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Graduate Student Organizations

As a graduate student at Yale, you have many opportunities to get involved in the community, make and build relationships, learn leadership and professional skills, serve others, and have fun. Over 30 graduate student organizations are currently registered through the McDougal Graduate Student Center. 
 

Yale Connect - Find Events & Student Organizations

All registered graduate student organizations are listed online in Yale Connect, Yale’s campus community platform powered by Campus Groups. Yale Connect has an online version and free Mobile Apps for Apple and Android.

How to Register a Graduate Student Organization in Yale Connect

Officers of groups need to register or renew your graduate group’s registration every year in Yale Connect with the McDougal Center (or other Yale unit if appropriate). Once approved or renewed, GSAS-registered student organizations will then be eligible for the following general resources and services:

  • Request funding from McDougal GSL-GSAS and other Yale offices. 
  • Request use of Yale classrooms and facilities for group events. 
  • Use Yale Risk Management’s information, Yale liability insurance coverage and travel policies.
  • Get advice and support from McDougal GSL-GSAS staff. Email Jennifer.Mendelsohn@yale.edu if you have student organization questions or concerns.

Starting a New GSAS Graduate Student Organization 

In your initial application, you must provide evidence of prospective membership, such as a sign-up sheet or group email distribution list, GSAS nationality statistics (from OISS), or a list of field-related departments/schools.  Groups registered with GSAS must be 100% GSAS students and Postdocs. 
 
We encourage members of very small new organizations to join with similar groups in an association or to broaden their criteria for membership to encourage wider participation.
  • Provisional registration: Organizations whose membership is very small (i.e., fewer than 15 GSAS students) may register provisionally for one year as they seek to increase membership. 
  • Small groups: Organizations that have a defined but relatively small size, such as a 16-member chorus or a ten-person bible study fellowship, may register if their membership is varied and sustainable over time.

Requesting Funding from GSAS-McDougal GSL Student Organization Fund

Only GSAS graduate student organizations formally registered in Yale Connect may request funds from the McDougal Graduate Student Life Student Organization Fund. This Fund is the main GSAS funding source for GSAS student groups, so any group or event requests to GSAS Deans and other GSAS offices will be redirected to the McDougal GSL Student Organization Fund.

If your organization is registered and approved by McDougal GSL-GSAS and you want to request funding, group officers can access the guidelines and forms found in:

Graduate Student Organization Leaders’ Toolkit & Resources – GSAS-McDougal GSL

Funding Sources for GSAS Student Groups

McDougal GSL Student Org Fund in GSAS is one source of funding for graduate student groups, but there are many other sources of funding for your organization, including: