What does GPSC do for you?

You've probably heard graduate study described as an isolating experience. Not at Duke.

Duke is one of the few universities with an overarching representative body that brings together students from all of the professional schools and the Graduate School. Whether you are aware of it or not, you are a part of GPSC, and GPSC will impact your time at Duke. If you want to know more about how GPSC runs, check out the Structure section. For a little bit about how GPSC directly affects you, read below.

Community

From movie nights, formals, and Thirsty Thursdays to volunteering at the Durham Rescue Mission or Carnivore Preservation Trust, GPSC provides opportunities to meet people outside your department or school. The Student Life and Community Outreach committees plan events throughout the year to not only create a sense of community among Duke graduate and professional students, but also make an impact in the larger Durham community.

GPSC also provides an online community for graduate and professional students. GPSC-affiliated Student Groups can use GPSCNews to publicize their events, while the GPSC website provides Forums for conversation and Classified Ads for those looking to buy, sell, or rent.

Health Insurance

Representatives to the Student Health Insurance Advisory Council (SHIAC) are selected by and report back to GPSC. In the past, GPSC representatives to SHIAC have made great accomplishments in improving your student health insurance plan, including:

• In 2007, establishing an out-of-pocket maximum for prescription drugs, adding coverage for vaccines including Gardasil, and providing unlimited medical evacuation coverage.
• In 2008, creating a simpler, copay-based plan, and choosing an insurance provider that will save students money in the long run, as unused premium funds will be returned to the University to offset future rate increases.

Basketball

One of the unique experiences associated with being a graduate or professional student at Duke is the GPSC Basketball Campout. Sponsored by the GPSC Basketball Committee, this annual event brings together students from each of the graduate and professional schools for one weekend as they vie for season tickets to support the men's basketball team in Cameron Indoor Stadium.

To see what Campout is all about, check out this Youtube video of Campout 2007.

Advocacy

GPSC elects students to serve on Board of Trustees standing committees as well as University Committees addressing subjects ranging from athletics to sustainability to financial aid. These students meet with university administrators, Trustees, and President Brodhead to ensure that the graduate and professional student voice is heard. In addition, the GPSC President meets with President Brodhead, along with many other administrators, on a regular basis.

A few of the important issues facing these committees include:

• Central Campus plans. Will plans include graduate/professional student housing? A graduate student center? A graduate/professional student bar? What will happen when graduate and professional students are moved off of the current central campus in 2008-2009?
• Safety. How can the safety and security of graduate and professional students be ensured on and off campus? How can SafeRides be improved? Do we need additional bus routes or bus stops?

Through our membership in the National Association of Graduate-Professional Students (NAGPS), GPSC also works nationally to improve the graduate and professional student experience. Each year, GPSC sends students to Washington, DC for NAGPS Legislative Action Days. These students have met with your Senators and Congresspeople to lobby for better financial aid, international students' rights, student loan forgiveness, reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, and more.

Get Involved

All graduate and professional students are invited to take part in GPSC - you don't need to be a Representative to attend meetings or join a committee. To find out more about how you can help us shape the graduate and professional student experience, visit the Get Involved page.