Department Highlight

Biology Graduate Student Association (BGSA)

The Biology Graduate Student Association, or BGSA, is the official graduate student organization of the Department of Biological Sciences. Each graduate student in the department is an automatic member of the organization and remains for the duration of their graduate program in the department.

The BGSA functions to

1) serve as the collective voice of graduate students within the department to the departmental administration and faculty in order to address and solve issues pertaining to the graduate students,

2) build and maintain community between all graduate students within the department and community and

3) foster positive interactions and communication between graduate students and faculty.

To achieve these goals, the BGSA maintains open communication with the Department Head, attends certain faculty retreats, and provides graduate students to certain departmental committees. Also, the BGSA sponsors and assists with annual events, including the Departmental Fall Picnic, Winter Banquet/Spring Picnic, Monthly Coffee and Donut events, Research Day, and any other service projects coordinated within the organization. The BGSA also nominates two graduate students to serve as Delegates to the Graduate Student Assembly.

School of Education Student Association

The purpose of the VT School of Education Student Association (SOESA) is to represent and communicate the interests of students in all School of Education (SOE) activities and to facilitate the exchange of information between the SOE leadership and graduate students. SOESA events include providing sessions that provide information regarding career outlook and interview skills.

The SOESA has been actively involved in the community by participating in Relay for Life and by providing community baskets for the Roanoke Rescue Mission. The SOESA also ensures the graduate students in the SOE enjoy life by providing various social events such as tailgate parties and game nights.

One of SOESA's most outstanding achievements is their Research Symposium which highlights research within the School of Education.Their next Research Symposium will be held on February 26, 2008 in the GLC Multipurpose Room.

Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences-Graduate Student Association (BMVS-GSA)

The Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences-Graduate Student Association (BMVS-GSA) serves to represent the graduate students, residents and interns of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, including those at the University of Maryland-College Park campus and the Equine Medical Center in Leesburg.

Mission Statements:

"To promote academic, socio-cultural, and service opportunities as well as the unity of graduate students, interns and residents in the BMVS program"

"To act as a source of information for BMVS graduate students, interns and residents on matters pertaining to survival and success in the program"

"To provide a forum to address the educational needs of BMVS graduate students, interns and residents and to offer guidance to resolve academic concerns amicably"

Check out the BMVS-GSA website >>>