Council of Graduate Students
Third Winter Quarter Meeting
March 5, 1999
University Hall, Room 014
Present: Officers: Kathleen Carberry (presiding), Manisha Vijayaraghavan, Elizabeth Loentz. Voting Delegates: Suzanne Bartholomae, Betsy Breseman, John M. Brockman, Homero Cantu, Candy Cherrington, Jill Coleman, Briggs Cormier, Kelly Costner, Janet Dean, Jeremiah Groom, Orie Kristel, Susan Kulewicz, Stephanie Libbon, Lauren McClanahan, Ron Meyers, Jeffrey Mielke, Kenneth Mulligan, Firooza Pavri, Lauri Reidmiller, Brian Rivera, Vikas Sinha, Carla Taylor. Non-Voting Delegates, Committee Representatives, Senators, CRGS Representatives and Guests: Melanie Buffington, Corey Ditslear, Scott King, Cheng-Ta Li, Juergen Steininger. Dean James M. Siddens, CGS Advisor.
The meeting was called to order at 3:35 p.m. March 5, 1999, with President Carberry presiding.
Guest Speakers:
Katherine Kisker, Coordinator, Committee on Academic Misconduct
Steven McDonald, Office of Legal Affairs
"Student Code of Conduct"
Ms. Kisker explained that a task force had recently completed a large-scale re-write of the Code of Student Conduct. The goal of the re-write was to construct a Code of Student Conduct that is fair, clear, and efficient. The re-write includes: clarification of off-campus jurisdiction; clarification of prohibited behaviors, which were previously implicit; clarification of time-frames; expanded sanctions; proposed elimination of suspension in abeyance; expanded grounds for appeal; a rule on administrative withdrawal, which replaces a section on medical withdrawal. She added that there will be a generous appendix concerning related policies. After review by CSA the document will go to the Senate for approval.
Delegate Libbon asked when the document will go into effect. Ms. Kisker answered that it may be final by Autumn Quarter. President Carberry asked which sexual harassment policies applied to graduate students. Mr. McDonald answered that "which hat" a graduate student was wearing at a given time would determine whether the Student Code of Conduct or Human Resources policies would apply. Delegate Cantu asked whether the Student Code of Conduct applies to off-campus activities. Mr. McDonald replied that it does if the activity is university or academically related, but that the university does not attempt to regulate everything students do outside of the university. Delegate Breseman asked for clarification on the section on administrative withdrawals related to medical conditions. Mr. McDonald answered that the earlier rule was now out of date. It was originally intended to withdraw students with contagious diseases such as TB. The current ruling is meant to enable the university to withdraw students who are dangerous to others, such as students with violent mental health conditions. This would apply only to students who are disruptive or dangerous to others, and is limited to cases in which the student would not "process" other procedures. He added that the Office of Disability Services supports the policy. Delegate Brockman noted that GTAs who report cases of academic misconduct are often subjected to a tedious process. He asked whether the process has been streamlined. Ms. Kisker answered that it has not been streamlined appreciably, but that the actual hearing has been changed with the intention of making it more educational for the student. Delegate Libbon stated that students have been suspended for vandalism off-campus after football games, and wondered when the university has jurisdiction concerning such matters. Mr. McDonald answered that the university has jurisdiction in student violence off-campus, when prohibited behavior is a direct consequence of a university event, and when behavior has a significant impact on the university and the university community. Ms. Kisker and Mr. McDonald invited Council to contact them by e-mail with further questions or comments.
I. Approval of Minutes
Motion to approve the minutes of the meeting of February 5, 1999 (Motion 99-1-4) made by Delegate Brockman, seconded by Delegate Cormier. Motion passed unanimously.
II. Officer Reports
A. President
President Carberry referred Council to her written report. She further invited Council to contact her with input on the Gateway project and plans for graduate student housing. She announced that the new state budget includes a 4% increase for Higher Education. She informed Council that she will give a presentation on the G-QUE Survey at the upcoming Midwestern Conference of Graduate Schools. She invited those interested in attending the regional NAGPS Conference to contact her. She added that she had recently attended the Board of Trustees' Leadership Retreat and was excited about the university's goal to become one of the nation's top ten public universities. She noted finally that graduate enrollments have been decreasing in order to offer better funding for graduate students admitted. She noted that this may be a concern.
B. Vice President
Vice President Vijayaraghavan referred Council to her written report. She added that representatives are needed for two new committees: the Student Advocacy Center Director Search Committee and the Student Health Steering Committee; as well as for the Senate Rules Committee.
III. Committee Reports
A. Executive Committee
Secretary Loentz stated that the Executive Committee met on Friday, February 9. She reported that the committee had discussed the agenda items for today's meeting, and heard reports from committee chairs.
