GRADUATE STUDENT COUNCIL MEETING NOTES
September 13, 2007
6:30 – 8:00, Medical Research Building III, Room 1220
Congratulations to all who won elections, thanks for being willing to serve at-large or as a departmental rep
I. Agenda approved
II.a Steve Smartt
– What is the Graduate School? Grad programs nested within departments and scattered across university. GS is an umbrella over 8 of the Vandy schools and colleges (all except Blair)
– All PhD plus a few others are part of GS, no matter what college your “school” is the GS, will grant degree
– Direct deposit – pilot testing for stipend checks, currently not available for most stipends
– Anna and Steve organizing
– Part of an overall pay system overhaul
– What is a stipend? Generally used as all payments to grad students, but distinguish between service and service-free
– Paid in three ways
1) US citizen in anything but the med school paid on 10th, not allowed to d.d.
2) US citizen in med school program, paid on 30th, can’t d.d.
3) International citizen no matter where, paid on 30th, paid through payroll so can d.d.
– Pilot programs – pharm, LPO, sociology, Robert Penn Warren Center, and history currently available
– All citizenships (including internationals), paid on 30th
– Currently 130 enrolled, hope to move up to all 2000 people who get stipends
– Also consolidating all stipends (multiple sources) into one check
– Extra benefits- those previously on the 10th now getting their checks sooner (but same amount of money and same number of payments)
– Includes paying new students a month sooner than they would otherwise
– Currently watching multiple pay cycles, hope to have recommendation ready by end of October regarding timing for full rollout
– Could be any time between Jan 1 and next school year
– Most likely a matter of “when” not “if”, likely to happen for all departments (paperwork issues to work out)
– Current individual tax situations will not change
IV. All at-large members accepted
V.A President’s report
a. Priorities
– Facilitate communication – from GSC to departments and from students to the university (faculty/staff)
– Have representatives on all university committees
– Act as a forum for issues, discussions, and complaints
– Provide opportunities for presentation of original research
– Supply travel grants for attendance at recognized conferences
– Serve as a liaison to the National Association of Graduate and Professional Students
– Co-sponsor seminars with other university departments
– Serve as a volunteer organization
– Sponsor graduate student social events (e.g. welcome event)
– Provide the graduate honor council
Duties of reps
– Serve on standing committees
– Passing around sign-up sheet
– Provide personal communication on events and issues (give a face to your department for the GSC)
– Bring student concerns to the body at large
– Sign off on travel grant applications starting today – must have rep signatures
– Not eligible if department does not have a rep!
– Send general university concerns on to students in your department
Committees
– University Affairs – Chair: Josh Brooks
– lectures and special talks (e.g. tax information)
– Academic Affairs – Chair Sarah Kersh
– GS research day organization
– Social and Community Affairs: Chairs: Megan and Josh Barnett
– Activity Fee – Chair: Ingrid
– Help set up application for AcFee, any other monetary concerns/allocations
– Editorial – Chairs: Laura and Alli
– Updating the Survival Guide
– Honor Council – President: Erica
– Handles cases of investigating and make decisions regarding punishment for alleged violations of the honor code
– May help to investigate or serve on jury
V.A.c Many handouts, take IM schedules to pass out, look at budget info from Ingrid, brochure from the Center for Teaching
– Pass info on to departments!
– Robert Penn Warren center events
V.A.e New tailgating policy
1) No liquor, kegs, or drinking games
2) No glass containers
3) Access to tailgating area opens four hours before the game (not 6)
4) Must attend the game (or at least can’t stay in the tailgating area after the start of the game)
– Possibility of having separate area for grad/professional tailgating (hopefully not)
– Request for volunteers from the GSC to be on tailgating Party Patrol
V.A.f Professional school outreach
– Megan (and Josh Brooks) working on arranging joint events so we can mingle to build up grad/pro environment
V.A.g. Chancellor search
– Lowest response rate on chancellor search questionnaire sent out a few weeks ago via email
– Trying to figure out what the community is looking for
– Will be receiving a reminder email soon, PLEASE fill it out
– Having a grad/professional student forum with search committee to make sure voices are heard
– Probably be a Tuesday from 4-5:30
V.A.h Travel grants
– Remember to get rep signature, can email Josh Brooks if there’s a problem
V.C.
– Welcome Party
– Will email raffle prize winners
– Lots of ideas for social events, need lots of help so sign up for committee
– Can help out with events/bring ideas even if you don’t want to be on the committee
– Juvenile Diabetes Walk, contact Louisa Morrison, Sept 25
– Goal for this year: Provide a greater variety of events as well as opportuniti8es to meet people outside your department/school and in the professional schools
– Will start having tailgate parties with Owen in a few weeks, they have the alcohol if we’ll bring food and people – more info forthcoming
V.D. Treasurer’s report
– Passed out budget as compared to last year
– Help Ingrid with AcFee!
– Look in folder for relevant monetary forms
– Make sure to use tax ID if you’re buying something for GSC use because Vandy will not reimburse sales tax
V.E. Secretary
– Finally have GSC listserve
– Will hopefully be passing out insurance guide via listserve soon
V.F Honor council
– Heard 3 cases last year
VI. Committees
University Parking – add Jonathan Wellons
VII.A Free Ride resolution
– Trying to get free MTA rides for grad students (like faculty/staff)
– Previously passed but want to resubmit to new interim chancellor/Board of Trust
– Accepted with changing of name from Gordon Gee to Nick Zeppos
VIII. New business
– Any way to get treated more like staff, like the Faculty/Staff Meal Plan?
IX. Initial concerns
– Does the GSC have a harassment plan?
– Could we have a seminar?
– Maybe with the Psychological Counseling Center
– Campus event email system
– Still trying to get email notification from police department when things happen (like undergrads have)
Other
– Next meeting 10/11
– Hand out folder info to your departments
– Sign up for at least one committee!
Josh’s contact info: josh.brooks@vandy
– Office: Sarratt 353, Josh will have office hours Monday 8-10am
Raffle Winners: Kate Pride-Brown, Al Dunn