Graduate Student Center at the University of Pennsylvania

As finals week begins, are you wondering how to synthesize your thoughts from readings while writing your term paper? Take a look at a few tips for reading effectively from breaking your worktime into short intervals to a bunch of online learning resources from the Weingarten Learning Resources Center - University of Pennsylvania Visit http://bit.ly/WLRCOnline for online learning resources Watch a session on how to read effectively at http://bit.ly/effectiveread

Looking for ways to stay engaged or make a difference in your community? Check out our new Weekly Ways to Get Engaged page for links and info on how to get involved! https://bit.ly/engage_weekly #PennGradLife GAPSA - Graduate and Professional Student Assembly

Check out this Penn LGBT Center event tomorrow!!

Join the Institute of Contemporary Art on Sunday, April 11th from 34pm EDT for their next Coffee and Conversation event! This virtual session, led by two Penn graduate students from the Weitzman School of Design, will focus on Jessica Vaughn’s current exhibition at the ICA, Our Primary Focus Is To Be Successful. This conversation will pay special attention to Vaughn’s uses of sculpture and painting to engage with tangled histories of workspace culture in America. You can r...egister for the Coffee and Conversation Event here. https://icaphila.org//coffee-and-conversation-something-t/ Vaughn’s exhibition is on display now at the ICA, and you can also schedule your in-person visit here. https://icaphila.org/visit/

All members of the Penn community are invited to attend a poster session and reception for recipients of the 2020-21 GAPSA-Provost Fellowship for Interdisciplinary Innovation. GAPSA-Provost Awards Poster Session & Reception Monday, April 26, 3:00-5:00 | hosted on Gather.town Co-sponsored by The Office of the Provost and GAPSA. ... Learn more: bit.ly/GAPSA-Provost-20-21

Are you curious about what a journaling practice could do for you? Have you tried journaling but struggled to stick with it? Join the Grad Center and CAPS (Wellness at Penn) on Thursday, April 15th from 1-2 PM eastern for our virtual workshop on Journaling: The Why and How." CAPS’ Coordinator of Prevention Programs, Dr. Alaina Spiegel, will discuss the benefits of journaling and strategies to start and maintain a journaling practice. Free journals will be available to pick-up on campus for the first 20 student registrants who attend the event, so register now! gsc.upenn.edu/events

Interested in participating in our Language Chats Sessions? The Language Chats Program at the Grad Center provides opportunities for students to practice a foreign language in an informal social setting. Language chats are not a class, but are instead a fun way for students to strengthen their language skills and meet other native and non-native speakers. We've scheduled several language chats for this spring based on student feedback. For more information, please visit gsc.upenn.edu/events

This week, we're inviting we're inviting Sherisse-Laud Hammond who serves as the Director of Penn Women's Center (PWC). As the Director of PWC, Sherisse currently supports students, staff, faculty, and all Penn community members through counseling and innovative programming related to women’s support and advocacy, gender equity, and interpersonal violence. We encourage all graduate and professional students to come and join us!

Happy Easter to those who celebrate!

Check out the resources in this Twitter thread!

Happy New Year from all of us at the Grad Student Center! Wishing you comfort, joy, and health in the coming year!

Warmest wishes to all who will begin the celebration of #Kwanzaa today! Have a happy, safe, and healthy holiday.

Warmest wishes to all who celebrate #Christmas today! Have a happy, safe, and healthy holiday.

There's a lot going on right now. Join CAPS clinician Dr. Batsirai Bvunzawabaya for a 1-hour discussion and debrief session to help you explore your feelings and discuss ways to reduce stress in these challenging times. Open to current Penn graduate and professional students only. Reflection & Self-Care in Challenging Times Friday, November 6, 1:00-2:00 PM (ET) ... Register at bit.ly/Nov6selfcare

A belated but hearty CONGRATULATIONS to Jeremy, Sarah, and Caroline for taking the top three spots in our November Steps Challenge! Together they walked over a million steps during the month of November. #PennGradWell #NovemberStepsChallenge

Graduate school can be challenging and stressful even when everything else in the world is going well. It's especially important now to take care of yourself so you - and your community - can stay healthy. Some quick tips and reminders to help you prioritize your wellbeing - pay attention to your physical & emotional health. Image text:... Take a break from the news (and social media). Avoid information overload and oversaturation of upsetting content. Make an effort to switch off your screens once in a while. Take care of your body. Get enough sleep, meditate, eat well-balanced meals, take deep breaths. Aside from staying safe, stay healthy. Make time to unwind. Use at least a few minutes of each day to do something you genuinely enjoy. Connect with others. Talk to people you trust about your concerns and how you're feeling. Things may feel overwhelming, but taking steps to cope with stress will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger. See additional information and resources at: gsc.upenn.edu/resources/wellness gsc.upenn.edu/online home.vpul.upenn.edu/election #PennGradWell #PennGradLife

