University of Maryland Baltimore County Graduate Student Association
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University of Maryland Baltimore County Graduate Student Association (GSA) is the student government for graduate students at University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). The Graduate Student Association (GSA) represents all graduate students at UMBC and is a member of the University of Maryland Graduate School. The association serves as a bridge between the graduate student body and the larger campus community. Its focus is to enhance and enrich not only the academic but also the social and community aspects of graduate student life. The association supports graduate student research by providing students with grants for travel and conference presentation. As one of five governing bodies at the University, GSA plays an integral role in the shared governance of UMBC. GSA works to: 1) promote and support research and teaching at the University; 2) strengthen communication channels among the graduate student body; 3) create organizational legacy; and 4) implement strategic planning. Working closely with the Student Government Association (SGA), GSA strives to improve the UMBC experience for students and the greater campus community.
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[edit] GSA Mission
- To promote and support UMBC graduate students;
- To represent the interests and concerns of all UMBC graduate students;
- To provide a forum for the discussion of and recommendation on matters involving graduate students and their academic, professional, social, and personal welfare at UMBC;
- To allocate the revenue received from the graduate student fee in a manner that further the GSA mission and best serves the interests of UMBC graduate students; and
- To actively advocate on behalf of UMBC graduate students by participating in the University’s shared governance and committee assignments.
[edit] Organizational History and Structure
The Graduate Student Association was formalized in 1996 under the guidance and leadership of Dr. Scott Bass, Dean of the Graduate School and Vice President for Research at University of Maryland Baltimore County. During the 2000s, GSA began structuring its governing body and organization to better serve a growing graduate student body. GSA presidents Michelle McCourt (2002-2004) and Tom Armstrong (2004-2005), and Thomas Vicino (2005-2006), spearheaded these reorganizational efforts. These changes restructured the Executive Branch, Legislative Branch, and Administrative Branch of GSA, which include:
[edit] Executive Council
The Executive Committee is composed of five officers, all of whom are elected at-large by the GSA Senate every spring. The President of the Graduate Student Body is the chief officer for GSA and represents the organization as its main spokesperson and leader, responsible for major planning and initiatives at UMBC. The President is also the presiding officer over the Senate. The Vice President assists the President and is the chair of the Graduate Research Conference Committee. The External Vice President is the main public relations representative for GSA and follows issues and concerns of graduate students at a state and national level, as well as within the University System of Maryland. The Treasurer maintains and manages the GSA budget, and the Historian record minutes and is responsible for organizational legacy.
[edit] Senate
The Senate is composed of at least one Senator from each degree-granting graduate department or program at UMBC. Departments and programs may have a maximum of two Senators. The Senators serve as the main liaisons between departments and graduate students.
[edit] Office of Graduate Student Life
This office is staffed by the Executive Director of GSA and four graduate assistants. The Executive Director works closely with the President, the Graduate School, and Division of Student Affairs at UMBC to coordinate and plan activities, and manage GSA staff and officers. The Community Coordinator is responsible for planning and publicity of GSA events and works closely with other UMBC student organizations. The Ombudsperson interfaces with graduate students to resolve concerns and problems related to academic, professional, social, and personal issues. The Administrator is responsible for processing travel and research grants for graduate students. Last, the Writing Advisor provides advice and tips on research writing techniques for graduate students.
