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Date: June 3, 2009
Venue: 425 TUC
Time: 12.30pm - 2pm
Minutes Approval Status:
Approved
This monthly GSGA General Assembly meeting was convened by
President Ezgi Akpinar. Also present were the Vice President
DC Padur, Treasurer Diana Hechavarria and Campus
Representative James Bowen.
Roll Call of member groups in Attendance:
Click here for the attendance record
1. Advisor Report - Dr. Robert Zierolf (
zierolrl_at_ucmail.uc.edu )
2.
Grad School Report - Jacque Daugherty (
daughejd_at_ucmail.uc.edu )
3.
President's Report – Two Year Review
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Graduate research and funding: Through one of our surveys,
we found that graduate students need $1500 per month for
living expenses, but the average stipend per month is $1000.
An increase in stipends has been proposed.
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We received additional funding from Dr. Sandra Degen and the
Office of Research for our Research Award program.
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Health Insurance: The Basix Dental Discount Plan was added.
We are still working to add dependent coverage.
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Bearcat Transportation Shuttle: We have been working on
optimizing routes.
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Graduate Student mentoring: We passed a resolution that
spoke to the need for established mentoring guidelines.
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International Student pickup: We worked with the
International Student Services Office to create this pickup
service for new incoming students, contributing up to $1500
in support.
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We completely revamped the website and will soon be moving
over to the Graduate School website.
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Graduate and Family Housing: We have been continually
working on this with Dr. Zierolf.
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We reduced our deficit by half.
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We increased our graduate student group membership from 38
to 44, and also have become more visible on campus.
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We were recognized by the National Association of Graduate
and Professional Students for our advocacy work.
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We also joined the Ohio Board of Graduate Students, working
on local graduate student issues and meeting with Chancellor
Fingerhut.
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Appreciation for outstanding graduate students:
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Denise Britigan—served on numerous committees
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Peggy Shannon-Baker—for advocacy in relation to graduate
and family housing
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Jennifer Cash—for serving on the Graduate Excellence Award
Committee for 3 years
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Kris Gosh—working with UCPD and health insurance
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Jessica Moss and Benjamin Thomas—for their work on the BTS
maps
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Sam McKinley—working on sustainability iniatives
4.
Vice President's Report
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2 Group Grant Awards went to Chemistry and CCM; this was the
first year we almost used up all of the money allotted to
the Group Grant program.
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Make sure you register your graduate student group in time!
5.
Treasurer's Report
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We had $2195 in expenses.
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We had 527 total student awards, totaling at $158,613. 80%
were for full conference travel, 15% to partial conference
travel, 5% to research awards.
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Group Grants total: $5065
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Group Budgets total: $3591, which is only about 20% of total
amount available; many groups did not use any.
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It is unclear if we will have a deficit or a surplus at the
end of the year, especially since we can still expect many
reimbursement applications to be turned in before the start
of the new year (July 1).
6.
Budget for 2009-2010: A copy
of the proposed budget emailed prior to the
meeting.
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Planning for an 8% cut which is about $15,000.
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There are two sides to the budget because honorariums,
insurance coverage, Research Awards for purchasing, and
the Graduate Excellence Award prizes are not considered
“Operating Expenses.”
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If there is any surplus from the 2008-2009 year it would
roll into the Operating Budget.
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$8,000 deficit is a conservative estimate based on
previous spending.
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Group Grants will not be cut.
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Group Budgets will remain the same, though we expect to
have 45 (instead of 43) groups registered.
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Graduate Awards Ceremony: funding is planned for the
following year (i.e. the 2009 GAC was allocated in the
2008-2009 budget), so this number represents the 2010 GAC.
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This year we received $1000 from the Graduate School.
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GSA of the Year receives $300 for the following year’s
Group Budget.
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National Association of Graduate and Professional Students
(NAGPS)
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Conference/advocacy travel—allows officers to lobby and
present our projects statewide and nationally
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Social events/promotion: typically about $3,500, but
looking to trim this in hopes of getting sponsorships from
UC offices.
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Survey expenses: this is a yearly payment to get a
membership that allows for our high level of respondents.
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International Student pickup: this is the maximum we can
give, but we are not committed to exactly this amount.
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We will be restructuring the Research Award: changing
deadlines, requirements, making it competitive and with
potentially higher award amounts.
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We needed to cut about $10,000 to prepare for an
inevitable budget cut. It was proposed that we cut out the
Partial Conference Travel award program entirely. Doing so
would prevent cutting the Full Conference Travel award. It
was suggested that students who need to simply attend a
conference could seek outside funding.
Final: BUDGET NOT APPROVED.
7.
Special Report: Russell Best (bestrw_at_email.uc.edu)
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Housing and Food Services will be negotiating a new food
contract for the next 10 years.
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Russell Best will be representing GSGA.
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The two main goals are to get more choices and more local
food options.
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We need a convincing student voice, so Russell asked if GSAs
or individuals who are interested should contact him.
8.
Special Report: Peggy Shannon-Baker (shannopy_at_email.uc.edu)
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A copy of the
original resolution bill emailed by Ezgi.
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Peggy presented a resolution bill, emailed out prior to the
meeting, asking that the University of Cincinnati release a
public statement regarding the mold and asbestos found in
Morgens Hall (formerly part of Graduate and Family Housing).
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The resolution was unanimously passed with an amendment that
it apply to all campus buildings.
April and
May minutes were approved.
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