GRADUATE STUDENT COUNCIL AGENDA
November 13, 2008
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM, Featheringill Hall, Room 138
I. Welcome
II. Approval of November Agenda
III. Approval of Minutes from October Meeting
IV. Update from the Graduate School – Assistant Provost Steve Smartt
– Writing workshops held on October 21, 2 sessions (dissertation and proposal writing)
– 50-60 in proposal workshop, 75 in dissertation workshop
– Proposal workshop feedback shows it still needs some work
– Next grant workshop tentatively for Feb 21, this one on competitive grants (rather than fellowships as the last one was)
– Also a version for faculty available
– Prof 101 workshop on Saturday, March 21
V. Officer Reports
a. President: Jon Ahlbin
(a) Task Force on Graduate Education
– Reviews graduate education, what works and what’s needed
– Any comments thereof send on to Jon
1. Humanities, Social Sciences & Education, Biological & Biomedical Sciences, and Eng., Physical Sciences, & Math
(b) Graduate Student Meal Plan
– Ongoing effort to get the same pricing as faculty
– Meeting again in December to come up with actual plan information and possibility of trying it out by January, full launch by next school year
1. Met with Camp Howard
2. Submitted names for focus group
3. Working on a graduated pricing structure for meal plan
(c) Health Insurance Advisory Committee Update
– Possibility of allergy coverage, dental?
– High premium increase, so not likely (unfortunately)
1. Looking to add Wellness Benefit
2. Looking to reduce pre-existing condition wait to 3 months with 3 month look back (currently 6 months for both)
b. Vice President of Academic Affairs: Molly Brown
(a) Graduate Student Research Symposium, March 30, 2009 in SLC
– Can submit posters or presentations
– Advisory panel first meeting on November 17, will present ideas at the next meeting
– Keynote is Susan Basalla, will be giving out copies of her book throughout the year to generate interest
(b) University Parking Update
1. (Up to) 60% discount on Music City Star train tickets
– Also MTA Free Ride program
2. Zipcar program
(c) Center for Teaching Update
– GradSTEP will be January 17, program will be up in the next week
– Reminder that the CfT has a teaching resource library at their new location at 1114 19th Ave, open during office hours
c. Vice Presidents of Social Affairs: Megan Johnson and Josh Barnett
(a) Upcoming activities
1. Nov. 14th – TPAC Jersey Tickets, contact megan.johnson@vanderbilt.edu
2. Nov. 14th – Beer Festival 6:30 PM at Vandy Law School
3. Nov. 20th – 5 to 8 PM Fall Social in 3rd Floor Student Lounge of Light Hall; Collecting toys and donations for Toys for Tots
4. Nov. 22nd – Vandy vs. UT game tailgate
5. Nov. 24th – Ticket pre-sale for Dec. 4th Predators vs Avalanche; 10 to Noon outside GSC office Sarratt 343 ($10.00/ticket for first 100, $12.50 after that)
6. Dec. 2nd – Monthly Happy Hour 6 PM at Sam’s; Some appetizers provided
7. Dec. 4th – GSC Preds Event (vs. Avalanche)
(b) Check the website for specific dates: www.vanderbilt.edu/gsc
(c) GSC T-shirts available $5 each please contact Josh or Megan
d. Vice President of Community Affairs: Kimberly Boelte
(a) Past Events
1. Safe Haven Drive
– Special thanks to Alliance for Cultural Diversity and Research and Political Science
2. Commodore Trot
– Had enough people participate to get our name on the tshirt (yay us!)
(b) Upcoming Events
1. Dinner at Ronald McDonald House – 1st or 2nd week of December
– Waiting to hear from them re: date
2. Serve food at Nashville Rescue Mission
i. Need 5 people to contact me and commit to participating for event to occur
– Can’t do it otherwise, will work out the date with those who volunteer
e. Treasurer: Samrat Chatterjee
f. Secretary: Laura Williams
g. Honor Council President: Jonathan Wellons
– Still working on the same case, Jonathan will need volunteers to sit on the panel for the trial
– The more students who volunteer the easier it is to make the trial happen
– Other two cases are finished (one student left the program, one case was dropped by faculty)
h. Webmaster: Alli McCoy
– Keep checking the website for the most current info and RSS feed!
VI. 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
VII. Old Business
a. Sexual Harassment Seminar
– Jon has contacted Stacy Nunnaly from Women’s Center to see what happened last time
– Try and get one/a better one to happen
VIII. New Business
– Research hours will now be graded as Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
– 3 Unsatisfactory marks and you’re out
– Tiered set of remediations for each U grade
IX. Call for Initial Concerns and Upcoming Events
a. Toastmasters Chapter – Saad Hasan
– Club for networking, public speaking, critical listening
– Already a Nashville chapter, getting a campus chapter started – Saad will be in touch re:
– Every person participates in a meeting and gets feedback
– Membership fee is $35/6 months
b. International Education Week Nov. 14 – 21
X. Call for Announcements:
– Don’t forget about travel grants!
XI. Adjournment
Next Event: Fall Social
Thursday, November 20, 2008 @ 5 to 8 PM
3rd Floor Student Lounge in Light Hall
Please pass along the above information to other graduate students in your department