Open Positions at GSS

There are currently many openings for the 2023-2024 academic year. We have both voting and non-voting positions available. The duties and responsibilities are provided below. Experience is not required!

GSS Voting Member Positions

All voting members of GSS are required to attend bi-weekly general body meetings that last for approximately 1.5 hours each. Meetings are typically held Tuesday nights. If unable to attend, there must be a proxy to represent you.

 

College Senators

***APPLICATIONS CLOSED***

Senators (1 For each College) represent the interests of the college and its graduate constituencies. Senators serve on 2 internal or external committees, attend committee meetings, and hold at least 3 office hours per week.

PLEASE NOTE: You must be a student of the College you are applying for. In addition to the GSS application (found below), please contact your College's Dean about serving as the GSS College Senator.  An appointment as Senator is finalized by confirmation from one's own College.

Department Representatives

Department Representatives are responsible for communicating the needs of graduate/professional students in their academic departments to the General Body, and vice versa. Representatives serve on at least 1 internal or external committee, attend committee meetings, and hold at least 2 office hours per week.

PLEASE NOTE: You must be a student of the Department you are applying for. In addition to the GSS application (found below), please contact your Department Chair about serving as the GSS Department Representative. An appointment as Department Representative must be finalized by confirmation from one's own department.

Click here to see the open 2023-2024 Department Representative positions

Click here to apply to be a 2023-2024 Department Representative

Note: Not all departments are listed here, please contact us if you want to represent your department at gss@ohio.edu.

Commissioners

Commissioners (Special-Interest Group) represent the interests of specific constituencies within the graduate/professional student population and to address specific areas of concern to the graduate student population. Commissioners hold at least 3 office hours per week, and attend meetings of the 2 internal or external committees they serve on (e.g., the International Affairs Commissioner might serve on the University International Council and work on issues concerning international graduate students in tandem with other University Senates). (opens in a new wi

Click here to see the open 2023-2024 Commissioner positions

Click here to apply to be a 2023-2024 Commissioner

GSS Non-Voting Member Positions (Appointed Positions)

***APPLICATIONS CLOSED***

These positions are based on the needs of the Executive Council and can range from event organizers to photographers and graphic designers (see below for descriptions of each position). Appointed positions are finalized by nomination from the GSS Executive Committee. Work hours are based on your schedule and typically run 3-5 hours per week. These positions are flexible, as we are looking for passionate individuals to get involved with GSS. ALL students at Ohio University (Grad-Prof and Undergrad) are invited to apply for appointed positions.

GSS Chief of Staff

  • Required to attend ALL General Body Meetings of the Graduate Student Senate
    • Meetings are held on Tuesdays twice a month from 7-9pm
  • Recording officer of General Body Meeting minutes and roll call
  • Attend meetings with the Vice President in the Graduate Student Senate Office
  • Supervise the support staff for Graduate Student Senate
  • Distribute meeting minutes to the Vice President no later than three business days after the meeting for publishing
  • Maintain order in the Graduate Student Senate office
  • Graduate/Professional student preferred

GSS Historian

  • Responsible for helping with compiling and archiving historical materials for GSS

GSS Photographer

  • Take GSS photos during events and certain meetings
  • Can be asked by any GSS member to join him/her to cover activities that are related to GSS
  • Take responsibility for documenting and archiving events with GSS throughout the year
  • Work with the Executive Officers

GSS Graphic Designer/ Multimedia Content Creator

  • Responsible for helping GSS with helping with marketing and social media needs by designing and implementing materials for print and social media platforms
  • Create engaging posts on our social media platforms
  • Work closely with the Vice President
  • Experience with design software preferred

GSS Special Project Liaison

  • Help the GSS President and other Executive Officers complete and advance in special projects of GSS
  • Graduate/Professional student preferred

Other

  • As our community is exceedingly diverse and talented, if you find that your skills can be used in another way to support the graduate-professional student body at OHIO, please don't hesitate to let us know.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the GSS Executive Board at gss@ohio.edu. 

Elections

GSS Elections for Executive positions will be held at the beginning of Spring semester for the next academic year; applications will open Week 12 of the previous Fall semester. GSS elections are held at the end of the Spring semester for Senators for the upcoming school year. 

The elected positions of GSS President, Vice President, and Treasurer receive a tuition waiver and stipend.

 

Definitions

Office hours are times each week that you are available to meet with constituency groups or Executives on GSS initiatives. This can be combined with your TA/GA/RA hours (technically, somewhere you will be every week at the same time). If you have a variable schedule from week-week, it is possible to set up remote hours or by appointment in consultation with the Executive Officers.

External Committees are committees that are run outside of GSS. GSS participates as a unique voice to bring perspectives of graduate students to University administrators on University Committees by serving on external committees (e.g., Graduate Council or University International Council). For more information see, https://www.ohio.edu/standingcommittees/.

Internal Committees are committees that work on graduate matters within GSS. Participation in internal/external committees is an integral part of the shared governance system for the University and GSS.