Founded in 1970, the Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) is the recognized independent representative body of graduate students at ISU; it is charged with representing the graduate and professional students' perspective on campus issues and serving as a liaison between graduate/professional students, University administration, and the Board of Regents.

GPSS is an elected governing body through which graduate and professional students express their concern for the welfare of graduate and professional students at Iowa State University, develop and disseminate ideas for the improvement of graduate and professional education, and contribute to the formation of relevant University policies.

 

Quick links
Find your Senator

See the Senate Schedule and Materials 

Lean about our annual Conference and Awards

Apply for graduate organization funds

Apply for travel assistance funds

Please see Iowa State University's land acknowledgement statement of Ioway Nation territory here, and more about the current Meskwaki Nation in Iowa here.

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Announcements:

 

As of April 2021, there is a NEW SENATOR NOMINATION FORM that can be filled out by the nominated senator OR the department contact/DOGE.

---Questions/concerns about this new form can be directed to the Senate Information Officer at gpssSIO@iastate.edu.

COVID-19 Updates:

 

Cyclones Care has up-to-date information about campus policies, vaccine clinic hours/availability, and covid-19 testing.

Research and Resources has statistics, publications, and information at the state, region, and global level. 

 

The Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization have some helpful tips on managing stress and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Iowa State University Thielen Student Health Center  also has a page providing helpful COVID-19 information for students. This BBC article also has some tips for mental wellbeing during this time.

The Student Wellness Division has some helpful tips for students and employees, and action plans to support student and employee wellbeing.

 

News

Jan 31, 2024

GPSS provides updates: ISUPD advisory board, graduate student union vote

During a recent Iowa State University Police Department (ISUPD) Advisory Board meeting, a representative of the department said Officer Frankie Contreras “self-reported” himself one day after he took then-Iowa State student Dariq Myles to the ground in August, GPSS Vice President Eddie Mahoney to

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Nov 28, 2023

GPSS passes DEI resolution, budget amendments

A Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) resolution supporting DEI initiatives and amendments to the GPSS FY24 budget passed at the GPSS meeting. 

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Nov 27, 2023

Plan ahead: CyCash option stops at end of spring semester

Iowa State will discontinue the use of CyCash on May 10, 2024. Existing balances may be used prior to this date at any ISU Dining location.

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Nov 15, 2023

Iowa, UNI StuGovs “very cautious” to join resolution supporting DEI

During the Graduate and Professional Student Senate’s (GPSS) monthly meeting on Monday, the body’s Vice President Eddie Mahoney, a graduate student in computer science, said that the Student Government bodies at UNI and Iowa would not join a resolution in support of DEI prior to the Board of Rege

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Nov 15, 2023

Board of Regents releases DEI recommendation report

The Iowa Board of Regents conducted the study as a result of Iowa Senate File 560, which instructed the regents to conduct a review of DEI programs and initiatives.

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Nov 15, 2023

Three minute thesis: Graduate student competition

The Graduate College at Iowa State University hosted its eighth annual three-minute thesis competition final to showcase the best of the best within the college in terms of communication and public speaking while making complex research concepts understandable to the general public. 

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Nov 15, 2023

University requesting changes to CYTown plans

Changes to the CYTown plan, the diversity, equity and inclusion report and a strategic plan update headline the agenda set for the November Board of Regents meeting.

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Nov 15, 2023

Graduate Student Voices: A response to the Graduate College

In the Iowa State Daily on Sep.

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Nov 15, 2023

Improvements suggested for educational materials policy

The educational materials policy has not been updated since 1976.

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Oct 10, 2023

Faculty, staff speak on insurance rates

Faculty spoke up about their concerns regarding their insurance rates rising during the Faculty Senate meeting Tuesday, just weeks after the Board of Regents approved a change to university insurance plans.

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Oct 04, 2023

Built in 1976, Vet Med building receives name

On Oct. 4, 100 years after he graduated from Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Frederick Douglass Patterson’s name was honored upon the college’s main academic building. 

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Sep 28, 2023

Regents wrap up state appropriations requests, building project permissions

A two-day Board of Regents meeting featured increased state appropriations requests, STEM workforce initiative funding requests, the termination of a major, changes to employee health and dental insurance, 

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Sep 28, 2023

Protestors arrive at regents meeting, board prepares for Thursday’s meeting

The Iowa Board of Regents eliminated the public comment period at its meeting Wednesday shortly after protestors arrived outside the meeting room. 

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Sep 28, 2023

Concerns arise as insurance rates increasing in 2024 for employees and students

At this week’s Board of Regents meeting, the proposed changes to the health and dental insurance rates are concerning faculty and students. Rates for ISU faculty and students registered for the Student and Scholar Insurance Program are set to go up. 

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Sep 28, 2023

GPSS sees unionization update, elects college chairs

The Graduate and Professional Student Senate saw a program from Graduate Student Voices (GSV) regarding their efforts to unionize.

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Sep 06, 2023

Graduate students organize a push for unionization

Graduate Student Voices (GSV) is an effort organized by Iowa State graduate students with the goal of unionizing. GSV is currently collecting signatures from students interested in holding a vote to unionize.

Read More
Sep 06, 2023

Graduate and Professional Student Senate breakdown

Vice President of the Graduate and Professional Student Senate Edward Mahoney, a graduate student in computer science, met with the Daily to explain the functions of the body.

The comments beneath the bolded questions are direct quotes from Mahoney.

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Apr 22, 2021

GPSS Re-Joins NAGPS

"The National Association of Graduate-Professional Students (NAGPS) is a student-run national, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of graduate & professional students across the United States.  Founded by student leaders in 1987, NAGPS is the only nationa

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Apr 19, 2021

Wellness Week

Our Annual Graduate Student Wellness Week is this Monday, April 19th to Friday, April 23rd.

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Apr 19, 2021

GPSC session winners announced!

Congratulations to all who participated, and a special congratulations to our session winners listed in the flyer and below:

 

2021

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Get in touch!

Executive Council:

TitleNamePronounsEmail
PresidentChristine Cainshe/her/hersgpsspresident@iastate.edu
Vice PresidentEdward Mahoneyhe/him/hisgpssvicepres@iastate.edu
TreasurerKean Fallonhe/him/hisgpsstreasurer@iastate.edu
Senate Information OfficerGarrison Gunterhe/him/hisgpsssio@iastate.edu
Senate Engagement OfficerEfrain Rodríguez-Ocasiohe/him/hisgpssseo@iastate.edu
Conference OfficerRyan Everetthe/him/hisgpssconfchair@iastate.edu
Wellness OfficerKimia Noroozishe/theygpsswellness@iastate.edu
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) OfficerVeronica Kiuna gpssidea@iastate.edu

College Chairs:

TitleNamePronounsEmail
College of Agriculture and Life SciencesBoris Alladassi aboris@iastate.edu
College of Design ChairOPEN POSITION  
College of Engineering ChairGaurav Arwade gbarwade@iastate.edu
College of Veterinary Medicine ChairCharity Njeshi cnnjeshi@iastate.edu
College of Business ChairSwati Kumari swatik@iastate.edu
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences ChairWren Bouwman 

bouwman@iastate.edu

College of Human Sciences ChairAlycia West alycia@iastate.edu

GPSS works closely with Student Government, meet our GPSS Senators-at-Large

Senators-at-Large:

TitleNamePronounsEmail
Senator-at-LargeEdward Mahoney ermahone@iastate.edu
Senator-at-LargeJacob Reichert jjr98@iastate.edu
Senator-at-Large   

GPSS Social Media Coordinator: Alycia West

GPSS Minute Taker: OPEN POSITION