The Leadership and staff of the Graduate Student Senate wish to welcome back our returning graduate students and congratulations to the new cohort for choosing UMass Amherst. We are very excited to begin this new semester and support graduate students as they navigate graduate life on campus.
Black History Month!
Your Graduate Student Senate is proud to join the nation in February’s annual celebration of Black History Month. This is an observance that remains as important as ever, especially because anti-black racism and violence at UMass Amherst have been brought increasingly into the public eye over the last few years. Black History Month is about more than just one month a year of championing black icons and pioneers. It’s about making sure that black history is recognized and celebrated everyday as the integral part of history that it is.
We encourage you to visit the UMass Black History Month web pages, which include a great series of events and resources in celebration of Black history and culture. We'd like to invite you to share why YOU celebrate this important month. Share with us your heroes, your stories, your inspirations related to Black History Month.
Issues with your Advisor?
In a perfect world, graduate students would be warmly welcomed into their departments and actively nurtured by enthusiastic advisors/PIs/mentors. They would ask you to lunch, offer to read your work, initiate stimulating conversations, notice your stress, and offer to collaborate on projects. In short, you would be embraced and supported by members of a vibrant intellectual community so that your transition to graduate school would be efficient and effective. Unfortunately, most academic departments aren’t like this. You are not alone! Let's get together and chat!
Reminder: GSS is Hiring!
After serving the University for several years as the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Coordinator, Marwa Atef Amer is retiring. Marwa has helped nearly everyone on campus during her time on campus. Her impact has been significant and she will be sorely missed. You can view the job description and apply for the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Coordinator position on the Graduate Student Senate site. The deadline is soon!
Support Groups
- Student parent support group (more info and Zoom links here).
- Disability Affinity Group (Details in next newsletter)
- LGBTQIA+ Grad Student Support Group (For more information:stonewall@umass.edu)
- CCPH Graduate Student Support Group
- CCPH Women’s Graduate Therapy Group
- Center for Women and Community (not graduate specific)
- We are looking for a leader to re-establish the Black Grad Student Caucus. Please reply with your interest.
Free Ice Skating Social!
Family friendly, free, and open to all! Lace up your ice skates, or rent a pair at the rink, for indoor ice skating at the Mullins Center on Sunday, February 19th at 12:30 pm. Coffee, tea, hot cocoa, and snacks will be provided. This event is paid for by GSS. Please RSVP so we have enough snacks.
Nonresident Tax Workshop at UMass!
We are excited to announce that UMass has partnered with Sprintax to host two webinars for nonresident aliens for U.S. tax purposes. Please find below the registration links for the UMass sessions:
UMass Session 1:
Feb 23, 2023 12:00 PM EST
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2231370214342773259
UMass Session 2:
Mar 7, 2023 12:00 PM EST
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2735619440980251147
Spring GSS Senate Meeting Schedule
Meetings are open to the public. Please join your fellow graduate students for lunch and conversations about the issues on campus.
Date Time Location
2/10/23 12 - 1:45 pm Campus Center 165-69
2/22/23 12 - 1:45 pm Cape Cod Lounge (upstairs in the Student Union)
3/10/23 12 - 1:45 pm Campus Center 165-69
3/22/23 12 - 1:45 pm Cape Cod Lounge (upstairs in the Student Union)
4/14/23 12 - 1:45 pm Campus Center 165-69
4/26/23 12 - 1:45 pm Cape Cod Lounge (upstairs in the Student union)
5/12/23 12 - 1:45 pm Cape Cod Lounge (upstairs in the Student union)
We will be holding annual elections soon for senators and officers. Keep an eye out for an email around Feb 20th for more details and to nominate yourself.
