Council of Graduate Students
First Spring Quarter Meeting
April 16, 1999
University Hall, Room 014
Present: Officers: Kathleen Carberry (presiding), Manisha Vijayaraghavan, Elizabeth Loentz, Tracy Paul. Voting Delegates: Betsy Breseman, John M. Brockman, Homero Cantu, Christine Chen, Candace Cherrington, Andrew Congard-Black, Jill Coleman, Briggs Cormier, Kelly Costner, Heather Edgar, Michelle Field, Jeremiah Groom, Erich Guy, Courtney Hopper, Orie Kristel, Susan Kulewicz, Stephanie Libbon, Natalie Marsh, Ron Meyers, Rich Milner, Lisa Perry, Stan Radzevicius, Brian Rivera, Elizabeth Rothermich, Kristina Secnik, Vikas Sinha, John Soloninka, Tara White. Non-Voting Delegates, Committee Representatives, Senators, CRGS Representatives and Guests:. Dean James M. Siddens, CGS Advisor, Melanie Buffington, Cheng-Ta Li, Shilpi Saran.
The meeting was called to order at 3:30 p.m. April 16, 1999, with President Carberry presiding.
I. Approval of Minutes
Motion to approve the minutes of the meeting of March 5, 1999 (Motion 99-2-9) made by Delegate Cormier, seconded by Delegate Milner. Motion passed unanimously.
II. Officer Reports
A. President
President Carberry referred Council to her written report.
B. Vice President
Vice President Vijayaraghavan referred Council to her written report.
III. Committee Reports
A. Executive Committee
Secretary Loentz stated that the Executive Committee had met on Friday, April 2. She reported that the committee had discussed the agenda items for today's meeting, and had heard reports from committee chairs.
B. Edward F. Hayes Research Forum Committee
Vice President Vijayaraghavan reported that the Edward F. Hayes Research Forum was highly successful, and thanked the committee, judges, and volunteers for their contributions. She added that there were 88 presenters, and that commemorative mugs are now available in the office for participants and volunteers.
Vice President Vijayaraghavan noted further that there are several committee positions to be filled, which are listed in her report. She reminded Council that CGS Officer Nomination Forms will be distributed in the next mailing, and that the May 7 meeting is the deadline for nominations. Vice President Vijayaraghavan then invited each current officer to explain briefly her duties.
Vice President Vijayaraghavan announced that CGS Service Award nomination forms will soon be available in the office, and that it will be possible to nominate individuals who have performed outstanding service for graduate students until the deadline in late May. She added that students, faculty, and staff may be nominated, and that no affiliation with CGS is required.
C. Professional Development Fund Committee
Committee Chairperson Costner reported that over 50 Professional Development Fund applications had already been received for the Spring Quarter, and added that applicants should receive a response by the 6th week of the quarter.
D. Ad Hoc Housing Committee
Delegate Meyers reported that the Board of Trustees had approved a $17 Million budget for a graduate student housing complex. He added that CGS will be involved in the planning process.
IV. Old Business
A. Proposed Student Code of Conduct
President Carberry noted that we had heard during the previous meeting about revisions to the Student Code of Conduct. She asked if Council wished to support the proposed changes. Delegate Breseman moved (Motion 99-2-10) to approve the proposed changes. Motion seconded by Delegate Hopper.
Delegate Rivera expressed reservations concerning the university's jurisdiction over off-campus activities. He added that he had e-mailed the committee about his concerns, but had received no reply.
Motion to approve the proposed changes to the Student Code of Conduct passed with 15 yes votes, 0 no votes and 2 abstentions.
V. New Business
President Carberry summarized briefly the history of the G-QUE (Graduate Quality of University Experience) survey, noting in particular that the survey had been initiated by CGS and was then carried out by CGS and the Graduate School, with funding from the Graduate School. She announced that the Steering Committee had recently ranked proposed action items (only those which require funding) in order of priority. She then asked Council to rank the action items according to priority, in order to gain a sense of graduate student opinion. After President Carberry clarified several points on the survey, those in attendance completed the survey. Treasurer Paul began tallying the results during the meeting, but was unable to announce the results by the end of the meeting. President Carberry informed Council of the Steering Committee's rankings, which are as follows:
1) Presidential Fellowships;
2) Graduate Student Advocacy;
Tie: 3) Increased GSARA Funding, and 4) Data and Exit Survey Costs;
Tie: 5) Preparing Future Faculty, 6) Career Resource Network Coordinator, and 7) Development Officer for Graduate Education;
8) Graduate Student Housing;
9) Student Travel to Conferences;
Tie: 10) Workshop Support, 11) Writing Center Support;
Tie: 12) Child Care, 13) Information Manger / Web Master and Computer Costs, 14) Health Insurance Issues;
15) Graduate Studies Committee Chairs Support;
16) Telephone Help Line;
17) Computer Issues.
VI. Delegate Issues and Concerns
Delegate Cherrington stated that she has been receiving a great deal of mail addressed to her as a prospective graduate, and expressed concern that the university may be selling graduating students' addresses. Delegate Rivera and several other Council members added that they have also been receiving similar mailings. Delegate Brockman suggested that Council may wish to draft a privacy policy. Delegate Meyers agreed. Delegate Kristel countered that selling or distributing such information, while it is annoying, is not necessarily unethical. Delegate Cherrington disagreed. Delegate Libbon wondered if CGS could receive a percentage of the profits if the university does indeed sell information. Delegate Cormier found it disturbing that home addresses could be distributed by the university. Delegate Brockman added that Canada and New Zealand have privacy laws, which require informed consent. He suggested that the university should at least inform students if they wish to distribute personal information. Delegate Rivera added that the Alumni Association may be selling the information and not the university. Council reached no consensus on the matter.
Delegate Breseman asked whether CGS mailings could be e-mailed or posted on the CGS web page in order to save paper. President Carberry replied that this was possible except for flyers and other materials that are given to us only in hard copy. Delegate Libbon suggested that such items could be scanned for the web page if we had access to a scanner. President Carberry noted that the office scanner is currently not connected to the IBMs in the office, but that this may be possible in future.
Guest Saran requested more information on graduate student housing issues. Delegate Meyers replied that there are currently approximately 500 units available on campus and that this number will decrease. He added that CGS's requests for more graduate student housing on campus have been addressed through the plans for a graduate student housing project mentioned earlier in the meeting. In addition CGS is also advocating graduate student housing in the Gateway Project.
Delegate Libbon asked whether Council could be notified as to how many applications for the Professional Development Fund have come from outside of CGS. President Carberry answered that we do not yet know. However, as a mass e-mail was sent to all graduate students, it is highly likely that many applications are from non-Delegates.
VII. Announcements
Next Meeting: Friday, May 7, 1999, 3:30-5 p.m., University Hall 014.
VIII. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 4:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Elizabeth Loentz
CGS Secretary
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