Committees

As we grow, CBGC will introduce committees to tackle the projects we take on. Here are the committees that have already been formed, with representatives for '25-'26 listed. Let us know if you have any suggestions for new committees, or come and share at our monthly council meetings!

Budget Committee

2025-2026 Budget Coordinator: Javier O. Sanlley Hernandez

One liason from GSA, the chair of the SLSS, the chair of the SRS, and one appointed member (referred to as the Treasurer or Budget chair) will make up the committee. They are responsible for ensuring submission of MOUs to the Student Success Center to secure funding for each individual committee (CBGC, GSA, SLSS, SRS). Additionally, each committee member is responsible for maintaining their funds and their funding relationship with the Student Success Center and the Chemistry department, including appropriate use and administration of the organizations "Travel and Entertainment Card". This committee is also responsible for submitting and tracking expense reports and for ensuring that all refunds are disbursed. 

Graduate Advisory Committee (GAC) Representatives*

2025-2026 Representatives: Darius Yohannan and Kelly Isbell

The student members (two seats) of GAC are responsible for attending all GAC meetings, reporting to the CBGC-at-large about meeting details, and bringing relevant agenda points to GAC. *This committee is currently undergoing changes to reflect the bifurcation of the department. More details and updated committee names and assignments to be provided when possible. 

Social Events

2025-2026 Committee Chair: Nichelle Camden

The primary responsibility of this committee is to plan social events for graduate students. The committee chair reports to Social Events Coordinator (Executive Leadership) to organize and secure funding for all social events, including but not limited to holidays, SRS, SLSS, PDS, and Orientation/End-of-Year events. 

Student-Led Seminar Series

TBD

The SLSS committee members will be appointed in the Spring by the CBGC executives and co-chairs of the SLSS prior to the end of their term. The members will be selected from the Department Volunteer Survey responses. One co-chair of the SLSS must be a sitting CBGC member. The SLSS has its own structure and functions outside of the CBGC whose role is to ensure continuity of the Committee.

Student Research Seminar

2025-2026 SRS Organization Lead: Sarah Wax

The SRS is responsible for organizing a quarterly seminar, where graduate students present their own research to the department at-large. The SRS committee leadership (one from WiCS and one from CBGC) will be selected at the end of the academic year by the previous leadership group. Leadership will then select other graduate students (from CBGC, WiCs, etc.) to assist the speaker selection process. The SRS Organization Lead is typically the Social Events Coordinator (Executive Leadership). 

Survey and Feedback

2025-2026 Survey Organization Lead: Javier O. Sanlley Hernandez

The members of the Survey & Feedback committee are chiefly responsible for ensuring construction and solicitation of the the yearly Chemistry Graduate Satisfaction Survey (CGSS). This group can be of varying size (~4), with one member selected internally to lead the group.

Mental Health and Wellness

TBD

The committee will hold events connecting students with mental health resources as well as mindfulness and wellness events. Their primary responsibility will be holding regular (frequency TBD) Mental Health Support Group meetings for the graduate student body. Additionally, they should encourage and plan physical and mental wellness events based on their interests. The committee will take regular feedback from the graduate student body regarding their mental health needs/requests, and will adjust meeting times, frequency, and topics accordingly. The committee will be chaired by one sitting member of CBGC and will be comprised of other members (~4) of CBGC.