Wellbeing and Support

Support Offices

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Many offices on campus provide support to students. Below is a list of commonly accessed offices. A full list can be found at resources.mit.edu

Alcohol and Other Drug Services

617-258-6499

Alcohol and Other Drug Services (AODS) works collaboratively with students, staff, and faculty across the Institute on issues around alcohol and other drug prevention, education, and intervention. AODS offers a wide range of programs and services aimed at reducing the negative consequences associated with problematic drinking and substance abuse. AODS offers a number of intervention services including substance use assessment, individual sessions, and intervention meetings.

CARE Team

617-324-CARE (4-2273)

The CARE Team helps students through challenging times including psychiatric and serious physical hospitalizations. The CARE Team supports students during hospitalizations, discharge, and with follow-up care. The CARE Team empowers students to be in control of their own personal information, treatment plans, and future. With student consent, the CARE Team will also work with families of students to support them in supporting their loved ones. The CARE Team performs wellbeing checks to make sure a student is engaged and not feeling overwhelmed. Anyone can contact the CARE Team with concern about a student.

Disability and Access Services

(formerly Student Disability Services)
617-253-1674

MIT is committed to the principle of equal opportunity for students with disabilities. The objective is to ensure that qualified students with disabilities receive equal access to all of the Institute’s programs, activities, and services. SDS can help answer your questions about a student’s needs, accommodations, or concerns. If you need assistance in making your course accessible to a student with a disability, contact Student Disability Services.

LBGTQ @ MIT

617-253-5440

LBGTQ @ MIT offers a broad spectrum of services, programs, and resources for lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender, queer, questioning (LBGTQ+), and supportive individuals. Specifically, LBGTQ @ MIT works to:

• Promote programs and events at MIT that incorporate issues of racism and issues of bi/trans/homophobia on campus
• Support students, faculty, and staff with multiple marginalized identities
• Help cultivate student leaders of color within the LBGTQ and ally community at MIT
• Build bridges and coalitions with other identity-based student groups at MIT

MIT Medical

617-253-4481

If a student isn’t feeling well and needs care right away, call MIT Medical’s 24-hour help line at 617-253-4481 and speak with a triage nurse. For same-day appointments, students should call their primary care provider (PCP) or 617-253-4481 and describe their symptoms to a triage nurse. MIT Medical does not provide notes or excuses for classes, academic work, or exams impacted by medical issues. A student who needs such documentation should contact Student Support Services (S3) at 617-253-4861.

MIT Police

617-253-1212 or 100 from any MIT phone

The MIT Police is a service-based department that offers the MIT community patrol operations, investigations, and crime prevention services. The MIT Police Department, like any police department, requires the assistance of proactive community members to provide the highest level of service. The MIT Police should be contacted immediately when a community member believes a crime has occurred, is occurring, or is about to occur. The best course of action when encountering a situation that feels unsafe or may be associated with criminal activity is to call the MIT Police.

Office of Graduate Education

617-253-4860

The Office of Graduate Education (OGE) assists faculty in interpreting graduate education policy, thinking through difficult graduate student situations, and identifying resources to support graduate students on campus. Graduate Personal Support (GPS), an entity of OGE, works specifically to provide holistic support to graduate students, especially those in distress.

Office of Minority Education

617-253-5010

The Office of Minority Education (OME) promotes academic excellence, builds strong communities, and develops professional mindsets among students of underrepresented minority groups, with the ultimate goal of developing leaders in the academy, industry, and society. OME achieves this goal through numerous programs and services such as Interphase Edge, Laureates and Leaders, Mentors Advocate Partnership (MAP), and Seminar XL/LE.

Office of Multicultural Programs

617-253-6189

OMP seeks to foster an inclusive and affirming campus climate where students can develop connections and broaden their scope. OMP helps students be successful while providing advocacy, support services, trainings, workshops, leadership development, and culturally based programs. OMP provides students opportunities to engage in meaningful dialogue and activities that will assist them in becoming change agents at MIT and beyond.

