Office of Multicultural Affairs Newsletter
February 2022 | C-Term | Spring 2022
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Community Acknowledgement
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The Office of Multicultural Affairs offers our deepest condolences to those impacted by recent events in our WPI community. We continue to offer our support to those needing to talk or process anything they might be going through personally, socially, academically, or professionally. We encourage you to reach out to the OMA staff and our WPI Chaplains for support to meet via Zoom or in-person (as you are comfortable). Please note our staff is accessible outside of the Office Hours (OMA team) and Student Hours (Campus Chaplains) detailed below.
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Joyous Lunar New Year to all those celebrating. May the year of the Tiger bring you peace, joy, and prosperity. Stay safe!
With Love,
Office of Multicultural Affairs
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Upcoming Campus Programs and Events
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- Wednesday, February 2nd at 5:00 PM EST
- Thursday, February 3rd at 12:00 PM EST
- Thursday, February 3rd at 4:00 PM EST
- Thursday, February 3rd at 4:00 PM EST
- Thursday, February 3rd at 7:00 PM EST
- Friday, February 4th at 12:00 PM EST
- Friday, February 4th at 5:00 PM EST
- Friday, February 4th at 7:30 PM EST
- Friday, February 4th at 11:59 PM EST
- Leadership Delta Application Deadline | Apply Here
- Saturday, February 5th at 10:00 AM EST
- Saturday, February 5th at 11:00 AM EST
- Saturday, February 5th at 7:00 PM EST
- Sunday, February 6th at 5:00 PM EST
- Saturday, February 6th at 1:00 PM EST
- Saturday, February 6th at 8:00 PM EST
- Sunday, February 6th at 12:30 PM EST
- Sunday, February 7th at 1:00 PM EST
- Monday, February 7th at 5:00 PM EST
- Mosaic: Men of Color Support Group | RSVP Here
- Monday, February 7th at 7:00 PM EST
- Tuesday, February 8th at 11:00 AM EST
- Tuesday, February 8th at 11:00 AM EST
- Tuesday, February 8th at 3:00 PM EST
- Tuesday, February 8th at 5:00 PM EST
- Tuesday, February 8th at 5:00 PM EST
- Tuesday, February 8th at 7:00 PM EST
- Wednesday, February 9th at 1:00 PM EST
- Wednesday, February 9th at 1:00 PM EST
- Wednesday, February 9th at 5:00 PM EST
- Thursday, February 10th at 4:00 PM EST
- Thursday, February 10th at 5:00 PM EST
- Friday, February 11th at 5:00 PM EST
- Thursday, February 10th at 7:00 PM EST
- Friday, February 11th at 12:00 PM EST
- Friday, February 11th at 5:00 PM EST
- Saturday, February 12th at 1:00 PM EST
- Saturday, February 12 at 7:30 PM EST
- Sunday, February 13th at 12:30 PM EST
- Sunday, February 13th at 7:30 PM EST
- Saturday, February 13th at 1:00 PM EST
- Monday, February 14th at 11:00 AM EST
- Monday, February 14th at 3:00 PM EST
- Monday, February 14th at 5:00 PM EST
- Mosaic: Men of Color Support Group | RSVP Here
- Monday, February 14th at 7:00 PM EST
- Tuesday, February 15th at 11:00 AM EST
- Tuesday, February 15th at 11:00 AM EST
- Tuesday, February 15th at 7:00 PM EST
- Wednesday, February 16th at 1:00 PM EST
- Office of Multicultural Affairs sponsored programs and events.
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Upcoming Holidays, Holy Days, and Commemorative Days
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- Lunar or Chinese New Year (February 1)
- Groundhog Day (February 2)
- Candlemas (February 2)
- Imbolc (February 2)
- Four Chaplains Day (February 3)
- Rosa Parks Day (February 4)
- World Cancer Day (February 4)
- Vasant Panchami (February 5)
- Darwin Day (February 12)
- International Day of Women and Girls in Science Day (February 11)
- Super Bowl Sunday (February 13)
- International Condom Day (February 13)
- St. Valentine's Day (February 14)
- Frederick Douglass Day (February 14)
- Parinirvana or Nirvana Day (February 15)
- Susan B. Anthony Day (February 15)
- Māgha Pūjā (February 16)
- Random Acts of Kindness Day (February 17)
- World Day of Social Justice (February 20)
- International Mother Language Day (February 21)
- Dominican Independence Day (February 27)
- February 2022 is observed as:
- Black History Month
- American Heart Month
- National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention
Happy Birthday to all of the February babies!
