Welcome to Graduate Commons! Meet the GCP Team The Graduate Commons Program is fortunate to have Harvard faculty members living in-house, and serving as the intellectual leaders of the community and hosts of several events throughout the academic year. 5 Cowperthwaite: Dr. Jennifer Lerner & Dr. Brian Gill 10 Akron: Dr. David Carrasco & Dr. Maria Luisa Parra Peabody Terrace: Dr. Jim Hogle & Doreen Hogle, J.D. Professional staff members, or Program Coordinators, work within each GCP residential area. Program Coordinators are responsible for enhancing the sense of community for residents Welcome to the Graduate Commons Program (GCP)! We in these properties, primarily through frequent social and are so excited that you will be joining our community for academic programming the 2014-2015 academic year. Graduate Commons Associate Director: Lisa Valela The primary goal of the Graduate Commons Program is to Office: Peabody Terrace Common Room foster an interdisciplinary and engaging living environment for community members. By enabling individuals to meet Senior Program Coordinator @ Peabody Terrace: and interact with others outside of their immediate Johanna Martin-Prener academic departments, the program helps residents form Office: Peabody Terrace Common Room deeper connections to Harvard University. Program Coordinator @ Garden Area: Tara Bartley During the year, you are welcome to participate in a Offices: 29 Garden Street & Cronkhite Center variety of social and academic events, such as: wine & cheese nights, yoga classes, study breaks, and many outings Program Coordinator @ Riverside Area: Andria Mirabal in the Boston area. It is our hope that you join us in these Offices: 10 Akron Street & 5 Cowperthwaite Street events and many others. This is your community, so if you have any ideas for programs or events, please let us know! Community Advisors (CAs) are fellow graduate students, post-docs, staff members and spouses/partners that Get Connected contribute to the GCP efforts of building a diverse and inclusive community. CAs increase opportunities for Stay informed of GCP events by connecting with us! community engagement by regularly organizing and leading Here’s how: events that compliment those offered by the Faculty Directors and professional staff members. •Join the GCP Facebook group for your community. •Follow GCP on Twitter @ gradcommons; #GCP Julie Hodges and Bernice Dy, our Family Programmers, •Graduate Commons Program Blog coordinate events for the youngest residents of Graduate •Harvard University Housing Website Commons. Community members with children should take advantage of the many family friendly events that take place throughout the year. The demands of post-docs, fellows, faculty members, & staff are very different than those of our graduate student community. For this reason, The GCP works with Brittany Charlton, the Post-Graduate Programmer, to host specific events for post-graduate residents. We hope that such community members join us for professional networking nights, post-grad brunches, and much more. Questions? Start Here! What Should I Know About Mail/Packages? Tips for Exploring Cambridge We’ve created this guide to assist new residents with some Mail is delivered by the United States Postal Now that you’re here, it is time to get out and see the frequently asked questions. If you have additional questions, Service (USPS) to designated mail rooms. sights. Use this mini-guide to help you navigate around Prior to moving into your HUH apartment, be sure to fill please do not hesitate to ask your Property Managment Office town. MBTA riders can request a Charlie Card at most out a change of address form . Once you are moved in, be or the Graduate Commons staff. stations from MBTA employees & can add funds to the sure to post your name inside your mailbox. reusable card. Where is My Property Management Office? Packages are left in the designated mail area as well. Keep in mind there are many ways to get around Each Property Management Office is responsible for the Building staff will not sign for any packages. Cambridge--the MBTA subway (commonly known as Fares are $2.65 per ride without a card & $2.10 with physical maintenance of the buildings. Additionally, we are the “T”), buses, cabs, bikes, cars, walking--check out a a Charlie Card. Riders can also purchase monthly fortunate to have amazing building staff, such as the few options so you find the easiest route. passes--a good idea if you’ll be commuting regularly. Property Operations Assistants & cleaning crews, that ensure Does My Apartment have Wireless? the upkeep of our properties. Cable? Phone? *Check the Commuter Choice website, as some A few tips to get you started: Harvard Schools provide discounts! The Managment Office for the Mt. Auburn Group, including Wireless is available in common areas of most buildings. The password to the “Harvard” network is 10 Akron & 5 Cowperthwaite) is located at 8 Mt. Auburn The MBTA website has a trip planner feature The MBTA also operates