Student Support Resources

• Visit the American Psychological Association (APA) website to learn about membership. Student members receive access to publications, opportunities for professional & career development, and book discounts.
  • Divisions of the APA: Organized by members, these interest groups focus on topical areas within the field of psychology.
• Visit the Association for Psychological Science (APS) website to learn about membership. Students members receive access to opportunities for professional & career development, mentorship programs, and research funding.
• Specialized societies: learn more from your advisor(s) about societies relevant to your interests. There are also societies and conferences specific to psychologists from underrepresented groups. 

• Campus Buses: All campus buses are free, accessible, and equipped with bike racks.
• MetroTransit: The University of Minnesota is served by more than two dozen bus routes and the METRO Green Line.
• Universal Transit Pass: UMN students who pay the Transportation and Safety Fee have unlimited access to the regional transit system in the Twin Cities metro area (rides on the NorthStar require a small supplemental fare for each ride).
• Walking Guide: The UMN Walking Guide provides information on routes, tunnels, and safety tips. 

Career exploration is most effective when it is a multi-year process. Students are encouraged to begin exploring careers in their third year or sooner. 

All career paths

• Academic & Career Development Workshops from the Graduate School: See the “Professional Development Programming & Resources” section below.
• Beyond the Professoriate: An e-learning platform run by PhDs who want to empower graduate students and postdocs to launch meaningful careers.
• CLA Graduate Student Career Services: Work with a consultant specializing in supporting your job search.
• ImaginePhD: An online career exploration and planning tool for PhD students in the humanities and social sciences.
• Individual Development Plan (IDP): A well-crafted IDP serves both as a planning and a communications tool, so you can identify research and career goals, and communicate them to mentors, advisors, and future employers.
• UMN Career Services - Resources for Graduate Students

Academic

• E-Courses from the Graduate School
  • Teaching Philosophy Statements
  • CV Development
• National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (NCFDD): UMN’s chapter of a nationally recognized center dedicated to helping faculty, post-docs, and graduate students make successful transitions throughout their academic careers
• Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) Program: Assists graduate students in developing teaching skills and exploring the faculty role at the college or university level.

Industry, non-profit, & other sectors

• Guide to hiring practices in different job sectors from CLA
• Self-Paced Non-Academic Career Workshop on Canvas

• Being a Paid Research Assistant section of Doing Research - A Supplemental Guide for Psychology Graduate Students.
• Graduate Assistant Employment resources: informational pages maintained by HR on Graduate Assistant employment.
• Graduate Assistant Health Plan: Student health benefits for graduate students.
• Paid & Unpaid Leaves of Absence for Graduate Assistants: Review this appendix to the Graduate Assistant Employment policy for information on Leave of Absence.
• Tax preparation services: UMN Extension maintains information on free tax preparation sites & resources.
• U Return: For graduate students seeking disability-related accommodations as UMN employees.

• Lactation: University of MN policy supports your right to chest/breastfeed.
  • 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.
  • Lactation Advocacy Committee (LAC): a volunteer coalition of University employees and students dedicated to supporting lactating parents at the University of Minnesota.
    • Hope Savaria ([email protected]), GPSES in the Dept. of Psychology, is one of the current co-chairs of the LAC. Feel free to direct inquiries directly to them, or email [email protected].  
• Leave of Absence: Consult the Paid and Unpaid Leaves of Absence for Graduate Students policy linked in the “Employment” section above for information on LOA as a graduate assistant. Consult the Graduate Student Handbook for information on LOA as a student (see the Quick Links box on this page for a link to the handbook).
• Student Parent Help Center: Apply for child care grants, locate child care options, work with a counselor specializing in supporting graduate students, and explore community spaces.

• Farmers Markets of Minneapolis: Find local farmers markets. Many markets/vendors accept SNAP-EBT.
• Food Insecurity Resources for UMN-Twin Cities Students: Locate campus and Twin Cities food resources.
• M Food Co. Twin Cities: Explore campus meal plans and dining options.
• 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.
• Learn about SNAP-EBT eligibility for UMN students: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the largest federal program that helps eligible people with financial need get more money for food.

