Happy Holidays! Enjoy the Break! Good Luck on Midterms!

Fall Break will start on Tuesday, November 25, at 5:30 PM and will end on Sunday, November 30.

Last Call for the Fall Break Registration Form is now open and taking responses until Tuesday, November 18th!

🍁 Simmons Dining Update: Thanksgiving Week 🍁

🍪 Hey Sharks! As we head into the holiday season, here’s what’s happening in Simmons Dining:

Mark your calendars — you won’t want to miss these delicious happenings!

🦃 Friendsgiving Dinner at Bartol – November 20

🍪 National Cookie Day Celebration – December 4

🥐 Kitchen 101: Mushroom Puffs – December 16

🕒 Thanksgiving Break Hours

Bartol Hall

Tuesday, Nov. 25

Breakfast: 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Lunch: 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Closed for dinner

Reopens Sunday, Nov. 30

Dinner: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Regular hours resume Monday, Dec. 1

The Fens Café

Tuesday, Nov. 25: Closing early at 2:30 PM
Closed for the remainder of the week
Regular hours resume Monday, Dec. 1

Common Grounds

Tuesday, Nov. 25: Closing early at 3:00 PM
Closed for the remainder of the week
Regular hours resume Monday, Dec. 1

Enjoy your Thanksgiving break - relax, recharge, and come back hungry! 🦃✨

🍁 Simmons Dining: Job Opportunities 🍁

🧑‍🍳 We’re Hiring Student Workers!

Looking to earn some extra money on campus? Join our dining team!

Catering: Help with special events across campus! Hours vary depending on the event schedule — great for anyone who loves flexibility.

The Fens Café: We’re hiring for grill and deli shifts from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM. It’s a fun, fast-paced role and a great way to connect with the Simmons community.

Interested? Stop by The Fens Café or email [email protected] to apply!

You're Invited to Friendsgiving with the Geo Center.

November 18th in the Kotzen Room at 5:30 pm.
Enjoy a catered dinner with fellow Colleges Of the Fenway students!
Make sure to register by 11/18!

Fall Festival with President Wooten

Join us for a cozy fall celebration with President Wooten and the Center for Leadership and Engagement!

We’ve got all your favorite fall treats and activities, including:

Warm apple cider and delicious Tarts
A mashed potato bar (yes, really!)
Gourd painting and creating heartfelt gratitude cards

Date: Thursday, November 20, 2025

Time: 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Location: Common Grounds

🍁 Take a break from your day, enjoy some festive fun, and connect with friends while celebrating the season. We can’t wait to see you there! 🍁

2nd Annual Veterans Day Program

The Simmons School of Social Work is honored to welcome Brigadier General Antoinette Gant as our Keynote speaker for this year's Veterans Day Program.

Nov 18, 2025
11:30 am to 1:00 pm
Linda K. Paresky Conference Center (A-310) or join via Zoom

The program will feature additional remarks on education, service, and leadership from School of Social Work faculty and members of the community, as well as a luncheon during the program.

BG Gant is the Commanding General of the Joint Task Force – National Capital Region and U.S. Army Military District of Washington, Ft. McNair, Washington, D.C. This is an important opportunity to come together as a community to recognize and express gratitude for those who have served — and continue to serve — our country.

Campus-Wide Service Coalition Meeting

The Campus-Wide Service Coalition meets to bring together students and campus groups around service, social justice, and community engagement.

The Next Meeting is Tuesday, November 18 at 3 pm in A-151

We will meet to discuss current and future initiatives and service projects.

New faces always welcome :)

Join Us!

📚Book Drive and Swap 📚

Looking for your next great read? Have books you’ve already enjoyed and want to share? Then come to our Book Swap Event!

From October 29- December 1 leading up to the event, we will be collecting books to donate!

Bring any books you no longer want to the CLE (C-130).

If you don't have a book to give up, no worries!

You can still come and participate on December 5th at our Book Swap. You can find us at Common Grounds from 10am -2 pm. It’s a fun way to refresh your reading collection while meeting fellow book lovers.

There will be snack and drinks provided.

Email [email protected] if you have any questions.

Summer Undergrad Research Program at Simmons (SURPASs)

Are you a first-year undergraduate, sophomore, or junior interested in summer research opportunities? Learn about the 2026 SURPASs Summer Research Program at Simmons!

We will host our first virtual info session on Tuesday, November 18 from 5 - 6 PM EDT. Swing by to learn more about the program, benefits, and application process. Students and faculty across all disciplines are welcome to attend.