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WPI News:
Higher Education News:
Local/State/National/International News:
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Mental Health, Wellness, Self-Care, and Mindfulness
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Mental Health Training Webinars
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Part II Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Minority College Students
In this episode, we replay part two of the Diverse Talk Live! webcast, "Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Minority College Students." In case you missed it, tune in as the panel of experts return to look at campus climate policies after the surge of Omicron and how they relate to the mental health and health-seeking behaviors in minoritized students. Listen in as they propose supplemental resources for faculty who are on the front line and discuss what we can do at the campus and institutional level to better support student mental health and connect students to services who are disproportionately under-utilizing formal treatment avenues. (Diverse Issues In Higher Education)
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Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Minority College Students
In this episode we replay the December 7th Diverse Talk Live! webcast, "Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Minority College Students." In case you missed it, listen in as a panel of experts evaluate and advise on how higher ed institutions can best address the mental health needs of minority students — particularly as they grapple with a myriad of challenges including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and a nationwide flashpoint on systemic racism, punctuated by the recent guilty verdicts of the individuals charged with the murder of Ahmaud Arbery. (Diverse Issues In Higher Education)
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LGBTQIAP+ Resources and Support
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Read, Watch, Listen, and Learn
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Articles:
Films and Television:
- Residence Life Cinema (SWANK Motion Pictures, Inc.)
- Alcohol Awareness
- Asian Pacific Islander History and Culture
- Black History and Culture
- Constitution Day
- Disabilities
- Diversity and Inclusion
- Earth Day
- Hispanic History and Culture
- International
- LGBTQ+ Pride
- Social Relevance
- National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week
- National Native American Heritage Month
- Women's History Month
- Women's Studies
- World AIDS Day
- Anyone on WPI Wi-Fi can access free streaming services at cinema.wpi.edu.
Podcasts:
Books:
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Go beyond trauma and struggle to examine the liberation, civic engagement, creativity and intersecting identities of Black people during Black History Month.
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Voter Education and Registration
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Massachusetts Primary Election
Tuesday, November 20th
Election Day 2022
Tuesday, November 8th
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) are non-partisan entities and do not support or oppose any political candidate or party.
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Black History Month Film Festival
February 1 – 28, 2022
Now in its second year, the Boston Globe's Black History Month Film Festival will honor and celebrate the lives, culture, and creativity of Black Americans through film. Join us for virtual screenings of new and classic works including 'Moonlight,' 'Love Jones,' 'A Beautiful Resistance,' and more. Each screening will be followed by a virtual panel discussion with Globe writers and editors, filmmakers, and community voices.
Register Here
2022 Lunar New Year Celebration
Tuesday, February 8, 2022 1:00 PM EST - Sunday, February 13, 2022 2:00 PM EST
Pao Arts Center | 99 Albany Street Boston, MA, 02111 United States
Register Here
Massachusetts: Election Tools, Deadlines, Dates, Rules, and Links
City of Worcester Election Commission
Worcester Democratic City Committee
Worcester Republican City Committee
Worcester Independent Socialist Group
City of Worcester Diverse Business Directory
PFLAG of Greater Worcester
AIDS Project Worcester
Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts
African Community Organization (ACE)
Nipmuc Nation
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) does not endorse nor sponsor any of the above-mentioned groups, organizations, or entities.
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Student Jobs, Internships, and Scholarships
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Connections Pre-Orientation Program (August 2022)
The Program Ambassadors (PA) are valued members of the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) who are trained to provide peer-to-peer leadership and support for students who participate in the Connections experience at Worcester Polytechnic institute (WPI). Program Ambassadors serve as peer educators who engage our newest WPI scholars in various aspects of their first year at WPI as they transition into college. Program Ambassadors also serve as positive role models within the community, aid in student support initiatives, encourage personal growth in their peers, and provide leaving experiences to ensure student success. Eligible sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students are trained by OMA staff to facilitate success programs, multicultural and cross-cultural activities, academic support services, and intergroup dialogues for their peer community. Program Ambassadors must be self-starters, who are well-organized and committed to assisting students experiencing the transition to college; committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; and committed to the success of underrepresented student populations at WPI. This position reports directly to the Office of Multicultural Affairs professional staff (Director, Associate Director, Assistant Director, and Administrative Assistant).
