Policy Student Government Association

The Policy Student Government Association (PSGA) of the Maryland School of Public Policy is an independent student organization whose mission is to represent the needs and interest of MPP, MPM, and Policy Studies PhD students to the School and the University of Maryland. The group also works to build community among students, faculty, staff, and administration. We host social events and student meetings, and are in regular contact with the administration on issues of special concern.

Elections will be held the first week of October 2005 for two new PSGA representatives to serve a six-month term until full elections are held in April; nominations will be sought in late September for these positions.

PSGA Unofficial Handbook 2007-2008

Town Hall Meetings (Monthly)

The purpose of the Town Hall Meeting is to provide a venue which keeps the student body up to date with PSGA activities. PSGA members use these Town Hall meetings as a time to share information about current PSGA initiatives, give updates from our meetings with the School of Public Policy 's Administration, answer questions, and engage students in discussions of importance to the School's community. These meetings are also a time in which committees and sub-committees can interact and formulate projects/events for the year.

Social Events

Throughout the year, the PSGA hosts multiple social events ranging from informal happy hours to larger scale events including a bowling night in the fall, a Quiz night fundraiser, and a Prom in the spring. The intent of these events is to maintain relationships built throughout the academic year between students, faculty, and staff, and of course, to have fun!

Community Service Projects

The PSGA helps coordinate volunteer participation in various community service projects throughout the year. In the past, PSGA has organized community service projects during the holiday season. Typically, the project involves faculty, staff, and students donating gifts for disadvantaged children or food and clothing items for the homeless.

Graduate Women in Public Policy (GWIPP)

Graduate Women in Public Policy (GWIPP) seeks to develop a community built on relationships among students and alumni of the Maryland School of Public Policy and to provide personal and professional development for its members. GWIPP is further established to develop leadership skills and to encourage students to participate in public policy.

Goals & Roles

Internally, GWIPP seeks to build a community of female students and to engage with the MSPP through increased participation in school events; interaction with the MSPP students, faculty, staff and administration; and Meet & Greet events with incoming students.

Externally, GWIPP plans to engage in networking and community-building opportunities with organizations, alumni, and student groups in the local area. This includes group excursions to local companies, non-profits, and government agencies; attendance at local conferences, sit-down talks with area leaders and executives; and alumni social events.

Diversity Committee

The Diversity Committee was created two years ago with the objective to help international students and minorities to adapt faster to large and diverse Institution such as University of Maryland. Additionally, it seeks to strengthen an environment that inspires that pursuit of ideas and the analysis and understanding of the diverse cultures and ideologies that are part of our University Community.

Ecological Economics Student Group (EESG)

The Ecological Economics Student Group (EESG) is multi-disciplinary student organization dedicated to advancing the case for ecological economics and exploring the intersection of environmental, social and economic issues. We hold a weekly seminar, the Environmental Policy Roundtable. The purpose of the seminar is to provide interested people with a forum for learning about and discussing current topics in Ecological Economics and associated disciplines (environmental, social and economic policy, engineering, development, conservation, etc.). We seek to promote cross-disciplinary dialogue so we can hear perspectives that add to our understanding of issues we care about.