Background Information
History of Organization: The organization was founded by a group of graduate students, who saw the need for a structured program within the Plant Sciences graduate student body. The idea was to provide students with fellowship and to give them a voice, an entity to which their concerns could be addressed. From the ground up, the Plant Sciences Graduate Student Association was formed with the 2020-2021 team being its founding members.
Primary Purpose and Function as Outlined in the Organization’s Constitution: “The primary purpose of the Plant Sciences Graduate Student Association (PSGSA) is to promote the general welfare of its members and to uphold the integrity of the Department of Plant Sciences. The mission of the PSGSA is to provide a forum for graduate students to enhance their knowledge of Plant Sciences through service, social, and education-based activities and events and to promote professionalism and fellowship between graduate students. The vision of the PSGSA is to develop a strong Graduate Student Association that will benefit students before, during, and after their studies at the University of Tennessee and to further showcase and promote the excellence of the Department of Plant Sciences.”
Executive Board: Positions include President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Social Chair, and Graduate Student Senate Representative. The roles and responsibilities of each respective office are outlined in the organization’s constitution/bylaws.
Recruitment
PSGSA operates as an open organization where any and all graduate students within the department are welcome to participate in events hosted by PSGSA. There are no dues or official memberships. Emails are sent to all graduate students in the department to encourage participation in Plant Sciences, Graduate Student Senate, Center for Student Engagement, and Plant Sciences Graduate Student Association events.
Awards
Graduate Student Organization of the Year (2023-2024):
This award recognizes a large, small, or graduate/professional serving student organization that has fulfilled its mission, involved the campus in its purpose, maintains a leadership role on campus, is involved in the campus community, has the ability to accept and overcome challenges, and sustain itself in creative ways. Additionally, the award honors an organization for developing and implementing improvements in the quality of student life and fosters positive change within the university community.
Outstanding Organizational Excellence: Graduate/Professional Student Serving Organization (2020-2021):
This award recognizes a large, small, or graduate/professional serving student organization that has fulfilled its mission, involved the campus in its purpose, maintains a leadership role on campus, is involved in the campus community, has the ability to accept and overcome challenges, and sustain itself in creative ways. Additionally, the award honors an organization for developing and implementing improvements in the quality of student life and fosters positive change within the university community.