Minutes - 25 October 2002
In attendence were:
Current Delegates:
Shakeer Abdullah, Elizabeth Adams, Stacy Armour, Melissa Bailey, AnneMarie Bodaar, Catherine Braun, Bradford Burton, Ryan Clark, Caroline-Anne Collinson, Thomas Dolan, Ryan Fogt, Chad Gasser, Megan Gossling, John Gossom, Catherine Gubernatis, Stephen Horn, Mahesh Iyer, Brian Janssen, Chatchawan Jantasuriyarat, Monica Jefferson, Elizabeth Kearns, Patricia Kelly, Joyce Long, Tammy Maltzan, Susan McCabe, Cheyney Meadows, Lisa Merz, Daniel Mills, Lana Mink, Joe Pirone, Joshua Pepper, Sharon Rachel, Amanda Roberts, Tara Rose, Gaurav Sharma, Ioana Sipos, Lynn Sosnoskie, Richa Tripathi, Naim Tyson, Lauren Wegerbauer
Officers and Executive Committee Members:
William Clark, J. Briggs Cormier, Mike Daniels, Jamie Depelteau, Ann Farrelly, Kerry Hodak, Jessica Lindberg, Cristine Masters, Kurt Pickett
Visitors and Delegates-Elect:
Brandi Hall, Nathan Toronto, Meghan Warner
Absences:
Excused:
Jules Angel, Mike Denison, Stephanie Lynn, Justin Oelgoetz, Ted Robles
Unexcused:
Matthew Cooper, Phing Dong, Lisa Merz, Daniel Peterson, Jinpu Shi, Kelly Walsh
I. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 3:40pm, Kerry Hodak, Vice-President, presiding.
II. Approval of Minutes
A motion to approve the minutes from October 4, 2002, was moved. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote.
III. Guest Speakers
Susan Huntington, Vice Provost for Graduate Studies and Dean of the Graduate School
President Cormier introduced Dean Huntington and explained that she was before the Council to speak on behalf of the Graduate School and field any inquiries. Dean Huntington discussed the role of the Graduate School, the college of record for those enrolled in post-baccalaureate degrees (with the exception of professional schools). Currently 90 Ph.D. and 120 Masters programs exist. The graduate school functions to serve students bureaucratically through their programs and respond to student inquiries. The Research and Graduate Council (RGC), who is responsible for policies, standards, and research, governs the Graduate School. RGC regulates the minimum requirements for all graduate programs and graduate teaching assistantships.
The GQUE report was a CGS-and-Graduate School collaboration evaluating quality of graduate life, facilities, and program requirements; the data was published for the entire university. Huntington stressed the importance of a friendly environment among students and faculty members.
Budget restructuring plans are being monitored by CGS and Graduate School to ensure that students are not seen as a financial liability, but instead necessary to the success of the University. Huntington explained that each department receives state subsidies for classes taken within the department and brings in revenues from classes taught by the department. Huntington explained that within the current structure, incentives may be misaligned as to make graduate assistantship positions vulnerable since they do not bring in revenue from teaching courses. Incentives may appear so that students are limited to take courses within their own department. Huntington warned that adding coursework from the department or artificially adding classes due to fee structuring would be disadvantageous. Also, the university has a cap on money it can receive from the state. The Dean expressed that the Graduate School was committed to hearing and advocating student grievances within their departments.
The Dean concluded with the advice that the graduation robes change will not be a burden as most students will not buy, but rent their robes for a minimal cost.
IV. Old Business
Act 0203-AU-007: An Act Amending the Bylaws on Delegate Selection
President Cormier reintroduced this act, explaining the Council needed to vote on its passage. There was no further discussion and the act passed by voice vote.
Act 0203-AU-010: An Act Establishing the 2002-03 CGS Goals and Priorities
President Cormier reintroduced this act. The Council made a motion to approve this act and this motion was seconded. During discussion, the council moved to table voting on this act until the conclusion of old business. There was no further discussion; voting on this act was tabled until the conclusion of old business.
V. New Business
Delegate and Legislative Affairs (LA) Committeeman Pepper spoke to the Council about each resolution, explaining that:
- Resolution 0203-AU-011, authored by Chairman Mike Triplett II, is a resolution supporting a federal amendment to the Tax Reform Act of 1986, calling for the return of graduate student compensation to tax-exempt status. The Legislative Affairs Committee is dedicated to lobbying on behalf of this amendment. (See below for all resolution outcomes)
- Resolution 0203-AU-012, authored by Chairman Mike Triplett II, is a resolution opposing higher education funding cuts. The state legislature is facing a four billion dollar deficit, so politicians are cutting spending in higher education, and bargaining positions have shifted. There is talk of eliminating all funding, and specifically eliminating all non-resident funding. The LA committee will aggressively drive for resolutions after the election, and focus efforts in January to pass these resolutions in the Senate and House.