Office of Religious, Spiritual, and Ethical Life

617-253-7707

The Chaplains at MIT, representing many of the world’s religions, serve both their own religious communities as well as the MIT community at large. Chaplains are available for counseling, private talks, and program development. Many of the religious groups represented by the chaplains meet weekly for worship, prayer, or study. The Chaplain to the Institute and the Board of Chaplains at MIT all provide spiritual and personal support to students, faculty, staff, and the MIT community. Whether exploring spiritual questions, experiencing a challenging personal time, or wanting to engage in conversations about politics, ethics, or service, the Chaplains are available to help.

Office of the First Year

617-253-6772

The Office of the First Year serves as the first-year headquarters as well as a resource during students’ undergraduate years. Staff members connect students to their academic advisor, associate advisor, and general academic information. In addition, staff can assist students in developing skills and learning strategies and can provide individual advising on academic issues and undergraduate research involvement.

Ombuds Office

617-253-5921

The MIT Ombuds Office works with all members of the MIT community to address concerns, manage conflicts, resolve disputes and develop productive communication skills. The Ombuds Office provides confidential consultation to help people analyze the root cause of concerns, identify goals, and plan specific steps for constructive resolution. Based on aggregate data and trends, the Ombuds Office also provides systemic feedback for the support of the Insitute. All communication with the Ombuds Office is considered confidential. The Ombuds Office does not accept formal complaints or notice of any claims to MIT. If a visitor chooses to pursue a concern through a formal channel, the Ombudsperson can provide information on how to do so.

Student Mental Health & Counseling Services

617-253-2916 (daytime), 617-253-4481 (nights and weekends)

Student Mental Health & Counseling Services is a dedicated team of clinicians who are available throughout each weekday to consult with anyone who is concerned about a student. Student Mental Health & Counseling Services can provide evaluations and consultations, brief treatments including counseling/psychotherapy and medication, and referrals to non-MIT medical clinicians. Student Mental Health & Counseling Services can help if a student is:

• finding it hard to work because they’re anxious or sad
• having trouble sleeping or concentrating, or sleeping too much
• distressed about a relationship
• concerned about feelings or behaviors having to do with alcohol, drugs, food, sex, or other issues
• feeling lonely, isolated, angry, or irritable
• coping with a traumatic event

Student Support Services (S3)

617-253-4861

The deans in S3 are here to support students who are struggling with personal and/or medical issues that might be impacting them academically. They are also available for consultations with faculty to assist with determining the most helpful and appropriate course of action in each case while being mindful of logistical and resource constraints, and equity across the class. The S3 deans encourage faculty to contact the office if they have any concerns, and refer any students who seem to be experiencing difficulties.

Title IX & Bias Response Office

617-715-4080

The Title IX and Bias Response Office strives to promote an environment where all members of our community can thrive, free from harassment, bias, and discrimination. MIT Faculty are considered “responsible employees,” meaning they must notify T9BR if they learn that a student may have experienced sexual misconduct (a form of gender-based discrimination) while a student at MIT. T9BR will then follow up with that student to ensure that they are aware of their options, rights, resources, and have equal access to their educational opportunities.

Violence Prevention & Response

617-253-2300 (24-hour hotline)

Violence Prevention & Response is a confidential resource on MIT’s campus aimed at preventing and responding to interpersonal violence. VPR is committed to equipping the MIT community with strategies to prevent violence, resources to assist those who have been impacted, and tools to establish MIT culture as one that does not tolerate sexual assault, harassment, domestic violence, or stalking. VPR staffs a 24-hour hotline for community members who may have been impacted by violence or have a question or concern. Call 617-253-2300 or email VPRadvocate@mit.edu. If you would like to invite VPR to a team or department meeting to speak or facilitate a training, please reach out to VPReducation@mit.edu.