Graduate Student Resources

Graduate Student Resources

While the primary efforts of graduate students focus on academic activities, the Department, University, and Five College community provide enormous opportunities for social and cultural enrichment. The University’s extensive programs are available to all students at reduced cost.  The Department’s social events vary from receptions following guest lectures to our potluck dinners held at the beginning and end of the academic year.

Extensive resources are available at the Graduate School Resources page (https://www.umass.edu/graduate/policies/resources), including but not limited to: Student Support, University Health Services, Counseling Services, Graduate Student Senate, Financial Aid information, Academic Honesty, Office of Equity and Inclusion, Title IX Campus Resources related to gender discrimination or sexual violence, Center for Women and Community, Student Parent programs, Stonewall Center for LGBTQIA+ resources, Intermural sports, Conflict Resolution for graduate students, and Ombuds office information for any student, faculty, or staff interested in speaking confidentially about any workplace conflict.

There are also many resources available for International students, available online through the Office of Global Affairs International Student and Scholar Services Resources & Support page (https://www.umass.edu/global-affairs/international-students-scholars/resources). In 2025, the University created a web page and email subscription service monitoring new U.S. government Federal Actions that may impact International students and many others in the campus community. See or subscribe to updates there regarding UMASS-sponsored Visas, equity and inclusion, LGBTQIA+ support, research funding, and other questions: https://www.umass.edu/news/federal-actions.

The Graduate School of the University of Massachusetts Amherst (https://www.umass.edu/graduate/) publishes the Graduate Student Handbook.  It is an invaluable guide regarding the policies and procedures of the University Graduate School, containing key information regarding such topics as which forms to file, statutes of limitations, committee formation, deadlines, and timelines. It is provided to all students confirming admission to the University’s graduate programs. The Graduate Student Senate supports a wide variety of programs and activities for graduate students (https://www.umass.edu/gss/).

Teaching Assistants are members of the Graduate Employee Organization (GEO), a union which publishes its own guide for members and advocates for a fair contract and better work conditions. It is in the interest of all GAs to become active members in the GEO union (https://www.geouaw.org/), and to choose a representative to GEO each fall from the History of Art and Architecture department.

The Graduate School also organizes an annual orientation every fall, which provides the opportunity to meet key administrators, senior TAs, and faculty to gain important skills and a sense of membership within the larger University community of scholars. Over 400 Graduate Professional Development workshops are offered each year, and HAA graduate students are expected to attend at least two workshops in order to qualify for the department’s summer professional development funding after their first year in the program (https://www.umass.edu/graduate/professional-development).