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GSS Election 2025-2026

The Graduate Student Senate’s annual election of officers (President and Vice President) will be held online from March 31, 2025 through April 4, 2025. This is an open call for candidates. These elected officers will serve a term of one year, June 1, 2025 – May 31, 2026. With a swearing in date to occur at the May senate session on May 6, 2025. The duties of both the President and Vice President are outlined in the GSS Bylaws (Article III).

Candidate Eligibility

  • Must be currently enrolled in one or more credit hours and in good academic standing in the Graduate School, College of Veterinary Medicine, or College of Law.
  • Must be enrolled as a full-time student for no less than two consecutive semesters (excluding summer) following the elections, with the flexibility to attend regularly scheduled meetings in the role of GSS President or Vice President.
  • Committed to working diligently, advocating on behalf of all graduate and professional students, and serving as official representatives of the Graduate Student Senate.
  • Willing to carry out the duties and responsibilities in accordance with the GSS Constitution and Bylaws.

Leadership Award

The role of an elected officer affords a unique glimpse into the complex network of individuals and offices across campus and affords opportunities to meet and work closely with key administrators. In recognition of this service, the officers will receive a GSS Leadership Award in the total amount of $3,000 for the President and $2,000 for the Vice President (half distributed in approximately November and the remainder approximately in April).

Candidate Application/Letter of Intent

To run for one of these offices, you must email both gss@utk.edu AND njakel@utk.edu with the following information:

  • Name
  • Department
  • NetID
  • Expected Graduation Date
  • Position for which you would like to run (either President or Vice President)
  • Copy of your resume or CV, including your leadership experience and campus involvements (including GSS service)
  • A short statement of intent (i.e. explain to the graduate and professional student body why you would like to be elected, 250 words or less).

All emails of intent must be submitted by Thursday, March 27 at 11:59 p.m. ET Submissions that do not meet the deadline and/or the criteria listed above will not be reviewed.

Voting will take place online from March 31 until April 4. The formal announcement of election results will be made within the following week.

The newly elected President and Vice President will be sworn-in during the last GSS meeting of the year, which will take place on May 6 at 5:30 pm in SU 169.

Please reach out to gss@utk.edu with any questions regarding the election process or procedures.

Election dates and the candidate application deadlines were updated on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.