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Minutes - 31 October 2003

In attendence were:

Absences:

I. Call to Order

Meeting was called to order by President Depelteau at 3:32 pm.

II. Approval of minutes 3 Oct 2003

Date needs to be changed to 3 Oct 03. Moved to approve minutes by Chair Daniels; Seconded by Delegate Ma; Approved by unanimous vote.

III. Officer Reports

A.President- Jamie Depelteau

Meeting was held with Susan Huntington about the standard letter of offer. This is to be submitted to RGC, then sent back to CGS executive committee for approval. We should see this completed by end of quarter.

B.Vice President- Kerry Hodak

No questions or comments.

C.Treasurer- Ann Farrelly

No questions or comments.

IV. Committee Reports

A.Outreach and Engagement- Chad Combs

Delegate Bartz reporting: 1 event planned for Nov 16 Saturday with Habitat for Humanities helping to build a new home. Contact Bartz.17@osu.edu for information. The goal of the Outreach and Engagement Committee is to encourage and support volunteerism around campus and support those who do volunteer. We will be asking delegates to serve as liaisons with departments in forwarding information about opportunities to volunteer.

B.Governmental Relations- Barb Pletz

I recently met with Ellen Crohn, VP of the Government Affairs Committee. She is open in wanting to work with council. She is concerned about the higher education bill being split into 6 different bills and will be working with Government Affairs committee about this. Next week is NAGPS conference and we will be lobbying for tax exemption

V. Old Business

A.Act 0304-AU-007: CGS Goals and Priorities

Changed to state that we advocate for the minimum stipend to be increased to $1200. Passed with one vote against.

VI. New Business

A. Act 0304-AU-009: An Act Amending the Bylaws, Establishing Rules for Debate (first reading only, no vote).

Sen. Cormier explained that we have a need to formalize the rules for debate Del. Pepper: What if have a neutral comment? Must jump into one or other for or against, following rules of debate. Chair Pletz: does this follow Robert's Rules of Order? Most of these do, but some are a little different. This is way NAGPS does it and it works.

B.Resolution 0304-AU-010: A Resolution Calling Upon the Board of Trustees to Extend University Health Benefits to the Domestic Partners of Faculty, Staff, and Students at Ohio State.

Sen Cormier: for past 12 years, we have passed a resolution. This calls for direct action by the Board on this issue. Del Pearson: Why are we arguing for Domestic partner and not household benefits? This is for us to keep the language we feel is important. Del. Gray: What does this resolution do for us? Puts our support down in writing Del. Gardlin: What is the current status of domestic partners in Ohio? There is a basic definition of domestic partner here at OSU. Ohio is one of 2 states that has no rule for or against domestic partner so there is no legal stance in Ohio Moved to approve by Chair Vanterpool, second by Chair Pletz. Del Pearson, does this preclude there being sponsered dependents? No, the issue before the Board is on sponsored dependents, not just domestic partners. Passed with one vote against.

C.Resolution 0304-AU-011: A Resolution on Compensation and Benefits for Funded Graduate Students at Ohio State

Sen. Cormier: This lays down what compensation & benefits we would like to see Del. Gray: Where do these funds come from? These funds will probably come from department funding Trustee Quick: Who else on campus gets 100% funding for health insurance? No one, we feel that in order to stay competitive, then GA's should be getting this. Del. Clark: What is the chance that we will get both increase in minimum stipend and 100% funding for insurance? We probably wont' get both, but it is still important to ask for this as it gives us more leverage. Del. Garlik: What if students are paid by research funds? RA's are included with all GA's, fellows, & trainees Del. Diggs-Pierce: Why are so many compensation & benefits lumped into one resolution? These issues are all important and need to go forward within one concerted effort. Del. Gray: Do you see this as asking for more than what we expect to get? Yes. VP Hodak: We are only offered compensation at the Student Health Insurance rate, which is much cheaper than the faculty staff rate. The compensation rate for GRA's is one of the highest among all GA categories so feel that asking for these it won't affect the ability to fund research associates through grants, etc. Passed with one vote against.

D.Resolution 0304-AU-012: A Resolution Supporting Student Activism

VP Hodak: this is similar to what was passed after 9/11 to allow for freedom of speech and is concerned with the up-coming conference about Palestine The Council for Justice in Palestine wanted to have their national conference at Rutgers and it was canceled due to problems within the group and so they have moved this to OSU. Approved by unanimous vote.

