| IX. GRADUATE STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN THE DEPARTMENT |
| A. Graduate Student Steering Committee (GSSC) |
| B. Graduate Student Input in Departmental Matters |
| IX. GRADUATE STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN THE DEPARTMENT |
| A. Graduate Student Steering Committee (GSSC) |
| 1. Graduate students in the Department of Biology collectively act within the department as a constituent organization that jointly sponsors certain activities, both professional and social, and elects its own Graduate Student Steering Committee (GSSC). 2. The elected members of the GSSC serve as officers of the organization. Incumbent members of the GSSC arrange for annual elections and maintain a list of alternate members who become members of the GSSC in the event vacancies develop. To be elected, students must be in good academic standing. Re-election is possible. 3. The elected members of the GSSC may also serve as student representatives in Department of Biology faculty meetings. |
| B. Graduate Student Input in Departmental Matters |
| Students influence departmental practices informally through day-to-day contact with each other and with faculty and staff. In addition, general faculty meetings are open to all members of the department community. Agenda notices are distributed in advance. Any person recognized by the chairperson may speak. Attendance at meetings dealing with evaluation, retention, and promotion of personnel are restricted to faculty and essential staff members; however, graduate student input relevant to candidates for tenure track positions is solicited. |