Overview

Mission of Graduate Student Association (GSA)

• To support, promote and represent all graduate students at UMBC;
• To provide a forum for discussions of and recommendations on matters involving graduate
students and their welfare at UMBC; and
• To provide opportunities for intellectual, professional and social development through grants, public presentation of research, graduate community events and campus service support.

 GSA Governance Structure

The Graduate Student Association (GSA) is comprised of two governing bodies: the Executive Council and the Graduate Senate. Together, these groups provide leadership, representation, and advocacy for UMBC’s graduate student community.

Executive Council

The Executive Council (E-Council) is responsible for GSA programming, events, outreach, and advocacy, and for carrying out decisions approved by the Graduate Senate. The E-Council is divided into two branches:

Through these roles, the Executive Council supports graduate student engagement, coordinates initiatives, and implements organizational priorities.

Graduate Senate

The Graduate Senate serves as the legislative body of the GSA and represents graduate student interests at the university level. Senators participate in university committees and lead policy-focused efforts on behalf of the graduate student population.

The Graduate Senate is organized into four cohorts:

  • COEIT
  • CNMS
  • CAHSS
  • Student Affairs

Each cohort elects representatives to ensure broad academic and community representation.

Roles and Responsibilities

  • Executive Council: Leads GSA programming, events, outreach, and advocacy, and executes decisions made by the Graduate Senate.

  • Graduate Senate: Oversees legislation and represents graduate student interests through participation in university committees and formal governance processes. Senators are responsible for hosting 3 townhalls per year for their cohort.

Together, the Executive Council and Graduate Senate work collaboratively to advance graduate student needs, foster community, and strengthen graduate representation across campus.