New Social Space for the Graduate and Postdoc Community on Campus

Graduate students and postdoctoral scholars will finally be able to gather in a social space they can call their own on the first floor of 4 Currier Place, adjacent to the DEN offices. The space is key-card accessible to grad students and postdocs and may be reserved for events and meetings from 5pm onward. Reservations cannot be made before 5pm and all the rooms can be used on an ad-hoc basis.

Working with several partners across campus, including Jason Rouillard from the Office of Planning, Design and Construction, to secure the facilities, Dean Jon Kull and Assistant Dean Kerry Landers were instrumental in moving the project through planning to implementation side by side with student leaders in the Graduate Student Council. “It’s a wonderful feeling to know that the administration in the GRAD office so clearly values its graduate students,” says GSC President Christopher Carroll, “and at a time when space on campus is limited, to finally have a place to call our own.”

Sponsored by the School of Graduate and Advanced Studies, the new lounge now provides a common gathering space that will bring graduate students and postdoctoral researchers from across campus together in one dedicated area for their exclusive use. Reservations will be made through the EMS system for non-GSC groups, and through the GSC website for GSC-affiliated groups. In addition to one large space with a capacity for up to 200, or 80 seated, are two smaller, study-room style spaces that can accommodate up to 8 individuals.

“I am delighted to have such a great space available for our graduate student and postdoctoral community,” says Dean Kull.

Additionally, the postdoctoral scholar community will have access to the facilities. Assistant Dean of Postdoctoral Affairs, Victoria Blodgett, welcomes the new space, saying “This is a huge deal for the grad and postdoc community and I’m gratified to see Dartmouth make this kind of commitment in support of their scholar community. I’ve worked at several campuses that have well-established centers for the grad and postdoctoral scholars, and in every case, having that dedicated space has proven to be a game changer!”

“A campus space designed for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars helps create vibrancy in the intellectual and social realms. It provides a physical space that proves to be a welcome change from their daily routine, which offers opportunity for scholars from across the academic fields and programs to meet informally, or organize social and professional development activities. Community centers help to counteract the structural isolation and helps remind us of the real joy of connecting to our larger peer group,” Blodgett adds.

Reservation policies can be found on the website of the School of Graduate and Advanced Studies here, and the full policy can be found here. To access the reservation system through EMS, visit this site. For GSC-affiliated groups wishing to reserve the space, please visit the GSC website.

There will be an inaugural event to open the space in the coming days, like us on Facebook to get the lastest news!