Handbook | Graduate Student Associations

9. Graduate Student Associations

As a graduate student, you may wish to become active in some of the following student-governed organizations.

a. Graduate Student Senate
The Graduate Student Senate (GSS) is one of the formally recognized governance bodies at UMass Amherst. The GSS serves as the graduate students' representative body, working and communicating with the University administration, the Board of Trustees, and other governance bodies to present the views, advocate for, and protect the interests of UMass graduate students. It pursues policies and objectives that serve to advance the social, cultural, material, and academic needs of the graduate community.

The GSS constitution stipulates that each department elect one senator for every fifty graduate students (or fraction thereof) in the department. Senators are normally elected in September for one-year terms. In some departments, however, elections are held each semester.

The four officers of the Senate (President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Executive Officer) comprise the Senate's Executive Committee and are elected each spring for the following year. The Executive Committee meets weekly, reviews motions for Senate meetings, decides on budgetary matters, and acts on behalf of the Senate to represent graduate student interests.

The GSS has an annual budget derived from the Graduate Senate Tax. The Senate, upon reviewing the recommendations of the Finance Committee, appropriates funds for a variety of services and agencies including: the GSS Child Care Voucher Program, Student Legal Services Office (SLSO), Commuter Services and Housing Resource Center, , Student Union Craft Shop, Student Union Art Gallery, New World Theater and Everywoman's Center Counseling Services and graduate student groups and events. The budget also supports the GSS Revenue Sharing Program which returns money to departmental graduate student organizations based upon the number of fee-paying graduate students in the program, Senate attendance, and committee service.

The Graduate Student Senate also funds the Graduate Women's Network,  which represents graduate women and serves as a network for raising and creating ideas to answer the needs of women on campus. The Graduate Women's Network Coordinator, who organizes meetings and events such as lectures, workshops and social gatheriungs, is funded by the GSS as well.

The Senate's most direct form of communication and influence is through seats on University committees, personnel search committees, and commissions constituted by the University administration, Faculty Senate, or other governance bodies on campus. Graduate student representation on these committees is one of the major avenues of input available to the GSS to influence University policies that affect the graduate student community. The Senate also publishes a graduate student newspaper, The Voice , which is published approximately four times a year and is open to the contributions of all members of the university and surrounding communities .

The GSS meets regularly during the academic year, and the office is regularly staffed during that time. For assistance with a problem or question, or for further information about committees, revenue sharing, elections, meetings, services, and so forth, please call or stop by the GSS office, 919 Campus Center or call 545-2896.

b. Graduate Employee Organization
The Graduate Employee Organization (GEO), located in 201 Skinner Hall, 545-0705, is affiliated with the United Auto Workers union (UAW) and is the bargaining agent for all Teaching Assistants (TAs), Teaching Associates (TOs), Project Assistants (PAs), Research Assistants (RAs), Interns, Trainees, Assistant Residence Hall Directors (ARDs), and Working Fellows at the University. GEO's concerns include promoting the economic well-being of graduate student assistants, supporting legislation and budget issues that are in the best interests of students at UMass, and encouraging improvement in the standard of instruction at the University. In addition, GEO acts as a representative for graduate student assistants who have grievances concerning their employment. GEO can also answer questions about benefits, workplace safety, and other work conditions. You may also contact GEO at its Web site: http://www-unix.oit.umass.edu/~geo/index.html .

c. Graduate Student Organizations
Graduate student organizations provide a forum for students with like interests to come together and discuss the issues that concern them. Active organizations range from cultural through intellectual, recreational to religious. For a list of Graduate Student Organizations at the University, contact the Graduate Student Senate Office, 919 Campus Center or call 545-2896 or visit their website at http://www.umass.edu/gss/groups.htm#GRADUATE .

d. Registered Student Organizations
Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) at the University are student-initiated organizations in which all responsibilities and decisions rest with the students. Because RSOs are funded by the Undergraduate Student Senate Tax (which graduate students do not pay), they are mainly undergraduate organizations, although graduate participation is welcomed. One of the aims of the RSO system is to provide undergraduate students with leadership opportunities. As such, although graduate student input and participation in meetings is welcome, graduate students may not run for or hold office in any RSO, or initiate the formation of an RSO. For a detailed listing of RSOs, please visit the Student Activities Center website at http://www.umass.edu/campact/category.html or you may visit the Student Activities Center at 416 Student Union, 545-3600, or email: campact@stuaf.umass.edu .