Graduate Student Organization (GSO)
GSO officers for 2009-2010:
History and objectives
The HDFS Graduate Student Organization (GSO) was started in September 2000 by a group of students interested in bringing a formal graduate student voice to the department. Since its inception, members of the GSO have worked to advocate for students’ needs and voice their opinions on departmental policies, procedures, and customs.
The goals of the GSO are to:
- Establish a unified graduate student voice and select representatives to serve on departmental committees
- Create a support system and sense of community among HDFS graduate students
- Improve communication between HDFS faculty and graduate students
- Provide support and ease the transition for incoming graduate students
- Aid the department in recruiting and retaining dedicated and diverse students
- Advocate for graduate student interests and well-being
Elected students represent the GSO at departmental faculty meetings and at the Graduate Program Committee (GPC) meetings. Occasionally, graduate students also serve on ad hoc committees formed within the department as needed. Once every several years, an HDFS graduate student serves on the School of Human Ecology’s Graduate Program Committee. All graduate students in the department are automatically considered members of the GSO, although participation in GSO activities is voluntary
Opportunities for Professional Development
Leadership
There are a number of elected positions available in the GSO which offer members the opportunity to improve their skills in leadership, collaboration, and other areas of professional and academic development. . Any active graduate student has the opportunity to be elected as a GSO Co-Chair or to represent the GSO at faculty and GPC meetings. Both faculty and students consider these roles important leadership positions within the department.
Academic and Professional Development
Depending on the needs of members each semester, the GSO hosts a variety of activities to help members achieve their academic objectives and support the department.
- Conduct weekly informal discussion groups so members can prepare for key departmental benchmarks such as writing a proposal or successfully defending a thesis or dissertation.
- Hold weekly study groups to allow students to build a sense of community while studying.
- Mentor new incoming students in navigating the department and university.
- Host speakers and poster sessions to highlight intellectual and graduate student research.
Additional Professional Development Resources for HDFS Students
Community Service and Social Support
Beyond advocating for a student voice within the department, the GSO’s activities focus on serving the local community and creating a social support network for new and current graduate students. Each year, the GSO organizes at least one service project in which students, faculty, and staff in the department and the school can participate. Some recent projects include: A book drive for a reading program at a local correctional facility, Toy and food drives for the holidays, Volunteering at the Special OlympicsGardening at a local senior center. Assisting Madison families with holiday shopping, Participating in a 5k run/walk for Trot for Tots The GSO sponsors a number of social activities during the school year, including a dinner for first-year students, happy hours, pot luck lunches, bowling, and attending the Wisconsin Film Festival.
GSO Communications
The GSO has historically communicated directly with the graduate student body primarily through email. In the summer of 2008 we created a GSO wiki site to enhance communication between students. If you are an HDFS graduate student and you need an invitation to join our wiki, please e-mail Katie Muldowney, muldowney@wisc.edu.
