Staying healthy is integral to, and as important as, being an academically successful student in the MIT-WHOI Joint Program. There are many resources available to you, and/or your spouse and children, for those of you whose family will be joining you.
MIT Medical, located in E23, houses both an Urgent Care center, primary care physicians and specialists, as well as a mental health facility. There are multiple resources around the WHOI area. Falmouth Hospital is located just up the street at 100 Ter Heun Dr, Falmouth or there is a walk in Urgent Care (Convenient MD) located nearby at 40 Davis Straits, Falmouth. If you are in an immediate mental health crisis, please text 741-741, call 1 800 662 4357, or go to your local emergency room.
The most up-to-date, complete information about MIT's health services can be found here: http://medical.mit.edu. This website can be helpful with everything from choosing a primary care physician, discovering various wellness classes and events, and accessing necessary forms and hours of operation.
Information regarding student health plans, including options, forms and benefits can be found here: http://medweb.mit.edu/healthplans/student. Keep in mind insurance for you, the student, is paid for by the JP. Students registered for 27 units or more per term are automatically enrolled in and billed for, the MIT Student Extended Insurance Plan, so if you want to enroll in this extended plan, you don’t need to do anything. If you wish to opt-out of this insurance plan, you must submit the waiver by mid-August in order to have the charge removed from your account. MIT Medical will be sharing more information and deadlines in the coming months, and more information can be found below.
The Basic MIT Student Medical Plan is included in tuition and all students are automatically enrolled as part of tuition charges. There is no option to waive this insurance and it provides access to most services at MIT Medical at no additional charge. While students are automatically enrolled, your affiliates (spouses, children) must be manually enrolled.
The MIT Student Extended Insurance Plan is the insurance option students are able to waive. This Extended Plan is administered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and is designed to complement the Student Medical Plan and covers: prescriptions, hospitalizations, OB/GYN, routine eye services, and services outside of MIT. Students are automatically enrolled and the insurance premium is charged to your student account at the beginning of each semester; you must take action to opt-out if you do not want this extended insurance. Students are able to waive this extended insurance option as it is a Massachusetts State requirement, not an MIT requirement.
Waiver information for the Extended Insurance Plan can be found here.
You must waive this Extended Insurance Plan by mid-August. MIT Medical will be sharing more information and deadlines in the coming months via your MIT Email address; you must monitor this account.
After this deadline, no late waivers for the fall term will be accepted.
Waivers will not be accepted if the student uses the Extended Insurance Plan.
If you waive the Extended Plan for the Fall, it will apply all year (you will not have to waive it again for the spring term), but you will have the option to opt-in for the spring semester (between December 1, 2024 - January 31, 2025) should you find the need.
When waiving the Extended Insurance Plan, be sure you are using a computer with YOUR MIT Certificates installed on it; otherwise, the waiver will go through incorrectly, if at all.
**Please ensure your most up-to-date address is correct on WebSiS as well as in the MIT Medical Portal, as WebSiS and Medical's databases do not sync with one another, and having the most up-to-date address information will ensure all communication from MIT Medical is sent to the correct residence.
Other Benefits and Resources
In addition, you have access to a number of other benefits, which you may find more information for here: https://oge.mit.edu/finances-employment/graduate-student-benefits/.
Oftentimes, adjusting to a new culture, city, or schedule can prove overwhelming. Students, their covered family members, staff and faculty all have access to MIT's mental health facilities, located on the third floor of MIT Medical. More information can be found here: http://medweb.mit.edu/directory/services/mental_health.html. Other resources on campus include MIT Chaplains, a network of religious support representing at least 23 different religious groups can be found here: http://studentlife.mit.edu/rl.
Even if you are not feeling overwhelmed, you may find yourself feeling stressed and want to take a moment to yourself during the day. A great resource for this is 3-CALM (617-253-2256), which you can call from any phone and you will hear guided relaxation for several minutes.
In addition to the Educational Coordinator, Associate Dean, Dean, MIT Director of the Joint Program, and Joint Committee members, the Department Chair at WHOI and Department Head at MIT are go-to people for graduate students who need advice or assistance on important professional matters such as resolving conflicts or other issues with their advisors or others in the department. The Student Affairs and Graduate Admissions Officer at WHOI and Assistant Director at MIT may also be helpful in pointing you toward appropriate resources. In addition, MIT also has an Ombuds Office http://web.mit.edu/ombud/.
As an MIT-WHOI JP Student, you have access to ALL of MIT and WHOI's support resources, no matter which campus you're based on, or which campus your advisor is based on.
The Office of Graduate Education (OGE) is an Institute-wide support and referral office for graduate students and graduate administrators.
