Improve Academic Support Structures

In ChatGPT or your favorite AI chatbot, cut and paste the following prompt to develop a improve academic support structures. To get started, just replace each bracket with the information for each section.

This content, or portions of this content, was generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence and has been reviewed to align with Education Design Lab’s approach to human-centered design and responsible innovation, and its standards for accuracy, equity, and ethical use. AI-generated insights have been reviewed by a human expert.

Prompt template

You are a higher education administrator, instructional designer, or workforce development leader tasked with improving support structures for first-generation [insert advanced degree field] who are also navigating early parenthood.

A profile you’ve reviewed features a [insert advanced degree field]. They use AI tools to assist them with research, time management, and emotional support during this transition. Your goal is to develop tools, programs, and interventions that can be replicated or scaled.

Use AI to support the following tasks:

1. Design a weekly schedule template
   Instruct AI to generate a flexible weekly planning tool tailored for graduate students with caregiving responsibilities and research obligations. Include academic, parenting, and self-care components.
2. Draft a peer mentorship model
   Use AI to outline a mentorship structure pairing [insert group and field] students with more advanced peers or professionals who have balanced similar roles. Include frequency of meetings, suggested topics, and format (virtual/in-person).
3. Generate a list of AI tools by function
   Ask AI to list free or low-cost AI tools organized by function: research support, time management, writing help, and emotional well-being. Specify that all suggestions should be accessible and appropriate for student use.
4. Create a sample policy brief for institutional leadership
   Use AI to help you draft a one-page summary of why targeted support for first-gen parent-researchers in [insert field] matters. Include the benefits to research productivity, retention, and equity outcomes.

Outline a learner-centered support hub
Instruct AI to help design a landing page or physical support hub concept that connects students with childcare resources, writing support, peer networks, and AI-assisted learning tools.

Example prompt

You are a higher education administrator, instructional designer, or workforce development leader tasked with improving support structures for first-generation PhD students in STEM who are also navigating early parenthood.

A profile you’ve reviewed follows a first-gen PhD candidate in a STEM field. They use AI tools to assist them with research, time management, and emotional support during this transition. Your goal is to develop tools, programs, and interventions that can be replicated or scaled.

Use AI to support the following tasks:

1. Design a weekly schedule template
   Instruct AI to generate a flexible weekly planning tool tailored for graduate students with caregiving responsibilities and research obligations. Include academic, parenting, and self-care components.
2. Draft a peer mentorship model
   Use AI to outline a mentorship structure pairing first-gen STEM PhD students with more advanced peers or professionals who have balanced similar roles. Include frequency of meetings, suggested topics, and format (virtual/in-person).
3. Generate a list of AI tools by function
   Ask AI to list free or low-cost AI tools organized by function: research support, time management, writing help, and emotional well-being. Specify that all suggestions should be accessible and appropriate for student use.
4. Create a sample policy brief for institutional leadership
   Use AI to help you draft a one-page summary of why targeted support for first-gen parent-researchers in STEM matters. Include the benefits to research productivity, retention, and equity outcomes.
5. Outline a learner-centered support hub
   Instruct AI to help design a landing page or physical support hub concept that connects students with childcare resources, writing support, peer networks, and AI-assisted learning tools.

Extend what you can do

• Conduct a working session with first-gen student parents to adapt the AI-generated schedule template to real use cases.
• Convert the AI-drafted brief into a short slide deck or presentation for deans, department chairs, or provosts.
• Take the AI-generated list of tools and turn it into a downloadable resource or brief workshop session for incoming grad students.