Become a Member!The Graduate Student Assembly is the voice of graduate students at UMass Boston. Do you feel as though you spend a lot of time at UMass, but only know people in your department? Join the GSA and meet graduate students from all over campus! We are always looking for new members! Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, November 4 at 3:45 p.m. All graduate students are invited to attend!

Spayne and Bollinger Grant DeadlinesAre you a doctoral or master’s student working on your thesis? The GSA may be able to help fund your research! The Spayne Master’s Thesis and Bollinger Doctoral Thesis grants are competitive grants given to up to two doctoral candidates and two master’s candidates each spring and fall. The application deadline for this fall’s grants will be Wednesday, December 1 at 5:00 p.m. More information and applications may be found on our website.

RPA InfoThe GSA has several desks and cabinets available for use by RPAs. Contact the GSA if your Recognized Professional Association is looking for meeting or office space. If your group is hosting an event and would like the GSA to include it in our weekly column, please email us at [email protected].

Discounts and ‘Freebies’ from the Office of Student LifeThe Student Life Office has many programs and discounts available to graduate students! Discount movie passes, and discounts for both the Museum of Science and the Aquarium can be purchased at Student Life with your Student ID. Did you know that you can also get into the Museum of Fine Arts and the JFK Library for free with your current UMass Boston Student ID? Stop by the Student Life Counter on the third Floor of the Campus Center to see what is available this week!

Professional Development GrantsAre you traveling to a professional conference this semester? The GSA administers the Professional Development Grant (PDG) program to assist graduate students with the economic burden of traveling to, and participating in, professional conferences and meetings. Grants of up to $400 are available to reimburse students presenting papers or posters, and grants of up to $300 are available for students attending conferences. Please refer to our website for application materials and guidelines. Note that all application materials must be submitted at least 30 days prior to travel to be eligible for review.

Looking for us?The GSA office is located on the third floor of the Campus Center, in room 3404. For applications, forms, or more information on any of our programs, please visit our website at www.gsa.umb.edu.