Getting Involved with GSS

Opportunities for Representation

Each academic department or program, as recognized by the Graduate College, is eligible for representation within GSS.  As stated in the GSS Constitution, "The number of senators for academic departments or programs, as defined by the Graduate College in good standing with GSS shall be one (1) for departments or programs with 1 to 49 full-time graduate students and two (2) for departments or programs with fifty (50) or more full-time graduate students.   Official attendance numbers will be acquired from the Graduate College at the start of the fall semester."

Both full-time as well as part-time students are eligible to participate in GSS. Academic departments and graduate student organizations are strongly encouraged to elect or appoint their GSS senators at the start of the fall semester. Appointing or electing a proxy, a student who is able to attend in the absence of a senator, is encouraged.

Benefits of Representation

Your representation in Graduate Student Senate allows for the following things:

• For programs and departments to always be knowledgeable of what issues are affecting graduate students.

• The ability to bring individual graduate student departmental needs to the general assembly.

• The ability to vote on issues and concerns.

• The exposure to other departmental successes and challenges.

• The ability to receive professional development funding for all graduate students in your department or program.

• The opportunity for graduate student participants to get "outside the box," enlarge their network, enhance their resume, gain leadership experience, become aware of the institutional structure and how it operates, meet key administrators on campus, and have the ability to affect change.

Are you interested in becoming involved with GSS?

Talk to your academic department graduate coordinator or student organization leadership if you are interested in becoming a (an):

• Academic Department Senator

• Student Organization Senator

Or talk to a GSS representative if you would like to be considered for a SEC committee chair position or for a representative position on one of over fifty GSS, Faculty Senate, or University-wide committees.

Article II of the GSS Constitution offers an overview of the duties involved with each role in the Senate, while the Bylaws of the Constitution provides a detailed description of the elected offices of the GSS.  

GSS General Assembly meetings are open to the public. Please consider joining us! All GA meetings are held from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the McFall Center Art Gallery.