Graduate Student Appreciation Week

Caltech's Graduate Student Appreciation Week (GSAW) is a week-long event that recognizes the important contributions of graduate students to our campus community and beyond. Celebrated nationally, Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week first began in 1993 and was developed by the National Association of Graduate-Professional Students. This year marks the second celebration at Caltech will continue to feature a variety of events and programs offered in collaboration with various campus departments and stakeholders. Requests for assistance and/or special accommodations to participate in any of these events can be made at gradofc@caltech.edu.***Please note that several events require a current, valid Caltech graduate student ID to participate

Schedule of Events

Monday, April 24th

Grad Student Appreciation Week Kickoff!

Join the Graduate Studies Office as we kick off Graduate Student Appreciation Week 2023 with donuts, bagels, coffee and other tasty treats featuring Randy's Donuts and Einstein Bagels.

Time: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. (while supplies last!)
Location: Center for Student Services (CSS) Lobby & Tent
Sponsored by the Graduate Studies Office

Tuesday, April 25th

Breakfast Burritos in the Cats

Feeling lucky??? Join the Office of Residential Experience for Lucky Boy burritos and coffee in the Central Catalinas Rec Room!Time: 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. (while supplies last!)
Location: Central Catalinas Recreation Room
Sponsored by the Office of Residential Experience

Grad Studies Ice Cream Social

If you love ice cream as much as we do, join us for the Handel's Homemade Ice Cream truck with a wide variety of flavors including these Grad Studies Office staff recommendations:Claudia – Strawberry & Chocolate
Darrell – Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownie
David – Coffee Chocolate Chip
Georgine – Horchata
Helen – Mud Pie
Natalie – Vanilla Carmel BrownieGraduate student spouses, partners, and children are welcome to attend!Time: 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (while supplies last!)
Location: Holliston Circle (outside Avery House)
Sponsored by the Graduate Studies Office

FREE Headshots for Grad Students

A professional headshot is a great way to market yourself and build your brand – and it can also be very expensive! Come get a FREE headshot for your LinkedIn profile or other social media platforms.Time: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: Bechtel Dining Hall
Sponsored by the Graduate Studies Office

Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition

3MT challenges Caltech graduate students to explain their research in an engaging and clear three-minute talk intended for a non-specialist audience. The final event on April 25th at 5pm (Pacific) will be hybrid with presentations given to a pre-registered in-person audience of current Caltech ID holders in the Hameetman Auditorium (Cahill) and streamed live on YouTube.Time: 5:00 p.m.
Location: Hameetman Auditorium (Cahill)
Sponsored by Caltech Library Services

Wednesday, April 26th

The Puppies are Coming!

Our furry friends from Pups Without Borders will be stopping by to say hello and help celebrate Caltech grad students! These little guys can help boost your mood, relieve stress, and improve your overall sense of well-being.Time: 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location: Center for Student Services (CSS) Lobby & Tent
Sponsored by the Graduate Studies Office

Career Advising and Experiential Learning (CAEL) Open House

Come by and visit the CAEL (pronounced like kale) office! Pick up some swag and continue the puppy party with our CAEL ambassador, Winston the Corgi. See what resources we offer to graduate students and learn about how we can help you during your time at Caltech as well as your next steps.Time: 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Location: 3rd Floor, Room 310 – Center for Student Services (CSS)
Sponsored by: The Career Advising and Experiential Learning Office

Center for Teaching, Learning, & Outreach (CTLO) Open House

The CTLO supports Caltech's multifaceted educational efforts in part by offering support to graduate students and postdocs by providing resources, consultation services, courses and seminars. Visit the CTLO on the 3rd floor of CSS for cookies and free swag!Time: 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Location: 3rd Floor – Center for Student Services (CSS)
Sponsored by the Center for Teaching, Learning, & Outreach

Food Trucks at Tournament Park

Join the Graduate Studies Office for dinner at one of our food trucks and other vendors in Tournament Park. We will be joined by The Lime Truck (Cal-Mex tacos, etc.), Pie ‘N Burger and Mendocino Farms (each vendor will feature vegetarian options). One vendor visit per student please.***Valid Caltech graduate student ID card requiredTime: 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (while supplies last!)
Location: Tournament Park
Sponsored by the Graduate Studies Office

Thursday, April 27th

Grad Student Happy Hour

YOU are the guests of honor! Hors d'oeuvres and two free drink tickets for the first 300 grad students! Join us for a relaxed evening of food, drink, and fun with friends both old and new.***Valid Caltech graduate student ID card requiredTime: 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Zen Garden / Chen Neuroscience Research Building
Sponsored by the Graduate Studies Office

PRISM Queer Film Night

Time: 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Location: Center for Student Services (CSS) 2nd Floor Common Area Please RSVP here: https://diversity.caltech.edu/events/rsvp
Sponsored by PRISM and the Caltech Center for Inclusion and Diversity (CCID)

Friday, April 28th

Getting Better Sleep with Grace Wong, OTD, OTR/L, and Lee H. Coleman, Ph.D., ABPP

Happy Graduate Student Appreciation Week! We've got a raffle prize for attending this workshop! This 1-hour workshop is perfect for people who have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. We'll cover strategies for managing insomnia, changing your sleep schedule, and dealing with worries that might keep you up at night.Time: 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Hameetman Conference Room (2nd Floor)
Sponsored by Counseling Services and Occupational Therapy Services

Gaypril STEMinar

Join the CCID for a Gaypril STEMinar with Dr. Daniel Cruz-Ramírez de Arellano, one of the founders of Queer in STEM and University of South Florida faculty member. Dr. Cruz-Ramírez de Arellano earned a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico – Río Piedras Campus and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Purdue University. Dr. Cruz-Ramírez de Arellano academic interests include Student learning in general chemistry and organic chemistry & Diversity and inclusion in STEM.Time: 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Virtual – Zoom Please RSVP here: https://diversity.caltech.edu/events/rsvp
Sponsored by the Caltech Center for Inclusion and Diversity

Boba Tea at the Sherman Fairchild Library

The Caltech Library staff cordially invites you to the Sherman Fairchild Library for boba tea, snacks, and other goodies to show their appreciation for the graduate student members of our campus community.Time: 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. (while supplies last!)
Location: Sherman Fairchild Library
Sponsored by: Caltech Library Services

Play Ball! Tickets to LA Dodgers Game and Friday Night Fireworks Show

Join the Boys in Blue as they take on the St. Louis Cardinals! Transportation from Caltech to the stadium will be available. Enter a drawing to win up to two (2) free e-tickets by clicking on this link. The drawing will be held on Thursday, April 20th at noon, and winners will be notified immediately thereafter (in order to claim the e-ticket(s), you will need to download the MLB Ballpark app on your phone).Time: 7:10 p.m. (bus leaves Holliston Circle, outside Avery House, at approximately 5:00 - 5:15 p.m.)
Location: Dodger Stadium (1000 Vin Scully Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90012)
Sponsored by the Graduate Studies Office

Graduate Student Appreciation Week is proudly sponsored by the Graduate Studies Office in collaboration with the Caltech Center for Inclusion and Diversity (CCID); Caltech Library Services; Center for Teaching, Research, & Learning (CTLO); Counseling Services; Occupational Therapy Services; Career Advising and Experiential Learning (CAEL); Office of Residential Experience (ORE), and PRISM

Graduate Student Appreciation Week, April 24 - 28, 2023