Psychology Graduate Students Organization
As Close to Bylaws as PGSO is Ever Gonna Get
December 1st, 2001 (updated October 4th, 2002)
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of the Psychology Graduate Students' Organization is to facilitate the academic and professional development of graduate students in the Department of Psychology through open and frequent communication with the faculty and with a variety of intellectual and social events.
II. ROLES/RESPONSIBILITIES
A. PGSO Chair: Eve Sauer
Responsible for running PGSO meetings, coordinating the activities of other Officers, and other duties as they come up. Shall act as one of the SSGSAC representatives for the psychology department.
B. PGSO Treasurer: Michelle Arroyo
Responsible for working with the Chair and other Officers to develop, maintain, and manage a budget. The budget for PGSO events comes from a variety of sources—Psychology Students Organization (PSO) (via it's status as a registered student organization receiving funding from Student Government through the Annual Allocation process), the Psychology Department (receiving funding at the discretion of the Department Chair), and from the SSGSAC budget. Shall coordinate and track these various sources and be familiar with the application and reimbursement processes for each. Shall complete necessary paperwork to received continued funding through various sources. Shall act as one of the SSGSAC representatives for the psychology department and as the primary representative of the Psychology Students Organization (PSO) in receiving funding from Student Government.
C. Program Area Representatives
Each program area shall have a representative responsible for establishing and maintaining lines of regular communication between the faculty Program Chairs and the students in that program:
Biological Psychology:
Cognition & Cognitive Neuroscience:
Development:
Perception:
Social Psychology:
D. Faculty Committee Representatives
Graduate students will have representation on each faculty committee where students have a vested interest and can provide useful input. Student representatives to these committees are responsible for bringing student concerns (principally as discussed at PGSO meetings, but also in less formal venues) to the appropriate committee and reporting back to PGSO on the committee's actions.
Curriculum Committee: Asia Eaton- Monitors, administers, and recommends change to graduate and undergraduate curricula. Reviews student petitions relating to course/curriculum issues.
Student Affairs Committee: Xxxxxx- Advises the department on issues relating to education and welfare of students in the department. Oversight for advising and evaluating graduate students.
E. Intradepartmental Social Chair:
Responsible for coordinating/delegating social events occurring primarily for graduate student/faculty interaction in an academic context throughout the year. Works with the Treasurer and/or Chair on budgeting for these events. Annual events the chair is expected to coordinate (in addition to as many others as energy and budget permit):
Wine & Cheese's following speakers (3/quarter-3rd, 6th, 9th weeks historically)
Coffee Breaks (2/quarter-2nd &7th weeks and 2nd Tuesdays in summer historically)
Welcome Back Potluck (the first Thursday of autumn quarter)
Spring BBQ, delegated to the first-year students (late in the spring historically)
F. Extradepartmental Social Chair:
Responsible for coordinating/delegating social events occurring primarily for graduate students in a non-academic context throughout the year. Works with the Treasurer and/or Chair on budgeting for these events. Annual events the chair is required to coordinate (in addition to as many others as energy and budget permit):
Back-to-School Party in the first two weeks of autumn
Prospective Students' Students Night Party in the winter
SWANK in the spring
G. Study Pool Listhost Administrator: Susan Wagner
Responsible for ongoing daily maintenance and approval of postings to study pool listhost. Coordinates sign-up and input of new members to listhost at ORCSA’s Registered Student Organization (RSO) Fair held the Sunday before classes begin in the fall.
H. Prospective Students' Weekend Committee (2 members): Amrisha Vaish & Para Kang
Responsible for coordinating the Prospective Students' Weekend in the winter, working in conjunction with the faculty Prospective Students' Committee. Typically these roles are filled by a first-year student and a third-year student (the third-year student having been the first-year student two years previously). Most events are coordinated by the first-year student, with the third-year student providing advice and support as necessary.
I. Mentor Program Chair: Jennifer Buresh
Responsible for coordinating the departmental mentoring program. This role begins following the Prospective Students' Weekend and runs through the end of the following academic year. Primary responsibilities include working with the Prospective Students' Weekend Committee to follow up with students, matching mentor/mentoree groups as early as possible so new students have a point of contact as they plan for their move, coordinating events/lunches/discussions during the school year for mentor/mentoree. The first-years/mentorees (supervised by the Chair) are responsible for planning the Departmental Spring BBQ late in the spring each year.
J. PsychFest Chair: Matt Longo, Debbie Ma, & Jessica Sim
Responsible for coordinating this annual graduate student joint psychology conference with Northwestern University. In odd-numbered years, this event is held at the University of Chicago; in even-numbered years, at Northwestern. The Chair is appointed in even-numbered years for a two-year term. In addition to a location and a schedule of speakers, the event typically includes meals/refreshments throughout the day and often a party in the evening. The funding for this event comes from Student Government (through PSO), the Department, and SSGSAC funds. Funding needs (only in odd-numbered years) should be coordinated with the Treasurer and/or Chair.
K. Graduate Research and Travel Fund Ad Hoc Committee: Debbie Ma
When divisional/departmental funds are available, this committee will review graduate student requests for travel and research funds. This student committee is supported by a faculty member, often the departmental chair.
L. Wine & Cheese/Coffee Break Chair: Ready Ping
III. MEMBERSHIP
All currently registered graduate students in the Department of Psychology are voting members with a voice in decision-making and eligible for any of the above Roles.
