The Graduate School

Communities & Involvement Opportunities

There are a plethora of UConn communities and involvement opportunities that graduate students can participate in. Check out some of the amazing options below.

Network for Enriched Mentorship (NEM)

• The Graduate School's Network for Enriched Mentorship (NEM) is a UConn-wide interdisciplinary mentoring network for all graduate students, with a special focus on minoritized graduate students and those who come from backgrounds that may disadvantage them

Veteran Communities

• The Graduate School is very happy to welcome our veterans and active service personnel, and their families to UConn. The decision to continue your education beyond the bachelor level is a serious one, and we are committed to supporting you as you strive to achieve your academic and personal goals.

Center for International Students and Scholars (CISS)

• The Center for International Students and Scholars (CISS) opened in July 2022 to create a welcoming space for international students and visiting scholars and bring together services for international students and visiting scholars at the Storrs campus.

African American Cultural Center

• The African American Cultural Center (AACC) was established in 1968 to support African Americans in all aspects of campus life. The AACC serves as a liaison to academic support departments and assists students in navigating the many resources of the University community such as residential life, the dean of student’s office, financial aid, and other student affairs departments.

Asian American Cultural Center

• The Asian American Cultural Center (AsACC) provides resources to enhance the University’s diversity commitment through its recruitment and retention efforts, teaching, service, and outreach to the Asian American community on campus and beyond. Central to all its programming, the AsACC assists students in exploring and defining their cultural identity in multicultural America. The AsACC provides a supportive environment for students, faculty, and staff that encourages academic excellence, personal development, community engagement, and professional leadership.

Puerto Rican and Latin American Cultural Center

• The Puerto Rican and Latin American Cultural Center (PRLACC) is a vibrant cultural center open to all students, faculty, staff, and community members interested in promoting awareness, appreciation, and understanding of Latinx/a/o issues and the rich diversity of Latinx/a/o individuals and Latin American cultures. Whether using our physical space to learn, study, relax, or visit with friends; immersing oneself in an aspect of Latinx/a/o culture at one of our events; or taking advantage of resources like our mentoring programs and student organizations, people find they can be themselves at PRLACC, just as they would at home.

Rainbow Center

• The Rainbow Center’s mission is to operate in the service of a more equitable world for all students, faculty, and staff at the University of Connecticut.  Using an intersectional lens, we center our work on advocating for, and increasing education, access, retention, identity development, and community-building for queer- and trans-spectrum communities.

Women’s Center

• The mission of the Women’s Center is to educate, advocate, and provide support services for the achievement of women’s equity at the university and within the community at large.

Native American Cultural Programs

• As guests on the land of but not limited to the Mashantucket Pequot, Eastern Pequot, Mohegan, Golden Hill Paugussett, Nipmuc, Schaghticoke, and Lenape peoples, the Native American Cultural Programs (NACP) at UConn is here to serve Native and Indigenous students. NACP welcomes all Native and Indigenous students, faculty, staff, community members and allies. NACP is here to serve our community, to help foster relationships with local tribal nations, and work towards building good relations between UConn and the land.

Middle Eastern Cultural Programs

• The Middle Eastern Cultural Programs (MECP) strive to foster connections between students, promote the education of Middle Eastern culture, celebrate the intersectionality of identities, and advocate for the professional development of students.

Graduate Student Senate

• The Graduate Student Senate (GSS) serves the needs of graduate students at UConn.

Clubs and Organizations: UConntact

• Discover unique opportunities at the University of Connecticut

UConn Faith

• Faith-based organizations at the University of Connecticut

Student Parents

• At UConn, there are support offices and groups available to expecting and parenting students.

Community Outreach

• Community Outreach’s mission is to enrich learning at the University of Connecticut through preparing students to be active global citizens by engaging them in service activities that enhance the quality of life for both others and themselves.

Commencement

• Commencement is a celebration of accomplishments and occurs once per year in May. In addition to May graduates, the prior year’s December graduates and the future August graduates may walk in Commencement. Here you will learn more about the steps you will need to complete in order to graduate and receive your degree from the University of Connecticut

Timely Topics for Graduate Students and Postdocs

• Timely Topics is a series of learning opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to engage with subject matter experts on topics relevant to graduate education.

Graduate Employee & Postdoc Union

• The Graduate Employee and Postdoc Union advocates for the rights and benefits of graduate student employees and postdocs at the local, state, and federal level.

Affinity Communities

• Affinity Communities are identity-focused groups that provide students with specialized content that integrates diversity, equity, and inclusion within the career development journey. Explore the many Affinity Communities available through the Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills and get involved today!