Graduate & Professional Student Assembly Council of Representatives Notes Big Red Barn Graduate & Professional Student Center Greenhouse November 8, 1999 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by Pat Carr, Vice President, at 5:05 p.m.

Open Forum

P.Carr noted that he had forwarded the Campus Climate Committee’s Diversity Statement to gpsa-l@cornell.edu and asked if members had any comments or suggestions about the statement.

Stefan Hames, President, affirmed that the diversity statement was a step in the right direction.  He noted that the GPSA would probably more fully address this statement in one of its upcoming meetings.  He requested that members inform him if they have any concerns on this topic.

Kerry O’Brien, Microbiology stated that she is currently serving on the Transportation Advisory Committee.  She stated it would help her better represent the graduate and professional student community if another grad/professional student would fill the recently vacated seat on the committee.  She noted that the committee meets monthly in Day Hall and food is provided at the meetings.  K.O’Brien encouraged members to join the committee.

S.Hames agreed that this committee was important.  He remarked that it governs items such as parking fees, bus routes, etc.

K.O’Brien repeated it would be helpful to have another student to provide input.  She added that it is not a large time commitment and that any graduate/professional student could fill the position.

S.Hames stated that a general e-mail would be sent out to gpsa-l, so constituents would know of this committee vacancy.

P.Carr informed members that several other committee vacancies exist, including one on the Campus Climate Committee.  He stated that vacant grad/professional student committee positions are now posted on the GPSA webpage.

Bonnie Bailey, Office of the Assemblies, added that it is in the best interests of the graduate and professional students to fill these committee positions sooner versus later.  She reminded members that the proper procedures should be followed regarding serving on the committee(s), and just going to committee meetings does not automatically mean you are a member.  B.Bailey stressed the importance of following formal channels so the GPSA can keep track of who is on what committees and keep lines of communication open.

Jean Ahn, Chemistry, stated she is on the Student Insurance Advisory Committee and had been given information which might be helpful to the ad-hoc GPSA committee that is comparing health insurance plans.  She was told there are a number of issues to consider when making this type of comparison and one must be careful to acknowledge those and make comparisons to other schools who most closely resemble Cornell.  For example, many other schools have medical colleges on campus, thus lowering costs.  On the topic of dental insurance, J.Ahn stated that the dental program offered is not insurance and was not intended to be. 

S.Hames noted that health care concerns would be addressed later in the meeting.

Announcements and Reports A) GPSA

S.Hames announced that the GPSA elected P.Carr as its Vice President at the last meeting.  Unfortunately, this now leaves the Secretary position vacant.  S.Hames stressed that it is important to have someone fill the position of secretary.

S.Hames reported that the GPSA voted on two resolutions at the last meeting.  The first resolution made amendments to the GPSAFC Treasurer’s Handbook, while the second resolution passed a third draft of the GPSA Charter Amendment related to guidelines for setting the graduate student activity fee.

B) Meeting with Dean Cohen

P.Carr reported that the Academic Integrity Board of the Graduate School was discussed during the recent meeting with Dean Cohen.  The structure of the Board is being reorganized and will consist of eight graduate students, eight faculty members, and various administrators.

S.Hames explained that the Academic Integrity Hearing Board is for people who are accused of academic misconduct.  The reorganization of the Academic Integrity Board allows for a pool of potential committee members from each of the colleges.  The theory is that when a potential case comes up, the board members selected would be better able to understand the issues, but not have any close ties to the principals.  S.Hames noted that hearings are infrequent and some board members may never be called.  He stated, however, that it was important for the GPSA to provide a list of names to the Graduate School and help it be prepared.  He felt it especially important to follow-up since the GPSA had been pointedly reminding the administration to come to the GPSA to fill committee positions instead of it being done in a haphazard fashion.  S.Hames stated that he would be willing to serve on the committee.  He then asked for other volunteers.

The following members volunteered: Krysta Levac(Nutrition), Carrie Markowski (Immunology), Stacey Merola. (Sociology), Jeannine Morrone (Human Devel.), Reid Orth (Biomed. Engineering), Sarina Harris (Chem. Engineering), Kerry O’Brien (Env. Toxicology), and Emily Colborn(Theatre).

P.Carr informed members that health insurance was also discussed during this meeting.  Dean Cohen believes that offering health insurance in the assistantship package helps in the recruitment of graduate students.

S.Hames established that it seems the administration also realizes that they will eventually have to offer health insurance as part of the assistantship package.

P.Carr reported that in regards to dissertations, it is possible to use color pictures, but they must be accompanied by ones in black and white.

S.Hames stated that the Academic Deans are currently reviewing the proposed TA/RA guidelines.  He reminded members that the guidelines were created by the TA/RA committee to improve communications and prevent abuses.  After the language is finalized, it should become the fixed policy of the Graduate School.

Business of the Day A) Student Activity Fee

Charles Marentette, JGSM and Funding Policy Committee Chair, requested that members refer to the handout on this subject that was distributed to members earlier in the meeting.  He stated that the GPSA voted “yes” at its last meeting to fund all of the groups listed.  However, the amount to fund each organization has yet to be determined.  He noted that based on the GPSA guidelines, the fee must be set at a whole, even dollar amount and that 35% of the total activity fee must go to the GPSAFC.

