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| Graduate Student Unionization Election on April 4 & 5 |
| Students encouraged to get informed before the vote |
A vote for whether to form a Graduate Student Union at MIT will take place on April 4 and 5, 2022. Eligible Graduate Students, including eligible international students, are encouraged to carefully consider all positions regarding the formation of a union at MIT, available at the following resources:
MIT Leadership positions: https://grad-union.mit.edu/
MIT graduate students opposed to the UE: https://www.uenotformit.org/
MIT GSU working with the UE: https://mitgsu.org/
Most importantly, eligible graduate students are encouraged to Vote.
Additional details about the election are available here, and to learn more about voter eligibility and the voting process, please read the National Labor Relations Board Notice of Election. |
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| Reminder: Beware of Scams! |
| NEVER give out any personal or financial information |
We cannot stress this enough. PLEASE be careful if you receive any communication from someone claiming to be from the government or police. Unfortunately, MIT International Students are victims of scams and fraud every semester. Scams are even more prevalent during and right after tax season, and during apartment hunting season. PLEASE be careful if you receive a phone call, email, text message or in-person visit from someone claiming to be a U.S. government official or law enforcement. So what should you do?
- First, do NOT provide any personal or financial information, for identity-protection purposes.
- Second, remain calm and ask the person for as many details as possible. For example, request their name, their phone number, the reason why they are contacting you, as well as their government ID number or badge number and what branch of the government they work for (if applicable). Tell them you will get back to them after you speak to the ISO.
- Third, contact the ISO immediately, by phone, email, or in person. We can help you determine if the official is legitimate or if it's a scam, including recommending calling the MIT Police. If the official or request is legitimate, we can help you navigate the process.
How to Recognize a Phone Scam
Current Scam Alerts
List of Common Scams |
| ISO SCAMS WEBSITE |
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| Traveling this Spring Break or Summer? |
Check your documents NOW
Request Replacement Form I-20 or DS-2019 on iMIT to receive travel signature
Form I-20s will be emailed to you; Form DS-2019s will be physically mailed to you. |
Check if your entry visa will be valid for your return, and please be sure to get a travel validation signature. *Please note that you can leave the US without a travel signature, but you will need one to re-enter the US.
The ISO has a number of resources available to guide students on preparing for travel.
Please be sure to consult the ISO “Visas and Travel” webpage for details on requesting a new Form I-20 or DS-2019 with travel signature, guidance on “Entering the U.S.” to verify documents to carry when traveling, and links on how to apply for a new entry visa, if needed, from the U.S. Embassy/Consulate.
When traveling back to the US always present your form I-20 or DS-2019 along with your F-1 or J-1 visa to CBP.
*Please also check each time you return to the US that your I-94 is valid upon arrival (should be in F-1 D/S or J-1 D/S). If you accidentally enter in tourist status and do not get it corrected, your immigration status may be interrupted and could affect your future employment plans. |
| ISO TRAVEL WEBSITE |
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| Request Extensions Now |
| Check Your Form I-20 or DS-2019 for expiration date |
If your Form I-20 or DS-2019 is expiring this spring and you will not be completing your degree by the program end date on the document, you must request an Extension on iMIT.
Review more information at the Extending your Current Program webpage under Maintaining Status. |
READ MORE
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| Working Off-Campus this Summer? |
| Review Employment Information session [recording] |
Reminder: for students who are looking to pursue internships or post-degree employment this summer, you are required to attend/watch an F-1 Employment Information Session for guidance on application timelines and procedures.
The information session will discuss F-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT), F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT), and F-1 STEM Optional Practical Training authorizations, how a student can be eligible for CPT, OPT or STEM OPT, and the application procedures to obtain the appropriate authorization for their off-campus activity.
Students should fully review the ISO Employment webpages before attending or reviewing the recording/slides.
PLEASE NOTE: If you could not attend a live session, you can review the recording and slides.
To access slides/recording:
Student Content Access page (Kerberos login required)
Click on ISO F-1 Employment Information Session recording and slides for the latest materials.
