Introduction

Service is often referred to by universities and colleges as contributions to the university and community. Tenure-track faculty are expected to engage in service opportunities. Such contributions include active membership on committees at the Department, School/College, or University level, student advisement, and such other responsibilities, including community service, undertaken to advance the goals of the University. While service is unpaid, and can be cumbersome or bureaucratic, it can also be a rewarding aspect of work within the university structure. 

At the Humanities Center, we recognize that there is a growing expectation that junior scholars in tenure-track and non-tenure-track positions demonstrate service experience when applying for jobs and other opportunities. At the same time, “service” as a category is not a primary point of concern in graduate training. We take a critical approach to the idea of “service” by providing graduate students with opportunities to strengthen their service experience, such as the Graduate Liaison Network (GLN). 

Graduate Liaison Network

The GLN was started in 2019 in order for students to share common concerns across the School of Humanities. Student representatives were invited to serve by their departments. In 2022, the GLN changed to an advisory committee format, and are given a modest research fund in recognition of their leadership. Previous events organized by the GLN are listed below:

• Knowing Your Rights and Mediating Conflict as a Student Worker (Feb. 2023)

• Navigating the Academic Job Market (June 2023)

If you are interested in serving on the GLN during the 2024-2025 academic year, please contact SueJeanne Koh, Graduate Futures Program Director.

2023-2024 Cohort