Graduate Student Organizations

The Black Graduate Student Association (BGSA) is an interdisciplinary, student initiated, student-run organization that is dedicated to uniting students, faculty and alumni of African descent to create a sense of community at the University of San Diego. We encourage scholarship opportunities, promote social connections, community service and self-determination.

The purpose of BGSA is to serve as a support network for graduate students of African descent and provide resources that will enhance academic and career success of current graduate and professional students. In addition, the purpose is to develop a network of emerging scholars who are dedicated and sensitive to the needs and concerns of an increasingly diverse academic community.

BGSA membership is open to all graduate students, scholars, and/or individuals who are interested in supporting students of African descent in the pursuit of graduate and professional educational excellence. BGSA does not discriminate or limit its membership to any individual or group based on race, creed, color, nationality, ability or sexual orientation.

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Chi Sigma Alpha is an international honors society comprised of graduate students, alumni, faculty, and student affairs professionals to promote and recognize excellence in academics, research, and service to the profession of student affairs. Our purpose is to develop the profession of Student Affairs by supporting and enriching the experiences and development of its practitioners, especially at the graduate student level.

 
Chi Sigma Alpha offers professional development funding and opportunities for its members in addition to opportunities to network with other Chi Sigma Alpha members and alumni at various professional conferences. Chi Sigma Alpha also offers opportunities for both members and non-members to facilitate workshops, presentations, and activities which benefit current and/or future Student Affairs Practitioners.

 
For more information, please contact any member of the Executive Council!

This organization is currently inactive. If you'd like to get involved, please contact Graduate Student Life at gradlife@sandiego.edu. 

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Chi Sigma Iota is the international honor society for the counseling profession composed of graduate students, alumni, and faculty. We are dedicated to promoting and developing future counselors’ professional growth while fostering a sense of community within the Sigma Delta Chapter.

Our calendar year consists of multiple social events to promote intentional connection throughout the cohorts. As well as our counseling practice club opportunities to practice new counseling skills. We are also bringing back the advocacy committee this year to re-integrate ourselves back into the community to build those connections with outside organizations! 

For more information, please contact any member of the Executive Board.

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Counselors Advocating and Pursuing Equity (CAPE) was founded in response to an increase in microaggressions against marginalized students in the SOLES counseling program. Our mission is to increase accountability in practicing cultural humility and providing opportunities for growth both within our USD counseling community and in the broader counseling field. We work in collaboration with SOLES and CMFT department leadership to progress towards enacting and furthering policies, trainings, procedures, and accountability as it relates to equity work within our community.

Contact CAPE at usdcape@gmail.com.

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The Graduate Student Government (GSG) serves the needs of the graduate and law students, building a strong and successful graduate community. They hold open meetings once a month and invite you to join them in realizing their goals.

The purpose of the GSG is to represent all USD graduate and law students to the university administration with the mission to:

• build and maintain a strong USD graduate student community;
• advocate for graduate student issues;
• ensure adequate graduate student representation on university committees;
• work collaboratively with, and advise, university administration to improve the level of graduate studies.

The Graduate Student Council By-Laws, originally ratified by unanimous vote of the Graduate Student Council on the seventh day of the month of September in the year 2009 in the city of San Diego, California, are recognized to be the governing document of the Graduate Student Council of the University of San Diego. 

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The Latinx Graduate Student Association (LGSA) is an organization dedicated to creating a support and social network for Chicanx/Latinx graduate students at the University of San Diego (USD).

LGSA contributes to USD's principles by upholding values of social justice, equity, family, culture, and academic excellence through the promotion of scholarship, advocacy, and qtorship/femtorship/mentorship. We encourage and facilitate communication between graduate students and faculty who identify as Latinx, Afro-Latinx, Asian-Latinx, Mexican/Mexican-American, Filipinx/Filpinx-American and other underrepresented communities at USD through coalition-building and allyship.

LGSA brings together Latinx graduate students who are committed to:

Existing and thriving at the University of San Diego
Advocating for equitable opportunities, educational outcomes, and representation at the student, administrative and faculty level
Creating comunidad together at SOLES and USD
Promoting the recruitment and retention of Latinx graduate students
Qtoring/Femtoring/Mentoring and supporting SOLES Latinx graduate students in pursuit of academic excellence, degree completion and professional goals
Stimulating and supporting scholarly efforts, research and publication opportunities to include the study of Latinx culture and its contributions to academia, education and leadership
Increasing scholarship funds and financial support for SOLES Latinx graduate students;
Supporting the professional development of Latinx Graduate students; and
Connecting with SOLES Latinx alumni

Email: lgsausd@gmail.com

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The purpose of LGBTQIA2S+ Graduate Student Association is to

A. Create a community who identifies as and supports LGBTQ2S+ individuals and allies.
B. Create a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space that embraces and connects people of all sexualities, gender identities, and gender expressions.
C. Acknowledge, advocate, and celebrate intersectionalities and recognize that individuals are composed of multiple identities.
D. Strive to encourage and promote graduate students building coalitions with faculty/staff and other students on campus in order to explore how sexualities and gender identities/expressions shape the student experience.

EMAIL: usdlgbtgrad@gmail.com  
PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/usdlgbtqiagsa/
GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/usdlgbtqiagsa/

This organization is currently inactive. If you'd like to get involved, please contact Graduate Student Life at gradlife@sandiego.edu. 

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The SOLES Graduate Student Association (SGSA) is a student-governed association supporting our graduate and doctoral students in their scholastic, co-curricular and social experiences. The goal of the SGSA is to support the development of a professional, scholastic and social community in the School of Leadership and Education Sciences.

The SGSA hosts a number of events for students and faculty, including the SOLES holiday party, local volunteering trips and networking socials. The SGSA also awards professional development grants to SOLES students.

For more information contact sgsa@sandiego.edu.

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