Laney Graduate School Launches Laney-PACS to Expand Communication Support for Graduate Students

Laney Graduate School launched a new initiative designed to help graduate students strengthen one of the most essential skills for academic and professional success: communication. 

Formerly known as the English Language Support Program (ELSP), the newly renamed Laney-PACS — Professional and Academic Communication Support — reflects an expanded vision for graduate student communication support at Emory. The initiative provides writing and speaking resources for all Laney Graduate School students while continuing dedicated support for multilingual and international students. 

“Communication shapes nearly every aspect of graduate education,” said Heather Boldt, director of Laney-PACS. “Graduate students are constantly communicating complex ideas through writing, teaching, presentations, interviews, and collaboration. Laney-PACS is designed to help students build those skills with confidence.” 

One of the newest additions is the LGS Speaking Studio, which offers 30-minute consultations focused on presentations, teaching, interviews, research talks, and other spoken communication tasks. Students can receive individualized feedback on delivery, organization, audience engagement, slide design, and presentation confidence. 

Laney-PACS also offers Individual Writing Consultations, where graduate students and postdoctoral researchers can receive support on scholarly and professional writing projects at any stage of development. Students may bring dissertations, manuscripts, conference abstracts, fellowship applications, teaching materials, job documents, or early-stage ideas for feedback and strategy support. 

Additional Laney-PACS offerings include graduate student writing groups, communication workshops, dissertation and thesis writing boot camps, and English language support courses for students who use English as an additional language. 

The launch aligns with Laney Graduate School’s broader commitment to student flourishing and professional development by helping students strengthen communication skills needed for success in academia, industry, government, healthcare, and nonprofit careers. 

According to the AAC&U 2023 Employer Survey, employers continue to rank oral and written communication among the most important professional competencies, while also reporting that these skills remain underdeveloped in many recent graduates. 

Laney-PACS will also partner directly with graduate programs across the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and professional schools to provide embedded communication support tailored to disciplinary needs. Faculty and program leaders may collaborate with Laney-PACS to develop workshops, classroom support, presentation coaching, and student referrals. 

The new initiative is part of a broader effort to centralize communication support resources within the Laney Graduate School Student Success ecosystem, ensuring students can more easily access support related to writing, speaking, professional development, and academic success. 

Students interested in learning more about Laney-PACS, booking a consultation, or exploring upcoming workshops and programs can visit the Laney Graduate School website or contact Heather Boldt at hboldt@emory.edu.