RAPID CITY, S.D. (April 8, 2013) - A new group has formed with the goal of improving the graduate student experience at the School of Mines. The Graduate Student Society (GSS) will serve as a platform for students to bond through common issues and increase transparency within the education system, as well as provide updates on recent policies.
The first meeting will be at 4 p.m. Thursday, April 11, in room 228 of the old Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Building. The group is open to graduate students in all majors and disciplines, as well as undergraduates who are prospective grad students.
Vinod Singh Amar, a Ph.D. student within the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, is a graduate student senator and president of the Society; Ramazan Alizadeh, a Ph.D. student within the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is vice president; and Anthony Kulesa, a master's student within the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is secretary and treasurer. Doug Wells, Ph.D., dean of Graduate Education, is faculty advisor.
The Society is organizing a Graduate Research Expo during career fair day aimed at efficiently connecting graduate students with employers. Among other events, the group plans a virtual open house for prospective graduate students. "We are trying to create mentor-student relationships among the graduate student population by organizing this event. We are also promoting interests among the current undergraduate prospective students at SDSM&T," said Amar.
With a majority of graduate students involved in diverse fields of research at the university's state-of-the-art facilities, the group is organizing a safety workshop series in the fall. "It is important to realize that safety is a major concern while working in the research laboratories. There are several short-term and long-term impacts on the student health if proper care is not taken," Amar said. "We are focusing on helping students identify safety resources, emergency management, hazard analysis, case studies etc." Jerilyn Roberts, campus environmental health and safety director, has helped to organize the safety series.
The Graduate Student Society will also serve as a liaison with university administration. "We will be organizing monthly meetings throughout the academic year where we shall address the graduate students on various issues they are facing on campus and try to resolve them by involving suitable authorities. GSS will make sure to frequently update the student population as issues are getting resolved and get feedback from the students. By organizing such meetings we are creating a win-win situation among the student population and the graduate education office," Amar said.
Helping to form the Graduate Student Society with their support and assistance has been Dr. Wells; Rachel Howard, graduate student coordinator; Patricia Mahon, Ph.D., vice president of student affairs and dean of students; Mike Keegan, director of Student Activities and Leadership Center; and the Student Senate Association.