Our Platform

Approachability:

            We want to foster an environment where students feel welcome and comfortable approaching the graduate senate. This will involve increasing our presence not just in the office but on campus as well.

            Open Senate for More Students

                        We want to put a new face on the Graduate Student Senate. The fact that the last election only turned out less than 150 students to vote shows that there is a very small group of students behind senate.  There is a clear disconnect among the graduate students. We want to create an Ohio University graduate student community.

Increase Accountability within Senate

            Our executive board wants to be a touchstone with the rest of senate to assure that they are moving forward with projects and see what we can do to get their projects accomplished. We want to create open lines of communications within senate. This will involve having a more structured process for accomplishing goals and seeing that people are meeting certain checkpoints along the way. We want to create a positive learning environment where we are working with and helping each other to accomplish collective goals.

Encourage Student Speak Out

            In improving approachability for students, we want to encourage students to attend the Student Speak Outs. Every meeting has a spot for Student Speak Out but students rarely attend because they do not know they can. If students are having problems or have suggestions for senate, they should know there is an opportunity for them to speak to senate.

Improve the Social Environment for Graduate Students:

            Graduate school students currently largely only interact with other students in their program. We want to hold and promote more events where students can come together and interact with students outside of their program. We want graduate students to have the same love and pride for Ohio University as undergraduates do. Improving the environment will allow students to network outside their programs, building connections with others that they can use after their time at Ohio University has ended.

Creation of a Public Relations Team:

            The public relations team will consist of a group of students overseen by the Vice President of Communications. Their job will be to plan, implement and promote events, create a bi-weekly e-newsletters, update social media and the Graduate Senate Website and generally keep graduate students updated about the happenings and updates around campus

Events

            Graduate students currently have one Graduate Student Senate sponsored social event to attend a month where they can interact with other graduate students. We would like to have more events for graduate students to come together and unwind from school not only on the weekends but on the weekdays as well. Additionally, we would like to hold more workshops, lectures and trainings that encompass many programs so the students may learn outside of their area of study if they wish.

E-Newsletter

            The creation of a graduate school e-newsletter will allow students to easily find events, workshops, lectures and trainings they may be interested in attending. This will also be a place to showcase graduate students accomplishments and allow them to make announcements to fellow graduate students.

Social Media

            In today’s world, social media is a main outlet for information. We would like to revamp the current social media that will be regularly updated so students may use it as a resource. This will allow Graduate Senate to easily promote events and happenings around campus. This will also be a place where current and prospective students can ask questions and make suggestions for Graduate Senate.

Website Update

            We would like an interactive website that includes a blog that students can easily maneuver through and get the information they need. The new website will have a calendar where students may submit events for other students to see. The blog will allow students to get to know their representatives and contact them with their questions and concerns. The blog will be maintained with what representatives are currently working and on how their progress is going.