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GSS Internal Committees

GSS Internal Committees

The Graduate Student Senate operates and achieves much of its work and service through committees. Each Senator and Commissioner is required by the GSS Rules & Procedures) R&P to be an active member of at least two committees, and each Department Representative is required by the GSS R&P to be an active member of at least one committee. Each committee is led by a chairperson - sometimes more than one, depending on the size and reach of the committee. New committees form each year to accommodate graduate student needs.

Budget Committee

  • Processes and approves budget requests that are made of GSS.
  • The budget meeting discusses sponsoring other events currently occurring or planning to occur on campus to fund. The committee should seek these events based on their applicability to graduate students and the visibility provided to GSS.
  • The Budget committee is responsible for the logistic implementation of the OWG and Travel grants every semester. Budget committee members do not need to serve as reviewers but should act as organizers of the grant review and act at the discretion of the Treasurer. The budget committee will work with the Treasurer, OWG reviewers, and the Graduate College to improve and clarify the guidelines of the OWG.
  • The budget committee will constantly be searching for other funding sources that GSS and graduate students can benefit from. The budget committee is responsible for writing at least one End of Year Issue Summary regarding their actions and accomplishments as a committee (Chapter 15.09).

Governance Committee

  • The committee shall be the official interpreters of the R&P and Constitution of GSS. 
  • The governance committee will assist in the writing and technicalities of all resolutions presented by body members to the Governance committee. This is meant to act as a review of potential resolutions.
  • The governance committee will ensure that progress is being made on the implementation of Resolved points in the passed resolution. Explanations of changes will be sought from resolution sponsors if the implementation of the resolutions changes or progress is not made.
  • The committee will constantly be seeking avenues by which to advance the legislative agenda of the GSS body in the interest of graduate students.
    It is also responsible for writing at least one End of Year Issue Summary regarding its actions and accomplishments as a committee
     

GPSAW Committee

  • Organize programming for the Graduate & Professional Student Appreciate Week
     

GSS Internal Awards Committee

  • The committee shall have a Chair and a minimum of four additional members. All committee members must be current GSS members and not graduating that same spring semester.
  • The committee makes recommendations for the Executive Emeritus, Senator Emeritus and Graduating Senator awards. The committee also determines the number of awards provided and the recipients of those awards.
  • The committee shall issue applications for the awards no later than the tenth week of the spring semester. A minimum of two weeks from the date of availability or longer will be granted for application submission as deemed appropriate by the GSS Emeritus & Awards Committee. With the approval of the Executive Council, the committee will determine the date and manner of awarding the Executive Emeritus, Senator Emeritus, and Graduating Senator awards.
  • Create the resolution for the awards in the next general body meeting.

Health and Well-being Committee

  • Promotes graduate student health by coordinating initiatives on mental, physical, and social well-being.
  • Partners with campus health offices to ensure access to services and resources.
  • Collects student input on wellbeing concerns and advocates for policy or service changes.
  • Prepares an End of Year Issue Summary with recommendations for ongoing support (Chapter 15.09).

Social Event Committee

  • Designs and organizes social activities to build community across graduate programs.
  • Hosts events such as mixers, seasonal celebrations, and informal gatherings.
  • Collaborates with other committees to co-sponsor inclusive and accessible events.
  • Reports annually on the scope, participation, and impact of events (Chapter 15.09).

Outreach and Advocacy Committee

  • Raises the visibility of graduate students and their contributions within and beyond the university.
  • Leads campaigns on graduate student issues and advocates for equitable policies.
  • Strengthens GSS communication through newsletters, media, and public engagement.
  • Documents outreach activities and advocacy outcomes in an End of Year Issue Summary (Chapter 15.09).

Stipend Committee

  • Examines stipend levels, fees, and benefits to assess financial equity for graduate students.
  • Collects and analyzes data for benchmarking against peer institutions.
  • Develops recommendations and engages in dialogue with administrators to push for improvements.
  • Produces an End of Year Issue Summary detailing findings, progress, and proposals (Chapter 15.09).

Orientation, Training and Engagement Committee

  • Organizes graduate student orientation events and transition resources.
  • Provides leadership and professional development opportunities through workshops and training.
  • Encourages engagement in GSS activities and university governance.
  • Prepares an End of Year Issue Summary highlighting successes and areas for growth (Chapter 15.09).

Career and Academic Support Committee

  • Offers programming to strengthen graduate student academic and professional skills.
  • Connects students with mentorship, networking, and career development resources.
  • Builds partnerships with employers, alumni, and campus offices for career support.
  • Summarizes achievements and student impact in an End of Year Issue Summary (Chapter 15.09).

Online & Off-campus Committee

  • Represents graduate students who live off-campus or study online.
  • Identifies barriers to inclusion and advocates for equitable access to campus resources.
  • Creates initiatives to connect online and off-campus students with GSS activities.
  • Provides an End of Year Issue Summary outlining accomplishments and continuing needs (Chapter 15.09).

Graduate Student Conference (GradCon) Committee

  • Plans and manages the annual Graduate Student Conference, from call for proposals to event execution.
  • Coordinates proposal review, scheduling, and logistical arrangements.
  • Works with sponsors, departments, and university offices to secure funding and resources.
  • Submits an End of Year Issue Summary with an evaluation of the conference and recommendations (Chapter 15.09).