Graduate Student Association Elections
This webpage is all about Graduate Student Association elections! Every spring, the Graduate Student Association (GSA) elects a new executive board for the following academic year. Use the buttons below to explore this webpage.
Learn About the 2026-2027 Elections with our Upcoming Info Sessions
Our info sessions are drop-in! You can join our teams call anytime during the below hours to learn more about the officer positions and election process.
How Does the Election Process Work?
Self-Nomination Period
During this time, self-nominations are accepted by the College of Graduate Studies on behalf of the Graduate Student Association via the InvoNet submission form. Graduate and professional students should review eligibility requirements for all positions of interest before submitting their self-nomination.
Election
The College of Graduate Studies will send out the InvoNet ballot for election via UToledo email. All registered graduate and professional students, regardless of membership type, can vote for GSA President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Communications Specialist.
Graduate Student Association Executive Officers
Learn more about how each of the Graduate Student Association (GSA) officers support graduate students!
President
The President of the Graduate Student Association (GSA) is the leading representative and advocate for graduate and professional students. The GSA President focuses on external initiatives including serving as a liaison between graduate/professional students and university leadership and fostering partnerships with campus partners.
Use the dropdown tabs below to learn more about the roles and responsibilities of the GSA President!
Position Description
Roles & Responsibilities
- Serves as the official representative of the GSA, acting as the primary liaison between graduate-professional students and university stakeholders, represents the GSA at university-wide events
- Provides presentations on behalf of the GSA to students, faculty, staff, and university leadership
- Leads all General Assembly meetings
- Serves on the Graduate Council and Graduate Council Executive Committee, attending and providing reports at all meetings
- Chairs the social programming & professional development committee
- Meets regularly with the College of Graduate Studies to report on GSA activities
- Other duties as assigned by the College of Graduate Studies
Helpful Skills & Interests for this Role
- Public speaking: The GSA President presents to university leadership, the graduate and professional student body, and faculty/staff groups to share updates, initiatives, and student concerns.
- Excellent written & verbal communication: The GSA President prepares reports and messages for graduate and professional students, campus partners, and university leadership.
- Leadership: The GSA President presides over meetings and leads GSA initiatives and programming.
- Engagement & Networking: Along with the GSA Vice President, the GSA President establishes relationships with campus partners and fellow student organization leaders as well as participates in tabling events such as involvement fairs.
Details
Commitment
The President of the Graduate Student Association must work 20 hours per week on campus.
Compensation
This position includes a stipend and tuition waiver, the details of which will be provided upon appointment. Tuition coverage is subject to university policies and may not cover all coursework and does not cover fees. The extent to which tuition is covered varies by academic program and executive board position.
Eligibility
- Must be able to work 20 student worker hours per week on campus
- Must have either served on the executive board or be a current representative
- Must be a currently registered student and registered during the fall and spring semester of the academic year of term
- Must be an Active Member of the GSA (What is an Active Member?)
- Must be in good academic standing and can not be on any academic or disciplinary probation
- Faculty and staff are ineligible
- The College of Graduate Studies will accept self-nominations from active members who have not served as an executive board member or college representative, but whether self-nominations will move forward to election will depend on number of self-nominations from previous executive board members or college representatives.
Vice President
The Vice President of the Graduate Student Association (GSA) is responsible for internal engagement including leading the college representatives, reviewing and implementing GSA policies, and supporting the GSA President in representing graduate and professional students. By heading organizational operations, the Vice President is instrumental in cultivating collaboration within the GSA.
Use the dropdown tabs below to learn more about the roles and responsibilities of the GSA Vice President!
Position Description
Roles & Responsibilities
- Assumes presidential responsibilites in the absence of the President
- Serves as an alternate on Graduate Council meetings and all other university committees
- Plans the Midwest Graduate Research Symposium with the GSA President as the lead symposium coordinator
- Leads college representatives and schedules weekly office hours
- Meets regularly with the College of Graduate Studies to report on GSA activities
- Other duties as assigned by the College of Graduate Studies
Helpful Skills & Interests for this Role
- Leadership: The GSA Vice President serves as a lead for college represenatives, providing them with guidance and support.
