“As a first-generation graduate student, the workshops and all the great advice helped me cope with my anxiety regarding graduate school”
RDI participant, 2021
- Position students for success in their PhD: The RDI provides early guidance and a clearer overall understanding of the doctoral experience, helping students transition into their programs with greater confidence and motivation.
- Help students recognize and adjust expectations early: The RDI addresses common misalignments in expectations about research responsibilities, advisor roles, and the personal and financial demands of a PhD—particularly for students who lack familial role models with doctoral experience in the U.S.
- Reduce the risk of disengagement and demotivation: By proactively surfacing and addressing these misalignments, the RDI helps prevent the discouragement and disconnection that often lead to attrition.
- Provide tools to navigate challenges: Through structured workshops and discussions, the RDI equips students with practical strategies to manage the daily demands of doctoral study and sustain progress throughout their journey.
- Build a supportive community and foster peer connections: The RDI helps students navigate the challenges of starting a PhD by creating opportunities to build community, expand their networks, and connect with like-minded peers. It provides a space to form meaningful relationships, share experiences, and develop the support systems essential for success in graduate school.
- Connect with campus resources. The RDI introduces students to campus resources designed to support their academic and personal success while also connecting them with the faculty and staff who oversee these resources.
“The RDI is helping in creating the kind of environment that we want for our students here”
RDI Collaborating Institutional Leader, 2024
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Better prepare students for doctoral success: The RDI provides structured guidance to help incoming PhD students develop the skills and mindset needed to succeed in their programs, reducing early-stage struggles and improving their academic trajectory.
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Streamline advising and mentorship: By addressing common challenges early, the RDI helps students better understand the advising process and their role in it, making it easier for faculty to assess and support students effectively throughout their doctorate.
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Expand access to mentorship: The RDI fosters mentorship opportunities by connecting students with faculty, peers, and campus resources, ensuring they have the guidance needed to navigate their PhD journey.
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Improve time-to-degree efficiency: When students receive the right support early, they are more likely to stay on track and complete their PhD in a timely manner, reducing the burden of extended funding and completion delays.
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Increase return on investment for grants and funding: Institutions that invest in PhD student success see better outcomes for grant-funded research, as more students persist, graduate, and contribute to the research enterprise.
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Boost student retention: A well-supported doctoral student body leads to higher retention and graduation rates, improving the institution’s reputation and its ability to attract high-caliber students and funding opportunities.