The Graduate Student Society is the coordinating student body charged with representing all students enrolled in the graduate programs at the University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry. We monitor issues of importance to the graduate student community, represent the concerns of graduate students to University administration, and advocate for changes to enhance the quality of graduate education. We also serve as a liaison among the student populations of the graduate programs and sponsor academic and social events of interest to the graduate student community.

Get Involved

Want to meet new people and gain experience organizing events for graduate students? GSS wants YOU! Email GSSBoard@urmc.rochester.edu to volunteer for an upcoming event or to share your suggestions for the upcoming academic year. Please visit our Facebook page or join our Slack Channel to see what the GSS has to share. We currently host our monthly meetings via Zoom on the second Friday of each month @ 1pm. Please email us at GSSBoard@urmc.rochester.edu for a link at least 24hr prior to the meeting.

GSS is featured on the University of Rochester's Campus Community Connections page. The CCC is a great resource for following events and getting involved in student organizations on campus.

2021 Department Representative Openings

Department representative positions are currently open! Please review the Department Representatives description under the Constitution tab and email us at GSSBoard@urmc.rochester.edu if interested.

Promoting Diversity and Inclusion through Enacting Change

As members of the Rochester community, we are experiencing tumultuous times. The video images of George Floyd’s death, the social unrest that followed, and the ongoing and pervasive struggles of racial inequality in America are troubling, and may incite fear and additional stress. 

GSS among other student organizations like the Alliance for Diversity in Science and Engineering (ADSE) continue to monitor issues of importance to URMC graduate students. We will do what we can to advocate for students. Additional resources are available through the CARE network and UCC. The CARE network is holding virtual appointments. If you or a friend is in distress, you can submit a care report here . UCC continues to use telemedicine for virtual discussions, and more information about making an appointment for yourself can be found here link. 

We are working with administrators to produce action items to address the civil unrest. We want to ensure that the University works towards maintaining a safe and continually more inclusive environment, even amidst adversity. We want to hear from students to prepare for upcoming meetings with University administrators to accurately portray your concerns and experiences surrounding these issues. To share your experiences, feelings, or ideas, we encourage you to email us at GSSBoard@urmc.rochester.edu with your comments. 

COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions for Graduate Students

The SMD Graduate Student Society and the Graduate Student Association for the School of Arts and Sciences and the Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences have compiled a FAQ to supplement the graduate student portion of the university's COVID-19 Update website. Read it here.