• Alcohol & Substance Use Services: See the “Mental Health” section below.
• Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing: Events, mindfulness programs, and other services and events to support all members of the UMN community.
• Boynton Health: Provides primary and specialty healthcare for students, faculty, and staff. Services include: primary care, dental, eye clinic, gender care, OB-GYN, pharmacy, physical therapy, STI testing, quick clinic, urgent care, x-ray, and more.
  • International students: see the link to Boynton’s international student page in the “International Students” section.
• Dental Clinics: UMN dental clinics provide general and specialty dental care in association with the School of Dentistry's educational programs.
• Graduate Assistant Health Plan: Student health benefits for graduate students.
• Mental Health Resources: see the “Mental Health” section below.
• Mindful Mondays Online: Join for an informal hour of meditation and light movement.
• 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.

• 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.
  • Note: If you are interested in listing your home for rental, this option is available.
• On-Campus Housing for Graduate Students: Options include:
  • Commonwealth Terrace Cooperative
  • Como Student Community Cooperative
  • West Bank Townhouses

Make Connections & Build Community

• Asian Pacific American Resource Center: A community committed to affirming the experiences of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) students and their diverse communities.
• Association of Multicultural Scientists (AMS): Student group providing a space for socialization/networking, professional development opportunities, and outreach events.
• BIPOC Mental Health Collective: Open to all UMN students, staff, and faculty.
• Circle of Indigenous Nations (COIN): A student support office that advances and advocates for the needs of American Indian/Native American, Alaska Native, and First Nations students.
• 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.
• 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.
• Groups & Workshops through Student Counseling Services
  • Educational workshops: Develop skills and strategies for managing specific situations such as academic stress & anxiety.
  • Affinity groups (including BIPOC, international student, and graduate/professional students groups): Connect and create community around shared identity and experiences.
  • Counseling groups (including dissertation/thesis support, chronic pain, and grief groups): access support and develop strategies.
• IDEA in Psychology Teaching Group: Programming is announced via email to members of the department.
• Tri-Psych Queer Affinity Group: Contact Jessica Arend ([email protected]) for details. Meetings are posted on the department calendar.

Services

• All-Gender Restroom Map: See the “Safety” section below.
• Equal Opportunity and Title IX (EOT): See the “Reporting, Conflict Resolution, & Navigating Challenging Situations” section below.
• 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 assists graduate assistants with disability accommodations as an employee. See the “Employment” section.
• Gender and Sexuality Center for Queer and Trans Life (GSC): 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.
  • Circle of Indigenous Nations (COIN): See information in the “Make Connections & Build Community” subsection above.
  • Student Spaces
• 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.

Professional Development

• Office for Digital Accessibility (ODA): Digital accessibility resources and training.
• Diversity in Psychology Support (DIPS) Program: See the “Mentorship” section below.
• First-Gen Connect: See the “Mentorship” section below.
• IDEA in Psychology Teaching Group: See the “Teaching & Pedagogy” section below.
• Office for Equity and Diversity (OED): OED’s mission is to increase access to higher education by advocating for members of our community and emphasizing the importance of diversity in promoting learning and development. See especially:
  • Equity Certificate Hosted Online (ECHO)
  • Graduate Scholarly Excellence in Equity and Diversity (SEED) Award
  • Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) Endowed Scholarship
• Psychology Teaching from the Lens of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA): See the “Teaching & Pedagogy” section below. 

• Boynton Health for International Students: Boynton provides affordable healthcare options for International Students.
• Council of International Graduate Students (CIGS): A place for international graduate students to advocate about academia and professional development results and requests.
• Dream Fund: Grants for DACA, undocumented, Temporary Protected Status, and students facing gaps in immigration status.
• International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS): Primary office serving the UMN international community.
• Minnesota English Language Program (MELP): UMN program that offers English as a Second Language (ESL) courses and resources that serve a variety of learners.
• Student Legal Services (SLS): See the “Legal Advice and Representation” section below. SLS provides a range of legal services to current students, including legal advice and representation for immigration issues or concerns.
• Non-Resident Volunteer Tax Assistance Program (NRVTAP): Get assistance with filing federal and state taxes through this external resource. 

