Graduate Art Students' Association (GASA)

GASA is the graduate student association of the UNC-CH Department of Art. All graduate students in the Department of Art-both art history students and M.F.A. students-are encouraged to participate in GASA planning and events. GASA is run by graduate student-elected officers whose responsibilities include organizing scholarly talks, art events, and social activities for graduate students. GASA officers also distribute professional information to graduate students and serve as liaisons between the art graduate students and the faculty.

The GASA officers store and display GASA information in the graduate student lounge (on the second floor of the Hanes Art Center) and update students on GASA business through the Department of Art graduate student listserv. GASA members discuss relevant business at two open GASA meetings each semester, though more meetings may be scheduled if necessary to address particular issues.

GASA Officers

Any Department of Art student (art history or M.F.A.) in at least her/his second year in the program may serve as a GASA officer. Officers are elected in the spring semester for the following academic year. All officers attend periodic meetings with the Chair of the Department of Art.

Art History Co-Chair and MFA Co-Chair

The GASA Co-Chair's primary duty is to serve as liaison between the faculty and graduate students. Responsibilities include attending meetings with the Department Chair and the other GASA representatives. The Co-Chairs represent the graduate students to the Chair and report to the Chair and the graduate students. The Co-Chairs schedule and conduct at least two open GASA meetings per semester. They may schedule additional meetings with GASA or with the Department of Art Chair or Director of Graduate Studies as needed. The Co-Chairs also receive and post information on fellowships, job opportunities, professional meetings, and calls for papers. In the summer, the Co-Chairs assist the Department of Art staff with new student orientation packets, help to organize the new student luncheon, and participate in the new student orientation held in August.

Art Department Representative to the Graduate and Professional Student Federation

The GPSF Representative assists the Co-Chairs and represents the Department of Art graduate students in the Graduate and Professional Student Federation (GPSF). The GPSF meets approximately once per month during the academic year. The GPSF Representative attends those meetings and reports on GPSF news to the Department of Art graduate students. S/he also posts information on campus-wide graduate student events and activities in the graduate student lounge and on the department listserv.

Lecture Chair

The lecture chair organizes the Art Brew talks and serves on the departmental Intellectual Life Committee, which plans lectures, exhibitions, and visiting artist events.

Art Brews

Art Brews is a GASA-run forum in which Department of Art graduate students (art history and M.F.A.) present their work to other graduate students. It is intended to function as a type of "dress rehearsal" for students to deliver drafts of papers they intend to present in seminars or at conferences. This forum allows graduate students to exchange ideas, learn about their colleagues' interests and scholarship, and solicit feedback from peers on their work. These sessions include some kind of brew-coffee for morning sessions and beer for evening sessions.

Last modified 09/24/2006 08:30pm.