GSA Accomplishments:
1)
Advocacy
a)
Helped
draft a graduate assistant (GA) leave policy.
b)
Secured
a seat for the GSA VP for External Affairs on the Alumni Board.
c)
Advocated
for evening hours and online options at service departments such as the
bookstore, registrar, bursar, library, and parking.
d)
Advocated
for designated library study areas for graduate students which resulted in
library quiet floors.
e)
Intervened
when departmental GA’s had payroll problems.
f)
Worked
with Health Services to improve the student employee health insurance
enrollment process.
g)
Worked with Transit Services to expand shuttle bus routes and schedules,
provide transportation to malls and
h)
Worked
to make Walker Avenue Apartment more amenable to graduate students, including a
designated grad student wing, monthly payment plan, reserved limited space for
late summer arrivals, fixed the gap between the close of August temporary
housing and the availability of permanent housing.
i)
Advocated
for an online database of available roommate opportunities.
j)
Advocated
for continuous summer GA paychecks rather than 2 lump sum payments.
k)
Advocated
for campus support for various computer platforms (e.g., Windows, Unix, Linux).
2)
Leadership
a)
Set
GSA policy and goals as well as develop and monitor a yearly budget.
b)
Meet
regularly with UMBC President, Deans of the
c)
Represent
graduate student interests on UMBC’s Research Council
and Graduate Council.
d)
Participate
in and plan GSA board and Senator retreats.
e)
Sponsor
regular Grad Org Summits that provide information and networking opportunities
for leaders of graduate student organizations.
f)
Represent
GSA at campus committees like the Steering Committee, Athletics Policy
Committee, Library Policy Committee, and IT Steering Committee.
g)
Participate
in interview processes for campus administrative positions such as Provost, Director
of Counseling Services, and Director of Health Services.
3)
a)
Provide
services, support and funding for 21 grad student organizations.
b)
Offer
bi-weekly Happy Hour.
c)
Sponsored
Grad Night at a UMBC a Women’s Basketball game.
d)
Initiated
a Graduate Student Week celebration, including a Faculty/Staff Softball Game,
Culture Night, and Silent Auction.
e)
Provide
information through a redeveloped web page and weekly announcements.
f)
Creating
a peer mentoring program
4)
Student Support and Services
a)
Provide
writing assistance at Master’s and Ph.D. level
b)
Provide
conference attendance and research funding
c)
Host an annual Graduate Research Conference
d)
Sponsor Seminars
i) tax seminar for graduate students
ii) resume/CV writing
iii) stress management
iv) graduate level writing
e)
working
to strengthen the advisor/advisee review process
f)
working
with Career Services to develop more programs/services for grad student