Beginning & End of Semester Gatherings
The specifics of these events change year to year, but we typically have a a fall semester kickoff party, a holiday party at the end of the fall semester, and a gathering at the end of the spring semester. In the past, these have included tacos at Chimy's, a nacho bar at The Backyard, or a hot chocolate truck with an ugly sweater party. Because we're chemists, we have also frozen objects with liquid nitrogen and smashed them with a bat!
Social Events
Football Tailgates
Texas A&M is part of the SEC is football is a big deal here! GSAC hosts a few tailgates each fall for professors and students in the department. We provide food, drinks, and cornhole. Most years there is an Alumni tailgate where past A&M graduate students come back to tailgate and network with the current students. If you are an alum and interested in participating in this, send us an email. We also go to the first Midnight Yell event each year before to learn the Aggie yells.
Monthly Trivia
On the fourth Wednesday of each month, we host trivia night for the grad students in the department! Each month has a different theme and there are often ways to earn bonus points such as dressing for the theme or bringing cookies. Grab a team of four and join us!
Other Social Events
Other social events include snow cones with the incoming first years during orientation, a cookout at Lake Bryan each summer, and a hiking trip in Austin.
Sport Events
Intramurals
Grad students from the chemistry department have competed in A&M Intramural leagues in basketball, volleyball, and ultimate frisbee!
Other Sporting Events
GSAC hosts a kickball game each fall and a paintball event each spring. We typically host additional events like badminton and volleyball tournaments as well.
Outreach
Chemistry Open House
Each fall, the Chemistry department hosts the Chemistry Open House and invites local families to visit labs, see demos, and do hands-on activities to learn about Chemistry. At the GSAC table, kids can make keychains and bracelets with UV beads.
Library Events
In 2021, GSAC partnered with the Larry J. Ringer library to host a Colorful Chemistry event with crafts and demos for families. We made lava lamps, learned about chromatography and pH, and there was elephant toothpaste!
Professional Development
Alumni Events
Alumni from our department are working all over the country and world in a large variety of fields. When they return to College Station, we connect them with current students and learn from their experiences. We are currently partnering with ACS POLY/PMSE group to host a series of "Industry Insights" talks to hear from alumni working in companies such as Dow, Samsung, and NIST.
Professional Headshots
For the last couple years, we have partnered with PLU to offer free professional headshots for the grad students in the department.
Student-Invited Speakers
Student-Invited Speakers
Each year, the students from each of the divisions nominate and vote on a speaker to visit the department and give a lecture. This speaker is hosted by the students and meets with research groups in the department throughout the day. If you are interested in meeting with a speaker, watch for an email about signing up for a time slot!
Department Representation
Student Representatives
GSAC members serve as representatives of the graduate students in the department. The largest part of this role is sending out surveys to the students and meeting with a group of faculty each semester to discuss the graduate program and any issues within the department. This role also includes helping with Graduate Recruitment Weekend, hosting town hall events, or assisting in any other communication between the students and faculty as a whole. Ask us about the most recent meeting!
Merchandise
Fundraising
Each semester, GSAC sells merchandise to the department. All profits go toward events for the graduate students. In the fall, we typically sell casual apparel (e.g. jackets, hoodies, quarter-zips), and in the spring we sell a more professional option for conferences and interviews (polos or button-downs). Coffee tumblers are currently on sale!