RGSA Overview
The goals of the RGSA are: to promote the interests and welfare of RSENR graduate students; to serve as a commons for all RSENR graduate students to provide input on RSENR policy, curriculum, and operation; to serve as a conduit of information relevant to graduate education in RSENR and UVM; to promote an intellectual and social community of graduate education; and to sponsor opportunities for academic and professional development among its members.
View the RGSA Constitution (PDF)
From the RSENR graduate student body, five officers will be elected each spring to serve on the Executive Committee for the following academic year. The Executive Committee will hold graduate student body-wide meetings at least once per semester, and regular meetings of the Executive Committee are open to all Rubenstein School graduate students as well.
Other duties of the Executive Committee include maintaining graduate student facilities in the Aiken Center, including computers and printers.
RGSA Graduate Peer Mentorship Program
The Graduate Peer Mentorship Program seeks to pair each new graduate student (a mentee) with a seasoned graduate student (a mentor) based on research interests, social-cultural or geographic backgrounds, and other shared lived experiences. Mentorship by/with a fellow peer not only equips students with critical tips and tricks for navigating their first year of graduate school. It also fosters a richer sense of place and belonging as student scholars — both mentors and mentees — connect with at least one new face of their community! Second-semester students are welcome to mentor if they feel comfortable, or they can sign up to be a mentee themselves.
Calling all RSENR graduate students! SIGN UP to be a Graduate Peer Mentor (returning students) or Graduate Peer Mentee (incoming students) for the 2023-24 academic year!
RGSA Events
In close collaboration with the RSENR Graduate Coordinator, the RGSA Executive Committee coordinates events year-round to cultivate graduate community, inclusion, and wellness across the Rubenstein School. This service includes graduate professional development, such as seminars, workshops, and panels, as well as graduate community socials, such as weekly tea time, monthly bagel breakfasts, community field trips, potlucks, and meetups.
RGSA Calendar: 2023-2024
Please check back throughout the year as our calendar grows!
Event | Date | Time | Location | Description |
Tea Time | Alternating Tuesdays and Thursdays | 12 - 1 p.m. | RSENR Grad Lounge (Aiken 308) | During this weekly social hour just for grad students, peers connect over tea, coffee, snacks, rest, and community. Meeting time selected each semester based on results of community poll. Begins in Fall 2023 on Tuesday, August 29, and continues thereafter on Thursday-Tuesday alternating days. |
Welcome Back RGSA Pizza Picnic at Leddy Beach | August 25 | 5 - 7 p.m. | Leddy Beach (216 Leddy Beach Park Rd., Burlington, VT) | Join new and returning graduate peers for free pizza and community! |
September Bagel Breakfast | September 28 | 8 - 10 a.m. | Aiken 311 | Gather with graduate students, staff, and faculty for a FREE breakfast of bagels and fruit. Stop by for nourishment en route to classes, labs, and research, or stay for the additional nourishment of graduate relationship-building and networking. |
October Bagel Breakfast | October 26 | 8 - 10 a.m. | Aiken 311 | Gather with graduate students, staff, and faculty for a FREE breakfast of bagels and fruit. Stop by for nourishment en route to classes, labs, and research, or stay for the additional nourishment of graduate relationship-building and networking. |
November Bagel Breakfast | November 30 | 8 - 10 a.m. | Aiken 311 | Gather with graduate students, staff, and faculty for a FREE breakfast of bagels and fruit. Stop by for nourishment en route to classes, labs, and research, or stay for the additional nourishment of graduate relationship-building and networking. |
Fall 2023 Seminar | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA |
Fall 2023 Workshop | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA |
Spring 2023 Seminar | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA |
Spring 2023 Workshop | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA |