What is GAPSA?

The Graduate and Professional Student Assembly (GAPSA) is the University-wide deliberative student government body representing all graduate and professional students to the central university administration including the Offices of the President and Provost and the University Trustees. As an advocate for students, GAPSA appoints more than 100 student representatives to more than 35 university committees and monitors student grievance and disciplinary procedures.

GAPSA provides a forum and a voice for both majority and minority student populations and includes councils of international students, professional students, research students, and individuals interested in diversity and student life issues.

In addition, GAPSA serves as a liaison among the student governments of the graduate and professional schools, and provides funding to each government body. GAPSA seeks to promote greater communication and interaction among graduate students across the different schools by sponsoring a variety of interdisciplinary academic, cultural and social events throughout the year.

GAPSA also provides financial support for university-wide graduate and professional student organizations, as well as for individual students, in the form of academic and social events grants, conference travel grants, and a limited number of summer fellowships grants. Some legal services are also available to students.

Students can contact GAPSA for information regarding school government contacts, funding applications, service on University-wide committees, or participation in the Assembly. Students are also encouraged to contact GAPSA with their opinions, concerns or requests regarding University policies including academics issues, quality of life issues, and other university-wide policies and procedures.

GAPSA by the Numbers (2008-2009)

How many students does GAPSA Represent?

  • 3,849 Graduate Students
  • 8,407 Professional Students
  • 12,256 TOTAL Students

How many students are involved in GAPSA?

  • 12 Executive Board Members
  • 12 Deputy Board Members
  • 47 School Representatives to the General Assembly
  • 100 Appointees to 38 University-wide Committees, Councils and Advisory Boards
  • 171 TOTAL Positions
How many groups does GAPSA support?
  • 14 School Student Government Organizations
  • 40 University-wide Student Affinity Organizations
  • 54 TOTAL Organizations
How many individual students does GAPSA award grants or fellowships to annually?
  • 6 GAPSA-Provost Awards for Interdisciplinary Innovation
  • 160 Travel Grants for Research Students
  • 40 Travel Grants for Professional Students
  • 206 TOTAL Awards
How many social/programming events does GAPSA host or co-sponsor annually?
  • 35 Ticket Events
  • 35 Free All-Access Events
  • 70 TOTAL Events
How much funding does GAPSA oversee annually?
  • $260,021 GAPSA Operating Budget
  • $383,132 Distributed to School Student Governments
  • $643,153 TOTAL Funding
How much traffic does the GAPSA website see?
  • On average, about 200 visitors per day