Council of Graduate Students - Minutes - 13 July 2001
In attendance were:
- Current Delegates: Diane Bonfiglio, Stefne Broz, Jason Cervenec, Roger Dashner, Jennifer Delong, Kim Foster, Leigh Goldberg, Pierre Jeanty, James Peters, Joe Pirone, Marsha Robinson, Theodore Robles, John Shea, Michael Triplett, Jennifer William, Jing Zhao
- Alternates: Alecia Larew Naugle
- Officers and Executive Committee Members: Stefne Broz, J. Briggs Cormier, Mike Daniels, Ed Lasseigne, Kerry Hodak, Allyson Lowe, Ron Meyers, Alecia Larew Naugle, Joe Pirone, Eve Scrogham, Jim Siddens
- Delegates-Elect and Visitors: Sheryl Barringer, Puneet Gupta, Tameka Jobe, Mark Levy, Jessica Lindberg
I. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 3:38pm, J. Briggs Cormier, President, presiding.
II. Approval of the Minutes of the 6 June 2001 Meeting
Moved by Delegate Pirone; seconded by Delegate Robinson; and passed with minor corrections (to be submitted by Delegate Pirone) [They were received after the meeting-MWD].
III. President's Report: J. Briggs Cormier.5
Briggs referred the council to his written remarks and emphasized the following points:
- As mentioned at the last meeting, the Board of Trustees has approved an increase in the minimum stipend, partial ($15/month) subsidization of health insurance costs, and a $10/month across-the-board stipend increase. There have been a few points of confusion over the announced changes but CGS is working with the administration to clear them up. Thanks are especially due to Larry Lewellen in Human Resources for his leadership in this matter.
- CGS has received a high level of Lantern coverage this summer, with the entire front page of the 11 July 2001 issue devoted to various graduate issues.
- CGS is working with the Graduate School on getting the GQUE Report (a comprehensive survey of the graduate student experience) into an optimal form for publication and distribution in early Fall quarter. CGS will call a special meeting (probably for July 24, location TBA) to vote on a resolution supporting the GQUE. We will invite Kathleen Carberry, the former CGS President who initiated the GQUE, to present it to the delegates and discuss some of the issues involved. CGS is also involved in establishing a committee to oversee the implementation of the recommendations found in the GQUE.
- President Kirwan has created a Compensation Oversight Taskgroup that will advise Bill Shkurti (VP for Finance) and Provost Ed Ray on how best to create competitive levels of compensation and benefits for faculty and staff (including graduate students). The goal is to present at the October Board of Trustees meeting a plan that will bring us up to competitive levels within three to four years.
Question:
- Would the $10 stipend increase begin in summer or fall quarter? Briggs: Fall quarter.
IV. Vice President's Report: Eve Scrogham.1
With the pending changes to apportionment, some departments have become confused about election procedures. Each delegate needs to have a current delegate application on file with CGS that has been signed by their graduate studies chair. This is true even if they were a delegate last year; we still need a new form filled out and signed to certify re-election. Delegates are not automatically renewed each year.
All committee representatives are asked to fill out the Committee Member Report form, which was available at the meeting and is also available from the CGS office. This will help greatly in matching people's interests with relevant committees.
The orientation committee has met and planning for that event is well underway. The committee needs help stuffing packets for new graduate students (contact Eve if willing to help). The Orientation will be from 9am - 1pm on September 17; volunteers for that day are also welcome.
CGS will have a welcome picnic on the lawn outside the Ohio Union from 4 - 7pm on September 24.
CGS is also trying to organize a Clippers 'dime a dog' night; please contact Eve if interested.
Question:
- How many delegates do we currently have? Scrogham: Most of our delegates are still finishing terms that will end at the end of Summer, since they were elected under old procedures. So the number should be the same as at the last meeting. Daniels: The sign-in sheet at the door has a list of all certified delegates. [CGS currently has 77 certified delegates--MWD.]
