Monday through Sunday, April 6-13, 2026
Our grad students are pretty freakin’ awesome
For all the things you do — all the ways you contribute to the MIT community, to a brighter tomorrow, and to the research enterprise itself — we salute you!
Last year’s Graduate Student Appreciation Week ran Sunday, April 6 through Saturday, April 12, 2025. See below for last year’s events, and check back soon to see what we have planned for this year!
Sunday, April 6
Families Spring Fling
Bush Room, 10-105/ 11am-1 pm
Kick off Graduate Student Appreciation week with some good old-fashioned family fun. Join OGE’s GradFamilies for a day filled with lawn games, snacks, MIT swag, and an opportunity for a professional family photo!
Sponsored by the Office of Graduate Education
Monday, April 7
Breakfast Club
9-11am | Look for your email invitation
For questions about the event, please reach out to graddiversity@mit.edu.
Breakfast Club is a social event series for graduate students that aims to foster community relationships in a relaxed setting, allowing students to begin their day in a good way. Stop by to enjoy a variety of delicious breakfast foods, engage in lighthearted conversation, and connect with friends and peers!
Breakfast Club is people-of-color centered, queer and trans-affirming, and welcoming to those of all abilities and bodies and seeks to establish personal connections amongst our students, staff, and faculty of color at MIT.
Didn’t see an invitation? Please reach out to graddiversity@mit.edu.
Sponsored by the Office of Graduate Education
Coffee in the OGE
OGE HQ Rm 3-107 / 9:30 onward
Swing by the Office of Graduate Education’s headquarters throughout the week to enjoy a cup of coffee on us! Take your drink to go, or stick around and mingle to learn more about all of the resources that OGE has to offer.
Sponsored by the Office of Graduate Education
Plant your own lucky bamboo
Bush Room (10-105) / 12:30-1:30pm
Fill a glass vase with your choice of pebbles and shoots of bamboo. Will you choose 1 stalk for truth or commitment? 2 stalks for love? Or 3 stalks for happiness or a new beginning? Plant your choice and bring some luck to your home or workspace!
No reservation needed. Available while supplies last.
Sponsored by the Office of the Chancellor
Chair massages (Registration required)
West Lounge (W20-201) / 12-4pm / Register here
Start your week out right and treat yourself to a free chair massage! Register in advance to secure your 15-minute slot. Your neck and shoulders will thank you!
One massage per student (sign up for either Monday, Tuesday, or line up first-come, first-served on Friday).
Sponsored by the Office of Graduate Education
Tuesday, April 8
Donuts with Dave and Denzil
Rm 3-108, “The Den” / 9-10:30am
Need a sugar fix? Join MIT’s new Vice Chancellor David Darmofal and OGE Director Denzil Streete in The Den for some free coffee, donuts, and a chance to chat with fellow students and OVC staff. Need a conversation starter? Ask Dave about life at the Warehouse (where he lives), or about his interests in cooking, sailing, or music! Ask Denzil about football (DON’T call it soccer!! LOL) or what he’s been reading lately.
Sponsored by the Office of Graduate Education
GradSupport Open House (Registration required)
Building 3-136 / 11am-1pm / Register here by Tuesday, April 7 for lunch
Come over to say hi to the GradSupport team (and an adorable dog)! We will have grab-and-go lunches for those who register. Be sure to pick up your lunch by 11:45am, or lunches will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Didn’t register? Stop by anyway and enter our raffle for a chance to win one of five soothing 30-minute full-body massages!
We can’t wait to see you!
Sponsored by the Office of Graduate Education
Chair massages (Registration required)
Mezzanine W20-307 / 11:00am-3pm / Register here
Treat yourself to a free chair massage! Register in advance to secure your 15 minute slot. Your neck and shoulders will thank you.
One massage per student (sign up for either Monday, Tuesday, or line up first-come, first-served on Friday).
Sponsored by the Office of Graduate Education
Make your own bath salts
Rm 4-265 | 2-3pm
No reservation needed, while supplies last
Join Student Financial Services for a ‘self-care’ break and make your own custom blend of bath salts and grab some snacks!
Sponsored by Student Financial Services
Wednesday, April 9
Coffee in the OGE
3-107 / 9:30 onward
Swing by the Office of Graduate Education’s headquarters throughout the week to enjoy a cup of coffee on us! Take your drink to go, or stick around and mingle to learn more about all of the resources that OGE has to offer.
