The Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) represents the graduate and professional students' perspective on campus issues and serves as a liaison between graduate and professional students and the university administration. Each department is permitted to have at least one GPSS representative.



In 1969, the Graduate Student Senate (GSS) was established by a group of graduate students interested in forming a graduate student organization. It later changed its name to the Graduate Student Steering Committee.



The Graduate and Professional Student Senate has three main purposes:



First, GPSS is responsible for allocating money to graduate students either through a graduate or professional organization or through Professional Advancement Grants (PAGs). This money is available for traveling to conferences and for research projects outside of the student’s thesis area. Money may also be used to help cover childcare costs of graduate students at conferences.

Second, GPSS acts as a liaison between students and the ISU administration. GPSS works to express the general views of graduate and professional students through resolutions which are delivered to the ISU administration and other Iowa State University legislative bodies.



Third, GPSS plans social gatherings for graduate and professional students and their families. Each August, GPSS hosts a back-to-school picnic and plans at least one more social event during the year.

Each department is entitled to one Senator per 50 graduate and professional students, up to a maximum of 5 senators per department. Interdepartmental programs are usually eligible to have a Senator as well. General elections are held each March.