2024-2025 SEC Position Information

Do you want to make a difference? Do you want to be a leader? As the Graduate Student Senate (GSS), we prioritize and value your dedication to the collective well-being of the entire graduate student community. We recognize your diverse interests and affiliations and know that your presence strengthens GSS. We are excited that you are interested in joining GSS and would love to have you as an officer of the SEC.

Elected Positions

The authority of the SEC and all elected positions is granted and governed by the General Assembly (GA) which serves as the highest authority of GSS. The SEC serves at the discretion of the GA. All SEC officers are leaders of GSS under the direction of the GSS president. Elections take place every academic year and all positions have a maximum term length of one year. The following is the list of elected positions within the Senate Executive Committee (SEC).

President
Vice President
Academic Affairs Representative
Student Affairs Representative
Treasurer
Secretary
Representative-at-Large
Outreach and Marketing Officer
Professional Development Officer
International Graduate Student Representative
Environmental Affairs Representative
Online Graduate Student Representative

Graduate Student Senate understands that you are a student. First and foremost, we operate as a collaborative community. Please know that we are seriously dedicated to working with you within your capacity and that all estimations of time are flexible.

Officer Expectations

All SEC officers are expected to attend (or send proxies to) all SEC and GA meetings (Fridays 3-5PM), to report on their activities and findings, and to faithfully fulfill their duties through the entirety of their term. SEC officers must act with the highest level of responsibility, respect, and care. Additionally, all incoming elected officers are expected to communicate with outgoing officers, to make necessary efforts to become adequately prepared for the start of their terms, and to attend the SEC transition meeting (April 19th 3-5PM). While specific duties and committee assignments vary from officer to officer, SEC officers are collectively expected to fulfill the operational and representational needs of the GSS.

Officers elected to an SEC position are not permitted to serve as senators for the duration of the term to which they were elected. Additionally, in order to serve as an SEC officer, you must maintain good standing with the university.

President

The president is the leader of the GSS and is responsible for its governance and organization; all its service, engagement, and representational activities; each of its members; and its values, vision, and mission. This position requires the activation of leadership, administration, and management.

Anyone holding this position must serve and value both the interests of the graduate student body and the GSS. The GSS president must foster and maintain individual and organizational advocacy, stewardship, trust, effectiveness, and efficiency. Further, applicants should feel confident in their ability to serve through the full duration of their term.

The president serves as the chair of the SEC; holds primary discretionary authority over matters involving the SEC and GSS as an organization; serves on or represents GSS and/or graduate students on approximately 8 external groups, manages directly and indirectly roughly 5 internal committees, coordinates representation for approximately 20 other external groups, and meets with university leaders.

Applicants should expect an average engagement of around 4-6 hours per week during the initial summer semester and 15-20 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters. Further applicants should expect a term of president elect lasting roughly 6 weeks, president lasting roughly 12 months, and a term of immediate past president if possible.

Vice President

The vice president is both an executive leader of GSS and the first support for the president with essentially equivalent responsibilities and levels of engagement. In the event the president is unable to continue, the vice president automatically ascends to the position of acting president with all the responsibilities and authorities of the president. The vice president serves as the chair of the GA and holds primary discretionary authority over matters involving the GA and senators. The vice president also directly and indirectly manages the internal GSS committees.

Applicants should expect an average engagement of around 4-6 hours per week during the initial summer semester and 15-20 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters, and a transition lasting roughly 6 weeks leading into a term lasting roughly 12 months.

Academic Affairs Representative

The academic affairs representative serves as a leader, representative, and advocate for graduate student issues primarily dealing with academics, university administration, curriculum, faculty, teaching and learning, or research. The academic affairs representative serves on around 2-3 internal committees, 4-6 external groups (including Faculty Senate and Graduate Council), and meets with faculty, faculty-administrators, and administrators across campus.

Applicants should expect an average engagement of around 8-10 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters with a small number of engagements starting after election.

Student Affairs Representative

The student affairs representative serves as a leader, representative, and advocate for graduate students primarily dealing with student experience, needs, or other non-academic issues. The student affairs representative serves on around 1-3 internal committees, 4-5 external groups, and meets with a significant number of university personnel across campus.

Applicants should expect an average engagement of around 7-9 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters with a small number of engagements starting after election.

Treasurer

The treasurer serves primarily the operational needs of GSS and is responsible for the budgeting, funding, and allocation concerns. The treasurer would be a chair of the Finance and Allocations Committee and serve on about 1-2 other internal committees. The treasurer represents the GSS 1-2 external groups including the Student Organization Allocation Board (SOAB). The treasurer is responsible for GSS awards including allocation, award and decline letters, compiling all information and applications, and handling award applications. Experience with committee work, budgeting, computer software are helpful.

Applicants should expect about 15-30 hours of engagement during the initial summer semester and 20-25 hours of engagement per month during the fall and spring semesters. During the fall and spring this is about 6-8 hours per week, but engagement varies significantly with an increase in workload some weeks and a decrease in others.

Secretary

The secretary serves primarily the operational needs of GSS and is responsible for creating, managing, and distributing agendas and minutes; handling, managing, and preserving internal records including officer reports; recording attendance for meetings; and assisting with communications. Experience taking and synthesizing detailed and impartial notes, an understanding of Robert's Rules of Order, taking minutes, and facility with compiling reports is helpful. The secretary will serve both the GA and SEC.

Applicants should expect an average engagement of around 6-7 hours per week during the fall and spring semester.

Representative-at-Large

The representative-at-large is the primary liaison between SEC and the GA and is a central leader within GSS. Additionally, the representative-at-large serves as vice chair of GA with voting rights. This position has a flexibility of duties and supports both senators and SEC officers. The representative-at-large balances both representational and operational needs. Representation on internal committees or external groups is likely.

Applicants should expect an average engagement of around 6-10 hours per week during the fall and spring semester.

Outreach and Marketing Officer

The outreach and marketing officer serves primarily as an operational officer and is responsible for external communications and for the planning and execution of advertising, promotion, publicity, and public relations. Strong communication and leadership skills are helpful.

Applicants should expect an average engagement of around 5-8 hours per week during the fall and spring semester.

Professional Development Officer

The professional development officer serves primarily as an operational officer and is responsible for the programing of professional development related activities and maintaining partnerships with various university areas involved in on campus professional development activities. The professional development officer will also serve on 2-3 committees and coordinate with the Graduate College.

Applicants should expect about 20 hours of engagement per month during the fall and spring semesters and some engagement in preparation for the fall semester.

International Graduate Student Representative

The international graduate student affairs representative serves as a leader, representative, and advocate for international graduate students. This would include meeting with both students and university leaders (especially International Programs & Partnerships). Representation on external groups is likely.

Applicants should expect a minimum engagement of around 5 hours per week during the fall and spring semester and additional 10 hours engagement for the international student orientations events that precede those semesters.

Environmental Affairs Representative

The environmental affairs representative serves as leader, representative, and advocate for sustainability and environmental concerns. This would include advocacy and representation on the Student Green Initiatives Fund and other suitable external groups committees.

Applicants should expect a minimum engagement of around 5 hours per week during the fall and spring semester.

Online Graduate Student Representative

The online graduate student affairs representative serves as a leader, representative, and advocate for students in online or hybrid programs. Additionally, this position deals with information and technology concerns. Representation on external groups is likely.