GPSG Senate Meeting: November 7, 2007

 

Groups in Attendance:

Present

ABGS, ACGS, AGITS, ASPE, CIGSPA, EGSA, GASP, GHA, GSWA, HPGSA, IOPGA, MASS, MGSA, MPASG, OSGA, SPIE, SPO, ANGS, SON-GSO

Absent

ED-LEAD, GPHA, GPPA, GSA, GTU, MGSO

 

Motion to waive reading of the minutes: APPROVED

Motion to accept minutes as written: APPROVED

 

Volunteer Points:

The meeting began with a discussion on the volunteer point system, and what the GPSG might want to do to change the system in the future.  Liz mentioned that the by-laws mandate volunteer points be committed to by the end of January, and that organizations are not able to submit their budgets unless they are in good standing with volunteer points.  Some suggestions for volunteer points included participating in the following panels:

·        Student Court

·        SAFC

·        Research Fair Committee

·        Faculty Council

·        Board of Trustees

Although no decision was reached, further discussion brought up the possibility of restructuring the volunteer point system.  As no proposals were in order, the topic was tabled for voting.

 

Mission Statement:

The GPSG is still working on what the Mission Statement should look like, and welcomes suggestions on the GPSG group page.  The following questions were posed to the senate:

·        What do we want the GPSG to look like and represent?

·        Do we want to keep the volunteer point system? 

·        Are we all just here for the money?  Do we want to be something more?

·        How are we going to keep encouraging organizations to charter and be active participants?  Is graduate community a priority?

 

Finance Committee Report:

There was a breakdown of how graduate student fees are appropriated; currently, GPSG receives ¾ of graduate fees.  The other ¼ goes to organizations like CAB, Student Media, and Salary (SAFC, etc.). 

Two issues were voted on at the senate meeting: GPSG visibility when sponsoring events, and the GA salary.

·        Currently, SAFC requires organizations to advertise for events funded by student fees, but GPSG is exempt from this rule.  Josh asked if GPSG should require orgs to advertise GPSG at events.

o       The senate unanimously passed the motion.

·        SAFC had some problems with our proposal to fund the GPSG GA position for $9500 on a ten month contract; apparently, all Student Organization GA positions are funded at $8500. 

o       The senate passed the motion to fund the GA position at $8500; AGITS abstained.

President’s Report:

Allie talked about the GA parking issue, and is supposed to meet with parking services before the next senate meeting to discuss what possibilities there may be to get better parking for graduate students who teach classes on campus.  Currently, it looks like the old Brocker parking lot might be available as parking spots graduate students, where individual spots could be reserved in a student’s name.

Allie also talked about GPSG’s decision to join NAGPS.  Some potential benefits include communicating and networking with other chartered graduate and professional student governments who are either in the same beginning stages as the GPSG, or who are more advanced and have worked beyond our current state.

The Graduate School is also distributing a survey that Allie encouraged all the senators to promote among their organizations. 

Reporting on the Dean’s Forum, Allie mentioned that breakfast meetings for graduate students are in the works starting in January.  Occurring once a month, and probably held between the hours of 8-9 am, this provides another opportunity for graduate communication with the administration. 

 

Vice President’s Report:

Cathy announced that GPSG would be hosting a contest to develop a new GPSG logo, hopefully to be voted on by the end of November.  There will be a prize for the creator of the winning design.    

 

Voting Record:

Org:

Minutes: waive reading, accept as written

Orgs using GPSG funding for events should have to advertise the GSPG at the event

Maintain consistency with SAFC payment of GA’s ($8500 for 10/mo GA position)

ABGS

Y

Y

Y

ACGS

Y

Y

Y

AGITS

 

Y

A

ASPE

Y

Y

Y

CIGSPA

 

Y

Y

ED-LEAD

Absent

 

 

EGSA

Y

Y

Y

GASP

Y

 

 

GHA

Y

Y

Y

GPHA

Absent

 

 

GPPA

Absent

 

 

GSA

Absent

 

 

GSWA

Y

Y

Y

GTU

Absent

 

 

HPGSA

 

Y

Y

IOPGA

Y

Y

Y

MASS

Y

Y

Y

MGSA

Y

Y

Y

MGSO

Absent

 

 

MPASG

Y

Y

Y

OSGA

Y

Y

Y

SPIE

Y

Y

Y

SPO

Y

Y

Y

ANGS

Y

Y

Y

SON-GSO

Y

Y

Y