s Minutes: October 4, 2002 [an error occurred while processing this directive]

Minutes - 4 October 2002

In attendence were:

Absences:

I. Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 3:35pm, J. Briggs Cormier, President, presiding.

II. Guest Speakers

Gene Mumy, Faculty Council (FC) Chair

Faculty Council Chair Gene Mumy introduced Faculty Council by explaining that FC is made up exclusively of University Senators. The Chair outlined the Faculty Council's agenda for what will be discussed this year: 1) The College of Medicine's proposal to eliminate the existing ceiling on clinical faculty; the FC is interested in protecting tenured professors. 2) The Undergraduate Curriculum Review Committee, is focusing on the revision of the current undergraduate curriculum. Budget restructuring is the primary focus as smaller courses might be disadvantaged. 3) Currently deans or administrators maintain funds distributed to the colleges. Faculty Council is interested in investigating these practices and creating accountability measures to include an independent source of evaluation of central administration, possibly the Vice Provosts. Deans will also be held accountable and their practices may impact the renewal of their position. Mumy concluded his talk by clarifying the function of Faculty Council, which is to address any factors affecting faculty and any academic policies affecting the University, this includes issues of academic freedom, namely tenure. Faculty Council has a meeting before every Senate meeting.

Todd Armen, Inter-Professional Council (IPC)

President Armen discussed the current agenda of Inter-Professional Council, the body serving professional graduate students administrated by a school. Agenda for this year: 1) Improving professional student in life on campus. 2) Partnering with CGS to work on a legislature agenda. 3) Using student activities and union improvement. 4) Increasing faculty interaction and the faculty-to-student ratio. 5) Altering medical faculty tenure requirements.

Mike Goodman, Undergraduate Student Government (USG) Vice-President

Goodman introduced Undergraduate Student Government's agenda: 1) Focusing on the community especially safety and awareness. USG has partnered with Radio Shack to provide inexpensive home security to OSU students. Also, USG seeks to implement a community ambassador program on each street east of High Street. 2) Evaluating GEC requirements to be discussed at the next Senate meeting. 3) Improving the quality of the undergraduate experience. 4) Creating a scholarship center. 5) Creating report cards for politicians. 6)A Student Activity fee called the Student Experience Program that allows students to control how the funds they contribute are distributed. 7) Increasing faculty-student interactions, and rewarding faculty for time spent with students outside normal lecture hours.

III. Approval of Minutes

A motion to approve the minutes from June 28, 2002, was made and seconded. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote.

IV. Act 0203-SU-006. An act creating the James M. Siddens Award for Distinguished Faculty Advising

President Cormier authored and introduced this act, explaining that CGS would like to recognize Dean Siddens's superb service on behalf of the Council with the creation of the James M. Siddens Award for Distinguished Faculty Advising. Discussion began with Delegate Clark's inquiry as to whether a gift would be given with this distinction. Cormier explained that no decision had been finalized and that the Council would entertain ideas for an appropriate gift. It was decided that a plaque might be appropriate. The suggestion was made that the plaque be placed where people would see it on the first or second floor of the Union. Vice-President Hodak affirmed that an inquiry would be made as to where the plaque might be furnished.

There was no further discussion; the resolution passed by voice vote.

V. Act 0203-AU-007 Amending the Bylaws on Delegate Selection

Cormier drafted and introduced this act, explaining that the act would amend the delegate selection process required by the bylaws so that an automatic selection of those students serving on local graduate student committees would include service as delegates to the Council. Committee representatives would receive a letter informing them of their delegate position sent on the 15th day of the school year.

Delegate Pepper asked that new delegates admitted by this act be established only as a contact and be excluded from voting rights. Delegate Stone offered that committee representatives asked to become delegates should be required to secure necessary signatures as required by the current bylaws. Delegate Pirone pointed out that CGS needs to be more open to voting delegates and excluding voting rights may hurt the individual's ability to pursue an issue through CGS. Vice President Hodak added that some organizations already require committee representatives to serve as delegates.

VI. Act 02003-AU-008: An Act Amending the 2002-03 Budget

President Cormier coauthored and introduced the act explaining that the Budget cuts were due to overestimation of carryover from 2001-2002 budgets.

There was no discussion. The act was approved by unanimous voice vote.

VI. Resolution 0203-AU-009: A Resolution Concerning Domestic Partner Benefits at the Ohio State University (OSU)

President Cormier drafted and presented this resolution, explaining that the resolution was a document reaffirming the support and work of the Council of Graduate Students on behalf of domestic partner benefits at OSU. Delegate Oelgoetz offered that the clause with "Franklin County" was not appropriate to demonstrate the support of OSU for this resolution.