Along with the Center's recourses, the CAPD is an important resource for MSRED students to be aware of. The CAPD guides all students as they explore and prepare for careers, global opportunities and health professions.
Whether you are planning your career, seeking a global experience, searching for an internship, or job or applying to graduate or professional school, the CAPD is here to help. Many of these services are also available for alumni.
Here you will be able to obtain important information for new students. The planning guide provides information on MIT’s policies as well as information concerning student financial services, housing, health care, international student information and the like. It is important to complete each form and submit it to the proper department at MIT.
Throughout the year, the members of spouses&partners@mit organize or participate in several special events which are open to the MIT community. At these events, spouses&partners@mit members can volunteer on all levels, for example as a coordinator, with the presentation and publicity, or "behind the scenes" before, during and after the events. Although it is fun to work as a volunteer, you are more than welcome to participate just as a spectator. All events are free or at a very low cost.
More information regarding the resources available to Spouses and Partners can be found here.
Graduate Student Teaching Opportunities Document (website password: JP2023)
The purpose of this document is to provide MIT-WHOI Joint Program students with information about teacher training programs and practical teaching opportunities that JP students can participate in during their tenure as grad students.
The information in this document has been compiled by students in order to publicize opportunities that newer students may not be aware of. For each opportunity, descriptions, contacts, locations (MIT vs WHOI) and information about how to get started are included.
Other useful resources on campus include:
MIT Work-Life Center - The Work-Life Center is available to members of the MIT community to provide support and connect folks with proper resources and support systems. The Center runs seminars in both semesters, as well as provides one-on-one consultations.
Student's Guide to MIT Medical - A useful page on the MIT Medical website, this guide details the health insurance requirements, connects you to interpreter services if necessary, provides child care information and includes resources for cultural adjustment.
International Students Office - Another good resource for international students. This page includes links to many useful forms, information about immigration, answers to common questions, and further information that may be helpful as you adjust to life at MIT.
Student Resources - A great link to resources, offices and information here at MIT – a one-stop-shop, including information on campus life, campus, personal and wellness support, career info (on and off-campus), and student financial information.
MIT Graduate Assistance & Information Network (GAIN) - MIT GAIN is a 24/7 network of professionals who provide life management resources and referrals to help make life easier.
LGBTQ@MIT - LBGTQ+ Services supports numerous student, employee, and alumni groups as well as other departments and initiatives on campus aiming to foster equity, intersectionality, and the continuum of social justice. From individual student support to organizational development and institutional policy advocacy, LBGTQ+ Services' support, programming, and educational endeavors aim to enhance the experiences of MIT's LBGTQ+ community.
GWAMIT - Graduate Women at MIT (GWAMIT) is an institute-wide, student-led group founded in 2009. Their mission is to promote the personal and professional development of MIT’s graduate women.
Office of Minority Education - The mission of the Office of Minority Education (OME) is to promote academic excellence, build strong communities, and develop professional mindsets among students of underrepresented minority groups, with the ultimate goal of developing leaders in the academy, industry, and society.
WHOI’s Employee and Student Assistance Program (ESAP) - KGA, offers free, confidential consultations, counseling and targeted referrals at no cost to you and your household members. KGA will provide up to five (5) free counseling services in person or via telephonic counseling appointments. Some of the ways in which KGA can help include: counseling, crisis counseling, legal assistance, financial consultation, elder/adult care resources, and nutrition management.
GLOW - GLOW is a group of folks from the Woods Hole science institutions (WHOI, MBL, NOAA-NEFSC, SEA, USGS, and Woodwell Climate) and community who seek to make Woods Hole a more welcoming place to live and work and to provide support and resources to people who identify as LGBTQIA+ .
WHOI Resources - A list of WHOI resources can be found here.
Woods Hole Diversity Advisory Committee - The Diversity Initiative throughout Woods Hole established an advisory committee to make recommendations as to how the institutions can make the village a more diverse, more inclusive community.
WHOI Committee for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - In August 2019, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution announced the formation of a new Committee on Diversity and Inclusion (CDI), to foster a culture of inclusion in our pursuit of scientific excellence.
WHOI Workplace Climate Committee - The WHOI Workplace Climate Committee (WCC) will regularly assess workplace climate at WHOI and provide collaboration and leadership on the development and implementation of efforts to continuously improve the working environment.
WHOI Women's Committee - An elected committee responsible for considering matters of special concern to women.
WHOIKI - WHOIKI is a hub for sharing non-scientific, everyday life information that is useful to current and future employees.
International Committee - This committee provides support and assistance that can help you to become acclimated to the Institution and to the community.