The Grad Student Council is looking for graduate students to serve on University committees for the coming academic year. It’s a great way to get involved and build that “service” section of your CV. Details about openings and links to apply are below.
We’ll review applications on a rolling basis, so if you’re interested get your applications in soon! Email the Chair of Nominations with any questions.
Graduate Library Advisory Committee (Social sciences and humanities students)
The Graduate Library Advisory Committee facilitates direct dialogue between graduate students and library staff (subject librarians) pertaining to graduate student needs. Topics include the effectiveness of current library collections, services and spaces and suggestions for improvement. Meeting times and frequency are set by committee members, looking for a graduate student in the social sciences.
More info & apply here
Brown University Community Council
The Brown University Community Council (BUCC) serves as a university-wide representative forum for discussion, debate, and advisory recommendations on a wide spectrum of issues and concerns. It may, at its discretion, consider and advance questions of University community policy, the governing of the University, and issues related to the overall welfare of the University; and to make recommendations regarding any such matters to the appropriate decision-making bodies of the University or to the appropriate officers of the University.
Graduate students on the committee serve a two-year term. The BUCC meets three times per semester. More information & apply here
Grad Student Faculty Meeting Observers
This is an important and interesting opportunity to watch faculty communicate about a variety of issues and understand a broader perspective on university structure and function. Graduate student observers also bring back issues to the GSC when needed. This is a nonspeaking role at the meetings . Regardless, student observers provide valuable information to the GSC about the current line of thought of the faculty and receive an interesting look at faculty governance for anyone interested in an academic career.
More info & apply here
Diversity and Inclusion Oversight Board
The Diversity and Inclusion Oversight Board (DIOB) serves to strengthen and streamline oversight of diversity and inclusion initiatives. The DIOB assesses progress related to goals set forth in the university-wide Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP).
In order to achieve its goal, the DIOB has a variety of charges:
- Meeting regularly with the Vice President for Institutional Equity and Diversity along with ex-officio members to review and comment on early iterations of the annual DIAP report
- Inviting senior leaders to DIOB meetings to discuss progress and opportunities related to specific goals (i.e. the Dean of the Faculty, the Dean of Admissions, the Office of Institutional Research, the Provost)
- Reviewing the ‘monitoring progress’ webpage and ensuring current data is populated and available to the Brown community
- Annually author a memo to the president and provost highlighting key areas that require the University’s close attention as it pertains to DIAP initiatives
Graduate students on DIOB serve a flexible term, with a minimum of a one-year commitment. Both Master’s and PhD students are represented on the Board
University Resources Committee
This exceptionally important committee determines the budget allocations of the university for the following fiscal year.
The committee will meet from 3-5pm on Mondays from September thru the first week of December with a possible lunch meeting on Friday, December 7th. The committee will then end with a final short meeting in late January to approve the report followed by a small reception to thank them for their work. That’s about 25 hours in meetings. The term runs for 2 years.
The committee members do not have to prepare for the meetings. However, they are sometimes asked to review materials in advance which can take about 15 to 45 minutes depending on the topic.
Charge:
a. The Committee shall serve to review, to analyze, and to offer recommendations to the President on all budgetary plans, proposals, and priorities, both current and future, affecting the University.
b. The Committee shall be responsible for maintaining a level of awareness of budgetary matters throughout the University that will encourage the development of informed opinions and the articulation and discussion of issues.
c. The Committee shall review, analyze and make recommendations regarding the allocation of University resources for the coming fiscal year and for long-range plans developed by the administration or by other duly constituted committees.
d. The Committee will conduct its business in closed session. The Committee will, however, host University-wide forums as necessary and appropriate to allow the Committee to hear the concerns and priorities of the University community.
e. The Committee shall, at appropriate points during the preparation of the University budget, report in written form to the President its analysis and its policy recommendations concerning the allocation of resources within the University.