Students at Ohio University will be recognized during Graduate Professional Student Appreciation (GPSA) Week beginning on Wednesday, April 17, until Tuesday, April 23. Graduate and professional students will be recognized for their hard work and dedication to the University.
GPSA Week has been celebrated at OHIO in the distant past and OHIO’s Graduate Student Senate revived it last year, according to Maria Modayil, GSS president.
“We felt it was important to recognize the hard work graduate and professional students do at Ohio University in addition to the number of roles they play in the university system,” Modayil explained. “This also aligned with the President’s strategic initiatives and priorities of academic excellence and graduate student benefits. Recognition of graduate and professional students, even for a week, brings the focus to the lives of graduate students and their needs specifically.”
Modayil went on to say that celebrating these students’ contributions during a week especially for them, in addition to providing unique programming that highlights their needs, is critical to graduate and professional students “feeling a sense of belonging.”
Events and programs are slated from April 17 through April 23, from a keynote event that highlights graduate student mental health and wellbeing to the culminating event to acknowledge OHIO’s graduate students.
Wednesday, April 17
• Keynote-kick off: Kathryn R. Wedemeyer-Strombel’s “Graduate School: It’s Something We Do But Not Who We Are” will take place at 5:15 p.m. in Baker University Center’s Theater. Doors open at 5 p.m.
• Also Wednesday, there will be a GradConnect Social Hour from 6:30 p.m. at Jackie O’s Public House & Brewpub (on W. Union St).
Thursday, April 18
• OHIO Giving Day, a 24-hour online campaign, to give back to the University. Specific causes for graduate education will be available. Patton College of Education will host Uni-Tea, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the third floor of McCracken Hall where students can network with faculty and fellow students on the Athens campus. All OHIO students are welcome to attend.
Friday, April 19
• Students can participate in “Cooking on a Graduate Student Budget,” where Professor Thomas Stevenson will help students manage their grocery budget and gain new cooking skills. The event will take place from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. in McCracken 120.
Monday, April 22
• There will be a fundraiser at Chipotle from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Monday, April 22. Bring in the flyer on this page, show it on a cellphone, or tell the cashier you’re supporting Graduate Student Senate during these hours to make sure that 33 percent of the proceeds will be donated to GSS.
Tuesday, April 23
• Celebration event: Conclude this year’s Graduate Professional Student Appreciation Week with light refreshments and recognize graduate professional student achievements at Walter Rotunda. Doors open at 5 p.m., event will begin at 5:30 p.m.