The Graduate College at the University is in a state of transition with potential federal taxes, a ratified constitution and a physical move into McFall Center.
“Both Scott and I have talk about making this year the best transition year possible to set … grad students up for as much success as possible,” Daniel Ricken, Graduate Student Senate vice president, said.
GSS has one goal on campus, and that is to cater to and advocate for the needs of graduate students on campus, said both Scott Chappuis, GSS president, and Daniel Ricken.
GSS is also ratifying its constitution, which has not been properly ratified since 1983, Ricken said. The constitution has been passed by the senate and approved by President Mazey. The Board of Trustees will vote on the constitution next week.
Most universities cater undergraduate students and their needs on campus, but graduate students do a lot on campus as well, and GSS wants to support them.
Graduate students are in an awkward position, because depending on the “hat” they are wearing, they can be more like staff or more like undergraduate students, Ricken said.
The federal government has a proposed plan to tax waivers for graduate students, and this has been a major stressor for many graduate students.
“They are already in debt from four years of college,” Ricken said.
The Graduate College is also under the guidance from a new dean, Margaret Zoller Booth, who received praise from both Ricken and Chappuis.
Chappuis and Ricken want to support graduate students and make sure this sentiment is known. They recently put out a survey for graduate students to garner what their needs and wants are.
“We are really trying to gauge what issues matter most. As we move forward into this next semester, we can really work to address those needs and to really provide some answers,” Chappuis said.
GSS did not have a strong presence on campus in the past, but they are hoping for a change.
“I think we’re really trying to increase our presence with graduate students. I know last year our presence kind of wavered a little bit, so we’re trying to show people that ‘hey, we’re more active through social media, though Facebook, Twitter and the like.’ Just showing that we are more active than what has been done in the past and, again, showing graduate students that you can do more than just be in the classroom,” Chappuis said.
However, academics are a huge part of graduate life, and GSS has a major focus on professional development for students.
Professional development can get expensive, but it is a necessary part of building a resume for students graduating and finding careers. GSS is working to cut costs of professional development and expand the definition to fit more departments.
Ricken is in the theater department and may have to see a play or musical for his degree, but travel costs and show costs can get expensive, and because it is an academic trip, Ricken feels it should be paid for.
The move into McFall was also a transition for the Graduate College, but they are settling in and preparing for an eventful next semester.
