Description
The Physics and Astronomy Graduate Student Organization (PAGSO) seeks to provide professional and social support for graduate students in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Iowa State University. Our goal is to build a framework by which us, graduate students, may communicate and collaborate with the administration of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, connect with other graduate students, and further our education and careers by creating a strong collaborative environment. Through this organization, we formalize the duties in the hands of the graduate students of our department and a democratic means to fulfill them.
Affiliations
This organization has no affiliations.
Constitution / Tier
Membership Information
| Student Members |
55 |
| ISU Members |
2 |
| Non-ISU Members |
0 |
| Allowed Members |
All graduate students who are enrolled in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Iowa State University or who are officially connected in some way with that department are eligible general members. |
| Allowed Officers |
The Council members of PAGSO must meet the following requirements: have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 in the semester of election/appointment and during their term of office; be in good standing with both the university and the Department of Physics and Astronomy; be enrolled as at least a half time student; have passed both qualifying exams (Modern and Classical) prior to being elected to serve as the President or Vice President; have a reasonable expectation of being able to serve out their term before graduating; have a reasonable expectation that they will not be away from Iowa State University for a period of more than three months during their term excluding university holidays, but including the summer semester. |
| Membership Qualifications |
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| Membership Restrictions |
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| Elections/Selection |
Elections are held once a year, or as needed to replace council members throughout the year |
| Meetings |
Council meetings take place at the beginning of the semester, prior to assigning the qualifying exam preparation course lecturer, and conducting elections. Additional meetings may be scheduled as needed. General meetings take place at the beginning of the semester after the council meeting, prior to the fireside chat with the department chair, and for elections. Additional meetings may be scheduled as needed. |
Description of Regular Meetings/Activities
| Activities are usually divided into two classes: Organized Activities (graduate student colloquia, mentor-mentee activities, qualifier exam preparation course, fireside chat, etc.) and Contributed Activities (Department Picnics, Potlucks, Awards Ceremony, etc.). |
Description of Special Events
| Graduate student colloquia: A 1-hour weekly public meeting designed for one graduate student to present their research in a reserved room, with food and refreshments offered via department funding. |
| Mentor-mentee activities: Mentors act as a first contact for incoming students, and should be able to address concerns about course, life, research, etc. |
| Fireside chat: The Fireside chat is held by the department once a semester, in replacement of one of the weekly Graduate student colloquium meetings. The department chair will be meeting with graduate students and answering questions, which were gathered more than a one week before the fireside chat meeting, by sending out emails. |
| Qualifier exam preparation courses: Qualifier exam preparations are senior graduate students designated as qual exam teachers to teach a class covering exam topics (paid by the department as ¼ TA for 2 months). |
| Department Picnics, Potlucks: The social chair will communicate with the department’s secretaries and those in the department who are organizing these events to assess where help from our club is needed. Also, the social chair is responsible for gauging interest from other graduate student members to engage in these social events held by the department. |
| Department Awards Ceremony: Each year, the Physics and Astronomy department hosts an awards banquet, typically held in April. Physics and Astronomy graduate students vote to determine the Most Valuable Instructor. Secretary is in charge of soliciting nominations and relaying the information to the department secretaries in min-March. The president hands out the award at the event. In addition, PAGSO is open to the possibility of awarding scholarships and other awards. |