Graduate and professional students enrolled at UNLV have automatic membership with their graduate student government, the Graduate & Professional Student Association (GPSA). Opportunities within GPSA are numerous and varied ranging from volunteering at Rebel Homecoming to running for an executive officer position. Find out more about ways to get involved through the areas below.
If you have an active interest to be more involved with GPSA, please fill out this GPSA Interest Form.
Volunteer
Throughout the year the GPSA plans and participates in local and campus-wide events. In the past, GPSA members have volunteered at soup kitchens, rebuilt trails in Southern Nevada, attended lobbying trips to Carson City and Washington D.C., or ran the GPSA’s Rebel Homecoming booth. For current volunteer opportunities please contact the GPSA Secretary at gpsasecretary@unlv.edu, or gpsa@unlv.edu.
Events & Collaborations
The GPSA fervently seeks opportunities to work with other organizations and expand its networking and opportunities. The GPSA offers Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) with graduate student members funding to grow their organizations or plan events in collaboration with the GPSA. Each semester, the GPSA also offers social events, service opportunities, professional development and program workshops, town halls, and even a large-scale Research Forum in the spring. To see our upcoming events on UNLV’s Calendar, visit the GPSA Events page.
President's Cabinet
The President's Cabinet serves as a group of trusted advisors and student leaders who work closely with the GPSA President to assist in decision-making, policy formulation, and the overall administration of the graduate student government. The Cabinet is a key and strategic component of the executive branch and plays a crucial role in ensuring effective governance through mission fulfillment and resource allocation. Cabinet members represent different areas of focus or expertise. They advocate for the specific needs of their respective areas and contribute to creating a well-rounded student government agenda.
Cabinet members are the leaders of each GPSA Division, which operate semi-independently and with their own respective budget allocations. The five GPSA Divisions are Operations, Engagement & Outreach, Communications & Marketing, Legislative Affairs, and Sponsored Funding. Operations is led by the Chief of Staff, the Office of Sponsored Funding is led by the GPSA Vice President, and the Divisions of Engagement & Outreach, Communications & Marketing, and Legislative Affairs are overseen by Directors. Directors are nominated by the GPSA President and confirmed by the GPSA Council.
These five GPSA Division leaders make up the President’s Cabinet, which has six members including the GPSA President. Divisions are subsidiary administrative units that support varying functions of the GPSA including compliance, data gathering, activities and social events, lobbying trips, programming, student funding opportunities, messaging, academic/research collaborations, and elections. Divisions are granted an annual budget set forth by the Ways & Means Committee.
Divisions provide a higher level of organization, creating a more efficient and productive graduate student government. Each division is staffed exclusively by UNLV graduate and professional students, offering ample leadership opportunities within the GPSA.
A call for Division Directors and Chief of Staff is made at the end of Spring semester and/or early Fall semester until each position is filled. Please contact gpsa@unlv.edu regarding interest in the President's Cabinet or the GPSA Division vacancies.
Committees
Committees are an essential part of GPSA’s legislative process. Council members are required to serve on at least one GPSA standing committee or serve as the GPSA representative on a campus-wide committee. The GPSA Council has five standing committees, listed below. Expand each to read the committee’s description.
The Constitution & Bylaws Committee considers all proposed amendments to the GPSA Constitution and the GPSA Bylaws and makes recommendations to the GPSA Council. This committee also oversees that GPSA operations are in compliance with the Constitution and Bylaws.
Formerly known as Government Relations and active only during years when the Nevada Legislature met, this committee was reorganized in 2021. The Legislative Affairs Committee prioritizes GPSA initiatives, resolutions, and long-term goals. This committee now operates year-round, executing strategies including lobbying efforts, key message development and dissemination, and preparing and submitting correspondence to local, state, and Congressional offices. The chair of this committee works closely with the university’s Office of Government Affairs. It is imperative that graduate and professional students stay actively involved in communicating with the Board of Regents and the Nevada State Legislature. Increasing state funding in support of higher education is crucial to the diversified growth of Nevada’s economy and the betterment of the State’s community members.
NSHE
Stay up-to-date with the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) and receive press releases and Board of Regents meeting agendas via email.
Nevada Student Alliance (NSA): is composed of the leadership from the NSHE student governments. NSA meets on a regular basis to discuss issues that impact higher education.
Civic Engagement
Contact your legislator(s). Express how pursuing your graduate or professional education at UNLV has impacted your life and community.
Use this map to determine your district.
Legislator contact information: State Senate and State Assembly.
Related Links
The Rules & Ethics Committee exists to evaluate the actions of all GPSA officers, committee members, Council members and representatives, employees, and volunteers as well as explore the qualifications for nominees and applicants to various positions within the graduate student government. The Rules & Ethics Committee enhances the student experience as it holds GPSA’s elected and appointed officials accountable for their actions. This committee investigates concerns, complaints, and grievances brought forth by graduate and professional students, the UNLV community, and the community at large. While striving to provide mediation and resolution, this committee also encourages respect, individuality, and camaraderie.
The Sponsorship Committee makes Research and Travel Grant funding recommendations to the Council by reviewing submitted applications against the qualifications set forth by the GPSA Sponsorship Operating Policy. The GPSA allocates its largest programming budget of $175,000 annually to the Research and Travel Grant program. All applications for GPSA sponsorship are deliberated privately by the Sponsorship Committee members, but all recommendations submitted to the Council are available to the public upon request. The Council’s approval of the Sponsorship Committee’s recommendations is delegated to the GPSA Vice President. The Vice President will provide a summary of the Sponsorship Committee’s recommendations at the following Council meeting. These funds can only be awarded to enrolled graduate and professional students (minimum one (1) credit hour) at UNLV.
The Ways and Means Committee represents the Council on matters pertaining to the review and oversight of financial activities within GPSA. The elected GPSA Treasurer assumes the position of chair of this committee upon the start of their term but may delegate the role. The Ways and Means Committee is established for the purposes of preparing the annual GPSA budget in partnership with the GPSA President and GPSA Advisor, serving as financial counsel to GPSA and receiving all requests for funding from Registered Graduate and Professional Student Organizations (RSOs).
Council
The GPSA Council consists of 54 seats for representatives from each academic department and an unlimited number of non-voting seats for members-at-large (no department affiliation) during the fall and spring semesters. The Council convenes regularly, typically the first Thursday of each month. For more information please visit the GPSA Council webpage.
Executive Board
The GPSA has four elected officers which form the Executive Board. The officer positions include the President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. If you are interested in serving on the GPSA E-Board, run for election! Declarations of Candidacy are due in early March. Elections are held the first week of April.