Do I have to be out to join oSTEM?
Nope! We understand that everyone’s situation is different and being ‘Out’ in STEM looks different for each of us. You are always welcome at our meetings/events wherever you are in the coming out process. <3
At UR oSTEM, we proactively work towards making our event spaces respectful, accessible, and safe. For details on our privacy measures, read over our Community Guidelines and Privacy Policy pages.
Do I have to be a STEM major to join oSTEM?
Nope! While our professional events are predominantly geared towards queer STEM majors, we would love to have you be part of our lil community.
In fact, ~1/3 of our active members aren’t STEM majors! Feel free to also take advantage of our BIC Study Hours, read our weekly newsletters which regularly include non-STEM resources & opportunities, and network with other queer professionals!
Do I have to be LGBTQ+ to join oSTEM?
No, however, oSTEM offers a safe space for the advancement of LGBTQ+ students who are otherwise underrepresented in STEM environments. If you are straight, cisgender, and not questioning, we politely ask that you reconsider joining and instead look at other UR student organizations that better fit you.
Do I have to be a UR undergrad to join oSTEM?
All LGBTQ+ UR students are welcome to attend our bi-weekly GMMs, sign up to receive our weekly newsletters, and join our Slack group.
outGRADS is another oSTEM chapter at the U of R that is specifically for graduate/post doctoral students. Graduate students are welcome to join either or even both!
How do I register?
To become a member for our student organization, register through CCC.
For national membership, register through oSTEM’s website and select “oSTEM at University of Rochester” in the affiliated chapter dropdown section to join our collegiate chapter. It takes like 3 minutes (max) and you get access to oSTEM national resources & scholarships!
Note: Both memberships are free! The national registration process has a donation section that’s optional, feel free to just put $0 for that.
What goes on in the group Slack?
Beyond networking with other members and getting behind-the-scenes T, our Slack group lets us share new opportunities and updates faster than our weekly newsletter. We also coordinate for conferences, share exclusive materials, and more!
Join Slack.
What should I be aware of when attending oSTEM events?
Please read over our Community Guidelines to help us ensure that oSTEM spaces are safe and welcoming for everyone.