VII.Delegate Issues and Concerns

Del Pepper: We seem to spend a lot of this time passing resolutions and acts. Would it be possible to have someone look up over the past few years and see what past resolutions have been passed and what impact this has had? Pres. Depelteau: Yes we could have an ad hoc committee check into this.

Reauthorization of COTA fees is coming up and we need to see how many use the COTA system? Approx. 25; Most would advocate a $1-$3 increase, with a few agreeing to a $5 increase. Chair Ethridge: Could we do a short survey? Yes, your committee would be in charge. Chair Cunningham: COTA could cover some of the decreased CABS routes. Del. Grimmer: Some new students are not being allowed on bus because of no sticker on their ID? There are no stickers needed; students in dorms get stickers put on their IDs for other purposes, but shouldn't need them to ride on COTA Trustee Quick: couldn't part of this fee go to CABS? CABS and COTA are totally separate entities. Chair Vanterpool: Are there services cuts pending from COTA? There are no plans to make cuts to current routes. But if contract is not renewed, they could possibly make cuts. They have made additions to routes that could be cut back. Del Pepper: Given that COTA and CABS are separate, shouldn't we wait to see what to do with CABS until we deal with COTA? From CSA agenda, we will deal with COTA first and then deal with CABS. According to COTA 6000 students use the system every day and they lose money. Pepper: could we do a survey on what students use? COTA does a survey every year and gets about 10000 responses. This isn't a very scientifically sound study though from a research perspective. Del. Gray: If COTA isn't renewed, currently bus passes are $40 per month and we only pay $9 a quarter. Chair Pletz: Does COTA want an increase? Pres. Depelteau: Met with COTA representative and discussed that they would ask for increase of probably only $1. Del. Egleston: Would it be possible to have more access to the airport? Can use the Capitol Express from downtown hotels; there are 4 hotels that it runs from so would only have to make sure you can get to downtown. Del Schoone-Jongen: There is an airport shuttle from OSU to airport available at beginning and end of quarter. Chair Vanterpool: I tried to use this and was told it wasn't in existence any more so may want to check on this.

VP Hodak: There is CSA money available to registered campus groups. Are your departments aware and applying for funds? Chair Pletz: this is a difficult process, why? VP Hodak, there is a registration process and there is information available at CGS. Del Pearson: don't expect the money overnight as the process takes time. The process is getting faster and even if your event has already occurred, you will get reimbursed. Del. Saklayen: Our group lost a receipt last year, and we are getting audited, how can we make sure this doesn't affect our ability to receive funds in the future? Contact Julie Frary (at source@osu.edu) at the Ohio Union for help with this so that you can be placed back in good standing. Del. Elect Kulbaga: How do we find out if a group has been registered in the past? Megan Gossling is who to contact at Student Affairs

VIII. Announcements

Chair Sosnoskie: Chair of PR committee. E-voice hard copy is available on table in back of room. Please post in your department. By next week, a link will be sent out to delegates to this on CGS web page. Please ask if link can be put on your department web page.

Chair Cunningham: Chair of Events committee. Please let us know where mailboxes are to get info to grad students. Tour Columbus program is an award program for getting out in Columbus. Student activity fee: more free concerts available. Please let me know things that you would like to see and do as grad students. James Earl Jones is speaking Monday and this is being brought by student activity fee. Del. Scott: Is there a better way of getting info out about events? For now, call front desk of the Ohio Union to ask what is available. There is a web site but things aren't' getting updated very fast.

CGS is cosponsoring part of the diversity lecture series, Wilson Cruz on November 18 4:30pm.

Ohio Union has a GAA position available. Looking for a student in graphic design. Contact Beth Czekalski (czekalski.1@osu.edu) if interested.

Del. Gray: Dance dept has a show this evening and tomorrow evening sponsored by Multicultural Dance Dept. $5 admission and located in Sullivant Hall. Curtain time is 8:00pm. On Nov. 15-16 two shows by grad students also in Sullivant Hall at 8:00pm; $5 admission.

Break until 5:00pm.

IX. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 5:07p.m.

