Check out the Grad Lounge!

The Grad Student Lounge is a uniquely dedicated space where grad students from all divisions can come together to socialize, work, and rest. In this solely grad student space, you can find free coffee, tea, hot cocoa, and a variety of snacks. You can play board games and cards, put together puzzles, and pray or nap in the quiet room. In addition to shared tables, individual workstations, and lockers for rent, the space also includes a kitchenette with a fridge and microwave at your disposal and two bookable private rooms for small group or virtual meetings.

Most of all, we offer a warm place to retreat from the weather, a stopping point between classes, or a refuge from the pressures of grad school, right in the center of campus. This space is for you—come check it out Mondays–Thursdays (9:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.) and Fridays (9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.).

NSF GRFP Workshop (register for one session)
Friday, October 17, 12:00 noon–3:00 p.m., UChicagoGRAD HQ
Tuesday, October 21, 4:00–5:00 p.m., UChicagoGRAD HQ

The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF GRFP) provides 3 years of stipend and tuition support to students in STEM, including most fields in the social sciences. In this interactive workshop, we’ll examine previously successful statements, with a special focus on the personal statement.

Family Mixer
Saturday, October 18, 3:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m., UChicagoGRAD HQ    

Bring your kids and connect with fellow parents at this free event, featuring spooky crafts, toys and seasonal snacks. RSVP appreciated: lmacgregor@uchicago.edu Visit the website to find out about weekly activities!

Foreign Language Fellowships
Monday, October 20, 1:00–2:00 p.m., UChicagoGRAD HQ

Have you always wanted to study a language but don't know where to get support? Are you a more advanced learner who needs funding to pursue coursework in your target country? UChicagoGRAD Fellowships can help! In this session, learn about the rich landscape of language funding.

Academic Etiquette: Navigating Professional Communication at Conferences and Campus Visits
Wednesday, October 22, 12:30–1:30 p.m., UChicagoGRAD HQ

This workshop offers strategies for navigating the informal and unscripted components of academic communication, ranging from spontaneous interactions between conference sessions to dinners with faculty at hiring institutions during campus visits. Participants will put these techniques into practice through improvisational speaking activities. This event is open to graduate students and postdocs in all disciplines.

Career30: Interviewing Best Practices
Wednesday, October 22, 4:00–4:30 p.m., Zoom

Improve your professional skills in 30 minutes or less! This presentation will introduce you to several strategies and best practices for improving your interview skills and is appropriate for graduate students and postdocs in all disciplines.

myCHOICE Mini-Course: Business of Running a Research Group (Biological Sciences Edition)
Thursday and Friday, October 23 and 24, 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m., UChicagoGRAD HQ

This mini-course will address some of your most pressing concerns as you consider the practical aspects of starting your own lab. Each of the four 60-minute sessions will be a moderated panel discussion. This mini-course is appropriate for late-stage STEM PhD students and postdocs who are nearing the academic job market.

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

Administrative Assistant - Chabad at UChicago

Performance Hall Audio Engineer - University of Chicago Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts

Autumn Team Member, Visual and Digital Media Member, STAGE - STAGE Center

Academic Technology Specialist - UChicago Social Sciences Division

Non-Instructional Grader - University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice

EXTENSION: Graduate Council Committees & Open Seats
Applications open until Wednesday, October 22 at 11:59 p.m.

Apply now!

Community Initiatives Committee

External Programming Committee

Advocacy Committee

Communication & Coordination Committee

Divisional Representatives (Biological Sciences and Physical Sciences Divisions)

Bonfire at the Point – Last Call!
Saturday, October 18, 1:00–4:00 p.m., Promontory Point

Don't miss your chance to join Grad Council for one of our favorite autumn traditions: the Bonfire at the Point! Escape the library and celebrate Chicago's crisp fall weather with cozy vibes. Your $5 ticket includes: hot drinks (cocoa, cider, and more!) and all the s'mores you can eat, with top-tier company and lake views. Participants will meet in front of the Bookstore at 1:00 p.m. and head to the Point from there. Note: Event location may change to Student Grad Lounge (UChicago Official Bookstore, Floor 4) due to the weather.

