GRADUATE STUDENT COUNCIL MEETING NOTES
October 11, 2007
6:30 – 8:00, Medical Research Building III, Room 1220
I. Approval of Agenda
II. Welcome and Introductions
a. Mark Bandas: Dean of Students
– Office is in 310 Sarratt
– Office provides many non-academic student services
– Health services, housing, conduct, assessment, international student services, service learning, student programs and activities, support student organizations
– Would like to get grad student concerns for Chancellor search
– Common issue brought up in the search meetings in improving the quality of the graduate research programs
– Aerobic programs diminishing, fewer classes available, grad students can’t afford to teach them anymore – any way to get more classes and better pay for student teachers? (not under Dean Bandas’ purview)
– Dining services – also not under his jurisdiction
– Are there other sources of funding outside of AcFee? – talk to Dean Bandas about Central Programming Budget (large donation to support Jorge Cham talk last year), also talk to associate provost, academic departments for co-sponsorship
– Re: housing – grad student housing was run down so that’s why it was razed, interested in getting reasonably-priced graduate student housing close to campus, housing office is currently outpacing itself so building new dorms raises the cost of housing for everyone
– Possibility in future of turning some undergrad apartments into grad housing (no plans as of yet)
– Could there be an improved system of affordable apartment referrals for grad students? Currently mostly word-of-mouth, could be made more systematic if we can tell him what is needed
– Could he also improve current search screen to make search options more useful? Website is old, needs updating for functionality; be careful of off-campus referrals to avoid scammers
– Grad student social life – possibility of getting GS happy hours and trivia nights at the Overcup Oak Lounge
– Will raise the issue with head of dining services
– Child care center – not enough availability
– Student Health Center – helps keep our insurance rates down
b. Lori Groves-White: Director, Leadership Development & Interecultural Affairs and GSC Advisor
c. Anyone else we’d like to hear from, especially in November? Email Josh
III. Approval of Minutes from September Meeting
IV. Election of At-Large Members
– Approval of new at-large – Jeff Green, Comp Sci
V. Remarks from Dean Bandas (see above)
VI. Officer Reports
A. President: Josh
a. Problems with the Student Recreation Center
– Already discussed with Dean Bandas
b. Changes to AcFee
– Being broken down 5 subcommittees based on the type of the organization who will decide on allocations for that type
– 1 grad student per subcommittee plus one on the overall AcFee committee, so 6 grad students (instead of just 1) will have a say
– Streamlines process, reflects changes to the undergrad governance structure
c. Free Ride Program
– Faculty Senate is now on our side for getting it (new ally!)
– Bruce Barry, president of the Faculty Senate, is helping it along
d. Graduate Student Speaker
– Possibility of getting Frank Warren! We have him booked, just need to find the funding to pay for him – we’re up to $5,000 (help from Dean Bandas), working with other offices to get more
– Will be inserted to Grad Student Research Day to get more people interested in the research posters
e. Chancellor Search and the Role of the GSC
– 20 or so grad students (no professional students) showed up at the chancellor search meeting, thanks to those who came and/or filled out surveys
– Main issues – improving libraries (vision to plan new library), looking for intellectual leader who is available and open
– Will be releasing a search ad soon
f. Upcoming Seminars on Sexual Harassment (co-sponsor: Women’s Center)
– Also with Occupational Health, date(s) TBA
g. Income tax seminar
– Still working to get it set up, co-sponsored with the Grad School
– Trying to get someone who has dealt with these situations before, specialist
h. Underrepresented Graduate Departments
– If you know people in departments without a rep, try to get them to come
– Remember, need rep signature to get a travel grant
i. National Conference on Grad Student Leadership
– Josh and Sarah are going
– Entirely student-run, will be coming back with many ideas
– Topics: Balancing demands with rest of life, ethical behavior, affording grad education, smooth transition to life after grad school, inclusiveness and diversity, meaning and role of the grad student community (Josh is leading!)
– Send Josh your requests and ideas
j. Health Insurance Document
– Has been unofficially approved by Student Health, pass the document around
– Put on the GSC website/wiki?
B. Vice President of Academic Affairs: Sarah
a. Academic Committee
i. Grad Student Research Day
– Student Life Center, Monday, March 31
– Incorporates Frank Warren talk
C. Vice Presidents of Social Affairs: Megan and Josh
a. Recap: Octover Happy Hour @ Sam’s
– About 30 people came, hard to know who were grad students
b. Update: My Fair Lady
– Tickets sold out, will be doing a TPAC event next semester as well (Rent)
c. Upcoming Events
– Corn Maze – October 20, 7-10pm, Rippa Villa Plantation, $1 for grad students
– Bring own flashlight, email Josh Barnett if you’re coming
– Heart Walk – need volunteers to help with registration (before 9am), then can participate in the walk after
– will be getting email soon, want 50 volunteers, pass it around to your department
– Happy hour
– Next time – be more identifiable, have more mingling between departments, invite people from the professional schools
– November – Flying Saucer, 11/7, 5-7 pm (Fire Sale Special, get to keep the glass!)
– Next up – Predators game on 10/25 vs. Atlanta Thrashers
– 10/31 – Commodore Trot 5K, $10 registration ahead of time, $15 day of
– 11/15 – Fall Social
– 11/10 – Tailgating with Owen before Vandy/UK game
– Will hopefully be getting a calendar with the rest of the semester’s events soon
D. Treasurer: Ingrid
a. Changes to how we make purchases
b. Spending report
– Spending money but staying within our bounds – yay!
E. Secretary: Laura
a. Updating our GSC listserves
– Keep sending in departmental email lists
b. Survival Guide
– starting work on the wiki
F. Honor Council President: Erica
– sign up if you’re interested, contact Erica or Alyson
G. Webmaster: Alli
a. Website updates
VII. University Committee Reports
A. University Parking Committee: Erica Bowton, Molly Fricke, & Amy Pyle (+1 empty)
– New pedestrian bridge is open – where does it start and finished
– Van pool available with parking spots available, can get a van (Traffic & Parking website) and carpool from home to campus
– Lots of interesting people on the committee if you want to join
B. Student Recreation Center Committee: Josh Brooks & John Mackert
C. Calendar Committee: Amy Pyle & Rory Pruitt
D. Religious Affairs Committee: Jennell Talley, Alli Beck, Mekeal TeShome, & Elizabeth Weber
E. Freshman Commons Committee: Josh Brooks
F. Student Insurance Advisory Board: Josh Brooks
– Meeting 10/26, Josh Brooks transitioning off, Alyson Dickson coming on
G. Graduate Student Professional and Personal Development Committee: Josh Brooks & Steve Smartt
– Grad school putting on dissertation writing workshop, Tuesday, 10/23, must register, limited to 70 students
– preference to people currently writing or writing before 10/08
H. University Library Committee: Josh Barnett
– Common theme in the chancellor search meetings has been improving library systems, make more inviting as Center for Academics
I. Center for Teaching Advisory Board: Sarah Kersh
J. Oak Advisory Board: Josh Brooks
VIII. Old Business
IX. New Business
A. Extend of the faculty/staff meal plan to grad students
X. Initial Concerns for Next Month
A. Dissertation Writing Workshop on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 from 1 – 4:30pm
B. Trying to get grad students on security alert email list
– Can sign up individually on VUPD website
– Can also opt-in to text message alert system