B. Ad Hoc Professional Development Fund Committee
Chairperson Kelly Costner summarized the history of the project and the content of the proposal, which was included in the mailing. He explained that service would be the chief criteria of selection, as this is CGS's area of expertise. Delegate Kristel inquired how the committee plans to assess and quantify service. Delegate Costner referred Council to the application form, which allows students to list their service activities or to state reasons for their inability to do service. Delegate England inquired about the sources and amount of revenues. President Carberry answered that we currently have total pledges for the three quarter pilot project of $5,000 to $10,000 from the Office of Faculty and TA Development, the Graduate School, and the Office of Research. She added that CGS had also applied for a grant. Delegate England asked whether the Committee would grant less than an applicant's requested amount. Delegate Costner answered that it may do so in the early stages and fund more fully as revenues increase. Mr. King asked when grant money would be disbursed. Delegate Costner answered that funds would be disbursed after travel, when the award recipient provides receipts and documentation. Mr. King expressed concern that students may not be able to request funds for conferences with a quick turn-around, and asked whether students could apply after travel. Delegate Libbon seconded this concern. Delegate Costner answered that students must apply prior to travel. Delegate Cormier asked whether funds would roll over. Delegate Costner answered that they would, but likely not during the pilot, as funds remain limited. Delegate England was concerned that we may face the criticism that the intent of the fund (to promote professional development, in particular research) is at odds with our selection criteria, service. Outsiders may perceive the award as self-serving. Delegate Costner replied that the present proposal reflects a compromise between those who had originally wished to require full CGS representation (the applicant's department must be represented in CGS) and those who wanted no service requirement whatsoever. Secretary Loentz added that service was one of the three major components of professional development: teaching, research, and service. Delegate Breseman asked how the Fund will be publicized. President Carberry and Delegate Costner answered that possibilities include publicity by delegates, through our listserv, in the Lantern, flyers, and a mass e-mail.
Motion to approve the proposal (Motion 99-1-4) made by Delegate Rivera, seconded by Delegate Cantu. The Motion passed unanimously.
Motion to form a standing PDF Committee (Motion 99-1-5) made by Delegate Cherrington, seconded by Delegate Breseman. Motion passed unanimously.
C. Research Forum Committee
Vice-President Vijayaraghavan announced that the committee met on February 27. She stated that abstracts have been selected and that judges are needed for the following areas: Administrative Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, Education, Arts, and Natural Sciences.
D. Physical Facilities
Delegate Brockman distributed a flyer on the installation of new emergency phones (a two-year pilot project). He announced that Physical Facilities will host an open meeting on disability issues. The date and location are to be announced. He further provided Council with a telephone number to report pot-holes, broken door latches, etc.: 292-6158.
E. Community Service and Service Learning Committee
Delegate Kulewicz reminded Council that the Committee will be volunteering at a Penny Carnival at the Salesian Center at 80 S. 6th St. from 12:30-3:00 p.m. on March 6.
IV. Old Business
There was no old business.
V. New Business
A. Revisit 1994 Resolution on Domestic Partner Health Insurance
President Carberry inquired whether Council would be interested in re-affirming the 1994 Resolution on Domestic Partner Health Insurance. Motion to re-affirm the resolution (Motion 99-1-6) made by Delegate Meyers, seconded by Delegate Rivera. Motion passed with 15 yes votes, one no vote, and one abstention.
B. 1998-99 NAGPS Legislative Platform/CGS Legislative Platform
Chairperson Ditslear summarized the legislative platform. Delegate Brockman noted that the Taft Administration had proposed a state tax credit. Chairperson Ditslear explained that the platform extends beyond this proposal. Delegate England suggested amending "any change" in Resolution 5 to "any decrease." Motion to approve the Legislative Platforms with the above amendment (Motion 99-1-7) made by Delegate Brockman, seconded by Delegate Libbon. Motion passed with 14 yes votes and one abstention.
VI. Delegate Issues and Concerns
On behalf of Mr. Steininger, President Carberry noted that there are concerns about parking on the Agriculture Campus. Transportation and Parking has posted signs prohibiting parking for events at the Schottenstein Center during the daytime, but there remain problems in the evening. Transportation and Parking is sympathetic to the concern. Mr. Steininger added that Transportation and Parking has been doing a good job but that the problem is too big for them to handle. Delegate Brockman added that he parks often on the Agriculture Campus and that he has noticed that parking there is now at a premium. Delegate Taylor added that the Schottenstein Center traffic has also affected the Vet College. At event times graduate students are often unable to reach the campus by automobile, which is a major problem. President Carberry suggested that she could write a letter to Transportation and Parking to express these concerns.
Mr. King noted that his constituents are concerned about the elimination of graduate housing in Morrison Hall. In addition, undergraduate students have moved in and are not following the 24 hour quiet time rule. Students have complained but there have been no changes. President Carberry offered to investigate. Mr. Steininger asked whether it would be possible to remove non-graduate/professional students from Jones Tower as housing is becoming more limited. Delegate Rivera noted that the proposed graduate housing in the Gateway Project will cost $600 monthly. President Carberry added that we had not seen this figure until it was printed in the Lantern. Delegate Meyers stated that he had already inquired about this matter and learned that a reduction in rents may depend the university's willingness to subsidize rents.
VII. Announcements
Next Meeting: Friday, April 16, 1999, 3:30-5 p.m., University Hall 014.
VIII. Adjournment
Motion to adjourn made by Delegate Rivera (Motion 99-1-8), seconded by Delegate Cormier. Motion passed by unanimous vote. The meeting was adjourned at 5:04 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Elizabeth Loentz
CGS Secretary
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