Whereas, the GPSA created the Special Grants Committee by passing Resolution 9: Special Committee for the Disbursement of Special Grant Funding in FY2024, whose charge was to solicit, review, and recommend funding for grants aimed towards advancing graduate and professional student interests at Cornell University.
Whereas, the Special Grants Committee solicited 58 grant submissions from relevant stakeholders that serve graduate and professional students, such as University departments, offices, graduate and professional student organizations, byline-funded organizations and community groups.
Whereas, the Special Grants Committee, through the collective efforts of its members, scored and reviewed all 58 received grants using the following criteria:
- Plan: How detailed is the timeline for implementing the proposed event(s)? Are the event(s) well-reasoned and supported by grant materials?
- Accountability: Does the grant clearly state who is responsible for implementing the proposed event(s)? Did the sponsor detail steps for grant supervision and implementation?
- Impact: Will the proposed event(s) meaningfully impact the well-being of graduate and professional students throughout Cornell?
- Need: Does the grant highlight a need, lack of support or otherwise unaddressed issues for graduate and professional students? And will the proposed event(s) address this need?
Whereas, the Special Grants Committee, through the majority agreement of its members, curated a list of reviewed grants which, when funded partially or in-full, would best improve graduate and professional student well-being at Cornell.
Whereas, academic and professional symposia provide graduate and professional students with structured spaces to present research, exchange interdisciplinary ideas, build scholarly and professional networks, and engage in collective learning that enhances their academic development, professional preparedness, and sense of intellectual community at Cornell University.
Whereas, the Special Grants Committee completed its charge on January 26th 2026 by presenting a final recommendation of reviewed grants to fund, either partially or in-full, to the GPSA.
Be it therefore resolved, the GPSA Appropriations Committee earmark $60,938.30 from the GPSAFC reserve account for the purpose of supporting grants #9, #32, #33, #36, #43, #46, #51, #55.
Be it further resolved, that the GPSA Appropriations Committee distribute $60,938.30 across eight (8) organizations under the Symposia category as specified in the Special Grants Committee funding recommendations as follows:
- $22,500.00 dollars be distributed to the Organization of Cornell Planners, grant #51, for the purpose of “Fund food annually ($7.5k) for up to three years of planningpalooza events” under the conditions:
- Funding for consecutive years (years 2 and 3) is dependent on successful event organizing and providing all necessary receipts and statistics on attendance
- $10,230.00 dollars be distributed to the Climate Advocacy Planning Committee, grant #32, for the purpose of “Fund food for climate advocacy symposium for two years ($5,115/year)” under the conditions:
- Do not fund $2k afternoon snacks line item
- $7,500.00 dollars be distributed to the African Graduate Students Association (AfriGA), grant #46, for the purpose of “Fund symposium to support African graduate and professional students” under the conditions:
- Allocate $5.5k to catering and allocate remaining $2k for venue support needs
- $7,000.00 dollars be distributed to the Cornell Music Graduate Association (MGA), grant #55, for the purpose of “Fund food ($4.6k) and reservation of venue space ($2.4k)”
- $5,125.00 dollars be distributed to the Art+Tech Collective, grant #36, for the purpose of “Fund Cornell Tech summit in March 2026”
- $4,458.30 dollars be distributed to the Field of Microbiology Students (FoMS), grant #9, for the purpose of “Fund the 2026 Microbiology Symposium” under the conditions:
- Do not fund speaker travel, lodging, or honoraria. Only fund food costs plus updated 10% contingency
- $2,125.00 dollars be distributed to the Black in Public Policy (BIPP), formerly known as Black in Brooks (BiB), grant #43, for the purpose of “Fund catering, promotional materials) and event decor for Black History Month program” under the conditions:
- Do not fund speaker honoraria, travel or lodging
- $2,000.00 dollars be distributed to Civil and Environmental Engineering Graduate Student Association (CEE GSA), grant #33, for the purpose of “Fund the CEE Graduate Research Symposium in Spring 2026” under the conditions:
- Only fund lunch, breakfast and printing costs
Be it further resolved that all grants funded herein must additionally comply with the following conditions:
- All promotional / advertisement / event materials, printed and digital, must bear the “Supported by GPSA” seal visibly.
- For each year of funding offered, a budget for planned activities must be submitted for review and approval by the GPSA Appropriations Committee in advance of disbursement.
- For each year of funding offered, an Impact and Visibility Report must be compiled and submitted to the GPSA Appropriations Committee detailing the use of Special Grant funding, the benefits conferred to the graduate student community (including photo documentation of the event / renovation / installation), and (if applicable) the feasibility of event implementation in future years under funding continuation. Reports must also contain all relevant receipts, detailed attendance at event(s) and any additional information requested by the GPSA Appropriations Committee. It is required that this report be submitted by the deadline set by the Appropriations Committee before any subsequent year(s) of funding may be offered. Designation of requirements for Impact and Visibility Reports and Report approval is charged to the GPSA Appropriations Committee.
Be it finally resolved, that funding is contingent on each grant applicant following the specified purpose and conditions laid out in this resolution as well as annual submission of the Impact and Visibility Report.
Respectfully Submitted,
Irene Gatimi
Student Advocacy Committee Chair
Jason Chobirko
Faculty Advising, Teaching, and Mentorship Awards Committee Chair
