How do I view or change my profile?
Log in and click “Profile.” Once you are logged in, most pages will show a Profile link at the top of the right sidebar. Click on that and you are visiting your profile. The Public tab takes you to the public view of your profile so you can see it the way other members see it. The Change Profile Picture option allows you to upload or change your own photo. Settings allows you to change your password, personal information and email notification settings. It is your responsibility to maintain your profile to your liking.
Can I control what kinds of emails I get from The Versatile PhD?
Yes. Log in, go to your profile, click Settings, and click on the “Notifications” tab. This reveals all the email options and allows you to change them anytime. If you don’t like receiving every new post by email, two other options exist: daily digest (all the day’s postings in one email), and no emails. You may also choose to receive job postings by email, or not, as you wish.
Can I post by email, or reply by email?
No. You must visit the site in order to post. If you receive postings by email, there is a link in each email that takes you to the topic. Simply read it to the end and click “Reply to Topic” at the bottom.
How do I post to the Community Forum?
Log in to the site and visit the Community area (it should take you directly there). Click on Main Forum, and all of the topics are laid out for your perusal. To reply to an existing topic, click “Reply to this topic” under the last (lowest) posting. To start a new topic, click “Add a new topic” at top of the forum.
Note: the site does not like stuff to be copied and pasted from Word (it changes the formatting). Best to compose right there in the forum, or compose in a plain text editor, like notepad, and paste from there. If you do post from a word processor or another application that uses formatted text, and you are using the forum’s (default) rich text editor window, you may consider using the
paste-text icon. This will strip out all formatting. The “
paste-text” icon looks like a clipboard with a “T” on it, as shown here in the following image.
How do I post a job?
Log in, visit the “
Jobs” page and click ”
Post a Job.” Job postings are very helpful to others and your time and effort to post jobs is greatly appreciated. Under “post a job,” there is a simple form to fill out which can be done in a minute or two. The position title is required along with the organization name (example: “Assistant Curator, Iowa Museum of History”). This helps people get a quick sense of the position just from scanning the headline. The “application deadline” and “start date” fields are not required because many times these are vague or unspecified. In the ”Position Text” field, simply copy and paste the text from the source, including the info on how to apply. No need to worry much about the formatting. If you have a comment or know something about the position, please share that info using the comment field below. For example, “This would be a great entry-level job for a folklorist” or “I know this organization and it is a good place to work.”
How do I post an Event?
Visit the “
Events” page, then click
“Post an Event.” A simple form pops up. The format is a little restrictive but that’s because the squares on the calendar are only so big. Please remember to use military time and specify the correct time zone. Otherwise people may think your 7pm cocktail party in New York is a 7am breakfast in Hawaii. (Hey, sounds actually better…)
How can I contact another member privately?
There is a “personal message” feature on the site.
Here are a few ways to send:
1) From a Post in the Community Forum
- Look to the left of the member’s post text.
- Just above the members’s profile picture, you will see a link showing the member’s display name.
- Click on this link, and you will get to the member’s profile.
- Click on the “Send Private Message” button.
- Compose your message and send.
2) Send a message to any member
- Click on Members in the top main menu.
- In the Member Directory, search for and find the member to whom you wish to send a message.
- Click on the member’s profile picture to enter his or her profile.
- Click on the “Send Private Message” button.
- Compose your message and send.
I want to share something from the site with a friend who is not a member. Is that OK?
No. The Versatile PhD is a private, confidential space where only members may read or post. All members, including you, have agreed to the Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Code of Conduct, which say that to forward material to anyone who is not a member, is not OK. This holds true regardless of whether you receive the content on the site or by email. Just because it is easy to forward an email, does not make it OK. Please maintain the confidentiality of the site by not forwarding to non-members. Thank you.
I notice there is no individual subscription option, no way for individuals to gain access to the premium content area. How come?
Because the goal is for universities to subscribe as institutions, gaining access for all their graduate students. If an individual subscription option were available, some universities would elect not to subscribe, leaving it up to the individual student to pay for premium content. But you can still participate in the community even if your university does not subscribe. Basic membership is free and open to anyone. You can participate in ongoing conversations and Career Panels, reading what others have to say, asking questions, sharing your thoughts, getting and giving advice and emotional support, making contacts, building relationships and being part of the Versatile PhD community. All of that is free. Only the premium content area is restricted to paid institutional subscribers.
My university is subscribed to The Versatile PhD, how can I get access to the Premium Content Area?
Click
here for instructions.
How can I get my university to subscribe?
By sending an email to several key individuals at your university, telling them about the service and asking them to please subscribe. Simple instructions will be posted soon.
Hey, what about people outside the academy, without a university affilation? How can they gain access to the Premium Content Area?
By contributing premium content. If you are a PhD or ABD working outside the academy, your experience has value for others and you can write your way into the premium content area. There are three ways to contribute. You can do one, two or all three. Each one gains you 6 months access to the premium content area, for a potential total of 18 months. Please email me if you are interested and I will send you Editorial Guidelines (
Paula Chambers). That being said, I realize many VPhDs have not yet secured a post-academic position. Those individuals need this content greatly and it is my intention to work through the issues that currently prevent my offering an individual option for them. If you are in that category and willing to help me think stuff through, please email me and I will share the issues with you to get your input.
I’m having trouble with some feature of the site. What should I do?
Feel free to contact the
webmaster.
If you’re using Internet Explorer, you might check this page.
I would like my account to be deleted. What should I do?
If it’s just getting the emails that you don’t like, please remember that you can turn email notifications off, or choose to get them less often. If you truly want to leave the community, login and click on “Profile,” then click on “Settings,” then click on the “Delete Account” tab. You may also contact the
webmaster.
Note that your forum postings will remain, but they will be tagged as belonging to a deleted user, and all self-identifying information you have provided for your profile will be removed.
I have an idea for a book that should be included in the Store.
Good! Please email your idea to
Paula Chambers and briefly state why you feel it should be included.
I have published a book. Can you please add it to the “Books by Versatile PhD Members” section of the Store?
Yes! Happy to promote books by VPHD members. Email the title and ISBN to
Paula Chambers.
I’m a PhD or ABD working outside the academy. How can I get my picture included in the rotating slide show of large captioned photos on the home page?
Easy. Email
Paula Chambers a good quality landscape (horizontal) photo of yourself at work, as a JPG file. The photo should show you engaging in some work activity and the composition and/or lighting should make clear which person is the Versatile PhD. If your photo is chosen, you will receive a small honorarium and be asked to sign a photo release form. And then you will be “the very model” of The Versatile PhD.
I have a question that is not listed here. How can I get my question added to this list?
Can I see the video of Paula’s recent presentation at Ohio State?
