials job-market ready.
Teaching and Learning Innovation, Center for Career Development & Academic Exploration, Judith Anderson Herbert Writing Center
April 8
Coffee and Crafts in Medbery Makerspace
10am-12pm, Medbery Makerspace, Hodges 209
Join UT Libraries in the Medbery Makerspace (Hodges 209) for coffee and crafts. Craft supplies will include card making, graduation cap decorating, button making, and bracelet making. We will even have number beads to make ORCiD bracelets. Don’t have a research ORCiD account yet? Data librarians will be on hand to help you create these accounts and then make a bracelet to remember your unique research number.
UT Libraries
Paint the Rock Pizza Party for GradVols
3:30-5pm, The Rock
GradVols will be painting the Rock on Wednesday, from 3:30 to 5:00pm. We would love to have you join us and add your handprint (gloves will be provided). While supplies last, there will be free pizza for those who join us to celebrate graduate and professional students!
The Graduate School
Graduate Student Karaoke Night
5pm-8pm, Knoxbox Karaoke
Join Campus Culture and Community and the Graduate Student Senate at Graduate Student Karaoke on Wednesday, April 8, from 5pm – 8pm at Knoxbox Karaoke. What’s your go-to tune? Come meet cool people, eat free pizza and have fun!
Campus Community and Culture
April 9
Brunch & Breakout Sessions: Let’s Talk About Publishing Research
10am-11am, Mary Greer Room, Hodges 258
This is an informal, in-person workshop where graduate students can learn about scholarly publishing basics, discuss their research journeys, and ask any questions they have related to publishing research. Brunch snacks will be provided!
UT Libraries
4:30pm-5pm, Hodges Library
Meet by the Public Services desk to be led on a tour of technology spaces in Hodges Library. The tour will include the Graduate Commons, The Studio, Medbery Makerspace, and eXperience Point. Learn about services and resources provided in these spaces, how to reserve them, and who to ask for help.
UT Libraries
5pm-8pm, Hodges Library 258 Mary Greer Room
Join UT Libraries for Game Night in Hodges Library Room 258. Unwind with a variety of board games, online games, and virtual reality. Bring your friends or meet new people and play a game – snacks will be provided. Need a re-match? Their board game collection can be checked out so feel free to plan a game night of your own.
UT Libraries