Grad Center Community Building Programs and Events

The Grad Center hosts an annual Conference and Event Planning Workshop to teach graduate and law students the ins and outs of academic event planning. A one-hour general session on event planning logistics is followed by breakout sessions for students interested in learning more about STEM or Humanities focused conferences and events.

Fall 2023 Date: TBD

During the last week of the Fall semester the Grad Center hosts a week of fun and relaxing activities to help Grad and Law students wind down before final exams and papers. Fall 2022 activities included:

• Chair Massages
• Board Game and Pizza Night
• Holiday Themed Working Wednesday
• Holiday Happy Hour with gingerbread houses and craft beer from local brewery
  

The Grad Center hosts Happy Hour every third friday of the month from 4-6 p.m. EST at Gullifty's (located just .2 miles east of campus on Lancaster avenue). We provide the appetizers and drink specials are available for our students. Build community with graduate and law students from across the University in this relaxed and fun setting.

Next Happy Hour

• Location: Gulliftys (1149 Lancaster Ave. Bryn Mawr, PA)
• Date: Fri., Mar. 24, 2023
  
• Time: 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
• Register Here!

The Grad Center is thrilled to celebrate the amazing graduate and law students at Villanova during Grad Student Appreciation Week. This year the Grad Center is celebrating April 24 - 28, 2023. See below for details:

• Mon., Apr. 24: Grad and Law Student Dance Class
  • Description: Have fun and dance with Manny Chacon, Assistant Director of Student Performing Arts. This class is open to everyone, regardless of experience or ability. Just come and have fun!
    
  • Location: Garey Hall, Room 10A
  • Time: 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
    
  • Register here!
    
• Tues., Apr. 25: Lawn, Board Game, and Pizza Night
  • Description: Join your fellow grad and law students for a night of pizza and fun.
  • Location: St. Mary's Hall Courtyard and Room 163B
  • Time: 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.
  • Register here!
    
• Weds.., Apr. 26: Grad and Law Student Movie Night
  • Description: Take a break from your studies with a movie night. Pizza and popcorn will be available.
    
  • Location: St. Mary's Hall, Room 163B
    
  • Time: 5:00 - 7:30 p.m.
    
  • Register here!
    
• Thurs., Apr. 27: Easter's Not Over Egg Hunt, Lunch, and Grad Student Appreciation Baskets.    
  
  • Description: We don't want the little kids to have all the fun with Easter Egg Hunts! Come hunt for some treat filled eggs, pick up an appreciation basket, and have some lunch on us!
    
  • Location: St. Mary's Hall Courtyard (adjacent to Grad Center Office in St. Mary's Hall 109)
  • Time: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
    
  • Register here!
• Fri., Apr. 28: Food Truck Friday and Fire Pits 
  • Description: End the week with some free food and fun fire pits. Meet up with other grad and law students at the Oreo for some delicious food trucks followed by s'mores by the fire pits.
    
  • Location: Oreo
  • Time: 9:00 - 11:00 p.m.
    
  • Check back for registration

The Grad Center partners with Campus Ministry each semester to host a retreat for graduate and law students. All graduate student retreats are open to students of any or no faith background. Learn more about Campus Ministry and see all retreat offerings on the Campus Ministry website.

• Fall Retreat: Half-day program in early September focused on setting intention for the graduate student journey. This retreat passed. Fall 2023 Date TBD.
  
• Spring Retreat: This retreat offers the opportunity for an overnight together at a nearby retreat center, prayer/worship experiences at 2-3 different local faith communities, and dialogue with one another about questions of faith and meaning. This retreat passed. Spring 2024 date TBD.
  
• Advent Retreat: Celebrate the Advent season at this ecumenical Christian retreat held on campus during the workday. Meet with colleagues from across the University and share from your personal experiences and faith journey. This retreat passed. Fall 2023 date TBD.
  
• Lenten Retreat: "Less is more": this is both an apt approach to the Lenten season and an insight underlying our attempts to live more sustainability in an age of special concern for our planet. Please join us as we weave these two themes together for an "eco-spiritual" retreat open to participants of all spiritual and religious backgrounds. This retreat is took place on Fri., Mar. 24 from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Spring 2024 date TBD.
• Search Retreat: Explore how unconditional love, especially God's love, is present in your life. This retreat focuses on agape, a selfless and unconditional form of love. Although grounded in the Christian and Augustinian tradition, Search is designed for and open to students of any or no faith tradition. It is hosted by the Campus Minister for Retreats and Graduate Resident Ministers, and is led by juniors, seniors and grad students who have participated in Search. Search Retreat is taking place from Fri., Apr. 14 - Sun. Apr. 16. Learn more and register.