SGA Initiatives, Saba Nafees: Improve Graduate Student Funding

With more than 150 graduate programs, Texas Tech University has a growing graduate student body. Saba Nafees wants to help grow those numbers by making sure anyone and everyone who wants to pursue graduate school can do so.

Nafees, who is running for Student Government Association graduate vice president, aspires to make conditions all around better for graduate students.

She said she wants to increase the funds available to graduate students. Nafees said many departments on campus cannot afford to sponsor every student who wants to pursue a graduate degree.

“Some of those students are really, really great assets to Texas Tech,” Nafees said, “and they are disconcerted about that fact. And, now they want to do their Ph.D. after they do their master’s here at A&M or UT or other state schools. But, we want to retain them. We want to keep them here.”

Nafees is also concerned about international graduate students. Nafees is originally from Pakistan herself, and she said many international students struggle to make ends meet financially.

Nafees said most international students are not allowed to have off-campus jobs because of their immigration status, and this can add stress to an already stressful situation. Nafees said her own experience of trying to get into college as an immigrant inspired her to help others through SGA.

“Texas Tech really made it possible for me to pursue my dream of higher education,” Nafees said, “when they were able to accommodate me and understand my situation.”

Nafees also hopes to encourage more international students to get involved with SGA. Nafees said she was the only international member of SGA during the current session, and she has already encouraged many other international students to run for SGA on the 2015 ballot.

Nafees wants graduate students to know SGA is an available resource for graduate students as well as for undergraduate students.

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