Mentorship Support for Graduate Students

Whether you are brand new to graduate school or deep into dissertation writing, relationships with faculty mentors play a critical role in your student experience. It is common for students to seek advice in learning how to identify faculty mentors, get what they need from these relationships, and approach challenges or conflicts when they arise. UChicagoGRAD supports graduate students in navigating these foundational relationships by working with students to develop communication, interpersonal, and self-advocacy skills that will set them up for success both in graduate school and beyond. Students can schedule an individual mentorship advising appointment through GRAD Gargoyle.

Family Mixer
Saturday, November 22, 3:00–5:00 p.m., UChicagoGRAD HQ

This monthly gathering of UChicago families with young children features Thanksgiving-related crafts and snacks (including multiple pie varieties!) Free, and all ages are welcome. Contact lmacgregor@uchicago.edu with any questions.

IGSAB Thanksgiving Drop-in
Monday, November 24, 3:00–6:00 p.m., UChicagoGRAD HQ

Celebrate GRADitude with us! IGSAB is organizing a Thanksgiving Drop-in for graduate students who may wish to design and leave a card of appreciation, take one to keep, and enjoy snacks together. All are welcome!

PATHS Exposure: Maintaining a Creative/Research Practice while Working Full-time
Monday, December 1, 3:30–4:30 p.m., Zoom

Join us in our first installment of the PATHS program where alumni will be discussing their experiences regarding the continuation of their creative and research practices while working full-time. Learn strategies and insights for balancing careers and research initiatives. A Q&A session will follow the moderated panel.

Navigating Gap Year Jobs and Fellowships for Master's Students
Tuesday, December 2, 1:00–2:00 p.m., UChicagoGRAD HQ

Are you staring down a gap year? Join UChicagoGRAD for a presentation on short-term and long-term career planning around the gap year. Attendees will gain advice on how to approach the search for both fellowships and jobs, including insights on places to explore short-term job options and guidance for framing the gap year for yourself and in conversations with hiring managers.

Domestic and international graduate students are eligible to apply for on-campus jobs.

Student Assistant - Work Study - University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice

Winter Biology Game Design Team Member, STAGE Center - STAGE Center

Research Computing Center Technical Support Specialist - Research Computing Center (RCC) at the University of Chicago

Logan Center Production Assistant - University of Chicago Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts

Academic Technology Specialist - UChicago Social Sciences Division

Administrative Assistant - Chabad at UChicago

GC Scavenger Hunt is Live
Campus-Wide (11 Locations) 

Solve riddles, find QR codes, and win one of 11 grad school gift baskets featuring division merch, study snacks, winter gear, and more! Find → Scan→ Tag 2 Friends—first valid entry wins! No registration needed, stay tuned for clues on our Instagram to join the hunt!

Holiday Cocoa & Crafts!!
Friday, December 5, 6:00–8:00 p.m., Grad Student Lounge 

Join Graduate Council for Holiday Cocoa & Crafts, a cozy evening of festive cheer with hot chocolate, holiday cookies, and a special Christkindlmarket Christmas mug to take home. Feeling creative? Add on a spot in our winter wreath-making workshop at UChicagoGRAD HQ (very limited capacity). Come unwind before finals, connect with fellow grad students, and kick off the holiday season in true festive spirit. Tickets go on sale Friday, Nov 21 at 5:30 p.m.

Winter Crafternoon Incoming!
Friday, December 5, 2:00–4:00 p.m., International House 

Take a break from end-of-quarter stress at Winter Crafternoon! Join Graduate Council at International House for a relaxing afternoon of winter wellness as you make your own bath scrub and design handmade holiday cards to keep or gift. We’ll provide all the supplies—you just bring yourself and enjoy a calm, crafty escape with fellow graduate students before finals. This event is co-sponsored by International House, UChicago Graduate Council and UChicago Student Wellness Center. Secure your spot today!

