Graduate Student Association

Strengthening the Graduate Experience at UMB

Welcome to the GSA!

The Graduate Student Association (GSA) meets monthly with representatives across the University of Maryland, Baltimore campuses to advance the needs of graduate students across all disciplines and departments. The GSA collaborates with student organizations and departments campus-wide to enhance graduate student opportunities by organizing the annual Graduate Research Conference, administering achievement awards and funding to individuals and groups, as well as hosting networking and social events.

Our Goals and Objectives

We serve as liaisons to the faculty and administration of the Graduate School and create a forum for students to communicate concerns and ideas while also providing a platform (or safe space) for open discussion of matters affecting graduate students' lives. 

The GSA meets the first Wednesday of the month (August through June) from 5–6 PM. Meetings are open to all students, regardless of whether or not they are a program representative, though a quorum (1/2 + 1 program representative) must be present for formal proceedings to occur. Only representatives may vote. If you are interested in attending GSA meetings, please email the Secretary at umb.gsa.sec@gmail.com to be added to the email list.

Each program determines a representative and an alternate, either through an election, volunteer, or appointment by the Program Director or Coordinator. For a list of current program representatives or if you are interested in serving, please contact the Secretary at umb.gsa.sec@gmail.com. You can still attend monthly GSA General Body meetings without being a program representative.

The GSA has six standing subcommittees, along with other special interest subcommittees as needed. Each representative must serve on at least one subcommittee during the academic year, and each subcommittee must comprise at least three representatives. 

The GSA votes on student group funding requests and Executive Board positions, as well as other issues such as the formation of new subcommittees and approving (or modifying) the GSA budget. Each of these requires a simple majority vote of the present representatives (a quorum, or 1/2 + 1 of the total representatives, must be present for any vote). Only one representative per program may vote. Typically, this is the primary representative. The alternate representative may vote if the primary is absent. Amendments to the Constitution require a 2/3 majority vote rather than a simple majority. 

  • Graduate Research and Career Advancement Summit

    The Graduate Research and Career Advancement Summit (GRCAS) is hosted annually by the Graduate Student Association of the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and provides students and postdoctoral fellows with the opportunity to present their research to the campus community.

    Graduate Research Conference
  • Awards

    The GSA gives several awards, including travel fellowships, research and professional development awards, and the Dr. Patricia Sokolove Outstanding Mentor Award. Additionally, student groups that plan to hold an event can submit funding requests through the GSA. 

    Awards
  • Meet and Confer

    Meet and Confer (M&C) is a forum where graduate assistants can formally raise concerns with the University of Maryland, Baltimore administration on a wide variety of topics, including stipends, student health insurance, campus parking and transportation, equity, and campus safety. These meetings are led by the Graduate Assistant Advisory Committee (GAAC), which is chaired by the GSA President and comprised of GSA leadership and program representatives. 

    Meet and Confer (M&C)

Graduate Student Seminar Series

GSA is proud to announce the recent launch of the monthly Graduate Student Seminar Series

Student Seminar Series