The primary goals of the Graduate and Professional Student Association are to represent and support the interests of the University’s current and future graduate and professional student community. GPSA accomplishes this goal by:
- Providing unified and informed voice representing graduate and professional students to the University’s administration, Board of Trustees, academic units, and other external organizations that make decisions on behalf of students;
- Creating a forum to address the ideas and concerns of graduate and professional students;
- Supporting scholarship activities and professional development;
- Promoting leadership, social, and service opportunities to the graduate and professional student body; and,
- Planning events and activities to promote a sense of community among graduate and professional students and their families.
The GPSA is officially recognized by the University as the collective voice of the graduate and professional student body pursuant to the Bylaws (Section 5.04) and Standing Orders (Order VII (4)) of the Board of Trustees.
The Graduate and Professional Student Association is available to help you with any questions you may have. Members and officers of GPSA can help you become more involved (academically or socially) in university life. If you need help finding resources around campus or connecting with other organizations, we can help you. The GPSA also welcomes volunteers to help with various GPSA projects and we look forward to your suggestions to help us better serve Penn State graduate and professional students. If you would like to get involved in GPSA, please send an email to GPSA@psu.edu, and feel free to provide any details about any specific projects or initiatives you want to participate in.
Representing You
GPSA’s Involvement in Campus Decision Making
Penn State operates under a shared governance system in which students are consulted on student affairs, as mandated by the Board of Trustees. As part of this shared governance mission, the GPSA has representatives and liaisons on numerous committees and governing bodies to ensure the graduate and professional student voice is heard. A non-exhaustive list of governing and advisory bodies that the GPSA has representation on is listed below:
Penn State Governing Bodies
- Faculty Senate
- Graduate Council
- Graduate School Alumni Society
- Penn State Alumni Council
- Penn State Board of Trustees
- University Park Student Fee Board
Campus Advisory Boards & Committees
Members of the Graduate and Professional Student Association act as liaisons and representatives across a wide variety of stakeholders, offices, and organizations across the Pennsylvania State University. Examples of such liaison relationships include membership on the Campus Recreation Advisory Committee, the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Advisory Board, the Graduate Exhibition Committee, the Libraries Student Advisory Group, the Student Insurance Advisory Board, and the Student Transportation Advisory Committee, among others. Additionally, we appoint a graduate/professional student representative to the State College Borough Council, and maintain relationships with national organizations like the Big Ten Graduate Student Coalition and the National Association of Graduate-Professional Students (NAGPS). For a full list of liaisons and representatives to groups external to the GPSA, please visit the “Department of External Affairs” section on the Executive Branch page.