Governance & Outreach

There are many ways to meet other graduate students at KU and get involved. Explore the information below to learn more about graduate governance bodies and graduate organizations at KU.
Jayhawk sign over Campus

Student Senate

Student Senate is the primary advocate for students on campus with 110 senators and 11 executive staff members work together to allocate about $22 million in student fees in ways that best serve students. It also represents the KU student voice within University, State, and National Governance, working to address and develop policy in students' best interests. Graduate students are represented by 12 graduate senators and the Graduate Student Body President.

Learn more about Student Senate

Rainbow over Fraser Hall

Graduate Student Advisory Board

The mission of GSAB is fourfold: to serve graduate and professional students at the University of Kansas by addressing their needs and concerns to administrative and government agents; to promote graduate and professional students status and achievements (e.g. research, teaching, and service) to the administration, community, and Board of Regents; to develop productive working relationships with all departmental, administrative, and governance bodies at the University of Kansas; and to provide opportunities that facilitate graduate and professional students’ academic and professional development.

Learn more about current GSAB members

Graduate Student Organizations

Graduate student organizations (GSOs) are wonderful ways to meet graduate students in your department and across campus to build your network and community. Many departments and schools have graduate student groups and organizations but there are also many interest and identity-based GSOs. Most groups are registered with Rock Chalk Central so you can easily find and connect with students across KU. Start exploring today by visiting the full list of current organizations at this link and use the filter on the left side of the page for "Graduate Interests."

We also have a few Centers across campus that have graduate student specific groups including:

  • QT Grad Coalition - a monthly social and discussion space for queer and trans graduate students in all tracks to meet, build community across campus, and generally enjoy each other’s company. This group meets a handful times across the semester. Be sure to look for dates in the link in the sidebar.