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:
- Graduate officer: Mark Harnett
- BCS DEIJ leaderhship: Farrah Belizaire (farrahab@mit.edu) - DEIJ Program officer, and Prof. Laura Schulz (lschulz@mit.edu) - Associate Department Head for DEIJ
- BCS Human Resources Administrator: Kimberli DeMayo (kdemayo@mit.edu)
- Institute Discrimination and Harassment Response (IDHR) Office
- Violence Prevention and Response (VPR) Office (confidential)
*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:
- Graduate student financial assistance
- Food insecurity resources or make a food request using the Family food grants
- The ARM Coalition (Accessing Resources at MIT)
- OGE Financial Literacy Initiative, including the iGrad financial literacy course
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:
- Office of Graduate Education → GradSupport
- MIT Ombuds
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:
- Institute Discrimination and Harassment Response (IDHR) Office
- Violence Prevention and Response (VPR) Office (confidential)
- BCS Human Resources Administrator: Kimberli DeMayo (kdemayo@mit.edu)
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:
- Graduate Policies and Procedures
- Can consult with GradSupport at the Office for Graduate Education
- MIT Graduate Student Union bargaining agreement: This agreement is in effect for all graudate students until May 31st, 2026.
- Graduate program details: lists required milestones and timelines.
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