Get involved with Graduate Student Appreciation Week, April 6–10
Join faculty, staff and students in celebrating Graduate Student Appreciation Week, a national event that recognizes graduate students’ many contributions to the university’s community and academic excellence
Join faculty, staff and students in celebrating Graduate Student Appreciation Week (GSAW), a national event that recognizes graduate students’ many contributions to the university’s community and academic excellence. GSAW offers a variety of free events, workshops and services to Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder graduate students, and the Graduate School will be raffling off a prize from the bookstore during the .
Keep an eye on this page for more events, including unit-specific events, as they get finalized.
April 6Ìý
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ÌýÌý12–1 p.m.ÌýÌýÌýVirtualÌý
Learn how to identify the skills you have developed in graduate school that are valuable to employers. Discover potential jobs that align well with these skills and how to effectively articulate them to employers.Ìý
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ÌýÌý12–2 p.m.ÌýÌýÌýVisual Arts Complex, Breezeway
International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) is excited to show our appreciation for the amazing Graduate Students here at Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder by hosting a lemonade stand! Free lemonade and light snacks will be handed out while supplies last as a token of our appreciation. If you are an International Graduate Student, bring your BuffOne Card to the Lemonade Stand to enter a raffle to win two tickets to the Colorado Rapids Game (transportation included) on Saturday, April 11, 2026!
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ÌýÌý2–3 p.m.ÌýÌýÌýVirtual
Participate in a guided discovery process and collaborative environment with other graduate students in the humanities who are interested in exploring broader career options. Learn about resources for job searching and how to begin the process of developing effective application materials. Students in any field whose work involves humanistic inquiry are welcome to participate.ÌýÌýÌý
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ÌýÌý7 p.m.ÌýÌýÌýUniversity Memorial Center (UMC), The ConnectionÌý
Think you’ve got the brains to beat the best? Grab your friends (or fly solo) and head to The Connection for a free night of trivia, laughs and prizes!Ìý
April 7Ìý
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ÌýÌý8 a.m. – 12 p.m.ÌýÌýÌýCASE E313 & SEEC S225
Time to show up and write! Do you need a dedicated space to help you focus on your academic writing? Sign up to attend our weekly write-in sessions. The goal of these sessions is to devote a few hours to your writing each week to help build your writing habit, to promote accountability with your peers by working independently alongside your fellow graduate students, and by tracking your progress regularly.
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ÌýÌý8:30–10:30 a.m.ÌýÌýÌýUMC 235
Kick off your day at our Graduate Student Appreciation Breakfast. Join Dean Adler and the Graduate School staff for coffee and a selection of breakfast treats as we celebrate you during Graduate Student Appreciation Week.
Food and beverage available while supplies last. Buff One Cards are required at check-in.
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ÌýÌý10 – 11:15 a.m. & 11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.ÌýÌýÌýZoomÌý
The Grad+ Seminar Series, led by Leslie-Ellen Blood, consists of weekly check-ins to support goal setting and planning, and to provide an understanding of how values should drive goals and habit structures. Students will find that these seminars provide a solid foundation which should reduce stress and help them find their place in the graduate community.
There are two options:
- Fundamentals for Academic Success, Tuesdays, 11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
- Advanced Learning Lab, Tuesdays, 10–11:15 a.m.Ìý
ÌýÌý12–12:45 p.m.ÌýÌýÌýZoomÌý
Learn the neuroscience behind stress, fight-fight-freeze response and how mindfulness techniques help calm and reset. Key practices covered include stress mapping, journaling stress triggers and CALM breathing when activated.
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ÌýÌý12–1 p.m.ÌýÌýÌýVirtualÌý
Participate in a guided discovery process and collaborative environment with other graduate students in the social sciences who are interested in exploring broader career options. Learn about resources for job searching and how to begin the process of developing effective application materials.Ìý
ÌýÌý3–5 p.m.ÌýÌýÌýWardenburg Health CenterÌý
Join Medical Services for a special massage experience to support your wellness and relaxation for your mind and body! To redeem, come down to the waiting room on the first floor.
April 8Ìý
Free Coffee at Laughing GoatÌý
ÌýÌýAll DayÌýÌýÌýNorlin LibraryÌý
Mention you're a graduate student to redeem your free drip coffee of any size at the Laughing Goat in Norlin Library.Ìý
Walk-in acupressure/ear seedingÌý
ÌýÌý10–12 p.m.ÌýÌýÌýWardenburg Health Center
Join Medical Services to experience the power of acupuncture, a form of traditional Chinese medicine that dates back thousands of years and can be an integrative approach to your health and wellbeing today. To redeem, come down to the waiting room on the first floor.