Sponsored by the Office of Graduate Education
Refresh and Reset Fair
E62 Roberts Family Forum, 1st floor/ 11:30am-1pm
Take a break and prioritize your well-being at the Refresh and Reset Fair! Explore wellness-focused resources from different campus offices, grab fun giveaways, and enter our raffle for a chance to win a wellness gift basket. Stop by, refresh your mind, and reset for success!
Sponsored by MIT Sloan Student Life Office
Skip the Small Talk with MIT alumni (Registration required)
Virtual / 7-8pm / Register here
Want to have some engaging casual chats with MIT alumni and other current grad students? Skip the Small Talk is a great chance to have meaningful conversations with folks you haven’t met before! You’ll be paired with a series of others for brief conversations with prompts designed to foster connection and friendship.
Sign up to receive a Zoom link. Signups will close when full.
Sponsored by the MIT Alumni Association
Thursday, April 10
Coffee in the OGE
3-107 / 9:30 onward
Swing by the Office of Graduate Education’s headquarters throughout the week to enjoy a cup of coffee on us! Take your drink to go, or stick around and mingle to learn more about all of the resources that OGE has to offer.
Sponsored by the Office of Graduate Education
Lunch & Lounge with LGBTQ+ and Women & Gender Studies (RSVPs required)
Cheney Room / 12-1:30pm / Register here
Join LBGTQ+ Services and Women and Gender Services for a casual, come-and-go lunch event where graduate students can grab a bite, connect with peers, and take a break from their busy day. Featuring light activities, good food, and a welcoming space to recharge.
- Free Lunch & Snack Bar – snacks like fruit, chips, and cookies.
- Mini “Gratitude Wall” – A space for students to write or post notes of appreciation for their peers, advisors, or themselves.
- Tabletop Icebreaker Prompts – Fun, optional conversation starters for those who want to chat and meet new people.
- Quick Craft Corner – Simple, no-mess activities like crafting and swag
- Music & Relaxed Vibes – A cozy playlist to create an inviting atmosphere
Sponsored by LBGTQ+ Services and Women & Gender Services
Mocktails & masterpieces: Grad student crafternoon with CAPD (RSVPs encouraged, or drop-in)
E19-202 / 1-3pm / Register here
Join your fans at CAPD for a crafternoon of “Mocktails and Masterpieces.” Learn the simple but elegant art of glass etching, choose a piece of glassware that catches your fancy, and make it yours with an etched design. Refreshments, some tunes, and mocktails complete the milieu.
Sponsored by Career Advising & Professional Development
Friday, April 11
Coffee in the OGE
3-107 / 9:30 onward
Swing by the Office of Graduate Education’s headquarters throughout the week to enjoy a cup of coffee on us! Take your drink to go, or stick around and mingle to learn more about all of the resources that OGE has to offer.
Sponsored by the Office of Graduate Education
Food for Thought
W20 PDR 1 & 2 / 11am-12pm
Want to make your own snack bag, and possibly test your guessing skills? Stop by the Student Center Private Dining Rooms 1 & 2 on the second floor from 11am to 12pm on Friday, April 11 to make your selection of healthy brain food and guess how many snacks are in a jar! The winner will take home the entire jar of treats.
Sponsored by Office of Graduate Education and MIT Community Wellness
Chair massages (drop-in)
Punj Conference room (W35-108) / 11:00am-3pm
End out your week with a free chair massage! Your neck and shoulders will thank you.
First come, first served. One massage per student, please – if you received a massage on Monday or Tuesday, please let others have a chance.
Sponsored by the Department of Athletics, Physical Education, and Recreation (DAPER)
Plant It, Paint It, Love It! (Registration required)
Register for location / 1pm-3pm / Register here
Take a break and get creative! Stop by to decorate your own pot and take home a cute succulent as a little reminder to nurture yourself just like your new plant.
Come for the fun, a free plant and some snacks, stay for the good vibes and new friends! Don’t miss out! You can sit & paint or grab your succulent and go. Snacks will also be served.
Sponsored by the International Students Office
Saturday, April 12
Walking tour of Boston (Registration required)
2-4pm / Registration for this event is now full
Get outdoors and enjoy some early spring weather! Join former MIT staff member and professional city tour guide Ed Ballo for a two hour walk along Boston’s Freedom Trail. The trail is a red line on the pavement that leads past 16 different historic sites and was created over 60 years ago. Wear walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing!
Space for this event is limited, and sign-up is required. Please let us know if you can’t make it so the spot can be opened to someone on the waitlist.
Rain date: Sunday, April 13
Sponsored by the Office of Graduate Education
