GSA Council Meeting

September 17, 2007

Duane Library 352

Called to Order: 11:07am

Representatives Present: Sturm (Bio), Hennessy (Econ), Spratt (English), Melson (History), O’Connell (Int’l), Pfifer (IPED), O’Leary (Philosophy), Silton (Psychology), Kendall (Theology), Esparza (MAPR), Miyawaki (Sociology), Pres Pietros, VP Gabor

1)      Welcomed new Reps to the Council

2)      Discussed Vacant Rep Posts – Humanities, Accel MA (?) and discussed options for filling them

3)      Described Representative Duties & Distributed GSA ‘Welcome’ Packets:

                                                              i.      Communication – both to the GSA, and from the GSA

                                                            ii.      Semester town hall meetings (funds available)

                                                          iii.      Committee assignments

                                                          iv.      DDF assistance to Depts.

                                                            v.      Communitas

4)      A big ‘Thank You’ to all who helped at Orientation

5)      Committees:

a.        Discussed the Reorganization of Committee Structure, so as to:

                                                              i.      Trim the number of people on each committee (only 1 committee assignment for each dept. Rep)

                                                            ii.      Provide Committees with more definite goals, and greater accountability to Council

a.       Rep. Melson (History) asked if there would be enough Reps to fill the Committee slots, if people were only to be on one committee each

b.      Pres Pietros responded yes, if each person maintained their assignment for the entire year

b.      Discussed the Proposed Committees for 2007 – 08, and informed Reps to email list of preferences to VP Gabor by Mon., Sept. 24:

                                                              i.      Total Committees (# of Reps in parentheses):

1.      Budget (3), Social (2), Awards (2), Newsletter (3), Constitution (4), Working Groups (3), ad hoc Ethics (2), Grads Only Conference (3)

                                                            ii.      Notes:

1.      ad hoc Ethics committee is to be dissolved by the end of Fall 07 semester, upon completion of final report to the Council (Nava assigned priority for this)

2.      Working Groups Committee to establish 2 – 3 groups by end of Fall 07

3.      Grads Only Conference series proposed, again to establish 1 – 2 meetings by the end of Fall 07

6)      The GSA office will be moved to Keating B18 upon the completion of renovation

                                                              i.      Once completed, office hours will now also be regularly held by the GSA Officers and the Office admin Assistant (see below)

7)      Space is available for a GSA Officer administrative assistant, to provide:

a.       Administrative Support – Travel Grants

b.      Small Research Projects on fledging initiatives

c.       Office hour presence (probably T & R)

d.      Approximately 4 hours a week

e.       Any interested members of the Council were requested to make this interest known by Monday Sept. 24

8)      Budget Report:

a.       Preliminary budget circulated to members of the council

b.      However quorum not present to provide a full vote

9)      DSD Job progress:

a.       Although several interviews have been held, a new DSD has not yet been hired.

10)  Graduate Council Update:

a.       Pres Pietros filled in the Council on the latest goings-on at the Grad Council, especially meeting the new Academic VP

11)  Economics DDF:

a.       Approved by unanimous vote of the Council to hold doctoral workshops

12)  Meeting called to a close at 12:32 pm