Delegate Clark made a motion to strike the final "resolved" clause. Delegate Pepper seconded the motion. Delegate Clark cited Ohio's significant budget crisis, the state's conservative-controlled government and the current political debate about graduate student subsidies for non-residents. Clark recommended that the Council focus its efforts to ensure subsidies for non-resident students and cautioned that this clause might jeopardize the efforts of the Council on behalf of graduate student subsidies.

Delegate Browning offered that although discussed by several state representatives, no current action to eliminate funding for non-residents had been taken, and that CGS need not prioritize efforts. Delegate Stone asked for clarification, inquiring whether the two values were in conflict, advocating for more funding, and supporting a resolution that has been adopted by CGS for the past 10 years. Stone inquired about the political impact of this resolution. Legislative Affairs Committee Chair Mike Triplett replied by answering that this resolution will not be sent to political people, but be sent to the Board of Trustees, Student Health Insurance Committee, and will remain primarily internal. Delegate discussion continued citing the ability of CGS to concurrently work towards gaining domestic partner benefits and graduate student subsidies.

President Cormier made a call to voice vote. The amendment failed.

Discussion continued allowing Delegate Pepper to inquire what actions by CGS would be implied by the resolution. President Cormier answered, explaining that CGS would work with senate bodies, the Board of Trustees, the President, and Provost. Delegate Pirone asked that if the political context changed would CGS then have the ability to strongly support this action.

One of the delegates made a motion to strike "aggressively" from the "resolve" clause. This motion was seconded.

Discussion as to the appropriateness of "aggressively" followed, including the historical use of "aggressively" in CGS documents.

The amendment was amended to replace "aggressively" with "actively." There was no further discussion, the resolution passed by voice vote.

VII. Research and Graduate Council Administrative Sciences Representative

Vice President Hodak reported that all Senate seats had been filled, but a Research and Graduate Council (RGC) Representative for the Administrative Sciences is still needed to apply for the position.

VIII. Delegate Issues & Concerns

IX. Committee Reports

The chair of the Professional Development Fund (PDF) Committee, Mike Daniels, called for more delegates to join the committee as more members needed to rectify the imbalance in composition of committee, despite changes made to application form to subjugate any asymmetry. The PDF committee awards $25,000 in travel grants per year. The top 15-18 applicants are awarded each quarter.

X. Officer Reports

Treasure: Jamie Depelteau asked that all budget inquiries be directed to him.

Secretary: Cristine Masters reviewed 9 September 2002 CGS Executive Board Meeting minutes for the Council.

Vice President: Kerry Hodak announce that two delegates are needed to fill Senate seats.

President: J. Briggs Cormier introduced the Council's new faculty advisor William Clark, Professor and Associate Dean of the Graduate School.

Clark discussed the current position taken by State representatives concerning graduate student subsidies. Clark stressed the importance of generating both institutional responses along with individual responses and bringing these forward to the legislature. The Ohio State University brings in 300 million dollars a year through research, and only about 18 million dollars is spent in graduate student subsidies. Clark reiterated the need for students to voice their funding concerns to congressmen and representatives.

Cormier added that Interim Vice-President for Government Relationships, Bill Napier, advocated a unified front and was making an effort to educate politicians with facts. President Holbrook also voiced her opposition to the elimination of graduate student subsidies.

University Renovations: Cormier announced renovations to the Main Library and Larkins Hall Recreation Center.

Student Leadership Committee and Selective Admission: Cormier explained that the Student Leadership Committee meets with President Holbrook to talk about priorities and concerns for year, and in the last meeting the group comprised of campus leaders, discussed the impact of budget restructuring, improving faculty-student relationships, and domestic partner benefits. The University will likely take up the domestic partner benefits issue this year. Also the University's Board of Trustees passed selective admissions for all three quarters. Regional campuses will still open admission, but central campus is selective.

The next CGS meeting will be held, 25 October 2002 from 3:30-5:30 pm with the delegate information meeting held directly beforehand from 3:00-3:30 pm.

Delegate Long mentioned that nominations for Outstanding Teaching Award, should be submitted as soon as possible.

Vice President Hodak reminded the Council about Graduate Student Night at Woody's. The first happy hour will be Friday, October 25th and the theme is Octoberfest.

Delegate Pirone inquired about the actions of the Legislative Affairs (LA) Committee on behalf of the graduate student subsidies under attack. Legislative Affairs Committee Chair Mike Triplett replied by saying, The LA committee is creating a slate of resolutions and they would encourage delegates to approach constituents about writing letters to their representatives. Legislative Affairs has also asked Department chairs to write letters to representatives.

XI. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 5:36 pm.

Respectfully submitted,
Cristine Masters
CGS Secretary

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