by Anders | Feb 3, 2019 | Uncategorized
Applications are now open for 2019
commencement speakers.
The application is available here and the deadline to apply is Tuesday, February 26th. You can also
nominate a peer who you think would be a great speaker using the same form (the GSC will contact them and encourage them to apply).
The speeches allow graduates to discuss their experience, training, purpose, or intentions. There will be separate ceremonies for Master’s degrees and PhD degrees, so there will be two speakers selected, one for each ceremony. Please note, executive master’s students are also eligible.
Questions about
commencement speaker applications or the staff award nominations should be sent to Becca Thorsness at
gsc_nominations@brown.edu.
by Anders | Dec 3, 2018 | Uncategorized
In collaboration with the Graduate School, faculty, other entities of the University, and most importantly with fellow graduate students, we have created new and robust
academic grievance procedures for graduate students. Our new policy was unanimously approved by the Brown University Faculty in early November and put into effect immediately. Enhancing the academic grievance procedures has been a priority of the Graduate Student Council since the beginning of 2018 as graduate students recognized the need for modifications to this essential and often sensitive process.
Responding to the needs and advice of graduate students and utilizing existing policies from our peer institutions, the working group who formulated the revised procedures incorporated several important new features:
-explicit time frames for responses to grievances
-student involvement in the adjudication of grievances
-clear distinctions between informal efforts and the formal grievance process
-compulsory documentation
-ability to appeal at multiple levels
Please find our new academic grievance procedures
here.
by Anders | Sep 7, 2018 | Uncategorized
Dear fellow graduate students,
In light of the developments over the summer regarding graduate student unionization, the GSC is organizing a graduate student town hall to facilitate a discussion on this topic. In this inclusive environment we would like to provide the opportunity for free and open discussion on matters and questions that pertain to unionization, which would affect the graduate student body as a whole. In this space, we will promote an atmosphere of education and information sharing from basics to specifics, and encourage all view points.
Please join us on
Tuesday, September 11th at 6pm in the Graduate Student Lounge (
90 Thayer Street, inside the graduate center, entrance by the spiral staircase). Beverages will be provided.
**To reiterate our stance, the GSC is a neutral body, representing the entire spectrum of graduate students, including both doctoral and master’s students. Each group holds different perspectives and concerns with respect to work, research, and the graduate student experience at our institution. Our constituents include those who are in favor of unionization, those who are opposed, those who are not quite sure, and everyone in between. To best represent all our constituents, we will continue to facilitate a fair and unbiased environment for conversation.**
by Anders | Jul 19, 2018 | Uncategorized
Graduate Students,
Please make a note of the following important dates for the Fall 2018 Applications. Graduate students may apply for up to $250.00 of funds towards travel and priority is given to graduate students who have exhausted, been denied, or are ineligible for additional funds.
Application Window: September 17, 2018-October 19, 2018
Travel Dates: September 1, 2018- February 28, 2019
Application Decision Date: No later than November 2, 2018
The application form will be available on our funding page on the GSC Website when the application window opens.
Requests for funding must be received within the application window. In the event a request is received outside of the application window (late submission), the GSC cannot guarantee an application will be funded and will be determined on a case by case basis as funds may have been exhausted.
If you have any further questions, we encourage you to read the recently posted criteria on the GSC funding website. Feel free to follow up with an email to gsc_treasurer@brown.edu. Please no personal emails.
by Anders | Jul 19, 2018 | Uncategorized
Dear fellow graduate students,
The Graduate Student Council is instituting the GSC Distinguished Speaker Series beginning this academic year, meant to provide a means for graduate students to nominate individuals who will add value to the graduate experience. We are looking for nominations from any graduate student or group of graduate students. Nominations should be intended for a broad audience. Nominations are also encouraged to define what makes the speaker(s) distinguished, such as prominent scholars or public figures who are active change-makers, leaders in today’s world, whether in or outside of the academy, whether it is a distinction through scholarship, advocacy, etc.
The GSC has set aside financial resources dedicated to this series, and nominators will assist the GSC in organizing and running the event for the selected nominee. Shortly following the nomination deadline for this cycle, the GSC will reach out to the top nominations for additional information. Nominations are due by August 3rd. Questions may be directed to gsc_studentlife@brown.edu and gsc_vpsocial@brown.edu.
Please use this nomination form.
The 2018 Executive Board of the Graduate Student Council,
Alastair Tulloch, President
D’Ondre Swails, VP of Advocacy
Kara Lau, Treasurer
Kaitlin Wilcoxen, Chair of Communications
Sophie Brunau-Zaragoza, Chair of International Advocacy
Alexander Laferriere, Chair of Master’s Advocacy
Christian Casey, Chair of Nominations
Sayan Samanta, Chair of Social Events
Jack Krantz, Chair of Student Life
Ghous Amjad, Chair of Technology
by Anders | Feb 16, 2018 | Uncategorized
Dear Graduate Students,
The Graduate Student Council invites students who intend to complete their programs in May 2018 to apply to be the Commencement Speaker at the PhD Ceremony or the Master’s Ceremony, both to be held on May 27.
Interested graduate students can apply here up until midnight on Sunday, February 25th.
Also, the Graduate Student Council calls for nominations by February 25 for the Wilson-DeBlois & Bates-Clapp Awards.
The GSC confers these awards annually to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to graduate students and the Graduate School. The award is given on behalf of all Brown graduate students to express their appreciation for the recipient´s dedication and commitment to graduate students at the University.
The Wilson-DeBlois Award goes to a staff member for contributions to doctoral students and the Graduate School and the Bates-Clapp Award for contributions to master’s students.
Wilson-DeBlois Award: https://www.brown.edu/academics/gradschool/about/awards/wilson-deblois-award
Bates-Clapp Award: https://www.brown.edu/academics/gradschool/about/awards/bates-clapp-award