Apply Here
The Lead Program Ambassadors (Lead PA) are valued members of the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) who are trained to provide peer-to-peer leadership and support for the Peer Ambassador (PA) team as well as students who participate in the Connections experience at Worcester Polytechnic institute (WPI). Lead PAs provide guidance and mentorship to the Program Ambassador team and supports PAs in their efforts to engage our newest WPI scholars in various aspects of their first year at WPI as they transition into college. Lead PAs assists the PAs with carrying out their duties and responsibilities, building community among the team, and building a sense of community and belonging for all Connections participants. Lead PAs also serve as positive role models within the community, aid in student support initiatives, encourage personal growth in their peers, and provide leaving experiences to ensure student success. Eligible juniors, seniors, and graduate students are trained by OMA staff to facilitate PA training and development, success programs, multicultural and cross-cultural activities, academic support services, and intergroup dialogues for their peer community. Lead PAs must be self-starters, who are well-organized and committed to assisting students experiencing the transition to college; committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; and committed to the success of underrepresented student populations at WPI. This position reports directly to the Office of Multicultural Affairs professional staff (Director, Associate Director, Assistant Director, and Administrative Assistant).
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Professional Development Opportunities
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Leadership Delta PEARL Mentor Program
The primary aim of the program is to create a sisterhood of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Persons of Color) women from the WPI community, providing them with the skills and resources needed to excel professionally and in life through leadership development in a multilayered mentoring cluster of BIPOC women.
The time commitment would be approximately 3 hours per month in person on the following dates:
- Saturday, February 26, 2022 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM EST
- Saturday, March 19, 2022 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM EST
- Saturday, April 9, 2022 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM EST
- Saturday, April 23, 2022 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM EST
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Unpacking White Womanhood: Exploring Your Unique Role Within Systems of Oppression | Workshop Series
This is a series of 4, 90-minute live, interactive Zoom calls with Drs. Kathy Obear and Victoria Farris centered around building self-awareness, disrupting the status quo, cultivating community, and facilitating healing related to systems of white male supremacy. These workshops are open to white women and folks socialized into white womanhood who desire to be more effective allies and agents of change.
- Friday, February 4th from 12:00-1:30 PM EST
- Friday, February 18th from 12:00-1:30 PM EST
- Friday, March 4th from 12:00-1:30 PM EST
- Friday, March 18th from 12:00-1:30 PM EST
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Bystander Intervention to stop anti-Asian/American and xenophobic harassment
February - June 2022
Various Days of the Week
Register Here
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Speaking Up: How Bystanders Can Change the Conversation about Social Bias
Tuesday, February 8, 2022
5:00 PM - 7:30 PM EST
Register Here
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Education Now | Navigating Tensions Over Teaching Race and Racism
Wednesday, February 9, 2022
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM EST
Register Here
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Brotherhood Leadership Conference: A Brotherhood for Success
Saturday, March 5, 2022
Worcester State University
Time: TBA
On March 5, 2022, Worcester State University will be hosting the “Brotherhood Leadership Conference” for ALANA/BIPOC men in our greater community.
Workshop Sessions Include:
- Leadership Lessons
- The State of Our Men’s Health
- ALANA/BIPOC Entrepreneurship
- Dress for Success
- Unlocking Your True Potential
- Self-Change: My Triumph & Perseverance
- A Sense of Belonging: Equity, Inclusion, & Beyond
- Combating Racial Battle Fatigue
- Building an Equitable and Liberating Mindset
- The Unseen: Why Students of Color Need Visible Communities of Care?
- Additional Presentation by TRILL OR NOT TRILL - Dr. Jeff Dess & Dr. Lenny Williams featured on CBS, FOX New York, TedX, The Boston Globe, Ebony Magazine, Black Enterprise, The Root
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Education Now | The Transition from High School to College for the Pandemic Generation
Wednesday, March 23, 2022
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM EST
Register Here
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Intersectionality Identified
Thursday, March 24, 2022
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM EST
Register Here
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Latinx Leads Student Leadership Virtual Conference
Friday, March 25 - Saturday, March 26, 2022
The overarching goal of the Latinx Leads Conference is to help students become stronger leaders and allies to the Latinx community by practicing inclusion in their organizations and campuses. The Conference empowers them to create a more accepting, equitable environment, and preparing them to work effectively in a diverse workplace. Participants will explore the history and roots of the Latinx community, examine where they are currently, and look to their future.
Email multiculturalaffairs@wpi.edu if you are interested in attending. We will cover your registration fee.