When you request CPT or OPT on iMIT, please indicate you completed your session “Online.”
AFTER you have reviewed the slides/recording and website, if you still have questions, you can email you ISO advisor directly.
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| ISO EMPLOYMENT WEBSITE |
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| Tax Filing Resources and Tax Workshops |
Deadline is April 15, 2022 to file taxes
Sprintax is available NOW for federal income tax returns on the ISO website (you MUST access the Sprintax Portal from our website)
Workshop recordings will be available on the VPF website March 7
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The ISO has updated our Taxes webpage to reflect updated links to MIT and additional resources on filing income tax returns for the 2021 calendar year.
Please review the VPF webpage "Tax Guidance for Nonresident Aliens" for tax resources and to view the recording/slides of the live Tax Workshops on March 1. For liability reasons, the ISO cannot give out tax advice.
ISO has made available for free (for filing U.S. Federal income tax returns) a new nonresident income tax return preparation software this year, Sprintax (replacing Glacier Tax Prep). The ISO sent out a notification to all international students on March 1 that the software is available for use, along with instructions on how to access the software.
- Current MIT International Students must log in to Sprintax via the ISO website. **Please note that you must have an MIT Kerberos ID and password to log in to this site.
- Alumni and students who attended MIT in the previous tax year and do not have an active Kerberos username may contact their ISO Advisor for a temporary access code (*spouses and dependents are also eligible to request an access code from the student's advisor)
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ISO TAX WEBSITE
MIT SPRINTAX WEBSITE |
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Spring 2022
Navigating MIT Series |
Next session is Tuesday March 29:
Imposter Phenomenon |
- Discover Boston in the Spring/Summer - Thurs, March 17 at 12noon in E19-202 (Slides)
- Imposter Phenomenon - Tues, March 29 at 5pm in 32-124
- Dating and Long-term Relationships - Fri, April 8 at 12noon in E19-202
- Cooking and Meal Prep for the Week - Tues, April 12 at 4pm via Zoom
- Finish Strong: End-of-Semester Hacks - Fri, April 29 at 12noon in E19-202
*MOST SESSIONS ARE IN PERSON, UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED. SPACE IS LIMITED. |
| REGISTER |
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| LCE: Conversation Groups |
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Join a small group for language practice and conversation exchange!
Our enthusiastic volunteers are leading small groups for Japanese, Chinese, Korean, French, Portuguese/Spanish, and German!
Find dates and times in our LCE Community Slack Space and by subscribing to our newsletter. Interested in starting a group for another language? Reach out to the LCE team at lce@mit.edu.
If you are interested in another language, please fill out the form. We are also looking for new group leaders.
Link to interest Form here |
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| MIT EVENTS & PROGRAMS - IAP |
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| MIT Spouses & Connect: 50th Anniversary Events |
First event on Monday March 14 at 11am
Zoom |
Celebrating 50 years of supporting newcomers, creating connections, building community (1972-2022). Learn more at http://bit.ly/mspc50 and RSVP for our opening event on Friday April 22 at 10 a.m.
50th ANNIVERSARY EVENTS
Register for our April 22 & 23 on campus events here: bit.ly/mspc50reg |
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| Lit Tea |
4:30-5:30pm every Monday, except Institute Holidays
Building 14, Room 14N-417 |
**Come by for snacks & tea with the Literature Section instructors, students, & friends!**
Veg, GF, and fruit options will be made available. |
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| MIT GradHillel offers Purim event |
Sunday, March 20 at 3 PM
Virtual |
MIT GradHillel offers Purim event for those interested in Jewish grad life
Newly admitted graduate students are invited to join MIT GradHillel for “quarantaschen” baking (Zoom hamantaschen) on Sunday, March 20 at 3 PM. It will be an opportunity to celebrate Purim, meet each other, and learn about Jewish grad life at MIT. The form will close end of day March 9.
