GRADUATE STUDENT COUNCIL MINUTES
January 8, 2009
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM, Featheringill Hall, Room 134
- Welcome
- Approval of January Agenda
- Approval of Minutes from November Meeting
- Officer Reports
A. President: Jon Ahlbin
a. Graduate Student Meal Plan
i. Plan implemented starting January 1st
ii. Buy meals in block of 10 for $69.50+tax
– Has anyone tried this yet?
b. GDN Update
i. GradSTEP, Saturday, January 17th
ii. Prof. 101 Workshop, Saturday, February 21st
– Getting tenure, how to get a job
c. Upcoming meeting with the Provost
i. Topics of conversation
– How is/could the current economic situation affect graduate students?
– Jon talked with Dennis Hall about it, current grad students can’t be let go because a department is low on funds
B. Vice President of Academic Affairs: Molly Brown
a. Graduate Student Research Symposium, March 30, 2009 in SLC
i. Abstracts due Feb. 13th, open now, so start working on abstracts and sending them in
– Interdisciplinary presentations and posters
– Abstract submission available on the website: http://studentorgs.vanderbilt.edu/gsc/researchsymposium/
– Committee has come up with list of interdisciplinary panel titles to join or can create your own, see how it works
– Molly will send out an email with call for abstract flyers, print one or more out and post around your department
b. Susan Basalla talk at GSRS, 4:10pm
– Will be talking about examples of graduate students who have found jobs outside of academia, where to look
– Giving out copies of her book as a raffle and at the talk
c. GradSTEP, Jan 17th
– Check Center for Teaching website for information on the workshops (titles, what they’re about)
– Happy Hour at the end of the second session
– More information from patrick.j.ahern@vanderbilt.edu
– Some sessions may be showing up as full but still have a good chance of getting into it due to no-shows the day of
C. Vice Presidents of Social Affairs: Megan Johnson
– January Happy Hour at Sam’s had an awesome turnout, so thanks for coming!
a. Upcoming activities
i. Jan 9 – GSC Advisor Steve Smartt & his band (The Exotics) will play at Mercy Lounge in Nashville at 8 PM For directions visit: http://www.mercylounge.com
ii. Jan 13 – Wizard of Oz @ TPAC; tickets are still available for ($12/each) contact Megan for more information at: megan.johnson@vanderbilt.edu
iii. Jan 16 – GSC Advisor Steve Smartt & his band (The Baker Street Blue Band) will play at the Commons at 7 PM
iv. Jan 22 – (tentative date) GSC Bowling Event — more information TBA
v. Jan 26 – Ticket sales from 10-Noon in front of Sarratt 353 for the Feb 5th Predators vs Ducks hockey game ($12/each)
vi. Feb 3 – GSC Happy Hour @ Sam’s in Hillsboro Village — come and enjoy 2 for 1 drafts & GSC will provide appetizers!
vii. Feb 5 – GSC Preds vs Anaheim Ducks (see Jan 26 for ticket sales)
viii. Feb 7 – GSC Roller Derby Extravaganza (more info TBA)
b. Check the website for specific dates: www.vanderbilt.edu/gsc
c. GSC T-shirts available $5 each please contact megan.johnson@vanderbilt.edu
D. Vice President of Community Affairs: Kimberly Boelte
a. Upcoming Events
i. January
1. Nashville Humane Association
– May not happen because Humane Association hasn’t called her back yet
ii. February 11th
1. Make activity bags for Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital
– Contact Kim if you’re interested, can change the date depending on who is coming
iii. Rest of Semester
1. Tools for Schools
– Probably on a Saturday
2. Serve food at Nashville Rescue Mission
– Will put it together if at least 5 people will commit to helping
– Can pick what meal (breakfast, lunch, or dinner
– Open to suggestions for other events, email Kim if you have an idea
– May do Habitat for Humanity the next time the Vandy chapter does it
E. Treasurer: Samrat Chatterjee
– Budget update – will receive second installment of AcFee money at the end of the month
– Next AcFee application due at end of February/beginning of March
F. Secretary: Laura Williams
G. Honor Council President: Jonathan Wellons
– Thanks to committee who worked on panel in December
– Can get food for the next time the panel has to work late (yay for feeding the workers!)
– Current interest: make Honor Council more diverse in terms of academic representation, racial/ethnic/nationality status makeup
– Email Jonathan if you’re interested in being on the Honor Council for upcoming cases
H. Webmaster: Alli McCoy
– Nice redesign, easy to use
V. University Committee Reports:
A. University Parking Committee: Kimberly Boelte, Molly Brown, Samrat Chatterjee, & Jonathan Wellons
B. Student Recreation Center Committee: Josh Brooks & John Mackert
C. Calendar Committee: Jonathan Wellons & Carrie Whiting
D. Religious Affairs Committee : Jennell Talley, Alli McCoy, Mekeal TeShome, & Elizabeth Weber
E. Student Health Insurance Advisory Committee: Jon Ahlbin & Leslie Dowell
F. Graduate Development Network: Jon Ahlbin, Molly Brown & Steve Smartt
G. University Library Committee: Josh Barnett
H. Center for Teaching Advisory Board: Molly Brown
I. Student IT Leaders Committee: Alli McCoy & Brian Love
VI. Old Business
A. Sexual Harassment Seminar
– Tentatively scheduled for end of March
– Molly is organizing, talk to her if you want to help out
VII. New Business
A. Upcoming GSC Elections
– Description of officer jobs
– Elections will be held next month at February general meeting
VIII. Call for Initial Concerns and Upcoming Events
– Clarification: can only get one travel grant per year
IX. Call for Announcements:
– Formation of Tracie’s book club, this month is “Love is a Mixtape”
– Have a sign-up sheet, Megan will send it out on the events list
X. Adjournment
Next Meeting:
February, 12, 2009 @ 6:30 PM
Featheringill Hall 134
Please pass along the above information to other graduate students in your department