Members asked for clarification on what the GPSAFC funds.

Michael Cosh, Civil Engineering and GPSAFC Chair, replied that the GPSAFC functions as the treasury of the GPSA.  It funds many smaller graduate and professional student organizations on campus.  For example, the GPSAFC allocates funds that may be used to pay for lecturers, small receptions, and social events.  The 35% rule was desired by the Board of Trustees, and so it was made.  He noted that the last time the Activity Fee was set, it was increased from $36 to $48 because new byline-funded organizations were added.  Because members did not want the fee to be set at $50, the money was taken away from the GPSAFC allocation.  Therefore, the increase would bring the GPSAFC’s funding back to its former level.

C.Marentette stated that based on the guidelines, the total fee must be raised just so the GPSAFC funding will meet the new 35% requirement.  He noted that two potential scenarios have been projected.  Scenario A, which sets the fee at $50, uses most of the increase to raise the level of the GPSAFC funding.  This does not leave much room to provide any increase for the other organizations.  He noted that he would probably recommend Scenario B, which is at $52, because it is not fair to take the increase from other organizations.  

Members asked what benefits does Athletics provide?

C.Marentette replied that graduate & professional students could attend all athletic events, except for men’s hockey, free of charge.  Also, hockey ticket prices are subsidized by the fee.  He stated that he has been trying to receive other fee alternatives, but Athletics does not seem to be too receptive to changes.

Members expressed general dissatisfaction with the benefits provided by Athletics.

Peter Kaskan, Psychology, asked if EMS has other sources of income.

C.Marentette replied that the SA also funds EMS through its Activity Fee.  He noted that the question of why this is funded had been raised previously.  He clarified that EMS provides for immediate emergency medical services, and so is not paid for through insurance.

C.Marentette stated the Funding Policy Committee would hold its next meeting on November 12, 1999 with the purpose of deciding on final recommendations to present to the GPSA at its November 22 meeting. The GPSA will be voting on the FPC recommendations at that meeting, and will hopefully set the graduate activity fee for 2000–02.

Members asked what is the amount of the undergraduate Student Activity Fee?

Cris Gardner, Director of the Office of Assemblies, replied that it s $88.

S.Hames requested that information about any updates be sent to gpsa-l.

C.Marentette agreed, and noted that the dollar amounts will be voted on at the next meeting.

P.Carr asked if the Activity Fee could be included in the tuition charges?

C.Gardner explained that the fee used to be included in the tuition charges.  However, one year the SAF almost doubled in its amount.  Therefore, the administration requested that the SAF be a distinctive separation from tuition since they felt they did not control increases of the SAF.  She noted that based on this history it would probably be difficult to include it with tuition again.

C.Marentette interjected that probably not too much can be done about negotiating with Athletics.  If the GPSA funds Athletics at less than $7, then benefits will be lost.

Members stressed the importance of Athletics keeping track of how many graduate & professional students attend its events.  If information were available that their constituents used the provided benefits then it would show that the money allocated to Athletics was justified.

B) Constituency Feedback

P.Carr stated that better communication is needed between the GPSA, the COR, and its constituents.

S.Hames agreed, stating this would allow the GPSA to be more proactive.  He asked members if they would like to discuss any concerns.

Rong Fan, Engineering, suggested that free newspapers be delivered to departments.  Departments could buy papers and set them aside for graduate students to read.

M.Cosh shared that the EGSA had formulated a survey asking students which resources they desire in their departments.  Some of the requests were very basic, such as sufficient lighting and having a telephone in all offices.  He felt this was helpful in assessing needs.

S.Hames stated it might be possible to include a similar survey along with the climate survey that the GPSA hopes to do.

K.O’Brien stated a concern about the current health insurance plan and noted it does not cover preventive medicine, such as vaccines or physicals.

S.Hames stressed the importance of picking up constituency concerns.

R.Fan stated she had a problem that she was asked to bring to the attention of the GPSA.  There is an introductory course in Material Sciences that has three TAs, all of whom are working sixty hours each week.  This means that they are unable to get any research done.  She asked what could be done about this situation?

S.Hames stated that the rule is 15 hours of work per week, although in some circumstances 20 hours are allowed.  The TAs should approach their Director of Graduate Studies about this problem.  If nothing is done, they then should take the problem to the Graduate School. S.Hames stated that he would be happy to speak with Dean Cohen on the behalf of these students.

Members noted that sometimes bureaucratic problems are encountered that make seemingly simple things difficult to achieve.  For example, using Cornell space to hold a “potluck” event requires quite a bit of paperwork.

S.Hames stated that the GPSA should work with the UA on this issue.  The University is trying to cut down on its liability by restricting activities but sometimes these restrictions can get out of hand.

Adjournment

P.Carr adjourned the meeting at 6:10 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted, Stephanie Tinsley, student clerk