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Student Section

Emerging Scholar and Professional Organization of the GSA

GSA Provides newsletter space, representation on all committees including voting rights, annual meeting socials as well as space on the annual meeting program, space on the GSA website, email discussion lists, campus representative opportunities, awards, and discounts on membership and registration fees.

History of the GSA Student Organization

In 1960, Council created a new membership category, giving students the opportunity to join the Society at a reduced rate. In 1961, students paid only $2.50 for an annual membership, which allowed them to buy the Society's journals at halfprice. Although they certainly pay more than that today, students now enjoy full membership benefits for about half the price of a regular membership. Today, student members have a voice on the Council and are represented on nearly every committee of the Society.

Undergraduate and graduate students, as well as interns, residents, and post-docs are all eligible to join GSA. When "students" join at the discounted rate, they automitically become members of the Student Organization (SO), in addition to their primary professional section (BS, BSS, CM, SRPP). Because the name "Student Organization" did not reflect their diverse membership, the name was changed to Emerging Scholar and Professional Organization of the GSA, in the spring of 2004. Currently, there are over 1,100 student members in the Society, which is almost one-quarter (22%) of the total GSA membership.

• Gerontological Society of America: www.geron.org
• Student Organization: www.geron.org/StudentOrg/student.htm

Contact
Ms. Michelle B. Washko
University of Massachusetts-Boston
Gerontology Institute
100 Morressey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125-3393 USA
Tel: 617 287 7300
Email: mllebovary@aol.com