Student Resources – MIT Department of Chemistry

There are many resources available for the MIT Community and a comprehensive list is available here. We have included some resources below that graduate students may find especially useful. The Chemistry Education Office is also here to help!

General Information

Safety

MIT is committed to the safety and well-being of all members of the community. To report an emergency dial 100 from any campus phone or 617-253-1212 from all other phones. Other important information about safety and security is included below:

MIT ALERT is the Institute’s emergency notification program, designed to provide information and advisories via a number of communication channels including Institute voicemail, email, and text message, for the safety and security of the MIT community. All MIT students, faculty, and staff should sign up on the MIT Alert sign up page (you will need an MIT Certificate).
Extensive information about emergency preparedness is also available online here.
Information about emergencies, including closures due to weather, is available online here.

Office of Graduate Education (OGE)

Staff in the Office of Graduate Education provide advice and counsel on a variety of issues including faculty/student relationships, conflict negotiation, funding, academic progress, interpersonal concerns, and a student’s rights and responsibilities. They also provide clarification about Graduate Policies and Procedures.

The following Deans are available meet with students:

Senior Associate Dean Blanche Staton, contact Patricia Glidden for appointments, 617-253-9464

Assistant Dean Jason McKnight, 617-253-5427

Assistant Dean Suraiya Baluch, 617-258-0304

MIT Ombuds Office

The MIT Ombuds Office helps people express concerns, resolve disputes, manage conflicts, and learn more productive ways of communicating. The Ombuds Office serves as an independent, confidential*, neutral, and informal resource to the diverse MIT community. Room 10-213, 617-253-5921

*The only exception to this pledge of confidentiality is where the Ombuds determines that there is an imminent risk of serious harm.

ChemREFS (Resources for Easing Friction and Stress)

MIT ChemREFS is a group of Chemistry graduate students who are trained and certified in conflict resolution and mediation. Their mission is to improve the graduate student experience in MIT Chemistry by serving as a confidential resource for chemistry graduate students, faculty, and staff. They’re here to listen and talk through possible solutions if you have a problem—big or small, in lab or at home. Learn more about connecting with one of the ChemREFS.

Conflict Management@MIT

Title IX & Bias Response (T9BR)

Violence Prevention & Response (VPR)

VPR is MIT’s primary, on-campus resource for preventing and responding to interpersonal violence, including sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, stalking, and sexual harassment. Their prevention specialist work with the entire campus to educate and raise awareness. Their advocates are available 24 hours a day to support survivors in deciding what to do next. 24-Hour Hotline: 617-253-2300, VPRadvocate@med.mit.edu

International Students Office (ISO)

Graduate Student Council (GSC)

The Graduate Student Council exists to enhance the overall graduate experience at MIT by promoting the general welfare and concerns of the graduate student body, creating new programs and initiatives to provide opportunities for growth and interaction, and communicating with the MIT Administration and Faculty on behalf of graduate students. The GSC is led by the Executive Committee and has various committees and boards to address graduate student issues.

Registrar's Office

Finances

Fellowships

Student Financial Services

Food Insecurity

Paystubs & Payroll Options

As Teaching Assistants, Research Assistants, or fellows paid by MIT, graduate students are considered MIT employees and can access financial information relating to their stipend online via Atlas (MIT certificates required). Through Atlas students can download/print pay stubs, update tax withholding information, enter direct deposit information, and retrieve electronic copies of W2s (annual earning form, used for filing federal and state tax returns).

iGrad Financial Literacy Portal

Student Life

Housing & Residential Services

MIT Work-Life Center

The MIT Work-Life Center is here to meet the personal and professional needs of our diverse, global community — whatever they may be. Whether you are a member of the faculty or staff, a student or postdoctoral associate or postdoctoral fellow, call on them whenever you need a solution, big or small. Whatever your phase of life, whatever your challenge, they are here to lend support and connect you to resources and support systems, no matter where you are located. In addition to one-on-one consultations, they offer a wide range of programs that address specific life issues and events. NE49-5000, 617-253-1592, worklife@mit.edu

LBGTQ@MIT: An Intercultural Resource for Diverse Gender, Romantic, and Sexual Identities

LBGTQ+ Services supports numerous student, employee, and alumni groups as well as other departments and initiatives on campus aiming to foster equity, intersectionality, and the continuum of social justice. From individual student support to organizational development and institutional policy advocacy, LBGTQ+ Services’ support, programming, and educational endeavors aim to enhance the experiences of MIT’s LBGTQ+ community. LGBTQ@MIT: 617-253-5440, lgbt@mit.edu

MIT Rainbow Lounge, Walker Memorial Second Floor (50-250)

