Participating in conferences offers an opportunity for students to connect and learn from different professionals. Grand Valley State University’s Graduate Student Association, Graduate and Finance Committee and the Office of Student Life now collaborate in funding professional conferences for graduate students.

Elnur Maharramov, a graduate student participant at the Legislative Action Days in Washington, D.C., said student advocates gathered at the University of California Center on March 2-3 to learn from policy area experts, advocates and professionals in their field. Maharramov was one of four students from GVSU selected to attend this conference.

“The Legislative Action Days taught me great advocacy skills that will be very applicable in my future professional career,” Maharramov said. “As a result of these skills I felt confident during our meetings with our Michigan senator’s offices and our Congressman where we were able to inform them about our issues related to funding, open access to federally-funded research and immigration, and let them know that we (their constituents) are concerned and urge their attention.”

Renata Horvath, finance officer for the GSA, said her job is to attract more funds to help different graduate organizations with their proposed budget idea, and assist them in making funding requests.

She added that each graduate student organization is asked to submit a yearly budget to the Graduate Finance Committee for budgeting purposes, and that these budgets are discussed with the Office of Student Life and the Office of Graduate Studies. This process consists of the finance committee chair reviewing the proposals, the graduate organization submitting their formal funding request, and the chairmen then calling a meeting to discuss approval of any proposed funding requests. At the end of the meeting, if the graduate organization is approved, the financial advisors of both the Office of Student Life and the Office of Graduate Studies review the approved requests for funding of a particular conference and the finance committee decides how much money the graduate organization gets.

Maharramov said there have been eight new graduate organizations that have developed in a year, starting from four in the fall of 2012.

“The finance officer revised the graduate funding guidelines along which graduate organizations will operate, and doubled the funding available for graduate students for the next academic year,” Horvath said. “GVSU provides funds mostly for on-campus programs which promote professional development for field-specific conferences. Every organization is encouraged to do fundraising activities also; this is the third pillar of funding.”

She said a lot of the graduate students that attend these conferences look at things differently and learn more about the field from professionals.

“I see a lot of graduate students come back from these conferences where they end up being a leader or advocate for students coming into the program,” Horvath said. “They expand their social and professional network greatly, and they hear new things within the field that will make them a better employer in the workplace.”

Michael Breon, president of the Healthcare Professionals Graduate Student Alliance, said their organization is part of the American College of Healthcare Executives, and has been attending the ACHE Congress conference for two years.

“We’re extremely excited that the university has stepped up to allow more students to attend conferences by offering funding,” Breon said. “The university helping with travel expenses to conferences has allowed graduate students to get a leg up on their job search and what to do to enhance their career. We’re the only graduate program within West Michigan that sends students.”

He added that graduate students who are interested in receiving funding need a good GPA and have to write a paper that illustrates why they want to attend the conference, as well as what they expect to get out of it.
“Our graduate program sets us apart because it gives students the opportunity to attend these conferences,” Breon said. “The school encourages learning and education outside of the classroom by providing funding, which gives GVSU a competitive advantage among graduate schools.”

Horvath said she offers a special thanks to Michelle Burke, director of Student Life; Krista McFarland, student life assistant; and Dean Lipnicki, assistant dean of students.

“I thank these people for their help in facilitating the expansion process, advising the GSA on programs and budgets, and helping the GSA transform from a small graduate community to vivid and enriching campus groups,” Horvath said.

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