  • Speaker: Larry Lewellen, Associate Vice President, Office of Human Resource Barbara Snyder, Interim Executive Vice President and Provost

    VP Snyder: Domestic partner benefit: high priority in this administration; I personally have lost a colleague over this issue. We have gathered bench mark data on this and have developed proposals. I cannot tell you exactly when this will happen. The latest proposal will include sponsored dependents. We will continue to work hard on this. We want to continue to hear from you about this issue. When you say it is important, we will listen. Compensation and benefits- continues to be a priority even with the budget constraints. Important point is subsidy for grad student health insurance.

    VP Lewellen- study 3 years ago we found we were at the tail end of benchmarks. We went into a 3 year plan and now subsidize $150 per quarter for a total of approx. $2 million. Next 3 year stating Autumn 2004, plan goes form $3million to $6 million. Best guess for health care costs is increase of 18% per year. We will freeze what grad students have to pay at $200 per quarter and leave this frozen for 3 years regardless of what will happen to health care costs. If costs rise 18% this will mean we will increase subsidy form approx. 40% to 66%. This will be put in writing and will be guaranteed for any condition other than financial meltdown. Also will implement pre-tax deductions in Autumn 2004, which will reduce $200/qtr to a lower net $ cost. In FY 2006 plan will be reviewed for FY 2007 and on. This money will be redirected form the colleges and will not come from any hidden funds that might be available.

    Del. Ma, if heath care costs don't go up 18% would there be any additional money subsidized for GA's? This is why there is a suggestion to check on this FY2006.

    Del Frazier: We just passed a resolution asking for 100% subsidy, why? Also, why are we only looking at insurance subsidy and not stipend? For someone who makes only $900/month getting $800/year isn't much. Pres. Depeplteau: That resolution covers the next 5 years , this proposal only covers 3 years.

    VP Hodak: How do you define fiscal meltdown and what happens in 2007? Is the $200 a set number, or will it go up in 2007? VP Lewellen: Financial exigency (i.e. meltdown) is huge cut in state subsidies. We have never had before any thing that qualified as a meltdown. Our intent is to be competitive with peer institutions. 66% is not getting us to that point, but it is better. In 2007 we will look to see where we need to go to get us closer to our peers. There are ways to get to 100% but we must also look at the plan we are offering and make sure we are providing good coverage.

    Del. Yao: Will the coverage be the same as now once the $200 freeze is in place. Why are students charged to see someone in Wilce? Lewellen: CGS needs to have someone on the Student Health Insurance Committee. VP Hodak: we do have someone on the committee. There was no student input on this fee at Wilce. This was administrative.

    Chair Sosnoskie: If each dept. has to find the funds for this in their budget, what risk is there that they will be getting rid of GA positions to cover this? Lewellen: When we started this subsidy 3 years ago, we were concerned about this and so far this hasn't happened. We are hoping that this is getting phased in gradually enough to not make that big of an impact. I don't want you to think that there won't be any cuts, but the money has to come from somewhere. The depts. are getting the benefits of the money that you are brining in.

    Del. Pearson: What are above market raises? Lewellen: We are behind our bench mark peers and we are trying to catch up to them. Del. Pearson: You are comparing us to employees and saying we aren't employees at the same time. Most of us cannot go out and get another job. I feel that 100% coverage of something smaller is more beneficial. Lewellen: Obviously we cannot answer all these. But we are trying to attract the best to this school and you have the choice to go elsewhere. We have no control over such thing s as the requirement for international students to have health insurance. We compare you to faculty and staff when it comes to comp & benefits and to other grad students when it comes to heath insurance.

    Del Frazier: As a CGS delegate I feel completely disempowered by this. I think we are going to continue to fall behind other institutions. Lewellen: I don't see other institution giving $3milion to heath care of grad students. Without CGS support this would not have made it this far.

    Sen. Clark: What would we have to do to get down to $150 per quarter? Lewellen: There is nothing we could do except take cuts somewhere else.

    VP Hodak: What happens if heath care coverage continues to go up over 20%. How will we be assured that positions won't be cut? Lewellen: There is a rainy day fund, but it has to be replenished, so cuts would have to come from somewhere.

    Del Ma: would the election of a union affect this? Lewellen: If a union is elected there would have to be collective bargaining. VP Hodak: What would happen if there would be a union after this is in place? Lewellen: Collective bargaining shouldn't put a chill on this but once in collective bargaining, everything would go on the table. Del. Frazier: If the GA's would unionize, it would empower them, not disempower like now.

    Respectfully Submitted,
    Cathy Baack (baack.4@osu.edu)
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