By: Matthew Randal, BS, and Alyssa Schulz, BS, Graduate Student Representatives 

For the upcoming Graduate Student Representative (GSR) application cycle, several changes have been proposed to broaden the student applicant pool and to give applicants a better opportunity to demonstrate their skills and interests when applying to be student representatives to the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (TSHA) Executive Board. Past application cycles have included a resume, cover letter, and two letters of recommendation required for submission via the TSHA portal. The proposed changes add a short video submission, grant eligibility to second-year speech-language pathology (SLP) and third-year audiology students, and make recommendation letters optional. The proposed changes are intended to promote a diverse applicant pool and to increase the number of applications for years to come. 

Application (Updated)
The TSHA portal will continue to require applicants to be active student members, but the application has been amended to include the changes described below.

Resume (No change)
Students will be required to submit a resume chronicling their relevant academic and/or professional history, skills, and credentials. 

Video Submission (Updated)
Applicants will record and upload a video of themselves replying to three to five prompts as dictated by the TSHA Executive Board (EB). This new asynchronous assignment will give applicants the opportunity to make a more personal introduction and in turn will give the EB greater insights into the qualities demonstrated by the applicants.

Eligibility (Updated)
TSHA students enrolled in speech, language, and hearing science programs (SLP, AuD, and PhD) are invited to apply. Students in any year of their program are now eligible. 

Letters of Recommendation (Updated)
Recommendation letters will now be optional, and therefore students who proceed without these letters will not be penalized. However, student applicants still may include up to two letters from professionally or academically relevant contacts.

Example video submissions will be created by current GSRs Matthew and Alyssa so interested students may have a template to follow. Students are encouraged to work with their TSHA EB members and the GSRs when preparing their applications. Interested parties should contact student.representative@txsha.org for more information. Applications will open September 2022.