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| Upcoming Events from Open Space Programming |
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- Family Friendly Yoga with Marlene
Saturday, March 26 at 9:30-10:15am
(VIRTUAL)
Start the weekend with a yoga practice geared towards kids & families, led by Marlene Boyette.
Link to RSVP
(IN PERSON)
Tuesday, April 5 at 12:15-1pm
Grab a slice and meet the dogs of MIT Puppy Lab!
Link to RSVP
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| Join the GSC ARC cross-institutional networking event! |
Tuesday, March 29th from 5-7pm
Virtual |
On March 29th, 5-7pm, GSC ARC is co-organizing a cross-institutional networking event, bringing together students and alumni from MIT, Yale, Harvard, Columbia, and Cornell.
The aim of this program is to go beyond LinkedIn connections; instead we aim to build relationships. The program consists of small group meet-and-greets, large group lectures, and discussions.
If you are interested in pursuing careers in consulting, venture capital, nonprofit, tech or academia, come and join us! To meet our mission, groups will be pre-assigned based on shared interests and program seniority. As such, attendance and participation is critical. Please keep that in mind when deciding to sign-up.
Please register here by March 20, 2022. Feel free to see our flyer for more information. We will provide more information about the specifics of the event once you finish the registration. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me, Zenan Wang or Nicholas Surdel.
Hope to see many of you at the event! |
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Meet employers & explore career options at the Master’s, PhD, and Postdoc Career Fairs
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- In-person: March 31st, 12-4PM at the Johnson Ice Rink
- Virtual: April 1st, 12-4PM
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Graduate students and postdocs: Whatever career stage you’re in, come learn about job/internship opportunities, explore careers in your field, and network with potential employers. This fair represents a unique chance to connect with and learn about employers who are actively recruiting advanced degree candidates and postdocs from MIT.
Different employers (all actively recruiting advanced degree candidates) will attend the virtual & in-person events! You can attend either or both.
Attending VIRTUALLY? Register and schedule your chats early — windows will fill up. Attending IN-PERSON? Conversations will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
Learn more: https://capd.mit.edu/mpp-fair-candidate/ |
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| MIT Ibero-American Film Festival 2022 |
Next session: Thursday March 31, 7pm
Building 6-120
Bad Hair / Pelo malo (2013, Venezuela) |
The Latino ERG is co-sponsoring the MIT Ibero-American Film Festival 2022 taking place in March and April 2022. Please go to: https://languages.mit.edu/mit-ibero-american-film-festival-2022/ for full details.
The MIT Ibero American Film Series 2022 features five critically acclaimed films by directors from Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, and Guatemala:
All events are on Thursdays 7pm (and all in room 6-120, except for April 7, which is in 4-370).
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| Grad Student Food Resource Fair |
Friday April 1 from 12:00 - 2:00pm
W20 - Twenty Chimneys |
- Enter the Glass Bento Box Raffle
- Meet with a Nutritionist
- Collect Recipes
- Learn Shopping & Budgeting Tips
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| OGE: Parenting Students Lunch & Learn Series |
Final session on April 28 at Noon
Virtual via Zoom |
2022 MIT: Office of Graduate Education
Parenting Students Lunch & Learn Series
Carole Ann Penny
April 28, 2022 at Noon
Leadership and Parenting - Carole Ann Penny runs a strategic career coaching business while parenting two kids. She will guide a conversation about what it means to be a leader in the workplace as well as a parent!
Link to register
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| An Evening with Tressie McMillan Cottom |
Thursday, April 28, 2022 at 5:30pm
The Nexus, Hayden Library 14S-130 |
Tressie McMillan Cottom explores the everyday culture of big ideas like racism, sexism, inequality, and oppression by giving us the language to live better lives. Her far-ranging intellectual interests include books, articles, magazine profiles, and opinion-editorials, but it is her essays that routinely shape the discourse – part revolutionary pamphlet, part poetic chapbook, part sociological analysis, and part call-to-arms.