- Organization: The GSA Vice President coordinates with executive officers and college representatives to schedule GSA office hours.
- Engagement & Networking: Along with the GSA President, the GSA Vice President establishes relationships with campus partners and fellow student organization leaders as well as participates in tabling events such as involvement fairs.
Details
Commitment
The Vice President of the Graduate Student Association must work 15 hours per week on campus.
Compensation
This position includes a stipend and partial tuition waiver, the details of which will be provided upon appointment. Tuition coverage is subject to university policies and may not cover all coursework and does not cover fees. The extent to which tuition is covered varies by academic program and executive board position.
Eligibility
- Must be able to work 15 student worker hours per week on campus
- Must be a currently registered student and registered during the fall and spring semester of the academic year of term
- Must be an Active Member of the GSA (What is an Active Member?)
- Must be in good academic standing and can not be on any academic or disciplinary probation
- Faculty and staff are ineligible
- COGS will accept self-nominations from interested inactive members. Whether self-nominations from inactive members may advance to elections will depend on number of active member self-nominations. Inactive members must upload their resume or curriculum vitae in their self-nomination and attend an interview to be considered for elections.
Treasurer
The Treasurer of the Graduate Student Association (GSA) oversees the financial matters of the GSA. This includes tracking the annual GSA budget and managing the Research Travel and Conference Registration Reimbursement program. The Treasurer supports graduate and professional students in representing The University of Toledo across the nation!
Use the dropdown tabs below to learn more about the roles and responsibilities of the GSA Treasurer!
Position Description
Roles & Responsibilities
- Handles financial and budgetary matters of the GSA
- Prepares and submits financial reports for General Assembly meetings and at the request of the College of Graduate Studies and any GSA member
- Responsible for processing research travel and conference funding requests
- Attends all GSA/College of Graduate Studies meetings
- Leads the research travel and conference registration reimbursement committee
- Other duties as assigned by the College of Graduate Studies
Helpful Skills & Interests for this Role
- Organization: The GSA Treasurer evaluates and approves/denies research travel and conference registration reimbusement requests which involves a complex workflow and multiple documents.
- Financial Management: The GSA Treasurer oversees GSA expenditures and provides significant input on the financial activities of the GSA.
- Attention to Detail: The GSA Treasurer must review eligibility for members submitting reimbursement requests and manage multiple spreadsheets of information.
- Microsoft Excel: Knowledge of Excel is a significant skill of a successful GSA Treasurer as the GSA Treasurer is reponsible for multiple spreadsheets
- Excellent written & verbal communication: The GSA Treasurer communicates with students on their requests for reimbursement, provides budgetary reports to the GSA, and gives presentations on the research travel and conference registration reimbursement process.
Details
Commitment
The Treasurer of the Graduate Student Association must work 10 hours per week on campus.
Compensation
This position includes a stipend and partial tuition waiver, the details of which will be provided upon appointment. Tuition coverage is subject to university policies and may not cover all coursework and does not cover fees. The extent to which tuition is covered varies by academic program and executive board position.
Eligibility
- Must be able to work 10 student worker hours per week on campus
- Must be a currently registered student and registered during the fall and spring semester of the academic year of term
- Must be an Active Member of the GSA (What is an Active Member?)
- Must be in good academic standing and can not be on any academic or disciplinary probation
- Faculty and staff are ineligible
- COGS will accept self-nominations from interested inactive members. Whether self-nominations from inactive members may advance to elections will depend on number of active member self-nominations. Inactive members must upload their resume or curriculum vitae in their self-nomination and attend an interview to be considered for elections.
Secretary
The Secretary of the Graduate Student Association (GSA) is a vital support to the GSA as a logistics manager, ensuring the organization's efficiency. They handle the administrative duties of the organization including scheduling meetings, recording meeting minutes, and maintaining GSA records.
Use the dropdown tabs below to learn more about the roles and responsibilities of the GSA Secretary!
