Graduate Student Body President
Position Overview
The University of Kansas Student Senate is the primary advocate for students on campus. As one of higher education's finest models of self-governance, 110 senators and 10 executive staff members work together to allocate about $24 million in student fees in ways that best serve students. Student Senate also represents the KU student voice within University, State, and National Governance, working to address and develop policy in students' best interests.
Graduate and professional students represent approximately 25 percent of the student population at the University of Kansas. The Graduate Student Body President serves as the representative of this student population in the Student Senate at the University of Kansas. The main responsibility for this position is to advocate on behalf of the needs and interests of the graduate and professional students.
Graduate and professional students represent approximately 25 percent of the student population at the University of Kansas. The Graduate Student Body President serves as the representative of this student population in the Student Senate at the University of Kansas. The main responsibility for this position is to advocate on behalf of the needs and interests of the graduate and professional students.
Job Description
The main responsibilities for the Graduate Student Body President are:
- Gathering, compiling, and presenting to the Student Executive Committee and Student Senate a report on graduate student concerns and suggestions to improve student life.
- Formulating an outreach plan to communicate with Graduate and Professional Student organizations about Student Senate
- Monitoring the effectiveness of legal, health, childcare, support and/or financial services relevant to graduate and professional students at The University of Kansas.
- Report regularly to KU’s administration on the affairs of graduate students on a regular basis
- Fostering a relationship between Student Senate and the Office of Graduate Studies to better serve graduate students.
- Serving as the Chair for the Graduate Student Advisory Board (GSAB), which entails ensuring equitable graduate student representation, scheduling meetings, frequent communication with stakeholders to ensure the work and decisions made through GSAB are transparent within Student Senate and the KU community.
Required Qualifications
- University of Kansas graduate student, currently enrolled in at least 6 hours in the Fall of 2022 and Spring of 2023 semesters and any semester thereafter whilst in the role.
- During the fall and/or spring semesters in which the graduate student holds a GA appointment, the student must be enrolled in no fewer than six credit hours required for the student's graduate degree. GAs on summer session appointments may enroll but are not required to do so.
- Enrollment and Post Comps: Upon successful completion of the doctoral comprehensive examination and all other Graduate Studies and departmental requirements for candidacy to the doctoral degree and upon completion of eighteen post-comprehensive credit hours, the person may enroll in one or more dissertation, thesis, or equivalent credit hours as approved by the student's department, the student's school or College, and the Office of Graduate Studies to qualify for a Graduate Assistantship appointment. [Note: Candidates for the professional doctoral degrees may enroll in dissertation-equivalent hours as approved by Graduate Studies. For more detailed information about post-comprehensive enrollment, see the policy on Doctoral Candidacy.]
- The appointment will be renewed for Fall 2025 contingent upon the following. The GA receives a positive review by the Evaluation subcommittee of GSAB and the employee stays in good academic standing as determined by the department in which the person is enrolled. Students who are admitted to a degree program on provisional status are not considered to be in academic good standing for the purpose of GA appointments. Exceptions may be granted by the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies under extraordinary circumstances. A graduate student must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 to remain in good academic standing. However, if a department judges that a graduate student whose GPA falls below 3.0 after the first semester at KU is nonetheless making satisfactory progress, the department may recommend to the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies that the student be allowed to keep the GA position for one additional semester. All petitions to the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies must be initiated through the academic department.
- The person must successfully pass a background check established by the University of Kansas.
- A student who has earned a graduate degree may not continue in a GA appointment after the graduation date unless the student has just completed a master’s degree and is enrolled in a doctoral program in the same field or a closely related field or the student is a doctoral graduate who has been accepted into another graduate program.
Preferred Qualifications
- Completion of at least two post-bachelor’s semesters enrolled at KU as a degree-seeking graduate student.
- Experience writing policy or legislation.
- Active involvement with the Student Senate/demonstration of advocacy for graduate students. Can be seen through participation in committees, service as a graduate senator, or other forms of advocacy on campus.
Additional Candidate Instructions
Apply online
As this is a Graduate Student Assistant position, 6 credit hours tuition sponsorship will be paid for fall/spring semesters.
This posting will be removed when a candidate has been selected.
As this is a Graduate Student Assistant position, 6 credit hours tuition sponsorship will be paid for fall/spring semesters.
This posting will be removed when a candidate has been selected.
Contact Information to Applicants
Hollie Rebecca Hall – hollierebeccahall@ku.edu
Luke Parker – lukeparker@ku.edu
Samantha Ghali – samantha.ghali@ku.edu
Luke Parker – lukeparker@ku.edu
Samantha Ghali – samantha.ghali@ku.edu
Advertised Salary Range
21.25 per hour
Work Schedule
20 hours per week during the academic year
20 hours per week throughout the summer
20 hours per week throughout winter break
20 hours per week throughout the summer
20 hours per week throughout winter break