Student Groups

The Architecture Student Council, is the student organization of the Department of Architecture at MIT. The student council is composed of representatives from all of our degree programs and two elected co-chairs. The council works in close collaboration with the department’s leadership, faculty, and staff to advocate on the student body’s behalf and to foster a culture of support, collaboration, and openness.

If you want to get involved, do not know who your student representative is, or if you have any questions or concerns, email us at mitarchstudcouncil@gmail.com.  

As minority students and allies, we aim to provide a source of support and camaraderie through communal gathering, open discourse, and lasting mentorship. We challenge misconceptions surrounding minority representation and emphasize the importance of diverse communities through dialogues with the MIT community, lecture series highlighting minority designers and researchers, open letters and advocacy. We are in support of systemic change to an exclusive profession that for centuries has created barriers for those outside of the canon, but we also choose to exist as a space for dialogue, change and care.

To find more information or to get involved with MIT NOMAS, visit our website or contact nomas-exec@mit.edu. 

MIT China SA+P (MIT CSAP) is a student-led organization that aims to serve MIT’s School of Architecture and Planning and the school-wide community at large to establish bridges with the market, industry, and public in China on topics pertaining to the different areas of research and studies within the school: Architecture, Urban Studies and Planning, Art, Culture and Technology, Real Estate and Media Arts and Sciences. We hope to capitalize on SA+P’s expertise in design, visualization, curation, and communication to help expand MIT’s influence in China, whose massive, ongoing urbanization process craves technologically innovative designs and products.

Contact us at chinasap.mit@gmail.com. Follow us on Instagram (@mitchinasap) and WeChat (MITCSAP)!

Shift+W is a student initiative initiated by Alicia Delgado - Alcaraz, Brenda Hernandez, Ina Wu, and Jeonghyun Yoon. Interested in exploring the complexities of female representation in architecture, we seek to both honor the historical advancements made by previous generations of women, while also resisting complacency in present time, acknowledging there is remaining progress to fight for. We are interested in bringing these gender-conscious conversations to the table, especially at MIT architecture where we can give value to our individual experiences and create a space for collective reflection. 

To find more information or to get involved with Shift+W, visit our website or contact shift.w.arch@gmail.com. 

archREFS (Resources for Easing Friction and Stress) is a group of graduate students trained in conflict management and mediation that supports the MIT Architecture student community. To help students manage stress and conflict, archREFS are available to listen, help think of possible resolutions, and connect to other MIT resources. There is no concern too big or too small with which to approach an archREFS member. 

It is also important to note that archREFS is a confidential resource, meaning no information shared with them will ever be shared with others or acted upon without explicit consent or direction, except in the unusual situation of imminent risk of harm to self or others. 

To set up a one-on-one confidential meeting, email archREFS@mit.edu or sign up with this form.

Beyond the Department of Architecture, MIT has 500+ recognized student groups. Student groups range from 68 ethnic and cultural associations, 38 musical, theater, and dance groups, 23 religious organizations, 15 activism groups, and many more: including Black Graduate Student Association (BGSA), LatinX Graduate Student Association (LGSA), American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES).

Visit MIT Engage to find more.