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ÌýÌý2–3 p.m.ÌýÌýÌýZoomÌý
During this workshop, participants will:
- Dismantle common myths about "self-care"
- Learn about a framework for conceptualizing health and well-being practices
- Discuss challenges related to practicing self-care in graduate school
- Brainstorm realistic, affordable practices that can help student well-being
- Use guided questions to set a personally relevant well-being goalÌý
April 9Ìý
Free Drip CoffeeÌý
ÌýÌý8 a.m. to 2 p.m.ÌýÌýÌýSEEC Cafe (east campus)ÌýÌý
Present a voucher (which will be distributed to your graduate program assistant on April 6) to redeem your free 20 oz drip coffee at SEEC café on east campus.Ìý
ÌýÌý11 a.m. – 1 p.m.ÌýÌýÌýWardenburg Health CenterÌý
Join Medical Services for a special massage experience to support your wellness and relaxation for your mind and body! To redeem, come down to the waiting room on the first floor.
ÌýÌý1–2:30 p.m.ÌýÌýÌýÂ鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØArt Museum
Please join us for a special extended sound bath meditation in honor of Graduate Student Appreciation Week! Designed to relax your body and mind with healing music. The sound vibrations will help guide your consciousness toward a calm and peaceful state of mind.Ìý
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ÌýÌý7–8 p.m.ÌýÌýÌýFiske PlanetariumÌý
Show your BuffOne card at the Box Office and experience Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder’s immersive 360-degree theater to watch NASA’s Lucy Mission: Updates and Mainbelt Encounters.Ìý
April 10
ÌýÌý12–12:45 p.m.ÌýÌýÌýZoomÌý
Understand why noticing body sensations matters and how it helps release tension. Key practices covered include body scan, mindful movement and tense-release exercises.
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ÌýÌý4–5:30 p.m.ÌýÌýÌýCenter for Community, S350
Stop by for free coffee, tea, snacks and conversation! International Coffee Hour is open to all members of the Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØCommunity. Students, faculty, staff—everyone is welcome!
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ÌýÌý6:30 – 8:30 p.m.ÌýÌýÌýUniversity Memorial Center (UMC), The Connections
Join the Graduate School and the Graduate and Professional Student Government for a free night of bowling (including rental shoes), billiards, ping pong and video games. Don’t miss this chance to connect, unwind and have fun.
This event is free for graduate students.
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ÌýÌý8 p.m.ÌýÌýÌýBenson Earth Sciences, Benson Lawn
Join Program Council and the Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØCar Club to watch Tokyo Drift on the big screen, with free popcorn and concessions—for free!
Throughout the WeekÌý
Free Rec Center AccessÌý
ÌýÌýAll DayÌýÌýÌýRecreation CenterÌý
In celebration of Graduate Student Appreciation Week, the Rec Center is offering free access to all graduate students. Enjoy a free fitness class, free skate rentals during Rec Skate, and free bouldering (from 12 – 4 p.m.) at the climbing gymÌý
A Buff OneCard is required for entry. Ìý
Unit Specific Events
Please find your unit below to see if it's participating. Please note that these events are just for the graduate students in those units and not open to all graduate students.
College of Engineering & Applied Sciences
Free Coffee and Snacks for Engineering Graduate Students
ÌýÌýApril 8, 9–11 a.m.ÌýÌýÌýEngineering Center Main Lobby & Jennie Smothers Caruther Biotech Building (JSCBB) Gallery
Join the Graduate Students' Advisory Board as we celebrate the work and contributions of all graduate students with free coffee and snacks from Espresso Affair!
Department of Geological Sciences
Coffee Social Event
ÌýÌýApril 6, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.ÌýÌýÌýBenson Earth Sciences, Room 380
A special, dedicated Coffee Social Event to celebrate GEOL graduate students and their many fantastic and lasting contributions to our department and scientific community.
Free coffee, enhanced breakfast foods and department swag for Geological Sciences students.
* = Not affiliated with Graduate Student Appreciation Week
The Graduate School would like to thank our partners for this event: Career Services, Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBookStore, MSPTIC - Medical Services, Health Promotions, ISSS, Laughing Goat, Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØRec Center, GPSG, CALM Center, Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØCollar Scholars and Student Life