• Student Advocate Services: Advocates provide assistance to students who have been accused of or charged with violating the Student Conduct Code, University Housing policy, or other academic or conduct policies.
• Student Legal Services (SLS): Offers advice and legal representation to students at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities campus. Some of the practice areas where advice and representation are offered include: tenant rights, criminal cases, immigration, consumer, employment, wills, health care directives, power of attorney, name change, and gender change.

Call 911 immediately if the situation is life-threatening or you need immediate response.

Additional Crisis Response Resources

• Call 988 if you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis to reach the local county crisis team.
• Cope: Mobile Crisis Response: Hennepin County’s 24/7 mobile crisis response team.
  • In Hennepin County: (612) 596-1223
  • Outside the county: 27-47-47
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: call or text 988 or 1-800-273-8255

Alcohol & Substance Use Services

• Recovery on Campus (ROC): A community of students in recovery from drug and alcohol use joined by friends who are allies in that journey
• Substance Use Intervention Program: Appointments with Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors (LADC) through Boynton Health. 

Mental Health Services and Resources

• Safe Campus - Personal Wellbeing website: learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus, including:
  • MentalHealth@UMN: Answer a few anonymous questions to connect to the most relevant services available.
  • Boynton Mental Health: Counseling services, drop-in crisis support, psychiatric care, and other services.
    • Call (612) 624-1444 to schedule an appointment.
  • Student Counseling Services (SCS): Individual counseling, groups & workshops, crisis services, referrals, and more.
• Off-campus resources
  • MN LGBTQ+ Therapists Network
  • 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. 

• Psychology’s Mental Health Advocates are:
  • Michael Houlahan ([email protected]), Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies
  • Laura Luepke ([email protected]), Associate Director of Graduate Studies
  • Liza Meredith ([email protected]), Assistant Teaching Professor
  • Darian Schwietz ([email protected]), Area Support Specialist (CSPR & PIB)
  • Christina Wiencke ([email protected]), Associate Director of Curriculum and Instruction
  • Heidi Wolff ([email protected]), Curriculum & Graduate Services Specialist
  • Amanda Woodward ([email protected]), Assistant Teaching Professor

• 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. 

• Council of Graduate Students (COGS): The Recognized Student Governance Association (RSGA) at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities campus that represents, advocates for, informs, facilitates communications among, and supports Twin Cities graduate students.
  • COGS Resource Guide: COGS maintains this list of resources. While many of these resources are also included in the department’s list, there is always the possibility that COGS will discover and add new resources before the department is aware of them.
  • COGS HelpLine: Contact COGS if you are facing an issue with your advisor, within your department, college, or any aspect of your life at UMN. See the “Reporting, Conflict Resolution, & Navigating Challenging Situations” section below for the link to their form.
• Effective U Tutorials: Skills for academic and personal wellbeing, many of which are applicable to graduate students.
• GEAR1 (Graduate EducAtion Resources for Your 1st Year): A Canvas-based guide to support the transition to graduate education at the University of Minnesota, provided by the Graduate School.
• GEAR+ (Graduate Education Resources Beyond Your First Year): A framework of online resources that connect areas of your academic and professional development, including: Components of Successful Development; Your Dissertation/Thesis, and Exploring Career Paths.
• GradHacker: A blog from Inside Higher Ed featuring diverse perspectives on navigating higher ed, advice to help graduate students succeed and feel supported, and more.
• National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (NCFDD): See the “Academic” subsection under “Career Exploration” above.
• Pd.education: An online portal affiliated with the University of Minnesota that provides graduate students with support in specialized skills like academic writing, research methodologies, and wellness and motivation.

• Academic & Career Development Workshops from the Graduate School.
  • Subscribe to their Google Calendar
• Grad Studies Office Programming, including student development panels and presentations, town halls, & cohort-specific gatherings.
  • Contact Hope Savaria ([email protected]) with questions about programming.
  • Events are posted on the Department calendar with invitations sent to Psychology’s grad student Listserv.
• Ask an Expert video series: A series of short videos that address important topics around academic and professional development for graduate students.

