Resolution to Support the Formation of an Independent Graduate
Student Association as the Governance Body for Graduate Students
At Grand Valley State University
RATIONALE: In 1999, the university’s accrediting body, The Higher Learning
Commission, noted to GVSU: “As a group, graduate students and their interests are
not apparently represented within the existing student government system [at Grand
Valley State University].” Twelve years later graduate students are still not represented at
Grand Valley. Presently, graduate students do not make a report to the Board of Trustees,
have no voting representation on University Academic Senate, have no voting privileges in
Student Senate, and bear a large inequity in Student Life funding between graduate and
undergraduate students.
For example, during the 2009-2010 academic year:
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
Graduate students contributed approximately $127,500 to the total GVSU Student
Life Fund (SLF) of $1,069,104
Graduate student organizations received $3,735 from the SLF, or 2.9 percent of the
amount contributed
Attempts to remedy governing and financial inequities through the current Student Senate
have fallen short, as the current Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA)
lacks authority and must report to a body completely populated by undergraduate students.
Although undergraduate student senators can be commended for reaching out to graduate
students, these senators simply cannot represent the dramatically different interests and
needs of graduate students.
RESOLUTION: Be it resolved that Graduate Council supports the formation of a
Graduate Student Association as the governance body for graduate students at Grand
Valley State University, independent of the current Student Senate with an
appropriate role in university governance and dedicated funding based on fees paid
by graduate students.