Graduate life is full of big ideas, and big to-do lists! That's why the UNH Graduate School offers community gathering programs designed to support productivity and create space for meaningful engagement across disciplines.
We celebrate the start and end of each semester with a Community Lunch, prepared by the UNH Graduate School team! This informal event is designed to foster connection among graduate students and with the faculty and staff of the UNH Graduate School.
We also host the Weekly Writing Group, a consistent co-working environment for graduate students at any stage of their work, including writing, reading, replying to emails, or organizing tasks. For formal writing assistance, join our annual Moorhead Writing Academy.
All graduate students and postdocs are invited to participate. We hope to see you there!
Community Events
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Weekly Writing Group
Throughout the year, graduate students have the chance to join our Weekly Writing Group, a dedicated time to be productive and get support from peers in a friendly and collaborative setting. In Spring 2026, we hosted two writing group sessions each week with free lunch provided at Holloway Commons afterwards for all participants.
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Community Lunch
Each semester, the Graduate School hosts two Community Lunches in the Hamel Recreation Center’s demo kitchen. The community lunch is an informal event designed for students to foster community, develop relationships with faculty and staff from the UNH Graduate School, and learn about some of the campus resources available to graduate students.
Focused Connections
First-Generation Students
Teaching Assistants
We celebrate the unique experiences and strengths of first-generation students through programming that builds community, mentorship, and support. Our First-Generation Graduate Student Reception connects students and first-gen faculty, fostering a network that empowers scholars throughout their graduate journey.
We support teaching assistants by creating spaces for connection and community. Hosted in The Nest, a Graduate Student Lounge space, our Coffee Hours give TAs the chance to meet peers, share strategies, and build supportive networks to support their teaching experience while enjoying coffee, tea, and donuts!
To be connected with additional resources and mentorship, please review our Support & Well-being page.
Hear from Former Student Participants
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"When you've hit an impasse with your studies and stay isolated, it feels like a mountain that cannot be climbed. The writing groups, not only keep me accountable with structured calendar blocks for study, but when I express my concerns, I often get strategies or support from the incredible community of students who have either been there before or are also facing similar challenges. Knowing that I am not alone and am a part of a community of scholars turns that mountain into a small foothill!" - Shantel Palacio, PhD Student in Education
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"As a doctoral student in the final stages of my dissertation, some challenges for me have been isolation and a sense of being untethered to any kind of schedule. I started going to writing sessions and retreats set up by the Graduate School to give me something to anchor my weeks and provide structure. They did that, but I was totally unprepared for the support and accountability I also found during these sessions. Without them, I would not have finished my dissertation as successfully as I did.” - Jennifer Spillane, Ph.D. Molecular and Evolutionary Systems Biology