V. Treasurer's Report: J. Briggs Cormier.5
The outgoing treasurer continues to give reports until the end of the fiscal year; this is dependent on University Administration sending out their final year-end statements. Once we have those, we can close our books and issue a CGS year-end financial report.
VI. Secretary's Report: Mike Daniels.203
All in attendance were reminded of the importance of signing in.
Some delegates have reported problems with the electronic packets (i.e. weird font changes in mid-sentence, or odd page breaks). Those who had experienced such were encouraged to email Mike with the machine type (i.e. PC or Mac) and version of Word (i.e. 95, 97, 98, 2000, XP...) they use.
VII. Delegate Issues and Concerns
No delegate issues or concerns were raised.
VIII. Senate and RGC Elections: Eve Scrogham.1
After short comments from each, four people were elected: Ron Meyers, Senator from Agriculture; Mike Daniels, Senator from the Humanities; Allyson Lowe, Senator from the Social and Behavioral Sciences; and Jeff Walline, Research and Graduate Council Representative from the Physical Sciences and Mathematics.
Several Senate and RGC positions are still open, and interested people are urged to apply.
IX. Amendments to the Bylaws.
Authored by Executive Meyers; introduced by President Cormier; moved by Delegate Pirone; seconded by Delegate Foster.
As is required by the CGS bylaws, these amendments were read and discussed at the June 6 meeting and now came forward for a vote. The effect of the amendments would be to (1) add a degree of flexibility to the apportionment procedure; and (2) state that delegate terms of office now run on a fixed calendar, from Fall Quarter to Fall Quarter (with incoming delegates urged to serve as Delegates-Elect during Summer).
Discussion:
- With these changes, there will be no specific procedure for apportioning delegate. For instance, it is not required that such assignment be proportional. Is this desired? Briggs: Yes. Past experience has shown that Organizations and Elections (O&E) needs this flexibility in order to deal with the diverse nature of graduate departments. Also recall that the full Council must approve each year's apportionment, so O&E will have to be able to answer for their methods.
- But, with this amendment, couldn't a number of departments decide to gang up on another program and deny them the representation they deserve? Briggs: Yes, but we put faith in O&E not to do that and also in the delegates to reject any such proposal.
The amendment was unanimously approved.
X. 2001 - 2002 Delegate Apportionment.
This was contingent on the previous amendment having passed. Authored by Executive Meyers; introduced by President Cormier; moved by Delegate Cervenec; seconded by Delegate Peters.
Discussion:
- The record needs to show that there is only an MA in Journalism, not a PhD as listed. Briggs: Noted.
- How exactly will grandfathering work? Briggs: No delegate who was certified as of the passage of the apportionment act will be asked to leave their seat; however from this point on, delegate applications will not be accepted if it would put their department over their apportioned number. Whether the delegate is being re-elected or elected for the first time is irrelevant.
The act was unanimously approved.
XI. 2001 - 2002 Meeting Schedule
Authored and introduced by President Cormier; moved by Delegate Broz; seconded by Delegate William.
It was noted that the meeting location was still to be determined. While 150 Younkin is an exceptional facility, CGS is growing to be too big to fit comfortably into that space. CGS is investigating other locations and will publicize them once known.
Discussion:
- Why are we having a meeting on the same day as the picnic? Constitutionally, we must have three meetings each quarter [except Summer--MWD]. It therefore makes sense to hold the last meeting of Spring Quarter on the same day as the spring picnic, in order to not require delegates to attend an additional event. CGS will do everything in its power to have that meeting be short and efficient.
The act was unanimously approved.
XII. Preliminary 2001 - 2002 Budget
As is required, this preliminary budget was given its first reading at this meeting; Council will vote on it on August 10. The budget is preliminary until the executive committee has had the chance to discuss it in detail at its annual retreat. At the first meeting in Fall quarter, any amendments resulting from the retreat will be presented for approval.
