CGS's Internal Committees
The below listed committees are those that were formed by and continue to be supported internally by CGS (financially, seating committee members, identifying committee leadership, etc.). Internal committees are either standing or ad hoc committees. Standing committees are those mandated by the CGS governing documents and are charged with advocating for broad areas/issues and creating unique programs and events in line with their self-identified advocacy goals. These committees are empowered through the assignment of a budget for programming and advocacy needs, and serve to help better the entirety of the graduate experience at OSU. Ad hoc committees are created via legislative act (which are adopted via a majority vote), and are created to address a single-issue within a specific amount of time specified by their founding act. These committees can be specific to CGS infrastructure and operations or can focus on university-wide advocacy issues. All committee chairs sit on the executive board/executive committee of CGS and help to lead and guide the work of CGS as a whole.
For more information on becoming a member of a committee contact CGS Vice President, Katie Conner.280 and the chair of the committee of interest. If you are interested in chairing or co-chairing a CGS committee, contact CGS President Sabrina Durso.19.
Academic Affairs
2024 - 2025 Chair: Sohan Daniel.508
The Academic Affairs Committee works closely with the Graduate School, the Office of Academic Affairs (OAA), the Council on Student Enrollment and Progress (CESP), and the Council on Academic Affairs (CAA) to ensure graduate students are receiving the best and most inclusive educational experience. The committee advocates for graduate students on issues related to academics, including research funding, faculty-student relationships and mentorship, and university/college/departmental policies.
Arts and Culture
2024 - 2025 Co-Chair: Nicholas Booker.200
2024 - 2025 Co-Chair: Holly Engel.210
The Arts and Culture Committee provides engaging programming to enrich the graduate student experience at The Ohio State University. Our programs offer graduate students opportunities to exhibit their work and research, engage with artistic and cultural expression, connect with experts in their fields, and facilitate inclusive and interdisciplinary collaboration in the graduate student community. The committee works to celebrate and develop the diversity of creative fields and cultural research at our university and support a strong arts and culture community.
Diversity & Inclusion
2024 - 2025 Chair: Priya Jana.20
The Diversity & Inclusion Committee is committed to bringing about mutual understanding and respect among all individuals and groups at the University and to eliminating all forms of discrimination. In recognition that the development of human potential is a fundamental goal in a democratic society, this committee promotes an education system that values cultural and ethnic diversity and understanding; that provides for the preparation of students for full and meaningful participation in a changing world; and that promotes equitable and fair treatment in every aspect of campus life and employment for all persons regardless of race, color, national or regional origin, sex, age, religion, veteran status, disability, and body shape or size. This committee is dedicated to programming centered on education, awareness, activism, and building social communities for diverse groups of graduate students.
Graduate Student Caucus
2024 - 2025 Chair: Peter Carrera.55
The University Senate at the Ohio State University (https://senate.osu.edu/) is the shared governing body of The Ohio State University. It is comprised of 141 faculty, students, staff, and administrators and has legislative authority over administrative matters concerning the University as a whole. The mission of the CGS Graduate Student Caucus is to provide a platform for graduate students to advocate for university-wide policies that improve the general welfare of graduate students and the university. The 10 senators appointed to the University Senate by the CGS are members of the committee. The Graduate Caucus’ goals are to: 1) Present a unified, graduate student-focused presence in The University Senate when conducting senate business 2) Provide a transparent, two-way information flow with CGS members and constituents; sharing what occurs in the Senate and in turn receiving valuable perspective & information
Government Affairs
2024 - 2025 Chair: Madeline Carrola.1
The Government Affairs Committee is committed to keeping the graduate student body apprised of federal, state, and local legislation impacting graduate students. The Committee also works to promote civic engagement, broadly construed. Government Affairs publishes regular newsletters highlighting policy developments, drafts resolutions in response to proposed state legislation, and develops projects that encourage civic participation among graduate students.
Graduate Student Affairs (GSAC)
2024 - 2025 Chair: Chiranth Koratagere Nagaraj (KoratagereNagaraj.1)
The Graduate Student Affairs Committee is committed to solidifying a positive graduate experience at The Ohio State University for all graduate students. The committee, through a variety of collaborative projects, seeks to make positive change across all areas of the graduate student experience. The committee tackles a multitude of larger projects of its own volition, while serving as a reinforcing back-end support for the other CGS committees where and when assistance is needed. The committee intentionally leans into its broadly-given name in order to be as ambitious and responsive to student's needs as possible. Alongside this work, the committee plans Ohio State's annual Graduate Student Appreciation Week.
Grants Administration (CDG & Ray Travel Award)
2024 - 2025 Career Development Grant Co-Chair: Secretary Kaz Gary.102
2024 - 2025 Ray Travel Award for Service and Scholarship Co-Chair: Treasurer Jon Fritz.288
Career Development Grant Subcommittee: The Career Development Grant encourages graduate students to prepare for placement into their chosen field and provides an opportunity to defray associated costs. By awarding grants of up to $350 each, CGS provides an incentive for graduate students to invest effort in their own career development while attending The Ohio State University.
