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Council of Graduate Students - Minutes - 31 May 2002

In attendance were:

Absences:

I. Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 3:36pm, J. Briggs Cormier, President, presiding.

II. Approval of minutes

A motion to approve the minutes from May 3, 2002, was made by Delegate Lewis and seconded by Treasurer-elect Depelteau. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote.

III. Senate/RGC Elections

After brief statements, Christine Rivera (Education) and Karen Clark-Keys (Arts) were elected Graduate Senators, and Diane Bonfiglio (Social and Behavioral Sciences) was elected an RGC Representative.

IV. Resolution 0102-SP-028: 2002 - 2003 Delegate Apportionment

President Cormier introduced the apportionment act, explaining that the Council reapportions its delegates each Spring, based on that quarter's enrollment (as measured by the grad school). Currently, each delegate represents up to one hundred graduate students. Since the council has had to pay more attention this year to college-level administrative structures, the apportionment table is organized by college.

Delegate Knott asked if the new table reflected the changes made to Education's pattern of apportionment in the fall; Cormier replied that it did indeed keep that pattern.

The resolution was approved by unanimous voice vote.

V. Resolution 0102-SP-029: On BRUTUS Phone Services Elimination

President Cormier introduced this resolution, explaining that it had arisen from discussion at previous meetings. The resolution was drafted by Vice President Scrogham, who explained that, based on her experience working for the graduate school, an abrupt discontinuance of the BRUTUS phone system would have an adverse effect on many students.

Cormier relayed an email from Brad Myers, University Registrar, in response to a draft of the resolution: the switchover will definitely be communicated to students on paper, and they will include information on how to use the online system and how to activate an OSU email address. The registrar is also developing online tutorials that walk students through the online registration process. Regarding time of access, the system has recently been extended to midnight; they have plans to extend the system to be available un til 2am. Also, beginning in Autumn quarter, registration windows will no longer open on weekends or holidays, thus making it more likely that students will be on campus when their window opens. Myers also mentioned that use of the phone system is dying out naturally -- only 1200 out of the nearly 50000 students on campus used the phone system to check grades in December. The Registrar's office plans to be more aggressive in informing non-traditional students about online access issues.

Cormier also mentioned that this is part of a larger push across campus -- the inability to use online systems will be increasingly injurious to students as time goes on.

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

VI. Delegate Issues and Concerns

Biweekly Pay

Cormier explained that a concern had arisen out of the GQUE implementation committee that students might prefer a biweekly pay schedule to the current monthly schedule. Delegates were asked to comment on this issue.

Delegate Bach pointed out that if this would move up the date of the first payment, it might help. But she ultimately preferred monthly pay. Delegate Lipinski observed that many students have all of their bills due at once, at the beginning of the month, and thus monthly pay would be preferable. VP-elect Hodak remarked that the money it would take money to process, print, and mail the extra checks would be better spent directly on grad students directly?

An informal straw poll was taken, with a clear majority favoring monthly pay.

15 September Appointments

Cormier explained that for most GAs, their first pay check is issued on October 31; to balance this, they receive a full paycheck at end of June. This hits new students, who often have high September expenses, the hardest. The Financial Aid office, though, can give short-term loans to help cover moving and settling-in expenses. Additionally, some departments give (out of their own pockets, sometimes with money from the now-defunct PEGS program) a special September stipend. Delegates were asked to comment on the prospect of moving the official appointment date to 15 September; under such a setup, GAs would receive a half-paycheck at the end of September, and another half-paycheck at the end of June.

Delegate Breseman asked if the financial aid office's loans charged interest. Cormier replied that they do bear interest, but don't have to be repaid until the student graduates. Breseman also observed that an earlier first paycheck would be preferable to the need for a loan. VP-elect Hodak mentioned that asking people to go six weeks without a paycheck is rather outrageous. Delegate Bach pointed out that short-term loans aren't available to international students. Delegate Bonfiglio mentioned that this also hits people who switch from fellowships to TAships; they get their last fellowship payment at the end of August.

A straw poll showed majority sentiment for a 15 September appointment date.

Other issues and concerns

Delegate Pletz mentioned that her primary physician had been denied entry into the OSU health network, as too many physicians were already in the network. She will now have to find a new primary care physician and was wondering if this was a common occurrence. Cormier said that he would discuss this with Eric Bush, who oversees insurance-related issues in Student Affairs.

Delegate Rivera mentioned some other forthcoming changes that CESP had discussed: Next year, class rosters and grade submissions will only be online. TAs need to be sure that their names are listed by their sections. Also, some people aren't getting their PAC codes, as the "E!Registrar" name that the Registrar's office uses triggers some overly zealous junk mail filters used by major freemail services like yahoo and hotmail. Cormier noted that in some departments, a secretary is collecting written grade submissions and then typing them in. Delegate Rivera noted that among faculty, only 30% took advantage of the online grade submission procedure; thus some resistance to the changes is expected.

VII. Officer reports

Vice President Eve Scrogham mentioned that there's a new bookstore advisory board. If interested in serving on this, let Eve know. This is a consequence of outsourcing bookstore management to Barnes and Noble -- under such an organization, a Senate oversight committee is no longer appropriate. Also, anyone who has sat on a university committee should send in the committee report found in the delegate handbook or on the CGS web page. Eve also has a copy of a GAA position announcement in a P-12 project; contact her if interested.

President J. Briggs Cormier reported that at the June 7 board meeting, the new interim president should be announced.

Our advisor, Dean Jim Siddens, is retiring in August, and thus the executive committee will need to select a new advisor. Nominations should be submitted to Kerry Hodak by June 17. Delegate Bach asked if there were any conditions on potential advisors. Cormier replied that there were no specific restrictions, although candidates should generally believe in student governance.

Delegate Eaton asked when new delegates could begin attending council meetings. Cormierreplied that they can sit in at any point; they can also serve as alternates if the current delegate will not be available during the summer. Otherwise, delegates serve until end of summer, and incoming delegates are official as of the first Autumn meeting.

Cormier announced that the CGS inauguration will take place on June 24; please RSVP if you'd like to come. Council's next meeting will be with new officers.

Cormier then thanked the three outgoing officers for their service, as well as Governance Chair Allyson Lowe for her service as interim vice president last year, and presented each with a memento.

VIII. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 4:19pm to the annual Spring picnic.

Respectfully submitted,

Mike Daniels
CGS Secretary
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