Are you a new graduate student at UCR who is trying to build a supportive community? Are you a current graduate student at UCR who needs a break from managing classes, teaching, and research? Are you struggling to stay connected to the graduate student community while teleworking? Good news: GradSuccess is here to help you build community, take a break, and stay connected! Here are all the events offered this summer—including weekly coffee breaks, Game Nights, and Art Night (Paint Nights have nothing on us). All events are free to graduate students!

Coffee Socials

Each week on Wednesday from 3:00pm - 4:00pm (until August 26th) we host a Graduate Student Summer Coffee Social. Sip on your drink of choice as we make new connections with graduate students from all corners of campus, socialize with graduate student colleagues, and hear about campus resources. Sponsorships by GradQuant, the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), the Campus Advocacy, Resources, and Education (CARE) office, and the UCR Library will provide additional opportunities to network with other campus resources and learn about various programming.

[Image Description: Bill Murray drinking directly from a full coffee pot]
Pictured: An average consumption of caffeinated beverages for graduate students, best enjoyed with colleagues over Zoom on Wednesday afternoons

Game Nights

Looking for something fun to do? Join us and your fellow graduate students at one or both of our Summer Game Nights! We’ll play games like trivia, Pictionary, Scattergories, and much more. All you have to do is register and show up ready to play! Game Night #1 is scheduled for next Tuesday, July 21st, from 5:00pm - 6:30pm, and Game Night #2 is scheduled for August 20th, from 5:00pm - 6:30pm.

[Image Description: Lady Ella, from Saints and Sinners, leaning forward to say with passion, "Game. On."]
Pictured: You, during a round of Scattergories

Art Night

New to our programming this summer is Art Night, which will be on Thursday, August 6th, from 6:00pm - 8:00pm. In collaboration with Gluck Fellows Program of the Arts, we’re organizing an instructor-led drawing class! No need to be a professional artist or have art materials—just bring some paper, pencils, and whatever other coloring devices you have laying around (e.g., color pencils, pens, crayons) and get in on this action.

[Image Description: A man dressed as Bob Ross paints on a canvas while in the corner of the screen we see the video of Bob Ross's painting tutorial the man is attempting to follow. The man said, "I don't think we're getting clouds here," as he dabs dark blue paint into the top of the canvas.]
Pictured: Admit it, we all want to paint with Bob Ross and GradSuccess Art Night is the next best thing

GradQuant and UCR Library Movie Nights

GradQuant & UCR Library will be co-hosting monthly virtual movie nights this summer. Visit this page to check out upcoming movies and register in advance.

August: Women in Space (Tuesday, Aug 11; 6-8pm)
September: Secret of Photo 51 (Tuesday, Sep 15; 6-8pm)

[Image Description: Red from Angry Birds is sitting in a movie theater, holding a tray with a drink cup and popcorn on it. He is eating the popcorn.]
Pictured: You bring your popcorn and drink; we'll bring the movie!

To make sure you don't miss these events and to find registration and Zoom links to join the fun, check out the GradSuccess events calendar, visit the GradSuccess Community Page, follow us on social media (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter), and read the R'Grad Weekly emails sent out every Monday morning during the academic year and on the first of each month during the summer. We'll see you there!