Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week 2024

Each year, during National Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week, the Rackham Graduate School joins universities from across the country to host events designed to support and recognize graduate students. The week is aimed at highlighting the great contributions and high value that graduate and professional students bring to our community. This year’s events include networking, delicious food, games, swag, and the relaxing, joyful presence of therapy dogs. Join us for a week of connection and celebration!

Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week is April 8 to 12.

The week’s activities are sponsored by Rackham Graduate School.

Saturday, April 6

Roar-ific Discounts on Tigers Baseball Tickets

Event Date: Saturday, April 6, 2024
Event Time: 1:10 p.m.
Event Location: Comerica Park

The Detroit Tigers and Graduate Programs at all three of the University of Michigan campuses have partnered together to offer a discounted ticket for the opening weekend of baseball in Detroit as part of Graduate Student Appreciation week!

Get your discounted tickets

GO TIGERS! Go Blue!

Saturday, April 6 Schedule

1:10 p.m. – Game Start
11:30 a.m. – Gates Open
Giveaway Saturday – First 15,000 in the ballpark get a Detroit Tigers Hockey Jersey!

Sponsored by Professional Development and Engagement, Rackham Graduate School, In Partnership with University of Michigan – Flint and University of Michigan – Dearborn

Monday, April 8

Big Solar Breakfast

Event Date: Monday, April 8, 2024
Event Time: 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Event Location: Rackham Graduate School, Assembly Hall, 4th Floor
Register for This Event

This year, National Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week kicks off with a celestial delight: the solar eclipse!

Stop by Rackham in the morning to enjoy a delicious breakfast with your fellow scholars and pick up a pair of solar glasses. Designed for safe solar eclipse viewing, use your solar glasses to enjoy the solar eclipse in the afternoon:

Partial Eclipse Start Time: 1:57 p.m.
Maximum Coverage Time: 3:13 p.m.
Percent Coverage: 99 percent

We are so appreciative of the ways your brilliant minds, dedication, and hard work shape our campus community—it’s nothing short of a cosmic wonder.

Sponsored by Professional Development and Engagement, Rackham Graduate School.

Tuesday, April 9

Stress Less Dessert Bar

Event Date: Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Event Time: 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Event Location: Pierpont Commons, East Room
Register for This Event

Your hard work deserves moments of delicious relaxation. Unwind and connect at the Graduate Student Dessert Bar, offering an array of desserts and beverages.

Wolverine Wellness will be on site with sleep kits to support sweet dreams, made even cozier with complimentary Rackham blankets (while supplies last).

Make time for rest and to celebrate yourself during this special week—you deserve it!

Sponsored by Professional Development and Engagement, Rackham Graduate School, in partnership with Wolverine Wellness.

GRIN-IGW Caucus Dinner

Event Date: Wednesday, April 9, 2024
Event Time: 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Event Location: Rackham Graduate School, West Conference Room, 4th Floor
Register for This Event

Join us for our GRIN-IGW Caucus Dinner!

During the dinner, representatives of the International Graduate Workers (IGW) Caucus of the Graduate Employees Organization (GEO) will share information about the caucus’s work on behalf of international graduate students and workers throughout Michigan’s tri-campus community. They will also provide information on crucial IGW resources such as the SEVIS/MRV fee reimbursement form and the IGW Assistance Fund. You can find more information on these resources on GEO’s International Student Resources site.

Come join us, enjoy a free dinner sponsored by GRIN, and learn more about your rights as a IGW!

Sponsored by Sponsored by Graduate Rackham International (GRIN)

Rackham Student Government Trivia Night

Event Date: Wednesday, April 9, 2024
Event Time: 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Event Location: Rackham Graduate School, West Conference Room, 4th Floor
Register for This Event

Join us for an evening of prizes, dinner, fun, and trivia! Enter the RSG Trivia Night as a team or enter as an individual to be placed on a team. Please RSVP to guarantee a spot. For those who do not RSVP, spots will be given on a first come first serve basis.

Wednesday, April 10

Wellness Room

Event Date: Wednesday, April 10, 2024
Event Time: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Event Location: Rackham Graduate School, Assembly Hall, 4th Floor
Register for This Event

Join us for RSG’s Wellness event for Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week! Take some time to decompress, relax, and connect with each other in the name of wellness! We will have breakfast, games, activities, and information available about Michigan Wellness.

Wags and Water Bottles

Event Date: Wednesday, April 10, 2024
Event Time: 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Event Location: Rackham Graduate School, Assembly Hall, 4th Floor
Register for This Event

Join us for a chill day with therapy dogs. Pick up a new, sleek Rackham water bottle. Relax and enjoy the furry company!

Sponsored by Professional Development and Engagement, Rackham Graduate School, in partnership with Therapaws of Michigan.

Thursday, April 11

Donuts and Coffee

Event Date: Thursday, April 11, 2024
Event Time: 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Event Location: Rackham Front Steps
Register for This Event

Stop by the Rackham Building for a morning snack to put a little pep in your step! Join RSG for donuts from Washtenaw Dairy and some morning coffee to get your day started on the right note.

Appreciation Week Dinner

Event Date: Thursday April 11, 2024
Event Time: 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Event Location: Rackham Graduate School, Assembly Hall, 4th Floor
Register for This Event

Join us for an evening of delicious food, community connection, and Bingo. Prizes include GRIN hats, cozy pullovers, stylish shirts, and Amazon gift cards.