A Brief History of the Graduate Student Association

1. A Brief History of the Graduate Student Association

2. Distant Past • Founded in October 1951 • Formed to bring grad students from multiple disciplines together • Many social events in the first few years

3. GSA Over the Years • 58 Different Presidents Through Today • Joseph Coates served as first president from 1951-1952 • Composition of membership changed • Numbers of Grad Council, Faculty Senate, Vice Presidents, and Assembly members varied

4. Past GSA Issues Taken Up & Activities • Medical Insurance for Grad Students • Formerly managed all grad student health insurance accounts • Various Film Series • Editor List • Greater incorporation of grad students in University Decisions

5. Current Services • Lot 10 Parking • Floater Passes • Co-Sponsoring • Community Service Efforts • Various Programs & Events • Professional Development Sessions • Babysitter List

6. Recent Accomplishments • Direct Funding from Student Activity Fee • Additional Funding for the Graduate Writing Center • On Campus Mailing for Prescriptions • Implementation of Student Town Hall Meetings • Membership of Board of Trustee Committees • Changes to Grad School Orientation • Greater Inclusion of Graduate Students on Major Decisions • Grad Student Bill of Rights

7. Example Boards GSA has Representation To • Board of Trustees • Student Activity Fee Board • Facilities Fee Board • Alumni Council • University Faculty Senate • Graduate Council • Health Insurance Committee • HUB-Robeson Advisory Board • Student Technology Advisory Committee • Legal Services Advisory Board • Workplace Safety Committee • Shields Advisory Board • Others as Created by Penn State

8. Current GSA Structure& Proposed Future Changes • Executive Officers • President • Vice President (Two Positions Combined in 2010) • Treasurer • Executive Secretary • Grad Council Representatives • Faculty Senator

9. Structure Continued • Assembly • 1-3 Delegates per College (Amended in 2010 & 2011) • Delegates from White Course Apartments • 5 At-Large Delegates • Liaisons • Appointees by President to University Committees

10. Structure Cont. • Committees – Chairs Appointed by President, Confirmed by Assembly • Student Concerns • Programming • Professional Development • Community Service • Internal Development • Human Diversity • Any grad student can be appointed as chair or be a member of the committee

11. Executive Board Board of Trustees Alumni Council Grad School Alumni Association Student Activity Fee Board Facilities Fee Board Office of the President Student Affairs Graduate School GSA Judiciary CCSG President UPUA President Serves On Works With President Office Manager Proposed Faculty Senator Grad Council Reps Vice President Executive Secretary Treasurer Chief of Staff Programming Committee Works With Faculty Senate Newswire Graduate Council ASA Account Management External Committee Appointments Professional Development Committee Meeting Minutes Co-Sponsorships Graduate Council Committees Faculty Senate Committee Representatives Delegate List Audits Internal Development Committee Faculty Senate Student Caucus Human Diversity Committee Student Concerns Committee Committee Liaisons

12. Assembly Votes on Legislation Approves Committee & Judiciary Appointments Votes to Fill Executive Board Vacancies 1-299: 1 Delegate 300-699: 2 Delegates College & White Course Delegate Numbers Determined by Enrollment Chaired by Vice President 700+: 3 Delegates At-Large Delegates College Delegates White Course Delegates Agriculture Arts & Architecture Business Communications Earth & Mineral Sciences Education Engineering Health & Human Development Information Sciences & Technology International Affairs Law Liberal Arts Nursing Science