UC Santa Barbara Geography / Graduates / Student Handbook

Participation on Dept and Campus Committees

The Graduate Students Association (GSA) is the elected representative government for UCSB graduate students. They work to: (1) ensure that graduate student concerns are addressed in campus and off-campus policy decisions, 2) provide graduate students with information concerning decisions that are relevant to student life, and 3) provide social activities for UCSB graduate students. As a GSA representative (the department has two representatives), you have a large voice in establishing the concerns of graduate students and articulating these concerns to the administration. We have an active graduate program, a lot of committed people, and a lot of energy. If you can't be the department representative, then be sure to sign-up to sit on one of the numerous campus committees that shape life here at UCSB. Examples include:

• Academic Freedom Committee
• Alcohol & Drug Task Force
• Campus Planning Committee
• Financial Aid Advisory Committee
• GSA Teaching Assistant Awards Selection Committee
• Graduate Council
• Natural Reserve System Committee
• Program Review Panel (modest stipend)
• Student Affairs Council (modest stipend)

Department Committees

1. The AAG Organizing Team (4)
   Crafts a department plan for trying to recruit students at the annual meeting and attends the conference.
2. Coffee (3-9)
   Members purchase and make coffee for each week's Colloquia.
3. Colloquia Committee (2)
   Members attend several meetings throughout the school year, especially during the first quarter, to assist in planning the Colloquium series and contacting potential speakers. They also solicit suggestions and requests for speakers from the graduate students and present those to the committee.
4. Ellison Hall Sustainability Committee (4-6)
   Members make sure that recycling bins on the third and fifth floors are emptied twice weekly into the main collection bins at Buchanan.
5. Events Committe (3-6)
   Members help to organize 3 departmental functions: the beginning of year party, the holiday party, and the end of year party, and they plan social activities for graduate students throughout the year and during Staff Celebration Week.
6. Faculty Meeting Reps (2)
   The grad student reps attend faculty meetings, report back to the grad students as a whole, collect student opinions, and make recommendations to the faculty. They also are involved in faculty searches and have a single vote when selecting the final candidate for appointment.
7. Search Committee (2)
   Provides insight from the student perspective on candidates for faculty positions.
8. Visability/Outreach (3)
   Assists with providing guidance for the positive public presence of the department and helps recruit students.