Graduate Student Caucus Seeks Nominations

The Graduate Student Caucus is extending the deadline for self-nominations for the 2020-2021 Cabinet. We encourage you to consider self-nominating; and to share this notice widely amongst other potential candidates. Self-nominees are required to submit a 250-word bio alongside an (optional) recent photograph. Additional details are below.

Self-Nomination Deadline: November 30, 2020 at 11:59 pm Eastern

Online Voting: December 7-11, 2020

Service to the profession is an important component of any career. The ASTR Graduate Student Caucus is seeking nominations for the following elected positions.

Open GSC Cabinet Positions

1. GSC Vice President, Representative to the Conference Program Selection Committee
2. GSC Vice President, Representative to the Annual Conference Committee
3. GSC Inclusion Officer, and Liaison to Field Conversations Organizers
4. GSC Secretary and Historian
5. GSC Representative to the Committee on New Paradigms in Graduate Education

Scope and Duties of Open Positions

1. GSC Vice-President and Representative to the Conference Program Selection Committee

• Assists the GSC President in oversight of GSC operations & initiatives;
• Represents the GSC general membership to the ASTR Conference Program Selection Committee
• Acts as liaison between ASTR Conference Program Selection Committee , Annual Conference Committee, the GSC cabinet and GSC general membership;
• Helps to oversee the operations of the GSC collectively;
• Co-oversees and assists the GSC Events Planning Committee; and
• In the following year’s election, automatically becomes nominee for the position of GSC President in the absence of other nominations.

TERM: One year (November 2020-November 2021)

2. GSC Vice-President and Representative to the Annual Conference Committee

• Assists the GSC President in oversight of GSC operations & initiatives;
• Represents the GSC general membership to the ASTR Annual Conference Committee;
• Acts as liaison between ASTR Annual Conference Committee, the GSC cabinet and GSC general membership;
• Helps to oversee the operations of the GSC collectively;
• Co-oversees and assists the GSC Events Planning Committee; and
• In the following year’s election, automatically becomes nominee for the position of GSC President in the absence of other nominations.

TERM: One year (November 2020-November 2021)

3. GSC Inclusion Officer and Liaison to Field Conversations Organizers

• Works closely with ASTR Field Conversations Organizers on initiatives such as mock interviews and GSC-sponsored Field Conversation panel;
• Acts as liaison between the GSC cabinet and GSC general membership;
• Advocates for international students and traditionally underrepresented students to actively participate in ASTR;
• Helps to oversee the operations of the GSC collectively;
• Helps to oversee GSC events at the annual ASTR Conference; and
• Oversees and assists the GSC Inclusion Committee.

TERM: One year (November 2020-November 2021)

4. GSC Secretary and Historian

• Assists in scheduling GSC meetings;
• Takes minutes at GSC meetings and distributes minutes and notes to GSC membership;
• Serves as historian to take photos at meetings, conferences, and other events;
• Oversees and assists the GSC Conference Assistance Committee;
• Assists the ASTR GSC Mentorship Committee; and
• Helps to oversee the operations of the GSC collectively.

TERM: One year (November 2020-November 2021)

5. GSC Representative to the ASTR Committee on New Paradigms in Graduate Education

• Represents the GSC general membership on the Committee on New Paradigms in Graduate Education;
• Oversees and manages joint initiatives between the GSC and the ASTR Committee on New Paradigms in Graduate Education;
• Helps to oversee the operations of the GSC collectively;
• Acts as liaison between this committee, the GSC cabinet and GSC general membership; and
• Oversees and assists the GSC Web Resources Committee.

TERM: One year (November 2020-November 2021)

The Nomination/Election Process

If you are interested in any of the above elected positions, please nominate yourself by sending a 250-word (max) bio and (optional) recent photograph to graduatestudentcaucus@astr.org. In your bio, please include:

• Your name and institution
• The position for which you nominate yourself
• Research interests
• Service experience
• Vision for the position and the GSC

You must email your nomination no later than 11:59 pm Eastern on November 30, 2020; please put “ASTR GSC Nomination” in the subject line of your message. A ballot will be emailed to Graduate Student Members of ASTR on Decembger 7, 2020. Voting will be completed by the end of the week with a deadline of 11:59 pm Eastern December 11, 2020. Results will be announced following the voting period.