the city bus system, Veritas. In most apartments, you can use an ethernet cord Street (lower level). commuter rail (transportation to suburbs), boat to connect your computer to the internet through RESNET that can help you figure out possible routes. transport, and “The Ride” system for customers who The Peabody Terrace Managment Office is located at 9 free of charge. You may also set up your own wireless are unable to use public transportation for a variety of Peabody Terrace (courtyard entrance). network using a personal router. MBTA trains run from approximately 5am until 1am (times vary from station to station). Be sure to check reasons. The Garden Area Management Office is located at Botanic Cable television is not provided, therefore you must make ahead & plan accordingly! Gardens (29 Fernald Drive). your own arrangements. Feel free to contact our local Comcast representative (John Weldon, 617.279.1958) for Keep the number of a Cambridge cab company in setup, packages, and discounts. your cell phone--you never know when it will come in Biking in Cambridge Where Can I Do My Laundry ? handy (like if you miss the last train!). The three places to get TV on-demand via the internet are Be sure to register your bike with HUPD. Netflix for $8/month, Hulu for free or HuluPlus for $8/ Laundry rooms for 10 Akron & 5 Cowperthwaite Streets are Keep in mind the area & events that might occur month, and Amazon Prime for $80/year (including free located on the 2nd floor of both buildings. In the remainder during your trip. For example, the Fenway area Check out bike routes around campus/Cambridge and of the Mt. Auburn group, laundry rooms are generally lo- shipping on Amazon purchases.) on game night is extremely crowded--best to avoid the storage areas at www.maps.harvard.edu (click on “Bike cated in the basements of the buildings or within individual Facilities” on right corner). units. Landline telephone service is not provided at any location; Green Line trains if possible! residents must contact local vendors to arrange service Laundry rooms in Peabody Terrace are located on the first at their own expense. There is a Verizon store in Harvard To get to Logan Airport, take the Red Line train Take a biking safety course offered by Harvard floor of buildings 2 & 9 and the 21st floor of Square and an AT&T location in Porter Square for cell- inbound at Harvard Square. Get off the Red Line at Commuter Choice. buildings 11 & 24. phone service contracts. South Station, and transfer to the Silver Line (underground bus service). The Silver Line will drop Check out Quad Bikes (located at 51 Shepard Street), a Laundry rooms in Botanic Gardens are located near the you off at Logan, where you can take a free shuttle bus non-profit started by Harvard grads--get a tune up for Property Management Office or within some larger units. Where are the Trash/Recycling Centers? to your terminal. reduced price of $20 for Harvard community. Many other properties in the Garden Area have laundry Trash rooms are generally located on every floor (or floors in the basement or within individual units. Need bike storage? For $8 a month you can use the with elevator stops in Peabody Terrace). Please be sure to MBTA & Charlie Cards Harvard indoor storage facilities--for more Fees for laundry are $1.50 per machine, which can be paid dispose of your trash down the shoot. information contact Parking Services. with quarters, Crimson Cash, or Change Point depending on your location. Recycling centers are located in all Harvard University The T system is comprised of the Blue, Orange, Green, Housing properties. Please contact the Property Red & Silver lines of rapid transit. The closest T stop is Make sure you always wear a helmet, and bike safely! Management Office if you cannot find your recycling center. the Red Line Harvard Square station. Can I Smoke in my Apartment? Recycling is single stream in Cambridge-all recyclable items Tips for new T riders, always double check your train Hubway bike sharing is now in Cambridge! can go in the same container. All Harvard University Housing units are NON-SMOKING. is headed in the right direction (inbound v. outbound). You are NOT permitted to smoke in your apartment, in any You can tell by the last stop, which will be listed on the Visit www.thehubway.com for an easy (and affordable) For more information about recycling and Harvard’s “Green” of the common areas, or within 25 feet of the building. The front of the car. Also, the Green & Red lines fork after way to borrow a bike. There are several convenient efforts please visit: http://www.green.harvard.edu. staff and your neighbors thank you for your cooperation! certain stops-so make sure you’re on the right line! locations on and near campus! Parking On-Campus Harvard Shuttle Harvard Square Basics-Getting Settled! Local Grocery Stores HU Housing residents can park in a The campus shuttle bus operates Furniture Shopping Whole Foods: (expensive but great selection, number of on-campus garages for a fee.