Staff in the Office of the Dean provide advice and counsel on a variety of issues including faculty/student relationships, conflict negotiation, funding, academic progress, interpersonal concerns, and a student’s rights and responsibilities. They also provide clarification about Graduate Policies and Procedures.
Senior Associate Dean Blanche Staton and Assistant Dean Jason McKnight are available to meet with students. For appointments with Dean Staton, contact Esther Austin, the Assistant to the Senior Associate Dean; for appointments with Dean McKnight, contact him directly.
Other resources to consider for individual advising include:
- The graduate administrator in each department and degree-granting program. The graduate administrator serves as the key representative responsible for a broad array of services and resources that generally include: admissions and orientation; registration; grade reporting; advising and counseling; class schedules; financial appointments; policy implementation; corporate recruiting; thesis processing; and degree lists and graduation.
- MIT Medical offers a range of services, including Mental Health and Counseling, which offers assistance to individuals with personal concerns including anxiety, depression, relationship problems, or stress. Staff can also provide consultation and guidance to friends, roommates, faculty members, and others who are concerned about the wellbeing of an MIT student or any other member of the Institute community. Stress reduction, mindfulness, and relaxation information and techniques are provided through Community Wellness that can revitalize your mind and body, helping you focus better and reduce stress.
- The MIT Work-Life Center can help with resources at any hour of the day or night for a number of areas, including regular and backup child care, elder care, raising teens and young adults, and balancing work and personal life.
- The Ombuds Office helps people express concerns, resolve disputes, manage conflicts, and learn more productive ways of communicating. The Ombuds Office serves as an independent, confidential, neutral and informal resource to the diverse MIT community – it is a resource for faculty, staff, students, and post-docs.
- The International Students Office assists students in maintaining their legal status in the United States, provides support for their dependents, and promotes interaction with and integration into the MIT community at large.
Challenges are easier to solve together. Sometimes, the first step on the path to a solution is reaching out for help. Visit the MIT Together site to find more information on these and other resources that are here to help you. Other links include Get Support published by the Division of Student Life, Resources for Students published by the Institute-wide Planning Task Force, Resources to Help Cope in Times of Crisis by the MIT Work Life Center, and Hospitalization Resources for MIT students.
For student organization funding, resources include the Graduate Student Council; Student Activities Office; and the ODGE, which provides limited financial support for approved student activities upon request.