Committees & Teams
Academic Affairs Committee
The Academic Affairs Committee seeks to invite graduate students into a community of compelling scholarship and research, prepare graduate students for enriching careers both inside and outside academia, and cultivate an interdepartmental culture of belonging and collegiality. The primary ways in which the Academic Committee currently seeks to meet these goals is through the Graduate Research Showcase in the fall and the 3-Minute Thesis Competition in the spring. These events, along with other efforts on campus, allow for graduate student research and voices to contribute to the overall research and academic initiatives of Baylor.
Advocacy Committee
The Advocacy Committee works to promote and improve Baylor University policy development and enhancement as they relate to graduate students and advocate for their unique needs. Some examples of previous successes include health insurance, parental leave, spousal and childcare benefits, and support for international graduate students. Most recently, the Advocacy Committee has seen movement on graduate student stipend increases, reducing dining hall meal rates, and increasing graduate student housing availability. The Advocacy Committee takes the lead on hosting the Dialogue with Baylor Leaders Dinner which sees graduate students, faculty, and administrators come together to discuss timely graduate student concerns and topics.
Collegiality & Community Committee
The Collegiality & Community Committee is responsible for planning and hosting events that facilitate a holistic graduate experience by offering students the opportunity to connect with colleagues in casual settings, spend time with their families, and relax in the midst of busy semesters. This committee also exists to create and promote opportunities for graduate students to serve the University and their local community, thereby helping to foster a more holistic graduate student experience. The committee will work to facilitate new ways for graduate students to engage in philanthropic activities within the Baylor and Waco communities.
Diversity Committee
The Diversity Committee seeks to cultivate a culture of belonging and collegiality and nourish personal wellbeing. The Diversity Chair connects with various groups on campus, such as those from minority backgrounds (i.e., racial/ethnic, religious), those with "non-traditional" circumstances (i.e., parents, online), or those who may require additional supports (i.e., international, food insecure) to understand their perspectives and needs. The Diversity Committee communicates the needs of a broad range of graduate students to the GSA leadership team, university administrators, and national representatives. The duties of the committee include planning and hosting the Diversity Gala, co-drafting organizational policy proposals, advocacy, and working with other committees to ensure that all Baylor graduate students receive an excellent graduate student experience.
Online Community Committee
The Online Community Committee seeks to provide opportunities for online graduate students to connect with one another and to bridge the disconnect between students' virtual world and Baylor's physical campus. The duties of the Online Community Committee should focus on establishing and representing the online and professional student voice on the GSA leadership team. Representation includes communicating the multiplicity of diverse needs of online students to the GSA leadership team, advocating for new or improved online student resources, and cultivating collegial relationships by hosting and crafting virtual and hybrid events and offering opportunities for in-person interactions, both on and off-campus.
Analytics Team
This team was initially established in the Spring of 2021 as the Graduate Intelligence Team (GIT) to design, conduct, and analyze surveys for graduate students. This group works to analyze surveys conducted by GSA, refine the annual survey for the coming academic year, and discuss ways to improve the graduate student experience. Currently, the team works to support the various committees of GSA by providing their data and analysis for use in institutional policy proposals.