Dedicated to resolving issues through active representation, the Graduate Student Senate is committed to serving the 3000 graduate students at the University.
Through legislative efforts and ongoing communication with the administration, GSS adheres to enhancing the academic and social experiences of all its members.
“Our two primary roles are professional development and advocacy,” president of GSS Stephen Dinda said. “We want to facilitate the ways students develop themselves at the University.”
Over the summer, Dinda and other GSS committee members planned for several new, upcoming events for the fall semester.
“The GSS legislation has been working all summer with executive committee members for the coming year,” GSS secretary Alice Cook said. “Our organization is dedicated to identifying student concerns and producing promising results.”
GSS will hold monthly brown bag luncheons where leaders from the University and the surrounding community will discuss student issues and the ways they can be resolved.
“We’re looking for ways to expand and tailor to students needs,” Dinda said. “The luncheons will be a conduit to connect students to upper administration for expressing concerns.”
Other new projects include a University car rental program. Dinda said the program will make renting a car affordable and convenient for all students.
“One of the problems with rental cars is you have to be at least 25 years old,” Dinda said. “You also have to pay for the whole day which usually runs for about $50. A lot of international students don’t have the money to rent a car at those rates, and what our program will do is charge eight dollars an hour for students to go to the grocery store or run errands.”
The car rental program would be available to anyone over 18 and proof of insurance is not necessary. Dinda said GSS is collaborating with USG, the University’s director of purchasing and several rental car companies to make this idea a reality.
“We want to give students more alternatives to make their experience at the University easy as possible.” Dinda said. “If we’re going to do it, let’s do it right.”
This fall, GSS will also be working with disability services to help students with their degree process.
“A student who has a learning disability should be able to receive a fair education,” Dinda said. “If you are in a situation where you have that sort of issue, I want them to feel comfortable coming to an office that is there to serve them and to make their educational experience the best it can possibly be.”
The first GSS meeting will be at 3 p.m. Sept. 3 in the McFall Art Gallery. For further questions or concerns, contact Stephen Dinda at (419) 372-2427.