A conversation with former CGS President Jorge Clavo Abbass
In 2023, Ohio State conducted a graduate student survey (GradSERU) to better understand and address the needs of graduate students. Jorge Clavo Abbass spoke with the Graduate School about the survey results.
Clavo Abbass is a doctoral student in the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures. Clavo Abbass served as president of the Council of Graduate Students and chair of the Graduate Compensation and Benefits Committee in the University Senate from 2022 to 2024 and as a graduate senator in the University Senate from 2024 to 2025.
Were there any specific areas of the 2023 GradSERU survey that you found particularly relevant or important to your experience as a graduate student?
I will say that for me, the entire survey was important. As president of the Council of Graduate Students, my first priority in working with Dean Stromberger on the 2023 GradSERU survey instrument was for it to faithfully represent the current condition of graduate education and the climate at Ohio State. I felt that chief among the issues it needed to address were mental health and finances, so the results were consistent with what I was perceiving as a grad student.
Can you share any experiences or challenges related to graduate funding, food security or other basic living needs?
Yeah, I'm happy to, because I've experienced all of them. Grad students' technology needs are expensive — a solid computer, high-quality internet access and a smartphone at home are really just givens. I’ve also experienced food insecurity when my GA stipend fell short at the end of the month. I know the university is investing in that space, and that the Monda Student Resource Center recently opened, which will house a food pantry, career closet and provide emergency financial assistance and support for parenting students. This is a great step in the right direction. I’m also an international student and I had to renew my visa last year, which meant flying back to my home country of Spain. Visa renewals are extremely cost- and time-intensive and as international students, we are expected to cover the entirety of these expenses without additional support.
Have you noticed any changes or new initiatives at the university that you believe were influenced by the survey results?
Yes, definitely. The first is our stipend increases — a 5% increase happened last year and an 8% is happening this upcoming year. Another is the improved support from Counseling and Consultation Services (CCS) offered through the Office of Student Life. They now offer a variety of group therapy options for graduate students. Also, the Off Campus and Commuter Student Engagement (OCCSE) unit within the Office of Student Life hired a graduate specialist whose entire job is to advise incoming and current graduate students as they navigate the housing market in the Columbus area, making sure graduate students find housing that fits their specific needs and budget considerations.
What are your thoughts on the effectiveness of these initiatives in addressing the needs and concerns of graduate students?
I think these are all steps in the right direction, and they fundamentally show that Dean Stromberger and the Graduate School are doing the work to champion the needs of graduate students throughout the wider university community. I think this also shows the effectiveness of the Council of Graduate Students in making the graduate experience at Ohio State the best it can be. I want the university to continue moving from a reactive model to being proactive in responding to the needs and concerns of graduate students. That’s why the 2025 GradSERU is so important. Everyone should respond and make their voice heard.
Are there any additional support services or resources you feel the university should provide to better support graduate students?
I would love to see more travel, research and technology grants to help grad students access the equipment and software that they need. And a successor to Buckeye Village to bring affordable housing for students with families and grad students.
In your opinion, what is the most critical issue(s) facing graduate students today?
Financial and mental health precarity. I think those two issues continue to be of critical importance.
Do you have any suggestions for how the university can further enhance the graduate student experience based on the survey findings?
I think that holistic support is really important. I feel that a lot of the stress, anxiety and depression grad students experience comes back to what we talked about — financial insecurity and food insecurity. If the university can continue addressing those fundamentals, that will go a long way.
Read more and take the graduate student experience survey
Author - Suzanne Bressoud