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What is BEGS?
The Bioengineering Graduate Student group, BEGS, was created by graduate students in the fall of 1994, shortly after the establishment of the Department of Bioengineering at UCSD. The group serves as a platform for students to communicate with industry, faculty, and the student body about student life and professional development issues. With the participation of the graduate student body and the support of the Bioengineering faculty, BEGS continues its rapid evolution.
The group is governed by a Bioengineering Graduate Student committee, with representatives from each entering class. Such broad representation in leadership assures that the particular interests of students at various points in their graduate careers can be heard. The steering committee is responsible for coordinating the daily activities of BEGS, while many of the group’s specific activities are run by satellite committees.
To date, BEGS has made tangible improvements to graduate student life in the department. Through satellite committees, BEGS has established several active programs. BEGS coordinates the annual Bioengineering Graduate Student Symposium, a one-day, student-run conference in which graduate students present their research to faculty, students, and the UCSD community. A planned series of professional development events was launched with the Breakfast With Industry. This student-run event allowed graduate students and the local biomedical industry to discuss graduate research and industry activities. BEGS participates in recruiting new graduate students and runs tutorial sessions for oral exams. We have also established year-round social gatherings, where students have the chance to mingle with their classmates and faculty in an informal setting. We will continue these traditions, and hope to expand our programs in the future.
BEGS is also a means by which graduate students can communicate with each other and with the department’s faculty. At BEGS meetings, students interact with the Steering Committee and offer their opinions and suggestions. The faculty has been extremely receptive to BEGS, and the department funds a portion of the group’s annual budget. BEGS has representation on the department’s Graduate Student Affairs Committee and at faculty meetings, where issues such as financial support, admissions requirements, graduate teaching, and curriculum are discussed. This representation assures that information flows freely between students and faculty.
BEGS hopes to continue to serve the needs of the bioengineering graduate students in years to come. Although great success has been achieved so far, a strong student interest and the responsiveness of BEGS will secure its prominent role in the continued success of the graduate students and the entire Department of Bioengineering.