Office of Multicultural Programs

The Office of Multicultural Programs seeks to foster an inclusive and affirming campus climate. They provide oversight for the Black Student Union and the Latin Cultural Center. They advise the approximately seventy culturally-focused student clubs and organizations. They serve as a safe space for students to develop connections and broaden their scope. They exist to help students be successful, while providing advocacy, support services, trainings, workshops, leadership development and culturally based programs. They provide students with opportunities to engage in meaningful dialogue and activities that will assist them in becoming change agents at MIT and beyond. SPXCE Intercultural Center, W31-110, Du Pont Athletic Gymnasium, Monday-Friday, 10:00am-6:00pm)

Spiritual Support

Comprised of over 20 chaplains and 40 student groups, the Office of Religious Life reflects the diversity of the institute’s community. Through regular opportunities for worship, meditation, prayer, and study, the office is a resource for students, faculty, and staff, of all faith traditions and belief systems. The chaplains provide religious, spiritual, and educational programming, as well as confidential* counseling and crisis support.
*Chaplains who are ordained clergy within their religious traditions are confidential resources for members of the community.

Religious Activity Center, W11, 617-253-7707

GAIN (Graduate Assistance and Information Network)

Health and Wellness

MIT Medical

Student Mental Health & Counseling

MIT Medical’s Student Mental Health and Counseling Services works with students to identify, understand, and solve problems, and to help transform that understanding into positive action. MIT Mental Health is available to anyone in the MIT community with problems, questions, or concerns. For urgent issues, a mental health clinician is on call and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There are walk-in urgent hours weekday afternoons from 2:00-4:00pm.

Building E23 – 3^rd Floor, 617-253-2916 (Appointments and Urgent Concerns on Weekdays), 617-253-4481 (Urgent Concerns on Nights and Weekends

MIT Student Health Insurance

Student’s health insurance fee will be paid by the Chemistry Department if they do not have alternate health insurance coverage that meets the Massachusetts guidelines. Students are automatically enrolled in the MIT Extended Student Health Plan, which provides for routine and emergency medical care. Please contact the Health Plans Office for more details about student coverage. Student may also buy health insurance coverage for family members (spouse, partner and/or children) as well as waive health insurance if they have existing coverage elsewhere.

Graduate Student Dental Plan

The MIT Graduate Student Dental Plan is offered by MIT through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. It is available to all MIT graduate students enrolled in a degree-granting program. Spouses/partners and dependent child(ren) of MIT graduate students may enroll only if the graduate student is also enrolled. It is separate from the MIT student health plans. This coverage is optional and enrollment is not automatic. Dental insurance is not required by law, and students are responsible for premiums and any dental bills they incur. Students may only enroll between September 1 and September 15, unless they lost their existing dental insurance or experience a qualifying life event.

Community Wellness

Community Wellness at MIT Medical works with the entire MIT community to provide the resources and programs that can help you make healthy choices. Their offerings include: Exercise and Fitness; Spouses & Partners Connect; Sleep; Stress Reduction, Mindfulness, and Relaxation; Notice & Respond Workshops; Sexual Health; Health and Wellness Coaching; Eating Healthfully; Family Support; MedLinks; and MindHandHeart. They work with all members of the MIT community. Room E23-3^rd Floor, 617-253-1316

Alcohol & Other Drug Services (AODS)

Academics & Professional Development

MIT Career Advising & Professional Development

Writing and Communication Center (WCC @ MIT)

The WCC @ MIT offers free professional advice to MIT undergraduate students, graduate students, post-docs, faculty, lecturers, staff members, spouses, alums, visiting scientists and scholars. The WCC is staffed completely by communication experts. The WCC also provides specialized help to those for whom English is a second language and offers practice in pronunciation and conversation. Register or Schedule an Appointment Online. E18-233, 617-253-3090, writing-center@mit.edu.

Chemistry Library Guide

Teaching + Learning Lab

Spouses, Partners, and Families

Spouses & Partners Connect

Childbirth Accommodation and Parental Leave

As of September 1, 2018, MIT graduate students have access (according to eligibility) to two different leaves when they give birth or undertake significant responsibilities for a newborn child or a child newly placed with them: Childbirth Accommodation and/or Parental Leave. Students must initiate planning with their department; the Office of Graduate Education (OGE) provides final review and approval. Please review the full details about the policy, including eligibility information.

Child Care & Parenting

The MIT Work-Life Center offers a comprehensive network of resources to assist MIT community members in finding or using child care services for children of all ages, as well as an internationally recognized program of services to support those in the community who are raising children, including biological and adoptive parents, step-parents, guardians, grandparents, extended family, foster parents, and others responsible for children’s care.