Pumpkin Palooza
Thursday, October 30, 5:30–8:00 PM CT, UChicagoGRAD HQ

Ghosts, ghouls and grad students — gather ’round! Join us for a frightfully fun evening of pumpkin carving and painting, hot cider, apple cider donuts, and cozy fall vibes. Bring your spookiest ideas and create your very own pumpkin masterpiece. Supplies, snacks, and vibes provided — just bring your creativity (and maybe a costume if you dare). Come learn some new tricks and treat yourself to a spooky time! Tickets on sale Friday, October 17!

Jack’s Pumpkin Pop-Up Tickets Coming Soon!
Saturday, October 25, 12:30 p.m., 1265 W Le Moyne St

Jack's Pumpkin Pop-Up is Chicago's ultimate fall playground — an immersive, over-the-top outdoor experience that brings all the best parts of autumn to life. Your ticket includes entry to the best Halloween pop-up in Chicago, two drink tickets, an apple cider donut, corn maze entry, axe throwing, 10 carnival tickets, and a traditional orange pumpkin! Tickets go LIVE this Friday, October 17!

Gargoyle Gala 2025 Tickets Drop This Friday!
Saturday, November 8 at 7:00–11:00 p.m., Navy Pier’s Aon Grand Ballroom

Get ready to dance the night away! Grad Council is thrilled to announce the return of our most anticipated event of the year: the Gargoyle Gala 2025! Mark your calendars for an unforgettable night of music, celebration, and connection with graduate students from across UChicago. Our Tier 1 (Early Bird) tickets—starting at just $55—are limited and highly anticipated. Tickets go LIVE this Friday, October 17th!

Drunk Dracula Tickets Incoming!
Friday, October 31, 7:00–9:00 p.m., The Lion Theatre, 182 N Wabash Ave

This Halloween season, the Drunk Shakespeare Society tips its hat—and its bottle—to the original night creature in Drunk Dracula, a wildly funny, whiskey-fueled retelling of Transylvania’s thirstiest bachelor. One actor downs five shots before attempting to perform the story of Dracula live on stage, turning classic horror into unhinged comedy you won’t forget. Tickets are $20 and include mezzanine seating. Tickets go LIVE this Friday, October 17th!

Day of Service with The Orange Tent Project
Sunday, October 19, 9:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m., Meet at Institute of Politics, 5707 S Woodlawn Ave

Join the IOP to volunteer for the Orange Tent Project, an organization working to end the cycle of homelessness in Chicago. We will be building temporary homeless shelters and helping people move into them. 

Romance Languages Heritage Festival
Monday, October 20, 4:30–6:00 p.m., Classics 20, 1010 E 59th St

Join the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures for a multilingual afternoon! Celebrate our heritage languages—French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Kreyól, Catalan & Basque, connect with fellow students, and discover upcoming events!

Art Open Studio: Vision Boards
Tuesday, October 21, 3:00–4:30 p.m., Student Wellness Center, 840 E 59th St

Art Open Studio is a collaborative, fun, and relaxing environment to explore artistic expression and find community with other students. Students can participate in the monthly theme or showcase their creativity. No art experience is required to take part, and all supplies are available on a first-come, first-served basis.  

Soul Care Workshop
Thursday, October 23, 5:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m., Spiritual Life Office, Ida Noyes 034, 1212 E 59th St

A 6-week journey with the Spiritual Life Center — exploring through discussion, field trips, and cathartic activities what it means to care for more than just ourselves, and tend to what lives deepest within. Come as you are, whenever you can—each session is open and welcoming.

Muslim Grad Student Dinner
Friday, October 17, 5:00–7:00 p.m., Hutchinson Commons, 5706 S University Ave

Arkhaios Film Festival
Friday and Saturday, October 17 and 18, ISAC Museum, 1155 E 58th St

Hindu Sangam Diwali Puja
Sunday, October 19, 5:00 p.m., Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, 5850 S Woodlawn Ave

ELI Extracurriculars!

The ELI has a number of Autumn Quarter extracurricular offerings available, which are all free:  ELI Conversation Hour (Tuesdays, 3:30–4:30 p.m., Cobb 201AB); ELI Reading Group (Wednesdays 4:30–5:30 p.m., Cobb 210). For Autumn Quarter, we will be reading Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez. 

Proctors Needed
Apply by Friday, October 31

The University of Chicago Law School needs graduate students to proctor final exams on December 10,11,12,15,16, and 17. This is a PAID opportunity. Please submit your resume to Jim Courtney at jcourtney@uchicago.edu if you are interested.