Graduate Student Senate Meetings

Be Heard at Graduate Student Senate Meetings

Graduate Student Senate (GSS) holds open monthly meetings on Thursdays from 6:30-8 p.m. via Zoom. Any graduate student may address the GSS during the Open Forum portion of the meeting.

graduate student senate meetings

  • March 1, 2021
    • Synopsis: Guest speaker, Julie Orio, provided updates on re-opening plans for Fall 2021. Orio discussed the various modalities of instruction that will be offered and how classrooms are set up in order to follow social distancing protocol. In terms of housing, the majority of the rooms in the residence halls are expected to be occupied, with vacant rooms available as quarantine spaces. Regarding the Title IX report, a working group for sexual assault is in the process of being formed in order to regain trust from the school community. The Senate team discussed the results from the Graduate Student Senate Fall 2020 Survey, which contained feedback from 1,200 students regarding GSS visibility, remote instruction, and how to improve the overall USF experience. Agenda|Minutes
  • April 5, 2021
    • Synopsis: GSS members discussed and voted on the proposed budget for the 2021-2022 academic year, which is unchanged from the 2020-2021 GSS budget. Mission Committee discussed their transition items for next year's committee and proposed a GSS Meet & Greet event for incoming and returning students next semester. This would be a great way to increase GSS's visibility and encourage involvement on campus. External Affairs Committee established a timeline for video presentation submissions for the Academic Showcase.  Agenda|Minutes
  • August 29, 2019
  • October 3, 2019
    • Synopsis: Guest speaker, Jeff Hamrick, came to speak about the university budgeting processes. Hamrick described the process of how university dollars are acquired, changed, and reallocated to meet the needs of the school. The School of Law also came in to inquire information on GSS and the benefits that GSS could potentially offer if the School of Law was represented on the senate team. Agenda|Minutes|Presentation
  • November 7, 2019*
    • Synopsis: Guest Speaker, Peter Sahaidachny, presented simple ways to market to the public. He informed over different marketing tactics, and how to get the word out and receive consistent feedback. The Senate team spoke over how to actively reach out to students Beyond the Hilltop, looking for representatives to fill in upcoming vacant positions, and the proposal for University Council. Agenda|Minutes
  • December 5, 2019
    • Synopsis: GSS members discussed alterations that would be made on the Constitution, Amendments, and Bylaws. They then voted upon the alterations that would be made. They then shared information they were given in the Board of Trustees meetings they sat in. Agenda|Minute
  • February 6, 2020*
    • Synopsis: Active members leaving senate at the end of the semester are to recruit new members for the following year. Potential members are to apply for GSS on March 2nd and voting will begin April 20th. There will also be a graduate student survey for general feedback. This survey automatically puts these students in a raffle for a new computer. Agenda|Minutes
  • March 5, 2020
    • Synopsis: Shanie Chambers spoke about Koret activities. Graduate students are always welcome to join clubs at the Koret or create their own club. They also have job opportunities and excursions that all students that attend USF are welcome to attend. GSS members also evaluated the budget that will be used for the following Senate team, as well as, referendum resolutions that need to be voted on. Agenda|Minutes
  • April 2, 2020*
    • Synopsis: USF Faculty Association are composed of representatives of Faculty on Campus and have found COVID-19 to be pose different challenges as professors adapt to online formatting. Graduate Student Senate also votes on the budgets for the incoming senate team and a Resolution to donate $20,000 to the Student Emergency Fund. Agenda|Minutes
  • May 7, 2020* 

*switched to Zoom

If you wish to attend meetings, please contact gss@usfca.edu