Who plans all these events?

Orientation is planned entirely by students like you! Be on the lookout for volunteers in red shirts during Orientation – these friendly individuals are current students that are helping welcome you to the MIT community. If you’d like to learn about ways to become more involved, we encourage you to meet us and other members of the Graduate Student Council at the GSC Open House on September 7. There will be good company and free food and drink!


Welcome to MIT!

On behalf of the Graduate Student Council (GSC), welcome to MIT. One of MIT’s strengths is its strong and diverse graduate student community. The GSC’s primary role is to empower the graduate community and foster connections and collaborations between students, faculty, staff, and alumni. We host the country’s only student-run graduate orientation; plan campus-wide student activities; organize career development programs; fund the activities of other student organizations; and advocate on behalf of the graduate student body (on issues including affordable graduate housing, increases in student stipends, improved health insurance coverage, and better student-faculty relations). We constantly strive to improve the graduate student experience, and we invite you to contribute your ideas and energy to our efforts. We also strongly encourage you to get involved: MIT is a place of opportunities, not only on an academic level, but also on a personal one. We wish you the best in this exciting next step in your education!

Sincerely,
Arolyn Conwill
GSC President, PhD Candidate in Physics


MIT Federal Credit Union (mitfcu.org) celebrated its 75th year of serving the MIT community this year. Founded as a non-profit financial institution in 1940 to provide basic financial services to employees at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Credit Union offers traditional savings and checking accounts as well as lending programs for mortgages, autos, personal and student loans. With locations and ATMs in Cambridge and Lexington, along with mobile and online banking services, MIT Federal Credit Union serves MIT students (graduate and undergraduate) and alumni in addition to employees of Novartis (Cambridge), Lincoln Laboratory, Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Whitehead Institute and The Broad Institute. The MIT Federal Credit Union is a member-owned, cooperative financial institution whose primary mission is to provide quality financial services that meet the needs of its members while ensuring the financial well-being of the organization.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Brass Rat tradition was born in the spring of 1929. The President of the Class of 1929, C. Brigham Allen, formed a committee to design a band to be used as the first Standard Technology ring. After the recommendation of the committee, the Class of 1930 was the first to proudly wear a Brass Rat. So started the Institute tradition of the Brass Rat, the affectionate nickname for the ring that has become a recognizable symbol of MIT worldwide. As the graduate population at MIT grew, the Brass Rat tradition was adopted by the graduate body. The MIT graduate population has become the majority among both current students and alumni. Now is your chance to take part in the long and unbroken tradition that embodies our collective, life-changing experiences at MIT.

The Coop offers two convenient campus locations; new and used books of every course; and 15% off MIT logo merchandise with a student ID. Coop members receive an instant 10% discount on all purchases in addition to any prevailing sale or promotional offers. Coop membership really makes sense. It’s only $1.00 per year and you can join online at www.thecoop.com. Join now and save time when you come to campus and begin shopping.