Ashley White, EDAD student and President of GPSA
This post will highlight the work of the Graduate &
Professional Student Association, one of the many active student groups on the
USD campus. GPSA, in addition to planning social events, organizes workshops beneficial
to graduate and professional students and functions as an advocacy group with
aims to improve school policies regarding the needs of Graduate and
Professional students here at USD. We spoke with Ashley White, President of the
Graduate Professional Student Association and a doctoral student in the EDAD
division to find out more about how the group engages with the USD community.
Ashley noted that the GPSA is a great organization to become
involved with, particularly if you are interested in higher education. They are
actively involved in areas of curriculum
& instruction, the graduate council and many other areas on campus.
When campus committees call for student representatives, the Administration
seeks recommendations through the GPSA. There are usually 7-11 such positions
on campus that range from athletics to diversity and inclusiveness. In this
way, graduate students become involved in the policy forming and administrative
process and for AHED students, it enables them to put what they learn into
action in a real setting. Ashley is enthusiastic about the positive nature of
involvement for students, “It’s a great way to get to know USD and how higher
ed operates.”
In terms of advocacy and working on behalf of graduate
students at USD this fall, the organization has worked with Dan Daily, Dean of
the University Libraries, to secure a quiet study space in the Law Library for
graduate students across campus. Plans are underway to make space for
organizational changes at the I.D. Weeks Library and a dedicated study area for
graduate students will be included there.
Currently, the GPSA is trying to grow its membership and is
encouraging students to come to the meetings to get involved at whatever level
they’d like. Plans for future activities include a 5K donation run, along with
workshops and other social activities that will help students meet and network
with other across campus.
The Graduate and Student Professional Association currently
meets on the second Thursday of the month at 11:00 am, either to plan future
events or to engage in a social activity. For more information, contact the
Ashley directly at Ashley.m.white@coyotes.usd.edu
or through their Facebook group.
