Committees

  • The CDAR Committee will be responsible for providing the student body with resources to assist in career development and career planning. This includes: planning specific events to provide students with relevant information, professional skill building, and networking opportunities. In addition, it shall also serve as a liaison between the Senate, as well as the graduate student body-at-large, and the alumni of the Wayne State University School of Medicine. The Senate alumni representatives will join the School of Medicine administration on the Alumni Association Committee. The alumni representatives will attend all Alumni Association Committee meetings held by the administration, or as the administration sees necessary. The involvement of the Senate with the administration and the Alumni Association shall strengthen the relationship between the SOM alumni and the student body. The goals include but are not limited to: transfer of information on current student affairs to alumni; presence of the alumni at SOM or Senate sponsored events; increased direct student-alumni contact for professional and social business or networking; and increased visibility of alumni during times of fundraising.

  • The Constitution Committee shall maintain the Constitution of the Senate and serve as the directors of any proposed revisions or amendments. This committee will be chaired by the Executive Treasurer, who is responsible for disclosing any changes to the IRS. The committee shall review the Constitution for discrepancies with the actual function and practice of the Senate, and for the development of wording consistent with this Constitution. Any proposed Constitutional amendments must be sent to this committee for review. This Committee is an excellent fit for Senators interested in policy.

  • The Social Functions Committee holds the responsibility of coordinating and organizing social activities that encompass the entire SOM graduate student body. A key principle guiding the Committee's actions is ensuring that the events they plan are open and inclusive to students from all departments, promoting equal participation, and fostering a sense of unity among the student community. In pursuit of enhancing social interactions and camaraderie across departments, the Committee creates opportunities for students to engage with one another outside of their academic pursuits. By facilitating such interactions, they aim to create a vibrant and interconnected student network that transcends departmental boundaries.

  • The Executive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Representative/Committee plays a pivotal role in championing the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion within the graduate student community, with particular emphasis on minority groups and underrepresented individuals. These duties extend to acting as an advocate for the needs, concerns, and interests of these students, both within the Senate and in communication with the School of Medicine's administration. We ensure that diversity, equity, and inclusion considerations remain at the forefront of Senate discussions, decisions, and planning processes. By promoting the perspectives and experiences of minority and underrepresented students, they help create an inclusive space where all voices are heard and valued. Additionally, we will actively engage with various student groups to better understand their unique challenges and needs. Through collaboration and outreach efforts, the DEI Representative and Committee will foster a sense of community and belonging for all students, striving to make the academic environment more supportive, respectful, and equitable for everyone. Ultimately, our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion will help cultivate a richer, more diverse graduate student community within the School of Medicine.

  • The mission of the Outreach Committee is to cultivate trust in science within our community by actively engaging with the Detroit and Wayne State communities at large. Through these efforts, we hope to break stigmas, debunk myths, and misconceptions by communicating our current understanding of science and medicine to the public. We strive to increase exposure to STEM careers, illustrate how research is conducted, and how science impacts our daily lives. This committee shall oversee outreach and volunteer initiatives available to graduate students within the School of Medicine. The Outreach Committee Chair is also responsible for organizing the orientation with help from the Graduate Student Senate and graduate student body. This committee is great for those who want to get involved with the Detroit community beyond WSU!

  • The Financial Aid Committee shall act as liaisons between the Senate and School of Medicine administrators regarding graduate student finances, including, but not limited to, Ph.D. salary, fellowship opportunities, benefits and associated costs, and other internal financial support mechanisms. The Financial Aid Committee, along with members of the Executive Senate, will meet with SOM administrators to discuss graduate student financial concerns and potential solutions. The Financial Aid committee will collaborate with other Senate Committees to approach graduate student financial support from an intersectional perspective. The Financial Aid Committee will administer, analyze, and distribute the annual Senate survey on graduate student well-being to provide quantitative, longitudinal assessments on graduate student opinions and experiences for the Senate, Senate constituents, and the SOM community.

  • The objective of the Mentorship Committee is to provide guidance to the current graduate student body at all graduate stages. To accomplish this objective, the Mentorship Committee will make available a list of predominantly, but not limited to, internal Wayne State University student resources. These resources and additional advice will be disseminated to the student body through a variety of mechanisms determined by the Mentorship Committee, and shall be regularly updated to uphold the objective of the Mentorship Committee.