- Resolution 0203-AU-013, authored by Chairman Mike Triplett II, is a resolution advocating a loan forgiveness program, specifically a pilot program restricted to science and engineering students, that will satellite the state's First Frontier program. Ohio Senator Eric Fingerhut (D-25th district) expressed interest in drafting a proposal on this matter.
After Committeeman Pepper's presentation, the Council discussed and voted on each resolution:
Resolution 0203-AU-011 A Resolution Supporting the Exemption of Graduate Fellowships and Assistantships from Income Tax.
Delegate Bailey inquired whether this resolution would be inclusive of post-doctoral fellows. Committeeman Pepper offered that inclusion will depend on the legislation's final form. President Cormier added that (NAGPS) supports this legislative action and is actively lobbying Congress in support.
There was no further discussion and the resolution passed by voice vote.
Resolution 0203-AU-012 A Resolution Opposing the Elimination of Non-Resident State Share of Instruction Subsidy
Delegate Janson asked who was included in the language of "non-resident." This would include all non-Ohio residents per the board of reagents, those paying out of state tuition. Delegate Mills questioned the feasibility of the Assembly eliminating non-resident funding. President Cormier added that the University was working to bring facts and numbers against this policy idea. Delegate Pepper stressed the importance of mobilizing people against this policy change due to the seriousness of this issue.
There was no further discussion and the resolution passed by voice vote.
Resolution 0203-AU-013 A Resolution Supporting a Statewide Forgivable Loan Program
Delegate Molson inquired whether loan forgiveness would be extended to out-of-state students. This opportunity would include non-Ohio residents. Loans will be forgiven at $4000/yr. Delegate Gossom inquired about tying the loan forgiveness program to other fields outside of engineering. Committeeman Pepper explained that the pilot program would only include four hundred individuals, after which time this program might be extended to other departments. Delegate Molson inquired how pilot program awardees might be chosen. Pepper explained that the Ohio Department of Development would chose loan forgiveness recipients. Chairman Pickett moved the previous question, explaining that the Council was not tied to resolution details.
There was no objection to calling the question and the question was called. Discussion therefore ended and a motion to approve the resolution was made. There was no further discussion and the resolution passed by voice vote.
Act 0203-AU-010: An Act Establishing the 2002-03 CGS Goals and Priorities
The act was revisited. There was no further discussion and the resolution was passed by voice vote.
VI. Election for CGS University Senate Seat
Shakir Abdul, a first year graduate student and candidate for CGS University Senator spoke briefly to the Council. As Abdul ran unopposed the Council was asked for objections to Abdul's election. No objections were made and Abdul was elected to University Senate.
VII. Delegate Concerns
Delegate Sosnoskie announced that students at the Wooster campus now have health insurance coverage that includes emergency room care.
Delegate Braun inquired about the state teacher retirement system, citing the lack of information about this process. President Cormier provided that the details of the retirement process generally fall to the responsibility of person who offered the graduate assistantship, but CGS is advocating that Human Resources do this. Cormier offered to speak for any otherconcerns about this process.
Delegate Horn spoke on behalf of Delegate Lynn's concern about electronic theses and hope that CGS would explore this problem. President Cormier explained that all scholars can delay electronic publication until a major publishing house publishes his/her work. Cormier offered to refer this topic to future graduate school workshops.
CGS Advisor Clark supplied the information that students can delay electronic publication for patents, journal publishing, and book publishing for up to three years. Waivers for electronic publication would be awarded to students with a modicum of evidence for delaying publishing. These waivers are renewable.
Delegate Gossom advocated an initiative by the Council to require recycling throughout university. Delegate Molson added that the Union's employee contract forbids workers to touch recycling throughout campus. Molson suggested an investigation into the University's recycling practices. President Cormier welcomed any definitive answers to university recycling practices.
Delegate Pittenger announced that the Theatre Department was holding a presentation of Shakespeare's, Twelfth Night on 6 November 2002 from a Cubist approach.
VIII. Committee Reports: None
IX. Officer Reports
Treasurer: None
Secretary:
Secretary Masters reviewed the minutes from the 18 October 2002 Executive Committee Meeting.
Vice President:
Vice President Hodak requested that Council members recruit faculty members from their respective departments to serve as judges for the Council's Annual Hayes Research forum.
President:
President Cormier announced that the University Provost has given his support for the Council's initiative to investigate graduate teaching assistantship training throughout the University. The Provost has given the Council directives to investigate means of improving training, coordinate with Deans, and create a best-and-worst practices outline. The Provost has also committed to funding this inquiry. A follow-up meeting is scheduled for November.
HomeNet will be discontinued on 1 July 2003 for all students, faculty, and staff. The University is looking for a cost-effective means of replacing this service. Cormier added that the Council was never approached or consulted to approve the closing of this service.
The Arts and Sciences restructuring report, a review outlining how the arts and sciences are organized at OSU, was recently completed and is currently online. The report calls for Executive Dean for the Arts & Sciences and a Vice President. Cormier requested that any responses to this report be submitted to him by 6 December 2002.
Respectfully submitted,
Cristine Masters
CGS Secretary
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