Position Description
Roles & Responsibilities
- Produces minutes for all meetings of the GSA
- Approves minutes and other records maintained by the GSA
- Monitors attendance at GSA meetings and maintains active membership list
- Maintains all GSA records and provides copies of records upon request of the College of Graduate Studies or any GSA member
- Other duties as assigned by the College of Graduate Studies
Helpful Skills & Interests for this Role
- Organization: The GSA Secretary will manage all GSA records including minutes, agendas, documentation, and resources. The GSA Secretary will also assist in event logistics, creating room reservations and managing calendars.
- Attention to Detail: The GSA Secretary will take minutes for meetings and maintain an updated roster of GSA active members.
- Excellent written & verbal communication: The GSA Secretary regularly corresponds with organization members and campus partners for General Assembly meetings and events.
Details
Commitment
The Secretary of the Graduate Student Association must work 5 hours per week on campus.
Compensation
This position includes a stipend, the details of which will be provided upon appointment.
Eligibility
- Must be able to work 5 student worker hours per week on campus
- Must be a currently registered student and registered during the fall and spring semester of the academic year of term
- Must be an Active Member of the GSA (What is an Active Member?)
- Must be in good academic standing and can not be on any academic or disciplinary probation
- Faculty and staff are ineligible
- Active members meeting all other eligibility requirements will advance to elections. COGS will accept self-nominations from interested inactive members. Whether self-nominations from inactive members may advance to elections will depend on number of active member self-nominations.
Communications Specialist
The Communications Specialist of the Graduate Student Association (GSA) is the multimedia manager of the organization and plays an important role in fostering belonging among graduate and professional students. The Communications Specialist maintians GSA social media, updates the GSA website, and creates a variety of promotional items to engage graduate and professional students.
Use the dropdown tabs below to learn more about the roles and responsibilities of the GSA Communications Specialist!
Position Description
Roles & Responsibilities
- Updates the GSA website
- Creates and posts content to the GSA social media
- Produces and posts print promotional items
- Leads all advertising and outreach efforts by the GSA
- Other duties as assigned by the College of Graduate Studies
Helpful Skills & Interests for this Role
- Graphic design & content creation: The GSA Communications Specialist will be responsible for creating all social media content for the Graduate Student Association as well as developing social media designs, print flyers, and other visual content to promote GSA initiatives and activities.
- Organization: The GSA Communications Specialist will maintain a social media schedule to keep members up to date on GSA important dates, activities, and programming.
- Excellent written communication: The GSA Communications Specialist will update the GSA website with important information for organization members and campus/community partners.
Details
Commitment
The Secretary of the Graduate Student Association must work 4 hours per week on campus.
Compensation
This position includes a stipend, the details of which will be provided upon appointment.
Eligibility
- Must be able to work 4 student worker hours per week on campus
- Must be a currently registered student and registered during the fall and spring semester of the academic year of term
- Must be an Active Member of the GSA (What is an Active Member?)
- Must be in good academic standing and can not be on any academic or disciplinary probation
- Faculty and staff are ineligible
- Active members meeting all other eligibility requirements will advance to elections. COGS will accept self-nominations from interested inactive members. Whether self-nominations from inactive members may advance to elections will depend on number of active member self-nominations.
Timeline
Spring 2026 Election Timeline
Self Nomination Deadline:
Election Time Period (Subject to Change):
11:59 p.m. Sunday, March 15th
Wednesday, April 1st - 11:59 p.m. Monday, April 6th
What is an Active Member?
An Active Member is a member of the Graduate Student Association who has the privileges of running for office, eligibility for additional research and travel funding, and more.
How can I become an Active Member?
You can attain active membership by obtaining four points in six months. Attending a monthly General Assembly meeting is 2 points and attending a committee meeting is 1 point.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the point system for active membership?
Attending one General Assembly meeting is two points and attending one committee meeting is one point. Earning four points within six months means you are an active member for the following six months!
Can I run for multiple positions?
Yes! You can self-nominate for as many positions as you would like, but will need to provide unique candidate statements for each of the positions.
If I'm running in the General Election, can I vote for myself?
Yes! Candidates are permitted to vote for themselves in the General Election.
Want to Learn More?
Please reach out to the College of Graduate Studies for additional information at GradSuccess@utoledo.edu.