Resources

Prefer to find the relevant resources on your own? Here’s a list, or check out this document! (If in doubt, we can discuss with you which avenue might be the most productive):

 

In the department

Issue:
I’m unhappy with my lab situation, e.g.:

  • I have a conflict/misunderstanding with my advisor
  • I want to switch labs
  • I’m not sure what I need to do to graduate

 

Resource:

  • Your committee chair 
  • Graduate officer (Mark Harnett) or other members of the Graduate Affairs Committee (Nancy Kanwisher, Fan Wang, Roger Levy, Steven Flavell)
  • Graduate program details: lists required milestones and timelines. 

Issue:
I’ve experienced harassment/discrimination from someone in BCS.
 

Resource:

*Note: unlike REFS, faculty are obliged to report discrimination to the Institute Discrimination and Harassment Response (IDHR) office. However, even if they do, you will not have to engage with IDHR in any way unless you want to.*

Issue:
I need to take a personal leave of absence (~1 month, e.g. for family reasons)

Resource:

  • This is delt with on a case-by-case basis, and typically our PI would be your first resource.
  • (the Office for Graduate Education might help out)

Outside the department

Issue:

I need help with my non-academic life:

  • Legal consultation
  • Financial consultation (e.g. debt management)
  • Pregnancy/childcare/parenting/school/summer camp resources
  • Career assessment
  • Nutrition advice
  • House resources (repairs, relocation, pet sitting referrals)

 

Resources:

Issue:

I need financial assistance:

  • I’m struggling financially
  • I want to know how to manage money/use my resources better
  • I go to bed hungry

 

Resources:

Issue: 

I’ve been struggling with my mental health, e.g.:

  • I feel paralyzed whenever I try to work on my project
  • I have trouble falling asleep and/or getting out of bed
  • It’s been a while since I felt happy
  • I went through a breakup, and I can’t function
  • I feel that I don’t belong

 

Resources:

  • MIT Mental Health and Counseling: they can see you there short-term or refer you to a therapist in the area; they also have good group counseling programs; confidential. MIT offers 52 free sessions (once a week) of counseling. 
  • Community Wellness: workshops, classes, support groups)
  • MIT Chaplains: religious and spiritual counseling; confidential)

Issue:

I have a problem affecting my studies, and the departmental resources did not help me. Examples:

  • Funding issues
  • Housing
  • Advisor conflict
  • Changing labs
  • Graduation taking too long
  • Diversity concerns

 

Resource:

Issue:
I’ve experienced harassment/discrimination from someone at MIT, and I want MIT to know/talk to that person/pursue action against that person (you can choose which).
 

Resource:

Issue:
I need to take a leave of absence. 
 

Resource:

  • Office of Graduate Education → GradSupport
  • Involvement optional for personal leave and mandatory for medical leave

Issue:
I want to know what rights I have as a graduate student (i.e. what leave you are entitiled to, obligated work hours, BCS graduate milestones):

Resources:

What if my issue isn’t covered?

More resources are listed at mit.resources.edu.

What if I’m still unsure what to do?

Email us at bcs-refs@mit.edu