Date: October 5, 2011

Time: 6pm

Location: York Room (Sadler Center)  

 

I.  Roll Call (President)

 

II. Vice President’s Report

a.    The Vice President reported that the Graduate Portfolio continues to be successful, and department representatives should encouragesgraduate students to continue sending updates.

b.   Chris Martin mentioned that some items in the graduate portfolio should be updated to reflect that they occurred in the past.

 

III.      Treasurer’s Report

a.       We have spent $200 in colloquium reimbursements thus far.

 

IV. Senate Representative’s Report

a.   The Senate Representative was absent.

 

V. Old Business

i.        Parking Letter & Stipend Statistics.

a.       Chris Martin mentioned that there was no updated on the parking letter as yet.

b.      Chris Martin read out an email from Dean Sanderson citing statistics on the current number of A&S students who received stipends and assistantships. (See Appendix A).

c.       Representatives were divided over whether parking fee reductions should take places for students who are TA/RAs or all students.

d.      It was decided that in lieu of a motion, a letter would be drafted and representatives could opt to sign the letter, if they agreed with its contents.

e.       Chris Martin noted that public transportation was an also an issue that could be discussed. Sarah Byrd provided some information on how W&M reimburses WAT for transit. Chris Martin pointed out that if there is a high density of graduate students in a certain part of the city, it would benefit them to have a direct bus that takes them to campus in the morning and takes them home in the late afternoon. Sarah Byrd said that if she were given an address list, she could find out if a certain part of the city has a high density of graduate students.

ii.      Stipend Increases or Subsidy for Health Insurance

a.       Chris Martin read out the section from the minutes of a recent COGS meeting regarding this issue (See Appendix B).

b.      No motion was passed, but a number of representatives were in favor of having a stipend increase rather than a partial subsidy, given the overall pros and cons. However, Chris Martin pointed out that a subsidy would follow the model of a standard employer plan.

iii.    Film Screening

a.       Chris Martin stated that AMP and Student Activities will sponsor the screening of the PhD Movie. The GSA should contribute $200 towards the total $700 screening fee. A motion in favor of spending $200 from the Dean’s fund of $1000 was made and passed unanimously.

b.      Some members suggested that food and drinks be served at this event. An online vote will occur later once a price for these refreshments has been made available.

iv.    Travel grants committee

a.       Chris Martin noted that all representatives should serve on this committee and that Libby Cook will chair the committee meeting at the end of October or early November. Chris Martin will send out a Doodle poll to set a time.

v.      Revision of Travel Grant Form

a.       Chris Martin presented a set of revisions to the Travel Grant Form. A motion was passed to accept these revisions. It passed unanimously.

b.      Chris Martin noted that the new WM Forms website would host the travel grant form after this period of application is over.

vi.    Social Chair Vacancy

a.       The social chair position is vacant. Suggestions for nominees are welcome.

 

VI. New Business

i.                    Graduate Research Symposium

a.       Sarah Byrd announced that the GRS committee has posters for the symposium. Each representative should post two posters in their department and e-mail her when this task has been done.

b.      Sarah Byrd announced that submissions should be sorted by representatives after the December GSA meeting. If a department is not represented at this meeting, then the GRS will not allow presentations by members of that department.

** Note: GRS will NOT penalize departments if their members do not attend the December 12 meeting.  While the GRS strongly recommends having at least one representative from each department, no punishment will be bestowed upon unrepresented departments. (Correction made November 4, 2011)

c.       Chris Martin pointed out that there is traditionally no December meeting. Sarah Byrd stated that this was incorrect. Jessica Ebers noted that if there were a December meeting it would occur during exams. After some discussion, it was decided that the meeting would have to occur in December because Dec. 2 is the abstract submission deadline. Sarah Byrd pointed out that sorting could be done quickly.

ii.                  Career Center Initiative

a.       Chris Martin announced that a new career center initiative has been undertaken by Dean Sanderson with Kimberly Klask and Julia Kaziewicz as graduate student officers. Volunteers with TIPS training are needed for future events.

iii.                Facebook page

a.       Chris Martin encouraged representatives to encouraged “likes” on the William and Mary GSA Facebook page, since he is using it to publish grant deadlines and other information. 

iv.                Dean’s Fund

a.       Various proposals were made as to how to spend the remainder of the money in the Dean’s fund. Representatives suggested a party, an outing, a brewery/winery tour, a Busch Gardens visit, a speaker, and a demonstration. It was decided that an online poll would be used to assess interest in each possibility with a write-in option available.

v.                  Faculty Symposium

a.       Chris Martin announced that he is planning an on-campus symposium for faculty to do short presentations on a single topic. Two topics that may be of interest are the Arab Spring and social media. Representatives seemed more in favor of the Arab Spring as a topic.

b.      Ellen Chapman mentioned that a more pointed focus for each presentation would draw more attendees, so, for instance, a presentation could be titled “Five things that bother me about how people discuss the Arab Spring.” She mentioned an anthropology faculty member is interested in this.

c.       Laura Ansley mentioned that it would be helpful to include the natural sciences and computer science faculty in this event.

vi.                New Dean of Arts and Sciences

a.       Ellen Chapman announced that she is serving on the committee to find a new Dean of Arts and Sciences. She welcomes any input on what the college should look for in a new Dean.

 

VII. Announcements

        i.            First deadline for student research grants is 10/7

      ii.            First deadline for conference travel grants is 10/28.

 

VIII. Adjournment