Upcoming Info Sessions:

Tuesday, November 18 from 5 to 6 PM | Zoom Link
Wednesday, December 3 from 2 to 3 PM | Zoom Link
Friday, January 30 from 10 - 11 AM (application Q&A session) | Zoom Link

All info sessions will be conducted on Zoom and recorded. Please RSVP to attend an info session.

Applications for the 2026 SURPASs Program will be accepted until 5:00 PM on Friday, February 27, 2025. Please email [email protected] with any questions.

The FAO Schwarz Fellowship

The FAO Schwarz Scholarship Program is a national Fellowship that offers a two-year experience for graduating seniors interested in leading social change. Fellowships include paid positions at leading nonprofits in three major cities, professional development, mentoring, and much more.

Join us on Nov. 19 at 2:00 – 2:45 PM ET for our next online info session. Learn about our new host organizations, get tips on applying, and discover how a Fellowship experience can jumpstart a career in social impact.

Online Info Session on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025 at 2:00 PM

Please email [email protected] if you're interested in applying for the FAO Schwarz!

Open Avenues Career Pathway Program

The Career Pathways Program, offered through Open Avenues, provides students with hands-on experiences to prepare for careers in STEM and business.

Opportunities include Build Projects, dynamic 8-week virtual experiences where students work in teams with industry mentors to develop portfolio-ready deliverables; 1:1 sessions with professionals for interview prep and career coaching; industry events such as panels and networking sessions; bootcamps in Python with business or science applications; and credit-based projects integrated into class curricula.

To date, more than 1,500 students have participated, with 98% reporting they feel more prepared for their first job after graduation.

November Free Food Market

Shop Our Free Market!

November 19 from 12- 1 pm in Fens Hallway

Each month, shop our selection of rescued food donated from our partners at Food Link.

All items have been recovered from local grocery stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joes. While these companies might not be able to sell them, they are great to eat! From pasta to mustard to cookies, we always have a surprise.

Bring a bag! We love free food!

Learn more about Food Link Here.

Winter Donation Drive

The Staff Council is excited to partner with the REEF Support Center for a holiday donation drive during this season of giving!

From December 1st–15th 2025, we’ll be collecting non-perishable food items to support members of our Simmons community.

Requested items include:

Canned beans (black, garbanzo, red)
Canned peas or corn
Pasta (gluten-free and regular)
Mac and cheese (boxes gluten-free and regular)
Canned tomato sauce
Canned vegetable soup
Canned tuna
Rice (16 oz bag)

Donations can be dropped off at the REEF Support Center (A-075 Office B), Monday–Friday between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

All items should be new, unopened, and before their “best by” date.

Prefer to give online? You can also contribute by shopping through our Amazon Wishlist — items will be delivered directly to the REEF Center.

Thank you for helping us make a difference this holiday season!

Betsy’s Friends is hiring for Spring 2026!

Betsy’s Friends is hiring a Large Event Coordinator (work-study eligible position) for the Spring 2026 semester! Our team is looking for a current first-year or sophomore student to begin the week of 1/12/2026.
Read about the role and apply on workday.simmons.edu “student job board”, or complete our Betsy’s Friends Spring 2026 Application

Clean out your closet for winter!

Looking to pass on your gently worn clothing items to fellow students? Have gently used winter items and coats to share? With your help, we can stock our Community Clothing Rack for fellow student shoppers, especially in the winter season. Our team is available for item drop off M-F from 12-2, or you can email us at r [email protected].
We are not able to accept donations of opened food items, stained clothing, bedding, or large items. Learn more about our Community Clothing Rack and our donation guidelines.

Student Assistance Program through ComPsych®

Offers 24/7 free confidential mental health support (among other things) to on-the-ground graduate and undergraduate students. Students can access 5 sessions per topic. For the first time ever, you can schedule an appointment online with a licensed clinician. The SAP also offers more long-term referrals based on health insurance and preferences.
Can be used over winter break anywhere in the United States!

Join a Huddle

ComPsych® huddles are interactive online groups focused on education, skill building and peer connection. They provide a space to learn and grow in ways meaningful to our own journeys while helping others to do the same.Huddles cover a range of well-being topics, including nutrition 101, relaxation techniques, and sleep techniques.
Participants can view the calendar of pre-scheduled upcoming Huddles To join a session, visit the website and scroll down to the “Additional Tools & Resources” section, and click on the “Digital Tools” tile.