About GSA

The Graduate Student Association (GSA) at Baylor University was established as an official student organization in 1998 by new Dean of the Graduate School, Dr. Larry Lyon.

GSA is currently made up of representatives from graduate departments across the institution. These include both masters and doctoral students. All representatives serve on one of five committees dedicated to academic, advocacy, community, and diversity needs of graduate students. These representatives elect leaders annually to help implement its yearly goals.

Goals for 2024-2025

Educate and connect graduate students with resources and partners at Baylor and in the Waco community
Advocating for graduate students’ basic needs by drafting resource proposals and connecting with senior Baylor administration
Ensure GSA represents and meets the needs of Baylor’s increasingly diverse graduate student population

What GSA Has Accomplished

The Baylor University Graduate Student Association is a community that strives to enrich the quality of academic and social life for students of each graduate program of Baylor University as well as advocate the rights of these students and voice their concerns. GSA Accomplishes this through events, resources, and opportunities designed by and for graduate students.

GSA serves all graduate students who are within Baylor’s Graduate School. Past initiatives have included successes with:

Parental leave policy (2010)
Local and national advocacy on graduate student stipend taxation (2016)
Graduate student regent member (2017)
Mental health advisory group (2018)
Reduction of doctoral student fees (2019)
Annual increases in doctoral research stipends (2023-25)
Fundraising partnership with University Advancement (2023)
On-Campus Graduate Student Meal Rate (2024)

How GSA Functions

GSA receives its budget from a variety of sources, including partnerships with the Graduate School, Baylor Libraries, and the Office of Student Life. Thanks to these strong partnerships, GSA also has the counsel of an Associate Dean of Professional Development in the Graduate School, who serves as faculty advisor. Additionally, GSA meets regularly with the Baylor administration to collaborate on graduate student issues, and reports to the Board of Regents three times each year.