About

 Mission Statement

The mission of the PSGSA is to enhance the academic, professional, and social experience of the Illinois Political Science graduate students by:

  • Providing training events, academic resources, and mentorship to graduate students;
  • Organizing social and sports activities;
  • Facilitating channels for feedback and representing graduate students in discussions with the department;
  • Disseminating information about the Graduate Employee Organization (GEO) and university resources; and
  • Working with the department leadership to promote a respectful and uplifting work environment for all graduate students

Vision Statement

The PSGSA recognizes and celebrates the diversity that exists in students’ background, including but not limited to differences in: race, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, religion, class, age, neurodiversity, national origin, marital status, military status, parental status, and disability status. The PSGSA strives to ensure the inclusivity of all graduate students across this range of backgrounds.

The PSGSA acknowledges the institutionalization of ideas and processes that have resulted in the historic and ongoing underrepresentation and disrespect for diverse voices in the discipline. The PSGSA works to amplify the voices and representation of historically and currently marginalized groups.

The PSGSA works to support the involvement and empowerment of all graduate students, recognizing their inherent worth and dignity, by (1) striving to promote and sustain a sense of belonging in the graduate student community and (2) valuing and respecting the talent, beliefs, and backgrounds of its members. The PSGSA works to promote inclusivity, equality, and respect for diversity in the department through interactions with faculty, staff, fellow graduate students, undergraduates, and the university.

Decision Rules

Decision Type Decision Procedures
Representation (e.g. Department asks for graduate student representative for an important departmental decision)

Board elections

 Graduate student body vote:

    • For votes with candidates, candidates are self-nominated or determined according to the relevant criteria
    • Anonymous voting vis web survey
    • Runoff if more than one candidate
    • Majority wins
    • President chairs vote
Committee chairs (2 terms max) Board vote

    • Anonymous vote
    • Majority wins
    • President chairs vote
Committee members No vote
Activities to initiate, continue, or discontinue Board vote or committee vote

    • Anonymous vote
    • Majority wins
    • President or committee chair chairs vote
Tie breaking Applies to both Board and student body votes

    • When there is a tie, re-run the vote, with the options being the nominees that received the most votes
    • If another tie of the same individuals results, use R to randomly choose one of the two people