Join Us for Steppenwolf Amadeus
Saturday, December 6, 7:30–10:00 p.m., 1650 N Halsted Street 

Experience the iconic rivalry between Mozart and Salieri at Steppenwolf’s production of Amadeus! Grad Council is offering a limited number of subsidized tickets and registration is opening soon—be ready to reserve yours for a night out at one of Chicago’s premier theaters! Set a reminder today to reserve your spot—tickets drop November 28!

December Dissertation Write-In 
Monday–Thursday, December 8–11, 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m., UChicagoGRAD

Looking to jump-start your next dissertation chapter or move past a writing block? Don’t miss the December Dissertation Write-In, a four-day, intensive group writing retreat designed to help you build community and make real progress on your work. Each day, attendees will have blocks of dedicated writing, time to reflect on progress and goals, and breakfast and lunch with fellow Ph.D. students. Co-sponsored by Graduate Council and UChicagoGRAD’s Communication Lab. Space is limited and participants must commit to a minimum of 3 sessions—registration is now live!

Missed getting a ticket, but still want a chance to join in on the fun? Join the waitlist:

Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration
Thursday, November 27, 11:00 a.m., Rockefeller Chapel, 5850 S Woodlawn Ave

Join the Hyde Park Interfaith Council and Rockefeller Chapel for an Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration. And on December 2, join the University of Chicago Interfaith Council for Lunch and Story sharing over a weekly theme: family. More information available through our newsletter, or email spirit@uchicago.edu.

Democracy in Action: Advancing Local Solutions Roundtable
Thursday, December 4, 11:45 a.m.–1:00 p.m., Institute of Politics, 5707 S Woodlawn Ave

Join the Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation and the IOP for a student roundtable focused on local issues and local solutions. This small-group conversation is designed for students to dig deeper into Chicago’s most pressing challenges, share ideas, and find out how to launch their own social ventures.

Sachiko Kanenobu Music Performance
Thursday, December 4, 7:00–8:00 p.m., International House Assembly Hall, 1414 E 59th St

A concert by Japanese singer-songwriter Sachiko Kanenobu and her four-person Big Sky Band. Her debut album Misora (1972, produced by Haruomi Hosono) drew comparisons to Joni Mitchell, and the reissue of Misora in 2019 led to a resurgence in her career.

19th Annual Tetsuo Najita Distinguished Lecture ft. Norma Field
Friday, November 21, 7:00 p.m., Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 E 59th St

Travel Signature Pop-Up
Friday, November 21, 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m., Center for Identity + Inclusion, 5710 S Woodlawn Ave

Art Open Studio
Tuesday, December 2, 3:00–4:30 p.m., Student Wellness, 840 E 59th St

Thanksgiving Break C.A.R.E.S. Sign-up
Monday, November 24–Friday, November 28, Baker Dining Commons, 5501 S. University Ave & Woodlawn Dining Commons 1156 E 61st         

UChicago Dining, in collaboration with Chartwell’s H.E., and the support of our students on meal plans, offers sustenance to both undergraduate and graduate students who may face hunger or opt to skip meals during Thanksgiving, Winter, and Spring Breaks. Our food-insecurity initiative is called C.A.R.E.S. Community Action Reaching Every Student.

ELI Winter Quarter Registration begins on December 1!
Monday, December 1, 9:00 a.m.

Courses begin UChicago Week 2 and run for 8 weeks. All courses are in person, pass/fail and noncredit.  We are offering Spoken and Written Communication courses to support your English learning goals! Please email esl@uchicago.edu if you have any questions.

Application Deadline: Build your V1 AI Prototyping Bootcamp
Online application due Wednesday, December 3 at 3:00 p.m.

This winter, Cory Jbara, MBA ’25, will be hosting an AI Prototyping Bootcamp designed for those who want to bring their ideas to life without relying on a technical cofounder. You’ll learn to build functional prototypes with AI tools, validate ideas with users, make technical decisions, and communicate with engineers.