Gender and Sexuality Campus Center
Student Affairs

Grad students

Get Connected

Welcome, grad students! Graduate students are welcome at all of our programming -we’d love to have you providing different perspectives in our discussion groups, forming connections in our mentor program, or spending time in the office with us as volunteers.

It’s easy to get involved in many of the same ways that undergraduate students can, and, in addition, the Campus Center is proud to host a variety of programs just for graduate students:

  • annual welcome reception
  • queer grad writing retreats
  • 3×5 research nights

Our professional staff and graduate interns represent a variety of fields and home institutions – we’re always happy to chat with you about the challenges and joys of grad school. We are here for you, and we hope to see you soon.

LGBTQ grad & professional orgs

Resources

As a teaching assistant, project assistant, or other role where you’re in charge of managing a group of students or student staff, you have an opportunity to build inclusive practices in your space.

See the resources below for a start:

To advocate for inclusive practices in your own classroom or lab, you may try referring to the UW-Madison Strategic Framework which details the importance of retention, diversity and inclusion, nurturing growth, and building the best possible learning environment.

For curriculum development or consultation, we want to help you with your questions! Please contact Katherine Charek Briggs for general inquiries or any one of our library partners for more assistance.

There is no longer benefit coverage for domestic partners at UW. See more at the Office of Human Resources page describing Benefit Options for UW Employees with Domestic Partners.

As of the Group Insurance Board meeting on August 8, 2018, state health plans (GHC, Quartz) offered to UW-Madison employees and their dependents does cover transition care, including gender-affirming surgery, hormone therapy, and other medically necessary care.

Transition care is covered like any other benefit if determined medically necessary by the provider.

Learn more from UW-Madison’s General Benefits Information page and the University of Wisconsin System Employee Benefits page.

Doing research

See the Academics page for lists of library affiliates, gender & sexuality databases, and LGBTQ archival projects that are all available for your use as a student scholar.

Advertising research

Are you holding a talk or event? Please let us know at lgbtq@studentaffairs.wisc.edu so we can advertise it on the Event Update, our Facebook page, and other outlets.

If you’re hoping to reach LGBTQ students, staff, or faculty for a research study, please contact us to discuss options. We post paid, IRB-approved studies on our Discord server.

We know that because of the power imbalance between some grad students and their instructors, advisors, department chairs, or PIs, it can be hard to speak up or intervene in situations of bias, harassment, or negative climate.

As a grad student, you have protections. See some options below.

  • First of all, if you are in an immediate crisis, call the 24-hour UHS Crisis Line (confidential) at 608-265-5600 (option 9), or call 911.
  • Report your experience directly here: Bias Reporting Process or see our Support & Crisis page first for more details.
  • The graduate worker union, Teaching Assistants’ Association (TAA), has a full page on your rights as a graduate student: Rights
  • The Ombuds Office is also here to help you with challenges that arise in your work environment: Ombuds FAQ
  • Finally, the Office of Student Assistance and Support (OSAS) offers student assistance in a variety of contexts (not confidential): Student Assistance