Events / Graduate Student Hidden Curriculum Seminar #4

Graduate Student Hidden Curriculum Seminar #4

1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
Farrell Learning and Teaching Center (FLTC) - Room 204, 520 S. Euclid Ave, Saint Louis, MO 63110
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The Graduate Student Hidden Curriculum Seminar Series is designed to demystify the unwritten rules of graduate school and equip students with strategies and resources for academic success, mental wellness, and professional development. Each seminar includes interactive activities and actionable takeaways. 

 The hidden curriculum in North American academia refers to unwritten social and cultural norms often aligned with white middle-class values, which can marginalize individuals with intersecting identities such as race, gender, and sexuality. These norms perpetuate exclusivity and lack of diversity in fields, particularly in the biomedical sciences. This seminar’s objective is to help demystify and disrupt these academic norms, address structural inequities, and provide transparent training to ensure all students can succeed without conforming to hidden expectations.

Please RSVP using the form below. Questions? Contact Chayla Vazquez at chaylav@wustl.edu.

Graduate Student Hidden Curriculum Seminar #4
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The seminar series is set to tackle the following topics:

Title  Key Topics 
Seminar 1: Understanding Hidden Curriculum: Institutional Traditions, Ideas, and the WashU Experience 

 
  • The origins and implications of the hidden curriculum in American education. 
  • Navigating expectations for courses, rotations, committees, qualification exams, proposals, and funding. 
  • Understanding program-specific resources. 
Seminar 2: Surviving Academia & Sustaining Well-Being 

 
  • Strategies for maintaining work-life balance. 
  • Accessing on-campus and off-campus therapy options. 
  • Creating and sustaining personal and professional support networks. 

 
Seminar 3: Strategic Selection: Projects and Committees That Propel Your Success 

 
  • Identifying factors of a successful research project 
  • Strategies for selecting committee members 
Seminar 4: Thoughtfully Integrating AI in Grad School 

 
  • Implications of AI as an equity issue 
  • Practical applications of AI for coding, literature reviews, setting up experiments, administrative tasks, and emailing your PI. 
  • Limitations of using AI in manuscript and grant writing. 
  • Preparing for future uses in applications and cover letters. 

 
Seminar 5: Dealing with Conflict and Creating Learning Opportunities for You, Them, and Whoever Comes Next 

 
  • Distinguishing between the roles of advisors and mentors. 
  • Finding allies to navigate academic challenges. 
  • Strategies for addressing conflicts and reclaiming time. 
  • Leveraging committees and program directors for support. 

 
Seminar 6: Structural Barriers and Strategies for Underrepresented Students in Research 

 
  • Identifying what is culture capital 
  • Recognizing microaggressions, invalidations, hypervisibility, and invisibility. 
  • Connecting to your identity community inside and outside of campus. 
  • When to know when you should report something. 

 

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all Washington University School of Medicine sponsored events.  If you are a person with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, at least one week before the event, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the Washington University School of Medicine Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in advance at 314-273-2809 or MedDEI@wustl.edu