The Graduate Student Lounge is part of the College Avenue Student Center at 126 College Avenue. It is home to two offices: the Office of Graduate Student Life and the Graduate Student Association. We invite you to visit and hang out to relax and study. There is a microwave and complimentary Keurig coffee station for your use.
Spring 2026 Office of Graduate Student Life/GSA Open House
Location: Graduate Student Lounge, 126 College Ave (Behind Panera Bread), College Ave Campus
Tuesday January 27 | 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Graduate Student Lounge, 126 College Avenue
This Open House is an opportunity for grad students to meet Office of Graduate Student Life staff and GSA leadership and learn about opportunities for involvement, resources, and services to support the graduate student experience. Come meet campus partners from CAPS, Learning Centers, Graduate Writing Program, Office of Disability Services, Career Exploration and Success and Recreation. Join us for pizza, dessert, giveaways, massages, and activities by Scarlet Arts Rx! RSVP Requested: https://rutgers.campuslabs.com/engage/event/11994253
Sat. 1/31 * First-Generation Graduate Student Welcome Social---Community, Resources & Conversation
Saturday, January 31, Noon – 2:00pm, Graduate Student Lounge, 126 College Ave., New Brunswick
RSVP requested
Join us for a welcoming and social event for new and returning first-generation graduate students and their families. Connect with peers who share similar experiences, meet supportive staff, learn about Rutgers resources, and enjoy lunch and community. The event will also include informal opportunities to share your experiences, ask questions, and reflect on what support matters the most to you. For more information on First-Generation Graduate Student programs visit our website. Questions? Email gradstudentlife@echo.rutgers.edu
Graduate Affinity Group Spring 2026 Kickoff Gatherings in the Lounge
Registration Link
Looking to get connected with other graduate students and participate in a fun and supportive community? Consider joining a peer-designed and peer-facilitated affinity group. Groups will meet monthly in the spring semester at a date/time and in a format to be determined by the facilitator and participants. Affinity groups are affirming spaces to build community with peers who share experiences, backgrounds, and social identities and connect with peers for personal and professional support and around shared interests.
Six groups are being offered:
- African students
- BIPOC LGBTQIA2S+ students
- Chinese students
- International students
- Neurodivergent students
- Southeast Asian students
To read descriptions for each group and learn if it's a good fit for you, click HERE. Questions? Ghada Endick, gendick@echo.rutgers.edu.
Wed. 2/4 * Classroom Accommodations: Coffee & Cocoa Chat with the Office of Disability Services
Wednesday, February 4, 2:00pm - 4:00pm, Graduate Student Lounge, 126 College Avenue, New Brunswick
RSVP requested
Welcome to the start of the spring semester! As a graduate student, teaching assistant, instructor, or friend, you may wonder about academic accommodations and accessibility. The Office of Disability Services is hosting a drop-in afternoon for graduate students interested in learning about the services that ODS provides. Bring yourself or bring a friend to ask questions and learn about outreach efforts. Please direct questions or accommodation requests specific to this event to dsoffice@echo.rutgers.edu or 848-202-3111.
Graduate Student Disability Services Drop-In Every First Wednesday Spring 2026
ODS will be held the Wednesday of every month from 2-4 p.m at the Graduate Student Lounge (126 College Avenue), and on Zoom, Coordinator Nychey Michel from the Office of Disabilities Services (ODS) will offer drop-in hours just for graduate students. Come stop by and meet Nychey to discuss accommodations for: hearing, vision, and mobility conditions, learning disabilities, psychological diagnoses (such as anxiety or depression), chronic illnesses, traumatic brain injuries, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and More. She can be reached at (848)-202-3111 or nlm108@echo.rutgers.edu. Dates: February 4, March 4 and April 1, 2026. See flyer for more details.
Starting Wednesday 1/28 Wellness Wednesdays Mat Pilates
Location: Graduate Student Lounge, 126 College Ave (Behind Panera Bread), College Ave Campus
5pm-6pm every Wednesday in the Spring 2026 semester. Starting 1/28 - May 6, Rutgers Recreation will be hosting Mat Pilates .
Join us on Wednesdays to take a pause from your busy week by relaxing your mind and body with your fellow graduate students. No Registration Needed. Mats and blocks are provided, and all skill levels are welcome! Email gradstudentlife@echo.rutgers.edu with any questions. Graduate Student Mat Pilates is hosted by Rutgers Recreation and Office of Graduate Student Life.
Wed. 2/4 * Graduate Student Association (GSA) Coffee & Breakfast
Wednesday, February 4, 9:00am - 11:00am, Graduate Student Lounge, 126 College Avenue, New Brunswick
RSVP requested
The Graduate Student Association (GSA) invites all graduate students to join us for a morning of coffee, breakfast, and community. This event is a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow graduate students, share experiences, and start the day with delicious food and engaging conversations. Come for the coffee, stay for the connections! The GSA will host Coffee and Conversation every first Wednesday of the spring semester.
Graduate Student Wellness Workshops
Shan Reeves and Dana Simons, our community-based counselors for graduate students in Rutgers Student Health, provide a diverse array of monthly wellness workshops. Workshop line-up will be posted shortly
Let's Talk Counseling Conversations – Free Private and Confidential Drop-In Conversations
Held with CAPS counselors who understand what graduate students are struggling with and can help you deal with stress. Schedule to be posted shortly.
If these days, times, or formats do not meet your needs, we encourage you to identify other counselors across all five campuses with varying day/time options. Our counselors are diverse in social, racial, ethnic, gender, age, and sexual identities to meet the diverse needs of our graduate population. Visit other Let's Talk OPTIONS.
This webpage was last updated on January 16, 2026
