GPSS Resource Fair

On October 18, the Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) partnered with Core Programs (Office of Graduate Student Affairs) to host UW’s first-ever GPSS Resource Fair. Held in the HUB Lyceum, the fair provided tabling services as well as refreshments, entertainment, and free swag for the 300 graduate and professional students who attended the event.

Talks about organizing a fair commenced the previous year after the Graduate Student Service Committee conducted a survey on graduate students’ Husky Experiences. Based on participant feedback, it was evident that a universal graduate and professional student orientation needed to be established. Due to the combined efforts of almost all 14 GPSS officers and staff as well as Core Program’s student outreach and departmental connections, a grand total of 26 resources were made available to Resource Fair attendees (20 of which were specifically tailored to graduate students).

“The Resource Fair was a way for students to network and meet each other, but also get them to meet these different resources. This was the first year we did it, and it was very successful which was really exciting to see” said Sydney Pearce, GPSS Vice President of Internal Affairs.

As a result of the 2018 Resource Fair’s high attendance rate and overwhelmingly positive remarks from UW resource representatives, GPSS will, once again, be sponsoring the event in the fall. To accommodate more organizations and participating students, GPSS hopes to increase next year’s hours and move the fair to a larger event space.