Student Resources

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 review their MIT Alert settings on the MIT Alert 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.

Staff in the Office of Graduate Education provide advice and counsel on a variety of issues including faculty/student relationships, changing your advisor, conflict negotiation, funding, academic progress, interpersonal concerns, and a student’s rights and responsibilities. They can also help with excused absences and 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 Suraiya Baluch, 617-258-0304

The MIT Ombuds Office is a confidential* and independent resource for all members of the MIT community, including students, faculty, employees, alumni, and employees of Lincoln Lab, to constructively manage concerns and conflicts related to your experience at MIT. They support your success in work and studies by helping you to analyze concerns, clarify policies and procedures, and identify options to constructively manage conflicts. They also provide systemic feedback to strengthen MIT and promote a fair and respectful culture.

Room 10-213, 617-253-5921

*The only exceptions to this pledge of confidentiality are situations that present a risk of serious and immediate harm to yourself or others.

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. They are available to meet one-on-one and also host a weekly “office hour” through our ChemConvos program. Learn more about connecting with one of the ChemREFS.

Contact the Institute Discrimination & Harassment Response (IDHR) Office for more information about resources and reporting options for bias incidences related but not limited to race, religion, sexual orientation, disability, and gender, including sexual harassment and sexual assault.

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 specialists work with the entire campus to educate and raise awareness.  Their hotline is available 24 hours a day to support survivors in deciding what to do next. All of their services are free and confidential.

24/7  Hotline: 617-253-2300
Questions about advocacy services: VPRadvocate@mit.edu
Questions about education or outreach: VPReducation@mit.edu

The ISO serves all incoming and currently enrolled international students at the Institute. The ISO assists students in maintaining their legal status in the United States, provides support for their dependents, and promotes interaction with and integration into the MIT community at large. Chemistry ISO Advisor: Ms. Janka Moss, ISO Office: E18-219, 617-253-3795, iso-help@mit.edu

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.

The Registrar’s Office manages enrollment, registration and graduation and all other aspects of student academic records. This also includes the academic calendar, enrollment certifications, and loan deferment letters. Suites 5-115 and 5-117, Monday-Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm, registrar-www@mit.edu

The Office of Graduate Education provides information on various fellowship aid resources. If you receive a fellowship, please make sure you contact Rebecca Teixeira with all information about your fellowship.

Student Financial Services provides financial aid, collects payments, coordinates jobs, and advises on financial literacy. They provide information geared towards graduate students, as well as helpful information about viewing and paying your bill. Main Contact: Room 11-120, MWF 9:00am – 5:00pm, TR: 10:00am – 5:00pm, 617-258-8600, sfs@mit.edu

The Office of Graduate Education lists a number of resources available for students with financial concerns. This includes SwipeShare, a program for students who experience food insecurity to access dining hall swipes. Graduate students who wish to receive donated meal swipes should email Naomi Carton. Students with families who are experiencing food insecurity may apply for a Family Food Grant. The ARM Coalition (Accessing Resources at MIT) also provides information and resources.

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).

The iGrad Financial Literacy Portal is customized for MIT with videos, articles, a job board, searchable scholarship database, and interactive modules on a wide range of topics, including emergency funding, credit card management, identity protection, spending-smarts, etc.

Housing & Residential Services offers many resources related to Graduate & Family Housing. Get information about applying for graduate housing, graduate residences, and off-campus housing. W59-200, 617-253-2811, graduatehousing@mit.edu, offcampus@mit.edu

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+ 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)

The Office of Multicultural Programs (OMP) plans a variety of programs and events that seek to celebrate culture and educate others in areas related to social justice and how to carry out inclusive practices in the MIT Community. They collaborate with campus partners, student organizations, and community resources to plan these events. All programs and events are free to MIT students.

Nina DeAgrela, Assistant Dean – Office of Multicultural Programs, (
617) 253-0225 
tonina@mit.edu
SPXCE Intercultural Center, W31-110, Du Pont Athletic Gymnasium)

With a student-centered approach, the Social Justice Programming & Cross Cultural Engagement Intercultural Center (SPXCE, pronounced “space”) works to foster a more inclusive, equitable, and affirming MIT campus climate. As a collaborative initiative between the Office of Multicultural Programs and LBGTQ@MIT, the SPXCE provides intersectional social justice education, support, community-building, and leadership development. The SPXCE serves as a place where students can feel at home and exist in their wholeness while exploring all of their identities authentically with compassion and care.

Aside from the staff offices for OMP and LBGTQ@MIT, the SPXCE also offers a social lounge, study space, chalk wall, kitchenette, computer lab, all-gender restroom, a projector and screens, moveable white boards, and information on additional campus and local resources.

The SPXCE is open Monday through Friday from 10am – 8pm and is in Building W31, Suite 110.

Comprised of over 20 chaplains and 40 student groups, the Office of Religious, Spiritual, and Ethical Life (ORSEL) 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

MIT/GAIN is a free, 24/7 confidential service that can make life easier for students and their families. One call puts you in touch with work-life experts who can provide personalized resources and referrals across a wide range of topics: Legal; Work & Career; Parenting; Financial; Home & Daily Living; Wellness. 844-MIT-GAIN, info@mitgain.com

MIT Medical provides routine and urgent medical care as well as mental health and counseling services for the MIT community, including students. MIT Medical’s walk-in Urgent Care Service is open from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. every day (last patient check-in, 7:30 p.m.) for urgent, but non-life-threatening emergencies. Information about making appointments is available online. Building E23, 617-253-4481

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)

The health insurance fee for Chemistry graduate students 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. There are specific wavier deadlines each year and you will need to waive every year.

Enrollment Questions: Health Plans Office, E23-308, 617-253-4371, Walk-In/Phone Hours: M-F, 8:30am – 4:30pm, stuplan@med.mit.edu
Coverage Questions: Member Services, E-23, 3rd Floor, 617-253-5979, Phone Hours: M-F, 9:00am – 5:00pm, mservices@med.mit.edu

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 lose their existing dental insurance or experience a qualifying life event. Other dental plans with different enrollment periods may be available through the Massachusetts Health Connector or University Health Plans.

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; 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 (Alcohol & Other Drug Services (AODS) is committed to preventing high-risk behaviors and promoting a healthy, safe environment at MIT. They work with students, alumni and staff to develop and sustain prevention programming, provide early intervention services, and build coalitions to address MIT-related health issues. Their website includes information about getting help and support, programs and resources, weekends@MIT, and policies. Building W20-507, 617-258-6499

Career Advising & Professional Development guides all students as they explore and prepare for careers, global opportunities and health professions. They offer many services to help graduate students explore career options and get internships and jobs. In addition to in-person services, they provide a comprehensive Career Development Handbook. Building E17-294, capd@mit.edu

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.

Research guide and expert librarian to support research in chemistry. Ye Li, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Librarian. Building 14S-136M, 617-253-9795

The Teaching + Learning Lab (TLL) collaborates with faculty, teaching assistants, and students to promote excellence in teaching and learning throughout the Institute. TLL offers courses, programs, and reference materials related to teaching and learning that graduate students may find useful.

MIT Spouses & Partners Connect is a dedicated network for the significant others of MIT students, postdocs, staff, and faculty who have relocated to the Boston area. They organize activities that help you meet people, discover work and career opportunities, improve your English, share experiences and passions, and get information about living and parenting in Boston.

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.

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.