Whether you are returning to Queen’s, or this is your very first year, there are ample opportunities to make new friends in an unfamiliar program. As a Queen’s graduate student, you get the luxury of having access to numerous grad student-only spaces. This allows for the perfect opportunity to meet other graduate students, who may belong to a different faculty or program.
The Grad Club is a hidden gem, located directly on Queen’s campus! Besides the delicious food and drinks that can be purchased, the Grad Club is also known for its ongoing events. For example, there are weekly trivia nights every single Thursday. This event is sponsored by the Society of Graduate and Professional Students. They ask a range of questions in several categories such as history, politics, pop culture, and more! As well, there is a designated study space for graduate students with a valid student card, or you can purchase a year-long social membership card. The Grad Club is a welcoming space for all Queen’s graduate students. Their weekly events, such as trivia night, encourage students to meet new people and find their own community within the student body.
Another space, that is less well-known by Queen’s students, is the Helen Howard Graduate Students Reading Room in Stauffer library. First, it is important to get acquainted with your graduate coordinator, who will provide you with the code to the reading room. Since this space is only for graduate students, other faculty members should not have access to this code! Within the reading room, there are tables and comfortable chairs for doing work individually, or in small groups. Not to mention, there are small (and large) study rooms that can be reserved online. Here, students can collaborate on assignments, or meet with their fellow teaching assistants, to get their work done. However, the room can also be used to relax, and it offers an additional opportunity to engage with other graduate students.
Finally, one of the best ways to meet new people within the graduate program is to attend events that are thrown by the Society of Graduate and Professional Students. The SGPS is a student organization that advocates for grad student needs, within the university. Students are typically elected to join the team, however, there are also active postings for commissioners, researchers, governance positions, and student advisors within the SGPS. Throughout the school year, there are Town Hall meetings where graduate students are invited to voice concerns, and to have open discussions with other students regarding various topics such as finances, mental/physical health, coursework, graduate assistantships, and more. Additionally, each department has their own graduate student association. Within these associations, students can sign up for different committees that are geared towards the needs of the department. As well, events are typically thrown for students, and professors, to network and get to know one another in social settings such as coffee hours, bowling, crafting, etc.
Overall, there are many ways for Queen’s graduate students to meet new people and get involved in the community.