Ray Travel Award Subcommittee: The aims of the RTA Subcommittee are 1) to educate the OSU graduate student community on the criteria and requirements for competitive application for the RTA, 2) to provide programming to promote graduate student participation in the RTA, and 3) to review, implement, & enforce policies for fair, accessible, and relevant distribution of the award. Additionally, subcommittee members serve as standing judges for the RTA for each of its four annual funding periods.
Hayes Advanced Research Forum Committee
2024 - 2025 Chair: Vice President Katie Conner.280
The Edward F. Hayes Advanced Research Forum (formerly the Edward F. Hayes Graduate Research Forum) showcases the innovative and exemplary research being conducted by Ohio State graduate students and postdoctoral scholars across the full range of graduate degree programs and research topics and facilitates fruitful exchanges between graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, faculty, the administration, and the public. Cash prizes, totaling more than $17,000, will be awarded to the top-judged presentations in each academic area for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. There will be separate sessions for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. The 2025 Forum will mark the 39th time graduate scholars have shared their work via this storied partnership.
The forum is co-sponsored by the Council of Graduate Students, the Graduate School, the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, and the Enterprise for Research, Innovation, and Knowledge (ERIK), with additional organizational and operational support from the Office of Student Life. The 2025 Forum will mark the 39th time graduate scholars have shared their work via this storied partnership. The Forum Organizing Committee is chaired by the CGS Vice President as a part of their GAship responsibilities.
Health, Wellness, & Safety Committee (HWS)
2024 - 2025 Co-Chair: Deb Pathak.89
2024 - 2025 Co-Chair: Luke Van Niel (VanNiel.5)
The Health, Wellness, & Safety Committee aims to ensure the physical and mental well-being of all graduate students at The Ohio State University. At a time where universities across the nation are promoting dialogue on student wellness, such as discussing graduate student mental health, the HW&S committee seeks to support parallel initiatives on the Ohio State campus. Specifically, through a combination of research, university partnerships, and outreach initiatives the committee is focused on creating and promoting an environment of care and wellness throughout the university. As part of this mission, the Health, Wellness, & Safety Committee holds the annual “Accessibility Stakeholder's Symposium,” an event open to all Buckeyes to discuss accessibility resources and standards on the OSU campus. At this event, the committee partners with other organizations at OSU, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator's Office, Student Life and Disability Services, Buckeyes4Accessbility, and more.
Housing & Family Affairs (HAFA)
2024 - 2025 Chair: Syed Murtaza Arshad.32
The Housing & Family Affairs Committee is dedicated to enhancing the housing experience for all graduate students and improving the overall quality of life for those with families at The Ohio State University. We collaborate closely with the Office of Student Life (studentlife.osu.edu) and Off-Campus and Commuter Student Engagement (offcampus.osu.edu) to ensure access to essential resources for securing safe, affordable, and family-friendly housing. Our efforts include advocating for better graduate housing policies, connecting students with vital support services, and organizing family-oriented events and childcare programs. Additionally, the committee strives to support graduate student caregivers in balancing parenting, family responsibilities, work, and academic pursuits, ensuring a fulfilling experience at OSU.
International Student Affairs (ISAC)
2024 - 2025 Chair: Kaustubh Kumar.889
The International Student Affairs Committee (ISAC) aims to create a more inclusive, assistive, and cooperative experience for all graduate students at Ohio State, particularly international students. The committee intends to facilitate useful information and resources (like news digests, tax information sessions, etc.) and advocate for a vibrant and interconnected student community so that international students have the support they need to excel at OSU. By improving communications and partnerships with the Office of International Affairs (OIA), the Graduate School, and other relevant offices and student organizations across the campus, ISAC fosters an environment in which they can effectively address the challenges and support the unique needs of international graduate students.
Membership Wellness
2024 - 2025 Chair: Aryn Robinson.2283
The Membership Wellness Committee addresses wellness as it relates to the internal organization. Our goal is to build a sense of community in CGS that will help support all members in their service efforts and professional development as they work to advocate for graduate issues and concerns. This committee is constantly adapting to the needs of CGS by providing both fun and professional development opportunities. Membership Wellness oversees wellness activities at CGS meetings, the CGS Buddy Program, and special interest groups with the purpose of fostering a sense of community.
Research and Data Operations Committee (RDOC)
2024 - 2025 Chair: Bill Wang.13945
The Research and Data Operations Committee provides statistical analysis support for other committees and aims to deliver essential data training to all CGS members. Recently, we collaborated with the Housing & Family Affairs Committee to enhance the presentation of the graduate student housing survey data, creating clear, impactful slides that summarized actionable items for advocating improved housing benefits for graduate students. Additionally, we are planning a data camp to introduce CGS members to fundamental data analysis tools and techniques, empowering them with practical skills to support their committee work.
Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility Committee (SERC)
2024 - 2025 Chair: Brittany Multer Hopkins (MulterHopkins.1)
The mission of the Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility Committee (SERC) is to foster the development of environmentally responsible leadership on the Ohio State Campus through awareness and outreach, partnerships, and engagement with the Ohio State community. The committee aims to partner with entities on campus engaged in sustainability work and connect students with resources that will further Ohio State’s progress in reaching its sustainability goals. We advocate for sustainable practices being incorporated into ongoing academic research, educational programming, student initiatives, on-campus operations, and the built environment.