To help graduate students find their place and feel appreciated at MSU, local organizations are teaming up to celebrate the university’s first Graduate & Professional Student Appreciation Week Appreciation Week Activities.pdf .
The Council of Graduate Students, or COGS, Graduate Student Life and Wellness and various sponsors in the Lansing area are hoping to show graduate and professional students that they matter to the MSU community through the events.
“In your undergrad experience, there are a lot of opportunities for socialization, such as dorm life, so we want to do the same for graduate students,” graduate student and communications coordinator for Graduate Student Life & Wellness Andrea Sexton said.
In fall 2011, 33,412 undergraduate students and 8,305 graduate students were enrolled full time at the university, according to MSU’s College Portrait.
This week is full of various activities, including a Late Night Breakfast at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Student Services room 6; and from 12:15-1:45 p.m. on Saturday, graduate students receive a 50 percent discount on admission at Munn Ice Arena.
Some activities are meant to give graduate students the opportunity to socialize, while others cater to graduate students on a budget or with families, Sexton said.
“For graduate students who have families, we try to include them as well, such as with the coupons for ice cream,” she said. “Money is tight when you are a graduate student.”
Graduate student Stefan Fletcher is entering his third year as COGS president, but this is his first year helping to organize a whole week dedicated to graduate and professional students on campus.
“This is a learning experience for us,” Fletcher said. “Other institutions do this to celebrate graduate students, so this is the first year that we are doing this national event.”
Fletcher said COGS hopes graduate students will receive three benefits from the week: the feeling their hard work is appreciated by the MSU community as well as the East Lansing population, the opportunity to socialize with others inside and outside of their department and a chance to have fun by relieving the stresses of graduate student life, such as the pressure of teaching classes and doing research.
Matt Helm, director of Graduate Student Health and Wellness, said the organization provides balance, wellness and appreciation for graduate students on a regular basis, such as sponsoring late-night meals for graduate students before exams and conducting research on graduate student needs.
“This gives us a week to do something every day for graduates,” Helm said. “Graduate students play a big role in running this institution.”
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