Zoe & Matt - Graduate Students

Graduate students are a vital part of the William & Mary community, especially as William & Mary seeks to grow its national research prowess. But they can feel isolated from main campus. We will be more inclusive of the graduate perspective, because you deserve to feel belonging too. As a Master's student running for President, which is usually an undergraduate, Zoe will bring a fresh perspective to leadership and make sure that Student Assembly advocates for graduate students.

Our Policies

Advocate for Fair Parking Enforcement

Graduate students have unique parking needs that current policies do not always accommodate. Advocacy efforts will focus on creating more tailored parking pass options that reflect students roles and responsibilities. Additionally, concerns about inconsistent parking enforcement will be communicated to parking services to ensure greater fairness and transparency.

Create a Faculty/Staff Parking Pass for TAs

Graduate students play an important role in undergraduate classrooms as teaching assistants. Therefore, graduate teaching assistants should not face obstacles like simply finding a place to park. To support their work, graduate teaching assistants should have the option to purchase faculty and staff parking passes, ensuring they have the access they need to be effective.

Activate the Parking Appeals Committee

From student feedback, we know the Parking Appeals Committee has been inactive, preventing students from achieving a just outcome using the process that is already in place. We have already begun communicating this issue to administrators and will continue to do so if elected.

Grad-Inclusive Language in Student Body Emails

Too often, student body-wide communications does not clearly state if graduate students are invited to Student Assembly events or not, which creates confusion and overlooks graduate students' unique contributions and concerns. We will ensure all campus-wide newsletters and messages use inclusive language that acknowledges and addresses graduate students directly.

Outreach to Graduate Schools

To strengthen connections between the Student Assembly and graduate students, regular outreach efforts will be established. Once a year/semester, the Student Assembly will host tabling events at the Graduate Schools to gather feedback, share resources, and ensure graduate students are informed about events and opportunities available to them.

Include Grad Students in Planning Student Assembly Events

Graduate students are just as much a part of the William & Mary community as any other student. Advocating for greater inclusion of graduate students in the planning and organization of university events is essential to improving campus spirit and fostering a truly representative campus community.

Graduate Student Recognition Week

Graduate students make valuable contributions to William & Mary as mentors, researchers, and leaders. Establishing a dedicated Graduate Student Recognition Week would celebrate their hard work, highlight their impact, and ensure they receive the appreciation they deserve for their essential role on campus.

Establish a Graduate Student Teaching Award

Graduate students are teachers too, and we will recognize those who go above and beyond to create a strong learning environment.