Register Here
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Black Students Lead Virtual Conference
Saturday, April 9, 2022
The overarching goal of the Black Students Lead Conference (BSL) is to help students become stronger leaders and allies to the Black community by practicing inclusion in their organizations and campuses. The Conference empowers them to create a more accepting, equitable environment, and preparing them to work effectively in a diverse workplace. Participants will explore the history and roots of the Black community, examine where they are currently, and look to their future.
Email multiculturalaffairs@wpi.edu if you are interested in attending. We will cover your registration fee.
Register Here
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United Collegiate Women's Leadership Conference (UCWLC)
Saturday, April 16, 2022
The United Collegiate Women’s Leadership Conference is an interactive transformational experience where women from all walks of life come together to understand the authentic leader they have within themselves, while preparing them to tackle critical issues facing their campus and larger communities. Women often are socialized to believe that exerting themselves means they are bossy, or that being quiet means they are shy. Issues of systemic misogyny creates a dynamic where women often are left competing against one another, or believing that one woman’s shine can diminish another’s. The truth is that united women are more likely to be successful. Women should not have to choose which of their identities they are going to lead with in their personal and professional lives. At UCWLC, we believe it’s all for one, and one for all. UCWLC creates a space that is high-energy, empowering and designed to create a transformational experience.
Email multiculturalaffairs@wpi.edu if you are interested in attending. We will cover your registration fee.
Register Here
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Intersectionality Identified
Saturday, March 26, 2022
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM EST
Register Here
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Summer Research and Fellowship Opportunities
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Early Research Experience in E-Term
The Early Research Experience in E Term (EREE) program offers a first research experience to interested students who have not yet had an authentic research experience. We will provide current first and second-year students an initial immersive research experience with a WPI faculty mentor. The goal of this program is to create pathways to deep and meaningful research experiences in STEM fields for undergraduate students, especially those from traditionally underrepresented groups in STEM including underrepresented minorities, first-generation students, transfer students, and women.
This research experience provides students with the following:
- The opportunity to participate in summer research early in their academic career
- A paid research experience ($4000 over 10 weeks)
- Close mentoring with a faculty member and graduate mentor
- Preparation for additional research opportunities at WPI and beyond
- Information and advice about future graduate research and career opportunities
- Weekly professional development workshops
Program details:
- The 2022 program will be held in-person in labs on the WPI campus
- The program runs June through August 2022
- Students paid to work 40-hours per week
- Weekly professional development workshops for all cohort team members
- Students will showcase their work in a presentation at the end of the summer
Student application process:
- Application available the week of February 1, 2022
- Application due Sunday, March 13, 2022
- Elements of the application that students should prepare ahead of time:
- Students will identify three (3) projects of interest from the EREE 2021 Faculty Submissions
- Write a resume – Need help? Contact the CDC for a virtual resume-writing appointment!
- Academic transcript – Need help? Instructions here.
- Gather contact information (names and e-mail addresses) for 2 professional or academic references (at least 1 must be from WPI). Make sure you ask for a reference!
- Agree to participate in the weekly professional development workshops
- Answer this reflection question:
- Each student brings a diverse set of skills and experiences (technical and non-technical) to a research group. Please describe three skills that you can bring to a new research group and three skills that you would like to learn or improve upon through a research experience. (Please limit your response to 300 words)
- The student application will be available the week of February 1, 2022.
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Harvard Forest Summer Research Program
Program Details for 2022:
- The 11-week program dates are May 23 to August 5, 2022
- $6,600 stipend, plus full room & board, and travel to/from Harvard Forest
- Applications are currently open and are due Friday, Feb. 4, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. EST
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Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Summer Fellowship
Undergraduate STEM majors who will have completed their junior year are
eligible. Students from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.
Timeframe – The program is held during the summer months. Students
arrive between the end of May and mid-June and stay for 10-12 weeks.
Stipend/Travel/Housing – A weekly stipend of $670 per
week is provided for the 10-12 week program plus a roundtrip
travel allowance. WHOI housing is also provided.
Deadline – Completed applications are due by Saturday, February 5, 2022.
Apply Here
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REU in Nanotechnology for Health, Energy and the Environment hosted at Stony Brook University will run from May 31 - August 5, 2022, at our main Long Island, NY campus, and is coordinated by the Center for Inclusive Education. Applications are due Monday, February 7th.
