2022-2023
Spring Semester Event Recap
Grad Student Night @ the Knoxville Ice Bears
In a partnership with the Center for Student Engagement, GSS brought over 100 graduate students and their guests to watch the Ice Bears game and see dozens of dachshunds take to the ice!
Awards Banquet
The Awards Banquet was held on Monday, March 27 at 6 PM in the Student Union Ballrooms. GSS recognized dozens of graduate and professional students, faculty, and staff for their research, teaching, volunteer, and service efforts to the UT and local community.
Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week (GPSAW)
This week is set aside each year to recognize and appreciate all Graduate and Professional Students across the country but especially at the University of Tennessee. GPSAW was held from March 27-31,2023 and there were a variety of professional development and fun events for students to attend across campus and online.
Fall Semester Event Recap
- Senator Social at Maple Hall – November, 2022
- Town Hall with GSS + SGA Student Leaders & Administration – 5:30pm on Tuesday, October 25, 2022 at Student Union 169
- Welcome Back Mixer – August 2022
2021-2022
Graduate Student Senate 5K Fundraiser Run/Walk
The University of Tennessee Graduate Student Senate (GSS) hosted a 5K run/walk fundraising event on April 9 with Knoxville Track Club. Students, faculty, and staff from UT as well as members of the local community were invited to participate! Proceeds from the event were donated to the Big Orange Pantry and the Graduate Student Senate’s event fund to organize and host professional development and social events for graduate and professional students.
Please see the flyer for more information.
GSS Awards Reception
On April 6 in the Tennessee Terrace at Neyland Stadium, Graduate Student Senate (GSS) and The Graduate School hosted an awards reception to recognize and award graduate/professional students and staff/faculty for their significant contributions to the UT-campus community and their fields of study.
The awards reception is GSS’s capstone event in celebrating Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week (GPSAW): a national celebration initiated by the National Association of Graduate-Professional Students in 1993 to recognize the accomplishments and contributions of graduates and professional students and faculty among universities and communities around the country.
The reception took place from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm and included light refreshments and appetizers. VIP Guests included Chancellor Plowman, Vice Chancellor Cuevas, and Dean Thompson.
Award Categories – for nomination by faculty/staff
The “Excellence in Graduate Research” award is presented to graduate and professional students who have received national and/or international recognition in their field and show promise in their area of research and/or creative achievement.
The “Excellence in Graduate Student Teaching” award is presented to graduate teaching assistants and associates for extraordinary performance in teaching.
The “Excellence in Service” award is presented to graduate and professional students who are extraordinary campus leaders, participate in service-learning or other community initiatives, and/or provide service leadership to their academic discipline through service in professional organizations.
Award Categories – for nomination by graduate and professional students
The “Graduate Student Organization of the Year” award recognizes graduate and/or professional student organizations or councils for their extraordinary contributions to graduate student life or to their respective academic department or program.
The “Graduate Professor of the Year” award recognizes faculty and staff members who have shown outstanding commitment to teaching graduate and professional students.
The “Graduate Research Mentor of the Year” award recognizes faculty and staff members who have shown outstanding commitment to mentoring graduate research students.
The “Graduate Director of the Year” award recognizes Directors of Graduate Studies who have shown outstanding commitment to mentoring and leading graduate students in their department.
The “GSS Staff of the Year” award recognizes a UT staff member who goes beyond their required duties to ensure that graduate and professional students feel welcome and matriculate successfully.
The “Preparing the Professoriate Graduate Program of the Year” award recognizes campus-wide, departmental, and/or off-campus programs or organizations that promote innovative professional development opportunities for graduate and professional students.
Award Category – for nomination by senators
The “Graduate Student Senate Outstanding Contribution” award recognizes graduate students senators and/or members of the GSS executive board who go above and beyond their regular duties to serve and promote the mission of the Graduate Student Senate.