Cottom is a professor at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, a 2020 MacArthur Foundation Fellow, and New York Times contributing opinion writer. She is a member of the inaugural external advisory committee for the MIT Libraries’ Center for Research on Equitable and Open Scholarship (CREOS).
- In-person attendance at Hayden Library (14S-100): MIT Covid Pass required
- The event will also be live streamed.
Link to register |
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| ESL TA Peer Mentoring Program |
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Are you a graduate student who considers English to be your second (or third, or fourth…) language? Join the ESL TA Peer Mentoring Program. The program is open to all ESL grad students, whether you are an experienced teacher who hopes to mentor new TAs, or a newer teacher looking for a friend to provide feedback and support throughout the semester.
For more information and to sign up, please check out this form, or reach out to Michelle ( michp@mit.edu) with questions.
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| Guide to Graduate Funding @MIT |
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Click to enlarge the flowchart from OGE to learn more about options if you are having financial difficulties.
Check out our Fellowships page! https://oge.mit.edu/finances/fellowships/
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| The Writing and Communication Center continues its free consultations during Spring 2022! |
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| The Writing and Communication Center (WCC) continues its free one-on-one consultations on different types of written, spoken, and visual communication. You can receive in-person and remote support there at all stages of the writing and communication process, from brainstorming to the final version, on such projects as research papers, fellowship applications, cover letters, personal statements, dissertations, presentations, or posters. The WCC can also mentor you through writer’s blocks including procrastination, perfectionism, demoralization, and imposter stress. To learn more about the WCC, check their website and make an appointment through this link: https://mit.mywconline.com. Don’t wait, schedule today! |
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| Flipping Failure |
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Flipping Failure is a collection of stories told by MIT students about their path towards resilience when faced with a wide variety of challenges at MIT. Whether you are struggling to adjust to the culture in the United States or at MIT, bracing yourself for your first Boston winter, or stressed about final exams, know that you are not alone.
You may find many of the Flipping Failure stories valuable, and we especially encourage you to check out stories and coping strategies from Annie and Jessica, who share challenges they faced as international students at MIT.
Learn more here |
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| Guide to Food @MIT |
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| The Food Security Action Team has shared guides to food @ MIT. Click on the flyers to access. |
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| Wellness Events & Resources |
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| Take Care of Yourself During Challenging Times |
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The unfolding news of Russia’s invasion into Ukraine has been horrific. Our thoughts are with students from the region or have loved ones in the region who are impacted. Please do not hesitate to be in touch with the Student Support Services or GradSupport dean who has been in contact with you. Or, contact ukrainehelp@mit.edu and a support staff member will respond to your email. MIT is here for you.
Even if you are not from the region or have family in the impacted area, these times can still feel unsettling. During times like this, it is important to take care of yourself in ways that work for you. Finding healthy practices to manage your stress, process your feelings, or connect with others can be a great way to focus on your wellbeing.
Check out this page from DoingWell at MIT for some tips if you need help getting started.
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| Know Your Resources! |
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We have launched a new course, Mental Health and Wellbeing for Graduate Students, in the Atlas Learning Center to help graduate students understand common challenges of the graduate student experience and how to navigate support and resources to prioritize their wellbeing. This course, which is also valuable to any faculty and staff who work with graduate students, was developed in partnership with the Division of Student Life, Office of the Vice Chancellor, and MIT Medical.
You shouldn’t have to think about where to turn for help. Just ask. Leave a question and a Student Support and Wellbeing team member will get back to you within 1 business day. |
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| Boston Symphony Orchestra MIT Discount |
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| Subsidized $5 BSO College Cards are now available for MIT students! This program is supported by the Bobko BSO Ticket Fund. With a BSO College Card, students can reserve free tickets to Boston Symphony Orchestra concerts each week during the entire 2021-22 season. Proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test required—make sure to review the BSO public health policy: Safe in Sound. |
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MIT International Students Office
77 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
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Office Hours:
9:00-16:00 (M-F)
Closed (W) 10:00-11:30
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