7 – Graduate Student Representation

7.1 – School of Biological Sciences Representation

Graduate students hold several important representative positions within the school. One graduate representative serves as a liaison with the faculty and attends all faculty meetings, except those involving personnel matters. Each fall graduate students may elect this representative and notify the Director of their selection. The representative conveys graduate students’ concerns or suggestions about the school to the faculty. In turn, the representative is responsible for conveying actions by the faculty to the students. The Director of the School of Biological Sciences will solicit graduate student representatives for these committees. The Vancouver campus also welcomes a graduate student liaison to Biology and Science faculty meetings. In addition, all SBS students are eligible to join the Biology Graduate Student Association (BGSA), which is affiliated with the WSU Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA). The BGSA holds regular meetings and occasional events, including the annual graduate student research symposium, held each spring.

7.2 – University Representation

All graduate students in the university who are currently enrolled in 10 or more hours are members of the GPSA. GPSA represents the concerns of graduate and professional students both within the university and nationally. The School of Biological Sciences has two representatives to the GPSA Senate (the governing body for GPSA) who are elected each fall. In addition, many of the important advisory committees within the university have voting positions for graduate students. Students are encouraged to become involved in positions of interest. For additional information please consult the GPSA website. Graduate students are also members of WSU CASE (Coalition of Academic Student Employees (see WSU CASE website FAQ page).

7.3 – Grievances

If grievances arise, the student may discuss the problem with their thesis advisor, the Associate Director for Graduate Studies in the school, the Director of the School of Biological Sciences, or the WSU Ombudsman (Wilson-Short Hall, Room 2, telephone: 509-335-1195). If such grievances are not resolved, they may be also brought to the Graduate School following these guidelines: Graduate School Policies and Procedures (PDF file). SBS has no specific grievance policies, and follows in principle steps advised by the Graduate School Policies under Chapter 12 E, section 3. (Graduate and Professional Student Informal Complaint and Formal Academic Grievance Procedures):

7.3.1 – Conflict resolution related to academic work

• Students are encouraged to first consult with their faculty advisor.
• If this does not resolve the problem, the student is encouraged to discuss the issue with the SBS graduate program director, and if needed subsequently with the SBS director.
• If the complaint is still not resolved at the department or program level, the student should contact a Graduate School leadership team member.
• The Dean of the Graduate School or a Dean’s designee will review the complaint and recommend possible actions for resolution to the student, the director (in the graduate program, department, or school), the college dean, or faculty liaison.

7.3.2 – Conflict resolution related to Academic Student Employee (ASE) work

Procedures here follow as listed in Article 37 of the WSU/UAW contract 2024-2026 for ASEs. Grievance here is defined as ‘a claim by an employee or group of employees covered by this Agreement, or by the Union, that the University has committed a specific violation, misapplication or misinterpretation of the terms of this Agreement.”

• If an ASE is experiencing any workplace issue, or feels that any aspect of their contract is being violated, they are encouraged to reach out to their SBS union steward, and to contact the Union at contractenforcement@uaw4591.org for support. Up-to-date information on stewards and jurisdictions can be found within the WSU and UAW Contract Ratified for Academic Student Employees under Stewards/Representatives.
• As a first step, the ASE is encouraged to resolve any problems as soon as possible, first in a meeting with the direct supervisor of the ASE. The ASE may request that their union steward be present at any meetings.
• If the conflict was not resolved, the ASE is encouraged to file grievance with the assistance of a union steward. Following filing, the hiring unit director (or designee) shall meet with the grievant and the Union within fourteen (14) calendar days of receiving the grievance. The hiring unit director (or designee) shall issue a written response to the grievance within fourteen (14) calendar days of the meeting.
• If these initial steps are not satisfactory, grievance can be escalated through further steps outlined in the contract (collective bargaining agreement) under Article 37.6.3-5.