• Journal publication information & requirements can be found under “information for authors” on journal websites. It is not permissible to submit the same manuscript to more than one journal at the same time.
• Learn about Open Access at the University of MN: Open-access platforms make research output available at no cost to readers. Content typically has reduced or removed barriers to copying and reuse of the content.
• To present a paper or a poster at a conference, you or your faculty sponsor may need to be a member of the society giving the conference. Each society puts out a call for submissions prior to their conference.

• Accessible U: See the “Professional Development” subsection under “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Accessibility (IDEA)” above.
• Center for Educational Innovation (CEI): Access consultations and participate in training programs that support effective teaching and engaged learning. Opportunities include, but are not limited to:
  • International Teaching Assistant (ITA) Training Program
  • Pedagogical Innovations Journal Club
  • Teaching with Access and Inclusion
  • Teaching Assistant and Postdoc Professional Development Program
  • Teaching for Student Well-Being Program
• IDEA in Psychology Teaching Group: Programming is announced via email to members of the department.
• Psychology Teaching from the Lens of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA): Resource list compiled by department faculty, staff, and graduate students.
• Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC): Learn about services, training, and resources provided through the Writing-Enriched Curriculum (WEC) program and the Teaching With Writing program.
  • Writing in Psychology: WEC opportunities geared towards the field of psychology. 

• Intranet Resources for Travel
  • Travel Policies and Reimbursement Procedures
  • Graduate Student Research & Travel Award
• Register with the GPS Alliance if you are an international student, or a domestic student traveling internationally. You must also carry travel insurance.

• The Graduate Student Handbook provides an overview of grievance processes for students.
• 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 (EOT): Responds to concerns of discrimination, sexual misconduct, nepotism, and related retaliation. EOT also maintains many campus policies, including those that concern discrimination.
• 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: SCRC resources and guidance specific to graduate advising relationships.

• Citation managers: Tools and guides from the UMN Libraries to use to help you effectively organize texts you have read and quickly build citations and bibliographies.
• CLA LATIS
  • LATIS Research Workshops: Trainings on statistics and research tools.
  • Statistics Consultations: Contact [email protected] to request an appointment.
• Open Access: See “Publishing & Presenting Research” section above.
• Publishing journal articles: See “Publishing & Presenting Research” section above.
• Presenting your research: See “Publishing & Presenting Research” section above.
• Research: Security and Compliance Handbook maintained by the Department of Psychology.
• UMN Libraries Services
  • Psychology Subject Guide: Tailored guidance to help you identify discipline-specific resources and databases.
  • Research services: Guidance and consultation on publishing, copyright, data analysis, grant seeking, etc.
  • Subject Specialist Librarian for Psychology, Amy Riegelman: Provides personalized assistance with research and finding resources.

• 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
  • Appointment scheduling: (612) 626-2929 or [email protected]
  • Office location: Appleby Hall, Suite 117
• Dinkytown Alerts: Offered in addition to automatic SAFE-U Notifications.
• Gopher Chauffeur: Student-staffed safe ride-home program.
• Mental Health Crisis Response: See the “Mental Health” section above.
• National Sexual Assault Hotline
  • Call 800-656-HOPE (4673) or chat at hotline.rainn.org
• 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.
• Visit the Safe Campus Website for additional resources, including:
  • Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment
  • Sexual Misconduct Prevention
  • Transportation Safety
  • Workplace and Lab Safety

• Academic Skills Coaching: Individualized sessions are available to graduate students; provided by Student Academic Success Services (SASS).
• Dissertation Calculator: A tool to help you budget your time and plan.
• Time Management Tutorial from Effective U: Explore strategies for prioritizing goals and managing your busy schedule. 

• Community of Scholars Program Writing Initiative: Cultivates spaces where BIPOC graduate writers are supported in their writing practice and grounded in community. Programming includes writing workshops, groups, and retreats.
• Dissertation and thesis support groups from Student Counseling Services: sign up for counselor-facilitated group sessions with other graduate students.
• Student Writing Support from the Center for Writing: Access writing resources and tools, and sign up for writing consultations.
• The Thesis Whisperer: Writing and productivity advice from Professor Inger Mewburn, director of researcher development at The Australian National University.