The Graduate Student Association (GSA) consists of graduate student representatives (collectively agreed upon and determined by the graduate student body) that collaborate with faculty, staff, and administration from all different programs on behalf of the graduate student body in an effort to support and advocate for the interests of all graduate students. This group, in collaboration with the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies and graduate student colleagues, recommend, create, and assist in facilitation of educational, professional, and social events for graduate students on and off campus to support and strengthen the graduate community.
Additionally, as representatives of the graduate student body, these individuals serve on the following College committees:
General Committee (one student)
The General Committee shall consist of six members of the regular teaching faculty who have been at the College for at least four years and elected by the faculty for terms of three years, two members to be elected each year; two representatives of the administrative staff who have been at the College for at least four years, to be elected by the administrative staff for a term of two years; two undergraduate students, elected by the matriculated undergraduates for a term of one year, from those who will be matriculated members of the sophomore, junior, or senior class during their terms of office, with successive terms permitted; and one graduate student, elected by the graduate students for a term of one year, successive terms permitted. The president of the College, the dean of the College, the provost and dean of studies and student life, the dean of equity and inclusion, and the dean of graduate and professional studies shall be ex-officio members of the committee. The president of the College shall act as chair of the committee. The functions of the General Committee shall be as follows:
- The committee shall meet regularly with the president of the College, who shall preside at its meetings. In the absence of the president, the provost may preside. The committee shall make recommendations on general College policy to the president and to the faculty.
- The committee shall discuss matters of general concern, including questions of doubtful or overlapping committee jurisdiction. The General Committee shall review the coordination of efforts to achieve diversity in the College. The General Committee shall set the agenda for faculty meetings and approve the College calendar. If requested to do so by at least 15 faculty members, the General Committee shall call a special meeting of the faculty. The General Committee (or its elected members) shall meet with any faculty group or committee at its initiative or by request.
- Members of the General Committee shall elect one faculty member from among the committee’s faculty membership to serve on the College’s Budget Committee.
The graduate student representative to the General Committee also serves as the graduate student representative to the Board of Trustees.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee (one student)
The Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee shall consist of five faculty members, elected by the faculty for terms of three years, the appropriate number to be elected each year; two students, elected by all matriculated undergraduates for terms of one year; a graduate student, elected by all matriculated graduate students for a term of one year; one representative of the administrative staff who has been at the College for at least four years, to be elected by the administrative staff for a term of two years; the dean of equity and inclusion; the director of financial aid; the director of diversity; a representative designated by the dean of studies; a representative designated by the provost; a representative designated by the dean of graduate and professional studies; and the dean of enrollment. Voting members of the committee shall consist of the faculty representatives, the student representatives, the dean of equity and inclusion, the director of diversity, and the elected administrative staff representative. The dean of equity and inclusion shall serve as committee chair. The president of the College and the provost shall serve as ex-officio members of the committee and shall attend meetings of the committee at their own discretion.
The functions of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee shall be as follows:
- To serve as a forum for the discussion of diversity at the College
- To monitor and report to the General Committee and the faculty on the progress of diversity at the College
- To recommend to the General Committee, Curriculum Committee, Admissions Committee, and Committee on Student Life measures it determines are likely to enhance the diversity of the College
Committee on Undergraduate Student Life (one student)
The Committee on Undergraduate Student Life shall consist of three members of the faculty, elected by the faculty for terms of three years, one member to be elected each year; 15 undergraduate students, five elected in accordance with the Student Senate bylaws, nine residential area representatives, and a resident advisor; one graduate student, appointed by the Graduate Student Senate; and four members of the administration, representing the Dean of Studies Office, the Office of Student Affairs, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, and the Office of Campus Facilities. The dean of student affairs and the dean of studies and student life shall serve as nonvoting members. Other members of the student body and administration may be invited by the committee to serve as nonvoting members.
The committee shall elect a chair and vice chair from among the voting members. Until such an election takes place and/or in the absence of both the chair and the vice chair, the dean of student affairs shall serve as chair.
The functions of the committee shall be as follows:
- All meetings of the committee are open to the community, and students are invited to bring concerns or proposals relating to the quality of student life for review. Any change in the campus environment proposed by the administration will also be brought to the committee for discussion and recommendation.
- The committee shall advise and consult with the president on issues regarding policies and procedures relating to student behavior, space utilization, future planning, and student services. The standing subcommittees will be: housing, food services, health services, parking, security, Students for Students Scholarship Fund, bookstore, library, sexual assault and violence, programming, and diversity. Special ad hoc subcommittees may be formed in order to address specific issues or take specific action as directed by the committee.
- The committee shall oversee, through regular reports, the co-curricular programming of the College, including the events of the Students for Students Scholarship Fund.
Committee on Graduate and Professional Studies (one student)
The Committee on Graduate and Professional Studies shall consist of three members of the faculty (excluding graduate program directors) to be elected by the faculty for terms of three years, one member to be elected each year; the dean of graduate and professional studies; the assistant/associate dean of graduate students; a graduate student; and the provost or their designate, who shall serve as an ex-officio member. In addition, the graduate program directors shall appoint three program directors or associate/assistant directors, who will serve for two years. The dean of graduate and professional studies shall serve as chair of the committee.
The functions of the committee shall be as follows:
- To review new master’s degree programs and academic credit-bearing initiatives at the level of graduate and professional programs; in conjunction with the graduate program directors, to make recommendations about new programming to the president of the College and the Educational Policies Committee of the Board of Trustees
- To review curriculum and academic integrity of existing programs in consultation with the graduate program directors
- To review policies and procedures proposed by the graduate program directors
- To hear final appeals of students contesting a dismissal decision
- To represent the entire faculty’s interests in the activities of graduate and professional studies and to report on them to both teaching and administrative members of the faculty