Yale University GSA

I. Call to Order

II. Day of Service Announcement - Andy Bellemer

A campus-wide e-mail went out today.
This is the first annual Day of Service that the Graduate School has helped to host (along with YCC, GSA, ODEO, GPSS, the McDougal Center, the United Way, New Haven - if I am missing anyone - please let me know) - Saturday, September 27th.
The event will consist of 200 volunteers doing a morning and afternoon's worth of work at approximately 15 community service sites.
The day begins with breakfast at HGS - registration is from 8:30 - 9:30.
Shuttles to various sites arrive at HGS @ 9:30 a.m.
There is a break at 1:30 at HGS for lunch.
This day will help raise graduate student awareness of volunteer opportunities in the area.
This is also a good chance to network with other graduate students, faculty, staff, professional students, and undergraduates as well.
Registration is through the posted United Way website (sent out in e-mail earlier today).
The Day of Service organizers are currently seeking site captains, whose primary responsibility will be to have phone contact information for the McDougal center in case of emergency.
Volunteers can get in touch with Andy Bellemer.
There is a list of participating sites on the website.
You can register on-line until 5:00 p.m. the Friday before (September 26th).

III. Conference Travel Fund Announcement - CTF readers needed for this cycle - Chris Crick

The GSA has a $45,000 Conference Travel Fund budget, for which we receive 3 cycles of applications.
Chris sent an e-mail today advertising the CTF to departments.
The Fall application cycle is open until October 15th, after which Chris will need 6 readers to judge the applications.
In the past, the reading group consisted of 2 Humanities, 2 Natural Science, and 2 Social Science students; however, this is not strictly necessary this time around as the applications will no longer be distributed by division.
Financial need and importance to career are the most crucial aspects that need to be demonstrated in the apps - this should come through in the advisor recommendation and budget.
Chris will provide snacks for the initial meeting and reading usually requires 4-5 hours worth of work.
The CTF is one of the most visible and important things that GSA does.
The CTF usually funds ~ 40% of applicants.
Some applicants do not get the total amount they have asked for but do get a portion (maximum funding level is $750).
Chris notifies those students who were not funded.
GSA can bring this to the attention of the new Provost (along with GPSS).
Initial meeting and distribution will take place the 3rd week in October.
Volunteers: Kathy Batchler (NS), Sarah Egan (SS), Paul Pearlman (NS), Elina Bloch (H)

IV. Election of Officers
PR Chair

Webmaster

Secretary

Treasurer

Maintains and determines budget.
Interacts with administrators (Peter Oddy, etc...)
Sets up meetings in advance.
Orders food.
Is the go-to person for departmental meeting info.
Note on departmental meetings (Sara Nichols - former treasurer): Use p-cards - these can be picked up at HGS and kept for 24 hours. These cards can be used at liquor stores, grocery stores, and restaurants. Each department should have two meetings per year and gets $200 per rep per year, which can be allocated in any way (i.e. Department with 2 reps gets $400 per year - this can be split into $200 for each meeting or $100 for the first meeting and $300 for the second meeting, etc...). If you are working with Yorkside pizza or GPSCY, you can invoice them instead of using the p-card - but only these two places.
2008-2009 Treasurer is Jeremy Green.

V. Election of Reps to External Committees
GSA Steering Committee

Consists of the 7 officers (Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, CTF Director, PR Chair, & Webmaster) in addition to 2 reps from each division (2 H, 2 NS, 2 SS).
The difference between the Steering Committee and the Executive Committee is that Steering works with the Dean to shape the agenda of the GSA and the end-of-year meetings with the Provost, President, and Yale Corporation. The Executive Committee is the Dean's advisory committee for academic issues, i.e. internal reviews of departments, addition of new degrees, changes in grading policies, etc...
Both of these committees are confidential.
2008-2009 Steering Committee members are:
Alexandra Parfitt (H), Julie Button (NS), Sara Nichols (NS), Sarah Egan (SS), & Scott McClure (SS). One empty Humanities seat still available.
If empty H seat remains unfilled, can the 3rd place NS nominee take it? Will have to consult the Dean and the GSA Charter.
Can we use a secret ballot for elections?

Executive Committee

Meetings for this in the past were 10:30 - 12:00 on Wednesdays when there is business to attend to (maybe meet 6 times per year?).
Consists of 5 grad students (Chair, Vice Chair, 1 H, 1 NS, 1 SS), Dean Butler, Dean Mangan, 2 associate Deans, 6 faculty members (please feel free to correct me if this is wrong).
2008-2009 Executive Committee members are:
Elina Bloch (H), Sara Heitkamp (NS), Kerra Bui (SS).

University Regulations and Discipline Committee

University Grievance Committee

We checked to ensure we had Quorum at this point (50% total enrolled members and 33% enrolled members from each division).
Perhaps the PR Chair can advertise the existence of the Grievance Committee (students against faculty)?

Library Committee (1)

Three meetings per semester.
Can have an internal as well as this external library committee.
2008-2009 Library Committee members are: Siobhan Quinlan and Elina Bloch (will have a run-off if the library will not accept two reps).

Sexual Harassment Committee (2, 1 alternate)

2008-2009 members are: Tim Guasco & Sara Nichols. Alternates: Sara Heitkamp & Eli Kim.

Teaching Liaison (1)

Committee on Racial and Ethnic Harassment (1)

ODEO Liaison

VI. Motion to Adjourn - Second.

VII. PARTY @ GPSCY!

GSA General Assembly Meeting Minutes 9/24/2008