Discussion:
- What does the president's disretionary fund typically get used for? Briggs: Generally, minor expenses that don't fit conveniently into any other category. Meyers: Last year, it was used for a subscription to the Chronicle of Higher Education for the CGS office. Also, minor spontaneous expenses like thank-you gifts. It also provides an opportunity for the president to immediately channel funds to a project on short notice when consultation with Council or the Executive Committee is not practical. Last year, we made a contribution to an Evans Scholars charity event in this manner.
- The budget for webpage creation seems rather high. Could this be explained? Daniels: Because of the way our suppliers do billing, this amount actually has a double nature. $6500 of this was approved by the delegates at an earlier meeting under the 2000 - 2001 budget, so we are only budgeting $3500 of the upcoming year's money toward this project. Money is being spent in two ways: (1) on a visual designer, to advise us on optimal page layout; and (2) on a data-driven section of our web site that will help us streamline and communicate our committee assignments.
XIII. Standing CGS Committees, 2001 - 2002
Authored and introduced by President Cormier; moved by Triplett; seconded by Peters. CGS is consitutionally required to approve its list of standing committees each year.
Discussion:
- Which committees currently lack chairs? Briggs: Three
of them.
Current CGS Committee Chairs:
- Campus Events - [vacant]
- Communications - Stephanie Broz from Journalism and Communication
- Compensation and Benefits - Joe Pirone from History
- Diversity - Marsha Robinson from History
- Governance - Allyson Lowe from Political Science
- International Student Concerns - [vacant]
- Legislative Affairs - Kerry Hodak from Political Science
- Outreach and Engagement - [vacant]
- Professional Development Fund - Jeff Walline from Vision Science
The resolution was unanimously approved.
XIV. Communications Report: Stephanie Broz.5
The Communications Committee is CGS's voice, as expressed through our web page, press releases, and so on. There will be a meeting on July 17 to craft a brochure for orientation describing CGS for new students.
XV. Professional Development Fund Report: Alecia Naugle.5
The PDF committee is currently reviewing thirty-four Summer Quarter PDF applications. Questions about the process can be addressed to either Alecia or Jeff Walline.1.
XVI. Compensation and Benefits Report: Joe Pirone.4
The C&B chair transition has gone well; outgoing Chair Phil Huckelberry joyfully passed on several reams of accumulated paperwork to his successor.
C&B is currently tabulating the surveys that were collected last quarter. Also, at the beginning of the meeting a questionnaire was distributed regarding compensation and benefits related issues. Delegates are asked to return these either by campus mail or at the next CGS meeting. They will help the Compensation and Benefits Committee craft its agenda for the year. If you need additional copies for other delegates in your department, please contact Joe.
Questions:
- Have any priorities been set for this year? Pirone: In general, C&B will be following up on various stipend and health insurance issues, trying to get us closer to the ultimate goal of full subsidization. We are also looking at advocating for several low cost/no cost issues that will increase the flexibility of the insurance plans for graduate students: starting or increasing the use of pre-tax deductions for payments that are currently lump-sum; offering the option of twelve month support packages rather than nine month, and so on.
- Data on the new prescription drug cap seems to indicate that more students are being adversely affected by the cap than was previously expected. Will the committee address this? Pirone: Definitely.
XVII. Governance Committee Report: Allyson Lowe.90
It is time to update the CGS constitution; expect some revisions over the next few meetings.
XVIII. Announcements.
Briggs: CGS is making a concerted effort to be more efficient in its use of paper: notice that there were fewer piles of paper out front at this meeting. Delegates are encouraged to print out the electronic packets for their own use and reserve the printed copies at the meeting for visitors.
Question:
- What about people in deptartments that becoming increasingly concerned with paper use? Briggs: Any delegate can always ask us (send mail to Deb Cunningham.315) to send the packet to them through campus mail and we will be glad to do so.
XIX. Adjournment
Moved by Delegate Pirone and seconded by Delegate Triplett; the motion passed unanimously.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:46pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Mike Daniels
CGS Secretary
Warning: Unknown(): Unable to access 3;/usr/local/webs/SESSION/cgs in Unknown on line 0
[an error occurred while processing this directive]