Program Highlights Include:
- Full-time, mentored research, for which students receive a $6,000 stipend
- Weekly Research Methods and Graduate Education Preparation Seminars taught by graduate scholars
- Weekly professional development activities and social events
- Housing and meals, plus travel awards for those living more than 75 miles from campus (Note: Living on campus is mandatory from Monday - Friday during the duration of the program)
- Opportunity to present their research at the Summer Research Symposium and Closing Ceremony on August 4th
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The Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) is a pathway to graduate education at Purdue University. This program is designed to provide equal access and opportunities to underrepresented and diverse students by preparing students for Graduate School by offering eight-weeks intensive research experiences, and graduate school resources that contributes to student's professional and academic growth.
- Application Close Date: Thursday, February 10, 2022
Benefits
- $4,000 Stipend
- Tier 1 Research Experience
- Faculty and Graduate Student mentoring
- Professional development workshops
- Preparing a successful graduate application
- GRE Workshops
- Application fee waiver to apply to Purdue University Graduate School program
- Social activities
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McLean Mental Health Research Summer Program
Program Features:
- Mentored research experience in a Harvard Medical School neuroscience laboratory at McLean Hospital in Belmont, MA (https://www.mcleanhospital.org/research).
- Workshops to teach and promote strategies for success in a scientific career.
- Community engagement in collaboration with McLean’s Brains Matter outreach program.
- $7,000 stipend per student for the 10-week program.
Program Timeline:
- Application opens: Monday, December 6, 2021
- Application deadline: Monday, February 14, 2022
- Selection announcement: March 11, 2022
- Program: June 6th – August 12th 2022 - conditions subject to change due to COVID-19
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Hydrogen Research Experience for Undergraduates: A Convergent Approach on Traineeship towards Realizing H2 Economy
Our H2 REU aims to educate undergraduate students on hydrogen technologies through a convergent approach involving mentoring in interdisciplinary engineering research, teaching environmental policies and law, and engagement in real-world industrial practices.
Participants will gain an understanding of the current state-of-the-art hydrogen technologies and the challenges hindering their implementation, and will be inspired to work on finding solutions to address those challenges in their professional careers.
Apply Today! Accepting application until Sunday, February 20, 2022
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Engineering PLUS stEm PEER (Practitioners Enhancing Engineering Regionally) Academy
The stEm PEER Academy will investigate the following topics:
- Understanding the Engineering Education Pathway Landscape with emphasis on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
- Models and interventions that work for women and BIPOC students to enroll and facilitate degree attainment.
- Building partnerships/engagement of stakeholders.
- Planning, implementing and assessing, and scaling the Capstone project.
Key Dates
- Applications: Open Tuesday, January 18, 2022
- Deadline: Tuesday, March 1, 2022
- Notification: Accepted applicants will be notified no later than Friday, April 1, 2022.
- Orientation: Attend a virtual Orientation, TBD
- Institute: Attend the June 5-9: Week-long PEER Academy Boston, MA (In-person/Covid permitting)
- Monthly: Attend virtual ½ day sessions and complete required program updates (specific dates/times to be determined)
- Required Documents: Resume, 2 Recommendations and essay in response to the following question: “What is one evidence-based strategy or program that you believe has the potential to be most beneficial for this population of students? How could you implement this strategy or program to your own institution?”
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- The Graduate Student and Training Readiness Sessions - STARS - is an annual series of workshops organized by the Office of Graduate Studies that provides overviews on important career and professional development topics.
- STARS workshops in 2021-2022 will be on campus in Gateway I Room 1002 (60 Prescott Street) and will be held from 12:00 - 1:00 PM EST. Registration links will be provided below for each session.
- Friday, February 4, 2022 - Employer Panel
- Friday, February 18, 2022 - Job Searches/Interviews
- Friday, March 18, 2022 - Negotiation and Conflict Management
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OMA Staff Virtual Office Hours
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CRC Chaplain Student Hours
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Academic Support Services
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WPI Multicultural, Intercultural, International, and Religious Community
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Campus Advocacy Resources
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- Dean of Students | Student resources for advocacy, citizenship, empowerment, inclusion, respect, and support
- Office of International Student Life (ISL) | Student resources for international support, education, community, and advocacy
- Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) | Student resources for accommodation services, advocacy, support, and assistance
- Title IX | Student resources for anti-discrimination policy and equal opportunity education
- Student Development and Counseling Center (SDCC) | Student resources for counseling, therapy, and mental health/wellness
- Graduate Student Government (GSG) | Student resources for addressing the social and academic needs of graduate students
- Student Government Association (SGA) | Student resources for addressing the social and academic needs of undergraduate students
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Additional Support and Resources
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(OMA newsletter is distributed on Wednesdays weekly)
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