A collaborative effort between the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Graduate Studies, Grad Connections is designed to provide additional support structures for first-generation, international, and BIPOC graduate students at WPI. The Grad Connections program recently concluded the summer webinar series (pre-orientation) phase and is in the early stages of entering the post-orientation phase in the coming weeks.
Grad Connections’ purpose is to provide a foundation of success for incoming graduate students who are first generation, international, and/or a student of color. The program offers campus, community, and cultural resources to build on their success as scholars, researchers, and practitioners. The goal is to provide multiple avenues of support and resources which graduate students can build from to find community and create a meaningful sense of belonging at WPI.
The pre-orientation webinars held in June, July, and August 2021 this summer were designed to provide skills and insights related to: graduate student success, budget management, and mental health and wellness. These learning experiences were offered in a virtual format featuring content experts from around campus along with a live graduate student panel. Participating graduate students also had the option to view these webinars on-demand. As WPI transitions into the Graduate Student Orientation sessions this August the Office of Multicultural Affairs is collaborating with the Graduate Student Government to facilitate the post-orientation experience of the Grad Connections program this fall.
Upcoming Graduate Student Orientation Programs
Graduate International Student Orientation
Thursday, August 19, 2021
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM EST (Boston, MA – USA Time)
Zoom Meeting ID: 957 5290 7126
International Graduate Student Orientation In-Person Registration
Thursday, August 19, 2021
1:00 PM to 4:00 PM EST
Location: Atwater-Kent Laboratories (AK116)
Graduate Student Orientation
Friday, August 20, 2021
8:00 AM – 10:30 AM EST (Boston, MA – USA Time)
Zoom Meeting ID: 949 4390 5533
Teaching Assistant (TA) Training Seminar
Monday, August 23rd – Tuesday, August 24th
8:30 AM – 12:00 PM EST (Monday)
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM EST (Tuesday – Virtual)
Location: Details sent to TAs via WPI email.
New PhD Student Orientation
Tuesday, August 24, 2021
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM EST
Ruben Campus Center Odeum C
More details about these programs will be communicated by Graduate Admissions, Graduate Studies, International Student Life, and the Morgan Teaching and Learning Center.
Upcoming Grad Connections Programs
Cultural Connections Networking Social
Friday, August 27, 2021
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM EST
Location: The Innovation Studio
Cultural Connections Paint Night Social
Friday, September 10, 2021
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM EST
Location: The Innovation Studio
Cultural Connections Game Night Social
Friday, September 24, 2021
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM EST
Location: The Innovation Studio
More details about these programs will be communicated by Graduate Student Government (GSG).