Minutes from meeting of
March 28th 2005

Funding Requests

Officer and Ex Officio Representative Reports

President's Report

* Tom spoke with Dean Brunjes recently and will meet with the administration on the 30th of this month to look at the budget for this next year.
* From what he has been told, Tom does not think there will be an increase in graduate tuition or graduate research fees next year.
* So in Tom's words, "Things aren't getting any worse." It is a pretty sad state of affairs when that is an improvement.
* Tom mentioned that this was his last meeting as our fearless leader. (OK, I added in the fearless part. Tom is a humble guy and would never admit it. But I think he is pretty fearless.)

Vice President's report

* Brandi reported that the Arts & Sciences website is not complete yet. At this point, it is difficult to even fake a surprised reaction to this news.
* As far as our new website goes, Brandi has created a registration form for the research exhibition. This seems to be a significant enough upgrade.
* Brandi made one more plug for a blood drive if any one is interested in holding one for their department. The way comp. exams go in my department, we need to hold onto all the blood we can have.




Second Vice President's Report

* Minutes from our most recent shindig were distributed.
* As reliably and predictably (though less somewhat less ceremoniously) as the sun setting in the west, the minutes were approved unanimously.



StudCo Report

* Student Council didn't meet last week so Gavin and Josh didn't have much to talk about during their allotted time. However, since Gavin is a representative every other organization on Grounds my guess is that we will hear plenty from him tonight.




Honor Report

* Maria (yet another example of the fine economists that this university produces) went to the Honor Committee retreat several weeks ago.
* She was very vocal about graduate student concerns and said that the committee was receptive to such concerns.





UJC Report

* Gavin discussed the changing of the UJC after the elections.
* There will no longer be a sexual assault committee on UJC.
* The UJC is looking for more outreach in the UVA community. It always seems just out of reach, doesn't it?
* Gavin also reported that they are going to try to trick someone into being interested in the open graduate position on UJC. Yep, that's how we do things around here. How do you think I ended up writing these minutes?




CEPC Report

* Andre reported that the committee will be meeting next week.

Committee Reports

Budget Committee Report and Funding Debate

* Our current balance sits at a comfy $25,000.
* Four requests for funding were made.
* The budget committee met earlier and recommended funding $566 for an English Department Graduate conference, $2050 for the Graduate Research Exhibition, $5000 to seed a new endowment for the annual Cauthen Awards, and $200 for the Annual Black Graduate Student Graduation Celebration.
* A motion to fund in full passed unanimously.

Health Insurance Committee report

* There will be a Town Hall meeting on April 12 in the Newcomb Hall Conference Room. Chickering will be present and will answer questions and address concerns and give everyone free samples of their product. (OK, I made the free samples thing up but that would be pretty cool, wouldn't it? I love free samples.)
* As this is the end of the year and Brandi will be stepping down from her many posts so that she can actually graduate, we will need to find a replacement for her as the rep for the Student Health Insurance Committee.

Teaching Committee

* Srikrishna answered questions concerning the teaching survey.
* It looks good and is ready to be sent out this week. Great work!
* The survey will be sent out through the department reps to all the graduate students.

Diversity Committee

* There was a lengthy discussion as to what constitutes a committee. Hey, if a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it I say it still makes a sound. But that is just one man's opinion.


Research Committee Report

* Allison has tried to contact all the departments to find out about financial support to ABD students. There are still 11 departments that have not responded to her.
* It sounds like getting those 11 departments may be an exercise in futility (much like convincing me of the advantages of the current college football bowl system over a basketball-type playoff system).
* The organizers of the Graduate Research Exhibition are currently taking suggestions for retired faculty members to serve as judges.

Social Committee

* Jena reported on some upcoming events which include:
* Summer IM Rec team for softball, bball, and soccer.
* Habitat for Humanity build - April 16. Lunch will be provided.
* BBQ catered by Big Jims or Sam's Club at McIntire park the Sunday after graduation.
* Bar Night - April 7.

New Business & Departmental Concerns

Accelerated Time Table for Financial Aid

* The deadline for departments to have made their funding decision was moved up 6 weeks.
* It was agreed upon that the genius who came up with this idea probably didn't realize that changing something like this is much like turning a battleship around.

Student Evaluations

* StudCo agrees with us that TAs should receive different treatment.
* TAs will be evaluated but those results will not be made public. Good thing, because I have a few skeletons that should remain in their closets, if you know what I mean.
* Somehow (don't ask me how) we got into a discussion of the hierarchy of the administration of the University.
* In fact, Tom even went up to the blackboard and started to diagram an organizational flow chart. I kid you not. You can't make up stuff like this.
* By going through StudCo with our resolution, that will give us momentum as we bring this issue to the Provost's office.

New Officers

* Tom made it known that he is exhausted and is ready to give up his presidency. That should make Tom's predecessor really excited to take over.
* Tom made the symbolic and obviously heartfelt gesture of nominating Brandi to fill his shoes as president. Brandi respectfully declined the nomination citing the fact that she has better things to do (such as graduate!!). Thanks for all your hard work this year, Brandi!!
* At this point, Tom nominated Gavin to become president. I just have to say that if Gavin wouldn't make a good Grad Council president, I don't know who would. With almost all of the precincts reporting, it is pretty clear that Gavin has won with 100% of the vote.
* Tom then nominated Doug to become Vice President. Doug has done a great job as treasurer and would do equally well a VP. Doug accepted the nomination and was elected unanimously. I sense a theme here.
* Next came the nomination of the hard working yet understandably over-looked author of these minutes to continue the thankless task of documenting these history altering meetings with the minutes that you happen to be reading at this very instant. Humbled and honored by this nomination, he accepted and was elected unanimously.
* Last but certainly not least, Tom nominated Andre to become the Treasurer. Andre has been involved in many aspects of Grad Council for several years now and it was agreed upon that he would make a fine Treasurer. Andre was also elected unanimously.
* On a final note, thanks to all those who put in a lot of time and hard work this year to accomplish many great things. It has been a great year and we look forward to next year.

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