OGE Launches GradThriving Birthday Program
This past year, the Office of Graduate Education’s GradThriving unit introduced a birthday program designed to strengthen connections with graduate students and demonstrate care on their special day. OGE automatically sends a personalized email to every current graduate student on their birthday featuring local Cambridge and Boston birthday freebies, along with an invitation to visit OGE headquarters for a GradThriving-themed goody bag. Each gift bag contains GradSupport swag, special treats, and informational materials about available student resources. This initiative combines digital outreach with in-person engagement, reminding students that they are valued members of the MIT community.
Since its inception in January, OGE has sent approximately 3,140 birthday messages to graduate students, with a 40% email open rate. To date, around 50 students have visited the office to collect their birthday surprises, and their reactions have been overwhelmingly positive. Students speaking with OGE staff have expressed genuine appreciation for the personal gesture, with many commenting that they were touched that OGE remembered them on their birthday.
This pilot program represents one aspect of OGE’s efforts to increase student awareness of GradThriving and GradSupport services. The combination of high email engagement and consistently positive student feedback points to a strong start toward the program goals.
— Zoë Wright and Heather Konar, OGE