Wellness GRAD Support Space                                                                                                               

First Wednesdays, Spring quarter, 1230-130pm, UChicagoGRAD HQ (3rd floor bookstore building)

UChicagoGRAD and Student Wellness has partnered to bring you a support space beginning monthly first Wednesdays in spring quarter, for you to meet peers and gain support as you manage academic projects.

The discussion topic for April would be on navigating anxieties around school, and the topic for May would revolve around healthcare and insurance. All are welcome to join!

Mon Apr 22, 5-7pm | Student Wellness Center

Calling all graduate students - Join UChicagoGRAD and Student Wellness for a fun board game and social evening on our next Better Together GRAD board game night!

It will be held at the Student Wellness Center, located at 840 E. 59th Street. Looking forward to seeing you! RSVP link

Are you an international student who’s curious about careers, the job search, and where alumni are going in industry? Come talk to a recent UChicago alumni who just went through the same process!

Francesca Marchese Gonzalez completed her MA and MPP degrees from the Committee on International Relations (CIR) and the Harris School of Public Policy in 2023, and is an international student from Guatemala who is now working as data analyst in Chicago Public Schools. Join us at UChicagoGRAD to listen to her journey and participate in Q&A. Refreshments provided. RSVP link

IGSAB Filing Taxes Drop-in

It's tax season! If you were present in the U.S. in 2023, you are required to file tax forms with the government, and the information below will help determine what you may need to do to complete this process. Please take some time to review our Graduate Student Tax resources including an updated FAQ and recorded Tax Information Sessions that can be streamed at your convenience. Remember to reach out to gradhelp@uchicago.edu with your questions related to taxes and University payments. 

Feel free to join us for a drop-in session to meet fellow graduate students like you and gain some company while filing taxes together. Light refreshments will be provided. RSVP for drop-in session here.

Also, do note that this is a support group and not one with instruction, so there will not be any individual tax advice, but a space to hold people together as they file taxes and support each other with the process!

Save the Date: GRADUCon 2024

Friday, March 22, 2024, Online via Zoom

GRADUCon is the university’s annual career exploration conference exclusively for graduate students, postdocs, and recent graduate alumni. Each year the conference brings together hundreds of participants for a full day of career-themed panel discussions and one-on-one conversations with UChicago alumni mentors. By centering the advice of alumni who have been in your shoes, GRADUCon inspires and empowers you to achieve your professional goals.

There will be a panel on the U.S Job Search for international students. We understand that as an international student, the process of navigating the job search and avoiding potential pitfalls within the American job market can be a disconcerting concept for many. We have invited alumni to share their perspectives on how they have personally been through the process, and what are the types of realities international students would have to be prepared for as they enter the job market.

The virtual panel will take place via Zoom on Friday, March 22, 2024, from 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm CDT. In addition to the panel, the conference will also feature opportunities to meet with students for one-on-one virtual “coffee chats” over Zoom.

For a full conference schedule, including a list panel topics, please refer to the GRADUCon webpage.

Wednesday, March 13, 10:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m., meet at UCSC, 6030 S. Ellis

Calling all international graduate students spending spring break here on-campus, join us for our second annual GRAD community volunteering event! After a breakfast and training session, participants will have the opportunity to visit, tour, and complete a volunteer project at a non-profit southside organization. We look forward to seeing you! RSVP here.

Better Together GRAD Speed Friending Night

Monday Feb 26, 5-7pPM, UChicagoGRAD HQ (3rd floor bookstore building)

Join us for a speed friending event night with Student Wellness and UChicagoGRAD. Dinner will be provided, with activities to break the ice, make new friends, and play board games if you'll be so inclined! From 5-6 p.m, we will have speed friending in groups and from 6-7 p.m, we will have games and food for more casual connecting. We look forward to seeing you then!

US Dating 101 (a Valentine's Special by IGSAB for International Graduate Students) Monday Feb 12, 6-730PM, UChicagoGRAD HQ (3rd floor bookstore building)

You're invited to join the International Graduate Student Advisory Board (IGSAB) and Graduate Council's Health and Wellness Committee, to learn more about the American dating scene! Bring your questions about dating apps, cultural norms around dating, and safer sex, while fellow students share their experiences and tips around dating safety and more! Dinner will be provided.

Lockin China Session

Wednesday, November 15, 2023; 7:00pm-8:00pm CT; virtual via Zoom

Join Lockin China for a session featuring industry experts and senior recruiters sharing their insights about Chinese industry jobs relevant to UChicago graduates who are interested in working in top Chinese companies. The workshop is open exclusively for current Chinese-speaking students at UChicago.

The International Graduate Student Advisory Board (IGSAB) is currently recruiting for International Allies, a peer mentorship program. The International Allies Program is designed to provide support, community, and resources for international graduate students to help them adapt to life in the U.S and at UChicago. As a part of this peer-to-peer mentoring program, students in their second year and beyond will serve as mentors to first- or second-year students. This mentorship may entail sharing various life, academic and administration-related experiences, among other things. Each mentor-mentee pair will be required to meet at least twice per quarter, with a small stipend provided to enable outings such as going for brunch or coffee, visiting a museum, or other activities.

Register your interest in participating in International Allies with the following form by November 3, 2023 at 5 pm. Based on your responses, we will match mentors and mentees accordingly within a week. The program will officially start with a kickoff mixer on November 15, 2023 from 5:30-6:30 pm at UChicagoGRAD HQ (3rd floor, bookstore building). Attendance will be mandatory barring course conflicts.

