About | Grass

Purpose

The purpose of GRASS is to encourage community and support among graduate students and post-docs and facilitate effective communication with faculty and administration in the E3B department at Columbia University

Goals

Provide a space for students to become more involved in the department, express concerns, and foster community
Facilitate effective communication between graduate students and E3B faculty and administration
Hold regular meetings with committee leaders and broader student body
Foster a welcoming and collaborative environment for graduate students through regular academic and social events.
Provide professional and academic resources and outreach opportunities for E3B students and post-docs

Role Descriptions

GRASS Council Chair: The main responsibility of the Council Chair is to oversee organization of Fall Retreat and Winter Games by organizing an Events Committee. The chair also ensures GRASS positions are filled and members of GRASS are receiving the support they need. The Council Chair works closely with the Treasurer and the MA + PhD Student Reps to run GRASS.
- Fall Retreat Field Marshal: Part of the events committee assembled by the GRASS Council Chair. The field marshal is responsible for assembling the team that will organize Fall Retreat, with support from the Council Chair and the Treasurer.
- Winter Games Warden: Part of the events committee assembled by the GRASS Council Chair. The warden is responsible for assembling the team that will organize Winter Games, with support from the Council Chair and the Treasurer.
PhD Representative: A current PhD student who attends faculty meetings and is responsible for representing the PhD student perspective to the faculty. The PhD representative also hosts the PhD student-invited speaker. This is an elected position.
MA Representative: A current MA student who attends faculty meetings and is responsible for representing the MA student perspective to the faculty. The MA representative also hosts the MA student-invited speaker. This is an elected position.
Seminar Chair: The seminar chair organizes Thursday seminars, working closely with the faculty member in charge of seminars with support from other GRASS members. The chair should assembly a committee of 2-4 additional members to assist with organization duties. Ideally, members of the seminar committee will have good representation from early MA and PhD students.
Communications Director: The comms director is responsible for sending out the weekly newsletter and help manage the department listserv and WhatsApp. They attend all GRASS meetings and disseminate information about GRASS events.
Webmaster: The webmaster manages and updates the website and also assists with managing the listserv.
Lead Teaching Fellow (LTF): The LTF is a fellowship position offered by the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL). The CTL chooses the LTF each year, but this position is also formally part of GRASS because the LTF has a role in helping to update website information at the beginning of every academic year, which counts as part of their liaison activity requirements for the position.
Union Department Representative: The union rep attends union meetings and keeps the department updated about what's happening with the union. They are also responsible for directing students with concerns to the appropriate resources and/or union contacts.
You can read more about the union on their website.
ASGC Department Representative: This is usually a semester-long position, but can be extended. ASGC requires a representative (one MA and one PhD) from the department to consistently attend monthly meetings in order for students from that department to be eligible for ASGC funding opportunities.