The U.S. election has only compounded the stress and challenges we have been experiencing this year. As the election comes to a close, we encourage you to find ways to rest, restore your energy, connect with others, and process everything. We're sharing just a few events coming up this week. Find event details, registration links, and many more upcoming activities at home.vpul.upenn.edu/election See additional resources at bit.ly/2020gradresources... ------------------ Events included in slides: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3 5:00-7:00 pm: Cafecito: Community Connections [La Casa Latina] 8:30-9:30 pm: FruiTea: Election Day [GIC] WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4 12:30-2:00pm: Election Reflection [Makuu] 2:00-3:00 pm: Community Check-in [Penn Women's Center] 3:00-4:00 pm: Weekly Student Kiki The Day After (the Election) [LGBT Center] 10:00-10:30 pm: Stretch & Stillness: Post Election Meditation [GIC] THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5 2:00-4:00 pm: SPARC Drop in space 3:00-4:00 pm: Community Check-in [Penn Women's Center] FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6 9:00-10:00 am: Grad Center Post-Election Coffee Hour with ISSS 12:00-1:00 pm: Grad Center Post-Election Coffee Hour with PLTV/PGAEF Fellow Abigail Dym 1:00-2:30 pm: Extended Makuu Living Room, Election debrief

This is an especially stressful time and you may find your emotions running even higher or yourself more distracted this week. Join CAPS clinician Dr. Marian Reiff for a 1-hour mindfulness session to help you find focus and reduce stress in these challenging times. Open to all current Penn graduate and professional students. More details and registration link at www.gsc.upenn.edu/events

Election Day is here are polls are already open on the East Coast! If you are eligible to vote and have not already, we urge you make a plan to vote today: Find your polling place: http://vote.org... PA voter info: http://seventy.org/publications/elections-voting Philadelphia voting guide: https://www.phila.gov/2020-10-23-election-day-guide-novemb/ Know your election rights: http://aclu.org/know-your-rights/voting-rights/ Penn events and resources: https://home.vpul.upenn.edu/election/ See more

Headed to the polls today? Prepare for long lines and take steps to protect yourself and others from the spread of COVID-19! #PennVotes #PennGradLife

Election Day in the U.S. is almost here. Although we may not know official results for some time, programs and partners from across campus are coordinating check-ins, panels, wellness activities, and more to help keep us informed and connected in the coming days and weeks. See activities and resources to help you understand, process, and respond to the election and its consequences at home.vpul.upenn.edu/election. For those who will be voting in person, we will be joining Pen...n Leads the Vote by sharing resources and information throughout the day tomorrow on social media to help you get to the polls and cast your vote safely and securely. You can also see additional civic engagement and volunteer opportunities at gsc.upenn.edu/online#engage.

In accordance with the Student Campus Compact, we encourage students wishing to engage in civic activities to identify needs and opportunities you can participate remotely. We also recognize the importance of engaging in the democratic process and understand that an individual's desire to pursue social change and exercise first amendment rights may be balanced with their concerns about COVID-19. We encourage you to take all possible safety precautions if you will be voting i...n person or decide to attend a protest or rally in the coming days. Here are some basic steps you can take to minimize the risk to yourself and help keep our communities protected from the spread of COVID-19. Ultimately, individuals who make the personal decision to participate in such activities must take into account the risks to themselves and their close contacts. If you or a member of your household is at elevated risk or has been in recent contact with someone with COVID-19, let that guide your decision making and consider alternative avenues to make sure that your voice is heard. See additional resources and opportunities for civic engagement at www.gsc.upenn.edu/online#engage

Today's the last day of the October Step Challenge! Take one last walk and send in those steps! Remember, top 3 steppers get a prize! #PennGradWell Penn Campus Recreation GAPSA - Graduate and Professional Student Assembly

Daylight Savings Time ends THIS SUNDAY in the U.S. and clocks will be set back by one hour. Be sure to adjust your clocks or your schedule to reflect the new time! For those in U.S. states that observe DST, we hope you are able to take advantage of the extra hour of rest.

GAPSA needs representatives ASAP to serve on 3 university-level committees: University Council Committee on Open Expression (1 representative - meets monthly) ...Social Responsibility Advisory Committee (2 representatives - meets ad hoc ~2x per year): https://secretary.upenn.edu//social-responsibility-advisor Committee on Manufacturing Responsibility (1 representative - first meeting 11/13 3pm-4:15pm EST): https://almanac.upenn.edu//report-of-the-committee-on-manu Please contact Jason Andrechak, Director of Equity and Access, at [email protected] with your interest.

PA voters: Still have your mail-in ballot? HAND DELIVER it to a drop box before 8PM on November 3rd to be sure it gets counted!! GAPSA - Graduate and Professional Student Assembly Penn Leads the Vote

Learn how to use different academic profiles and associated networks to track and promote your work. Platforms we will discuss include: ORCiD, Google Scholar, Scopus, Academia.edu, Humanities Commons, PhilPapers, and more! TODAY!! Thursday, October 29 at 3PM ET There's still time to register at https://gsc.upenn.edu/events... Cosponsored with Penn Libraries See more