IGSAB Alumni Career Talk
Tuesday, October 31st, 5:00-6:00 p.m., UChicagoGRAD Headquarters (3rd floor, Bookstore Building)

Are you an international student who’s curious about careers and where alumni are going in industry? Come talk to a recent UChicago alumni who just went through the same process! Mati completed her MPP degree from Harris in 2023, and is an international student from Italy who is now in the consulting industry. Join us at UChicago GRAD to listen to her journey and participate in Q&A. Refreshments provided.

GRAD International Student Resources: Introduction to Interstride

Monday Oct 9, 1-2pm | Online, Zoom

Introducing all graduate students to Interstride - a platform that offers support for international graduate students and postdocs on their U.S and international job search process. It is an interactive portal that provides insights, community, and job opportunities. Both domestic and international students can find resources for living and working abroad - whether for study abroad, a summer internship, or a full-time job.

To access the platform, go to https://www.interstride.com/university-of-chicago/ and click on student login. That will bring you to shibboleth and you can proceed to create an account directly from there.

Register on Zoom to access the webinar.

GRADUCon is the university’s annual career exploration conference for graduate students, postdocs, and recent graduate alumni. Each year the conference brings together hundreds of participants for a full day of career-themed panel discussions and one-on-one conversations with UChicago alumni mentors. By centering the stories and advice of alumni, GRADUCon inspires students and postdocs and empowers them to achieve their professional goals.

GRADUCon 2023 will take place on March 31, 2023, in Ida Noyes Hall. Conference registration is now open for graduate students, postdocs, and recent graduate alumni.  Join us for the panel on –

 U.S. Job Search for International Students, 10:30 AM – 11:45 AM @Max Palevsky Cinema (1F)

As an international student, you might be intimidated by the prospect of navigating the American job market and avoiding its potential pitfalls. This panel will introduce you to alumni who have once been in your shoes. Hailing from a variety of countries, these alumni will discuss their job search experiences, reflect on their successes and struggles, describe how they navigated visa and immigration issues, and share advice that will help you prepare to enter the U.S. job market.

Speakers

• Mood Sudcharoen (she/her) (Speaker) PhD in Anthropology, University of Chicago, 2020, Assistant Instructional Professor, University of Florida

• Kibashini Rani (Kiba) N Periasamy (she/her) (Speaker) MS in Financial Mathematics, University of Chicago, 2016, Senior Quantitative Analytics Specialist, VP, Wells Fargo

• MengChen Chung (he/him) (Speaker) MA in Computational Social Science, University of Chicago Division of the Social Sciences 2022, Senior Developer, Data Science and Analytics, TransUnion

Introducing our very first Community Day engagement for international graduate students!

The office of UChicagoGRAD International Student Initiatives has partnered with the University Community Service Center and the Office of Civic Engagement, to bring a community volunteering event to all international graduate students who are spending spring break here on campus. 

After a breakfast and training session, participants will have the opportunity to visit, tour, and complete a volunteer project at a non-profit south side organization. This event is intended and designed to help students gain volunteering experience, get acquainted with the surrounding neighborhoods, and build community. We would appreciate if you don't flake on us - these organizations would have allocated projects based on RSVP numbers and we don't want to disappoint them! Thank you and we look forward to a fun day building camaraderie and community! More information and RSVP here

Fundraising Lunch | Wednesday 1 March 11am-2pm, UChicagoGRAD HQ (3rd floor bookstore building)

Graduate Council, in collaboration with the International Graduate Student Advisory Board (IGSAB), is organizing a middle eastern fundraising lunch for Turkey and Syria relief efforts. Lunch will be provided by Graduate Council. Donations of any amount are strongly encouraged and details will follow regarding organizations that donations will be going to. We welcome you to join us! RSVP here

International Allies mentorship program welcome all mentors and mentees to a social game night where you’re welcome to sing your heart out at karaoke, or play board games to your heart’s content. Whatever activity you’ll prefer, you’re welcome to join us and build a night of unforgettable memories as you hang out, and get to know your fellow international student allies! Food and beverage will be catered.

Rainbow Passport
Monday, February 6, Assembly Hall, 4:00PM-5:30PM

Are you a queer international student who feels isolated and is looking to build community? Do you feel like LGBTQ+ spaces don't always represent or cater to you? Do you notice a disconnect when discussing your cultural experiences with queerness, or do you find that Western-centric queer discourse doesn't resonate with you? Come together, make new friends, and enjoy some food! All are welcome to attend. We will meet bi-weekly in a peer-to-peer format without a staff facilitator.
This event is free and open exclusively for graduate students with a valid UCID. Pre-registration is not required. Please use the door on Dorchester Avenue to enter the Assembly Hall.

GRAD International Student Resources: Introduction to Interstride

Monday February 6, 1pm-2pm, Zoom

Introducing all graduate students to Interstride - a platform that offers support for international graduate students and postdocs on their U.S and international job search process. It is an interactive portal that provides insights, community, and job opportunities. Both domestic and international students can find resources for living and working abroad - whether for study abroad, a summer internship, or a full-time job. To access the platform, go to https://www.interstride.com/university-of-chicago/ and click on student login. That will bring you to shibboleth and you can proceed to create an account directly from there. Zoom registrations for the event here