Student Support Resources

Make Connections & Build Community

• Affinity groups through Student Counseling Services: Groups for BIPOC and first-gen students.
• BIPOC Mental Health Collective: Open to all UMN students, staff, and faculty.
• Community of Scholars Program (COSP): Join a welcoming and inclusive community for domestic graduate students of color and Native American graduate students in research-based programs.
• Department of Psychology Queer Affinity Group: Contact Jessica Arend (arend103@umn.edu) for details, meetings are posted on the department calendar.
• Grad InterCom: An initiative that recognizes and caters to the unique needs of International graduate students. Offers year-round programming to support and build community among international graduate students.
• IDEA in Psychology Teaching Group: Programming is announced via email to members of the department.

Services

• All-Gender Restroom Map: The majority of these restrooms are single-stall & wheelchair-accessible, removing barriers that previously existed because of gender, disability, or safety concerns. 
• Disability Resource Center (DRC): The DRC works with students, faculty/instructors, staff, and guests with documented disabilities to facilitate access on an individualized, case-by-case basis.
  • U Return: For graduate students seeking disability-related accommodations as UMN employees. 
• Gender and Sexuality Center for Queer and Trans Life: Education, advocacy, outreach, and support to students, staff, faculty, alums, and community members.
• Multicultural Center for Academic Excellence (MCAE): A community-based space focused on the academic experiences of first-generation students, students of Color, and American Indian students. 
• Women’s Center: Advances gender equity across identities, educates and inspires feminist leaders, advances an empowering intellectual environment, and advocates for an equitable University culture and community.

We hope that your graduate student experience is positive, but recognize that sometimes difficulties, miscommunications, and other problems arise. Support is available to help you address a wide range of issues.

An overview of grievance processes for students is provided in the Graduate Student Handbook. Students may also wish to explore the following resources:

• Bias Response and Referral Network (BRRN): Responds to reports of bias incidents on the Twin Cities campus and provides support resources to impacted parties, promotes education and dialogue.
• Council of Graduate Students (COGS) Graduate Student Helpline: Submit this form to share concerns with COGS so they can provide support and advocacy.
• Equal Opportunity and Title IX: Responds to concerns of discrimination, sexual misconduct, nepotism, and related retaliation. 
• Office for Conflict Resolution: Formal and informal conflict resolution services to graduate students who are experiencing employment-related conflicts. 
• Reporting Suspected Misconduct: Phone or online reporting options. Reports can be made anonymously. 
• Student Conflict Resolution Center (SCRC): Confidential consultations, facilitated conversations, and other support for students seeking informal options for resolving conflicts. 
  • The Dignity Project: Responsible Conduct in Graduate and Professional Education: SCRS resources and guidance specific to graduate advising relationships.

• Lactation Spaces: A full list and map of publicly-available lactation spaces on the Twin Cities campus. Elliott Hall's wellness/lactation space is S440. 
  • For more information, go to building page under Wellness/Lactation Room. 
• Student Parent Help Center: Apply for childcare grants, work with a counselor specializing in supporting graduate students, and community spaces.

• Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing: Events, mindfulness programs, and other services and events to support all members of the UMN community.
• Nutritious U Food Pantry and other food and nutrition resources: A range of options are available for students experiencing food insecurity. No proof of need is required for most of these services.
• RecWell: Offering recreational and fitness, massage therapy, meditation, and other services to all UMN students who pay the student services fee. Students who no longer pay the student services fee (GRAD 999 or PSY 8444) can opt to pay for services. 

UMN resources to support you in identifying on- and off-campus housing, and matching you with a roommate.

• Graduate & Professional Student Roommate Finder: Complete the form to get connected to other UMN students seeking a roommate. Preference can be limited to other graduate students, if desired. 
• Off-Campus Housing: Search for apartment listings that exclude property managers/owners with three or more unresolved or substantiated issues with Student Legal Services from participating.
• On-Campus Housing for Graduate Students: Options include
  • Commonwealth Terrace Cooperative
  • Como Student Community Cooperative 
  • West Bank Townhouses

Your health is very important. Please consider utilizing these support resources as appropriate, or contact a member of the University community that you trust if you are experiencing difficulties. 

Mental Health Services and Resources

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please call 911 immediately. Additional crisis support is available 24 hours per day:

• University crisis line: call 612-301-4673 or text "UMN" to 61222
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: call or text 988 or 1-800-273-8255

You can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus via the Student Mental Health Website. Core campus mental health resources include, but are not limited to:

• Boynton Health Services Mental Health Clinic
• Student Counseling Services (SCS)
• You@UMN

Additional resources are available off-campus. SCS and Boynton both offer consultative services to help students navigate to mental health services that meet individuals’ specific needs. Recommended resources include:

• MN Mental Health Providers of Color Database
• Walk-In Counseling Center: Free and anonymous counseling with no appointment necessary. Remote and in-person services are available.

Mental Health Advocates (MHAs)

MHAs are trained staff and faculty volunteers who serve as resources to students and colleagues about the mental health resources available on campus. MHAs take active steps each month to make positive changes impacting student mental health within their sphere of influence. 

If you are uncertain what resources would best fit your needs or you wish to talk to someone about your options, please contact one of Psychology’s Mental Health Advocates:

• Laura Luepke (luep0007@umn.edu), Associate Director of Graduate Studies
• Michael Houlahan (mhoulaha@umn.edu), Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies
• Liza Meredith (mere0032@umn.edu), Assistant Teaching Professor
• Christina Wiencke (choldvog@umn.edu), Associate Director of Curriculum and Instruction

You can review a full list of MHAs and may consult with any MHA on the list.

Graduate students are encouraged to pursue mentorship during their time in the Psychology PhD program. Mentorship may be informal and/or pursued through formal programs:

• APA Mentorship Resources and Services: APA members can connect with experienced senior psychologists in a range of mentoring opportunities for graduate students and early career psychologists. Some literature and resources are available without a membership.  
• Community of Scholars Program (COSP): Year-round programming for domestic graduate students of color and Native American graduate students to build community networks, obtain personal guidance, and pursue informal mentoring opportunities . 
• Diversity in Psychology Support (DIPS) Program: A student-led initiative that pairs first-year students from historically underrepresented backgrounds in psychology with experienced students within their program who are also from underrepresented backgrounds.  
• First-Gen Connect: A network for first-gen college students in graduate programs at the U of M that provides resources and opportunities for participants.
• Next-Gen Psych Scholars Program (NPSP): A virtual graduate student-led mentorship program for underrepresented (e.g., BIPOC, low-income, first-gen, LGBTQIA+) undergraduates and post-baccalaureates interested in applying to psychology PhD programs. 

Centralized information about safety services on campus are provided on the Safe Campus website. Resources address, but are not limited to: 

• Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention
• Sexual Misconduct Prevention
• Transportation Safety
• Workplace and Lab Safety

Resources of particular relevance to graduate students include:

• All-Gender Restroom Map: The majority of these restrooms are single-stall & wheelchair-accessible, removing barriers that previously existed because of gender, disability, or safety concerns. 
• Aurora Center: Serves all victims/survivors/concerned people of sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, and sexual harassment at the University of Minnesota and Augsburg University.
  • 24-hour helpline: (612) 626-9111
• SafeWalk Service: A free service for when you will be on campus late. Call 624-WALK (624-9255) and the dispatcher will send a uniformed escort to walk you to your destination. 

Travel-related information is provided in the following sections of the Psychology Department Intranet: 

• Travel Policies and Reimbursement Procedures
• Graduate Student Research & Travel Award

Additionally, international students and domestic students traveling internationally must also carry travel insurance and register with the GPS Alliance.