Graduate Student Council Minutes
April 15, 1998
6:22: call to order
Secretary's Report
Minutes were approved unanimously.
Treasurer's Report
Bill will post or e-mail Treasurer's Report as he could not attend the meeting.
Funding Request: Centropa
Anita Poletti-Anderson and Michael Anderson presented the funding request for Centropa. Centropa is an annual, scholarly journal of Central European art based at the University of Virginia and organized by graduate students. It intends to meet the needs of the burgeoning scholarly community interested in the art and architecture of Central Europe. Last year the Graduate Student Council gave Centropa $1000 to help cover the launch of the journal. This money was used for mailings, telephone expenses and to purchase a fax machine. The funding helped Centropa create a board of editors in the US and in Central Europe. At this point Centropa has three issues planned and MIT Press has agreed to fund publication and distribution of the journal over the next three years. The first issue will come out 2 years.
This year Centropa is asking for $1300 to cover mailings and correspondence with contacts already made. More money is being requested because they have more people to communicate with than last year.
The GSASC decided to fund Centropa for the full $1300.
President's Report
· Funding for graduate student travel
--The GSASC has only funded interdisciplinary groups until now. Amanda French (President) proposed a draft of a letter to Dean Huskey concerning Graduate Council Travel Grants. Graduate students will be able to apply for travel grants from the GSASC to help pay for travel costs for conferences at which they are giving papers (proof, such as a copy of the letter of acceptance would have to be given). There was discussion on how much each student could be funded and how this amount would be determined (a set sum for everyone or a percentage based on travel distance and costs). The funding application will be on the GSASC WEB page and would include such information as the student's budget.
--The GSASC must also decide what percentage of its annual budget will be allotted to travel grants.
--The question was also raised whether the GSASC would accept funding requests from students at other universities coming to give papers at UVa. Michael Anderson mentioned that in his experience students usually find funding at their own universities.
--The GSASC must also decide whether students can request money from both the GSASC and Dean Huskey.
· Status of Officers
Nathalie Charron has had to resign as Secretary because she will not be in Charlottesville next year. A new Secretary will have to be elected at the beginning of the school year.
GSASC also needs to push for more representatives since many departments have sent no one to represent them. It was decided that the GSASC needs to publicize itself more. It was suggested that the Council could publish a "What has the GSASC done for you lately?" pamphlet, as well as survey students about what they would like the GSASC to do for them and send a letter of introduction to new students. It was also decided that Dean Huskey should be invited to an organizational meeting in August.
· File Cabinet
Amanda French has been looking for space for a file cabinet for the GSASC. For now Dean Kwon does not want to give us space, but Amanda plans to find the space and to purchase a file cabinet either before the end of the semester or at the beginning of the fall semester.
· Student Health Insurance
After attending a meeting of the Student Health Insurance Committee about QualChoice, Amanda French reported on the proposed changes in the QualChoice program that would increase premiums and possibly eliminate one of the plans. Amanda suggested that graduate students should investigate the insurance coverage offered by NAGPS, as well as other possible coverage.
Other Business
· The Orientation Committee. The Orientation Committee has not heard back from Dean Huskey about improving orientation for new graduate students. An insert, however, for new student mailings is being planned. It was also suggested that graduate students lead tours for incoming grads.
· Honor Committee. Honor Representatives Amy Campbell and Charles Irons voiced their concern about graduate students and the Honor Code. They feel that graduate students need to be more informed about the Honor Code and need to know what is an honor offense.. Charles talked about the need to restore the Honor community at UVa. Problems with the Honor Code were also discussed.
· Faculty Senate. Charles Irons reported that the Faculty Senate will give him 15 minutes at the first or second meeting of the school year to discuss graduate concerns.
· Summer Meeting(s). It was decided that the GSASC should hold at least one meeting this summer to organize for the next school year.
The meeting adjourned at 7:47.