Get Involved

What is the GSG?

The Graduate Student Government (GSG) is the official student government for all University of Delaware graduate and professional students. Our mission is to create a forum for graduate student advocacy while acting as a conduit between students, faculty, and administration at the University.

The GSG consists of a Senate and an Executive Council. The Senate is a legislative body made up of representatives from each eligible graduate program at the university. It hosts various committees which organize events, explore issues facing graduate students, and propose legislation. The GSG Executive Council takes responsibility for organizing meetings and working with university administration to implement legislation passed by the senate.

The GSG is sponsored by the Graduate College, but is student-led and student-run. We rely on robust participation from the graduate student community, and in that spirit, urge you to join us in working on the behalf of graduate students at the university.

Want to make your voice heard? Here’s how you can get involved in the GSG.

 

Becoming a Member-at-Large

All University of Delaware graduate students are eligible to serve on GSG committees as “members-at-large.” Members-at-large work with GSG Senators on committees dedicated to a variety of different purposes, from hosting community-building social events to advocating on behalf of graduate students around specific issues.

Becoming a member-at-large is a great way to begin making a positive change at the university and gain experience in academic service. Responsibilities of members-at-large including attending the monthly meetings of their committee and helping to assist with committee work. Any student may become a member-at-large by notifying the Vice President of Membership of the student’s desire to serve. Learn more about committees and what they do here.

 

Becoming a Senator

Senators are graduate students who are elected annually to serve representatives of their department/academic plan. Senators draft the legislation that becomes senate resolutions, facilitate communication between the GSG and the departments they represent, plan social activities and other events designed to serve the graduate community, and represent the interests of graduate students on other non-GSG university committees (like the Faculty Senate). Senator responsibilities include serving on at least one GSG committee (which meet on a monthly basis), updating graduate students in the senator’s department on GSG activities, and attending monthly GSG public meetings.

Senators are elected each year in departmental elections coordinated by the Executive Council. Each February, graduate students receive an email notification announcing that Senate nominations are open. Following the nomination deadline, elections are held in March. Department polls open first week of March and remain open for one week. All graduate students in their respective departments are eligible to vote in these elections, and results are announced following the closure of the polls. To learn more about senator responsibilities or the elections process, please contact the Vice President of Membership.

2022 Senate Elections Schedule:

February 9th: Open Nominations Begin

March 9th: Nominations Close

March 9th – March 16th: Department Elections

GSG Senator Nomination Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeZlHZVtxctQ0fgZawz-ogeZS51Z3HFUlKGsBzEII6wNk0oHw/viewform?usp=sf_link

 

Becoming an Executive Council Member

Members of the Executive Council are responsible for coordinating the activities of the GSG by planning monthly public meetings, managing committees, and implementing the legislation passed by the Senate. The Executive Council consists of six officers, each with a distinct responsibility: President, Vice President of Internal Affairs, Vice President of Student Affairs, Vice President of Membership, Secretary, and Parliamentarian. Detailed descriptions of the responsibilities of each position can be found in Article II, Section 2 of the GSG By-Laws. You can also learn more about the responsibilities and requirements of each position by speaking with the current GSG Executive Council at the annual Officer Interest Meeting.

Executive Council Members are elected by the Senate each March. To be eligible to run for election to an officer position, a prospective officer must first be nominated (self-nominations are accepted). To accept a nomination, the nominee must submit a candidate statement (250 words maximum) and photograph to the Vice President of Membership. Nominees have until one week following the nomination deadline to either accept or decline the nomination. After the deadline for accepting nominations has passed, the candidates for officer positions address the Senate at the Special Elections Meeting. The polls will open following the Special Elections Meeting, and remain open for one week. To learn more about the Executive Council or to ask questions about the elections process, please contact the Vice President of Membership.

2022 Officer Elections Schedule:

February 9th: Open Nominations Begin

February 23rd: Officer Interest Meeting, 7 pm – 8 pm

March 9th: Nominations Close

March 9th: Special Elections Meeting

March 16th: Candidate Statement Submission Deadline

March 17th – March 23rd: Officer Elections

GSG Officer Nomination Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe4FLndzbK9Zc12pxwBNrqCo6V3jORonitNe-No0lndG77Lgg/viewform?usp=sf_link