The ACLS Doctoral Futures Initiative welcomes ASECS members to a set of open, discussion-based conversations about some of the most pressing questions facing doctoral education today. Each townhall is designed not as a lecture or panel, but to facilitate a genuine exchange of ideas. Graduate students, faculty, administrators, and academic professionals are all welcome and encouraged to attend.
Townhall 1: Smaller Cohorts and Graduate Curricula – Tuesday, April 7, 2pm EDT
As programs move toward admitting smaller cohorts, what needs to change? We’ll examine what reduced cohort sizes mean for recruitment, disciplinarity, curricula, mentorship, and advising.
Registration: https://acls-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IdO6FXUjRJO43Jt7JKgWQQ
Townhall 2: Let’s Talk Pedagogy – Wednesday, April 15, 1pm EDT
How are doctoral students being prepared to teach — and how are they being taught themselves? We’ll explore mentorship, curricular design, and the pedagogical training that shapes how graduate students enter the classroom as both students and teachers.
Registration: https://acls-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_COrtAiSeSMW06fkh25XKlw
Townhall 3: From Admissions to Career Outcomes – Thursday, April 30, 2pm EDT
With academic jobs scarcer than ever, most doctoral graduates will build careers outside the professoriate. Are admissions practices keeping pace with that reality? We’ll explore how programs might recruit and admit students with a fuller picture of where the doctorate can lead.
Registration: https://acls-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JbdiiIHSRtWcgSuw-hoUnw
We encourage you to register through the links provided and come ready to share your experiences, questions, and ideas. These conversations are only as rich as the perspectives in the room — and yours matters.