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Art Student Graduate Organization (ASGO)

ASGO exists to further the professional development of UNC graduate art history and studio art students. Elected officers run the organization on behalf of the collective graduate student body. They facilitate collaboration with faculty, staff, and the larger art community. ASGO officers organize lectures, art events, and social activities, and distribute professional information.

ASGO Officers

Any departmental graduate student (Art History or M.F.A.) may serve as an ASGO officer. They must be in at least their second year in the program and live in North Carolina for the majority of their term. ASGO elects officers at the end of the spring semester. In certain years, when many ASGO members are away from campus, elections for the current year could occur at the beginning of the fall semester.

Co-Presidents or President and Vice President: The presidents call the agenda at meetings and serve as liaisons to the department chair and faculty. Each person also acts as a primary representative on behalf of the other members of ASGO. The presidents coordinate all other ASGO officers and committees.

President(s) Emeritus: The president(s) emeritus provide continuity of leadership. They also supervise the completion of plans begun during their term. A president emeritus may serve as acting president when current presidents are absent.

Secretary: The secretary takes notes during meetings and distributes them via email no later than one week after the meeting. They are also responsible for maintaining the ASGO calendar. This includes adding all mandatory department events and facilitates the election process. The secretary maintains and updates the ASGO Facebook page with events and announcements.

Treasurer: The treasurer manages financial accounts. They provide financial statements to the executive board upon request. They are responsible for giving receipts to the department for reimbursement on behalf of members’ expenses. They coordinate and approve budgets, including in grant and funding applications.

Faculty Liaison: The faculty liaison attends all meetings with the faculty graduate committee. They bring any issues or problems graduate students have to the attention of the faculty.

Digital Coordinator: The digital coordinator maintains listservs and distributes information. They also update digital archives, including successful grant proposals and lists of fellowships. They submit changes to the ASGO information on the departmental website as needed.

GPSF Representative: They represent ASGO at GPSF meetings and updates members on graduate school general affairs.

Social Chair: This person shares responsibility with the secretary for maintaining events on the ASGO calendar. They are the contact person and coordinator for social events, including volunteer activities. They also help integrate newly enrolled and prospective students into ASGO.

Standing Committees

Graduate Symposium and Riggins Lecture Committee: This combined Committee plans and oversees the annual graduate student symposium. They also invite a scholar to give the keynote address (The Riggins Lecture).

Grant Writing Workshop Committee: This Committee plans and executes periodic informational workshops for graduate students. Topics could include grant writing or fellowship and postdoc applications. The Committee maintains close contact with the faculty and invites them to share their expertise in these matters.

Other committees formed as needed, based on approval from the executive board.

All committees must present progress reports twice a year at all-ASGO meetings and as required to the executive board. The executive board must approve any funding requirements incurred by committees.

Volunteers make up all committees and serve indefinitely.

For more information

For more information, please contact us at asgo.unc@gmail.com.

You can read the complete ASGO Constitution, as approved by the graduate school in the fall of 2021.

Studio Art Majors Alliance

The Studio Art Majors Alliance is a free, student-run organization. Membership is open to all undergraduate students. SAMA provides a way for all students to enjoy and explore visual art, especially in light of art class size limitations at UNC. SAMA runs a biweekly free open studio where any student can come by, use our wide variety of art supplies, and learn new media. We also run special art workshops and invite artists to campus to speak about their work and lead demonstrations. We keep our members informed about exciting art events in Chapel Hill and the surrounding areas. Come to a meeting and take some time to be creative! If you have any questions or want to sign up for the SAMA listserv, find us on Instagram @samplegallery_unc. Hope to see you at a meeting soon!