Minutes
Graduate & Professional Student Assembly
Discussion Meeting of the GPSA Advisory Body
October 5, 2009
Art Gallery, WSH
5:30–7:00 P.M.

I. 5:30 - Welcome & Introductions (2 minutes)

The meeting was called to order at 5:30 pm. E. Gutierrez went over the agenda.

II. 5:32 - Executive Updates (3 minutes)

a. President: Nighthawk

N. Evensen had no updates.

b. Executive Vice President: Erica (GPSA Rep, Communications, Ad-hoc Sustainability)

She stated that she is the chair for the Communications Committee, which is being set up now. The committee has been putting out GPSA information twice a month, keeping the Facebook groups updated, and sending out a newsletter. E. Gutierrez also serves as the chair for the Ad-hoc Sustainability Committee.

c. Vice President of Operations: Brian (Committee Update, Students in Distress)

B. Forester thanked everyone who applied for seats on committees. They are all staffed with the exception of United Way. They meet once a month Monday or Wednesday at 8:30 am. If you are interested, see him at the end of the meeting. The rest of the seats have been filled for this year. As soon as the United Way seat is filled, he will email everyone with more information. There is a committee formed for the CALS Dean search. Currently it consists of no students. They are willing to meet graduate students who are interested. If you are interested, see him and he will get contact information. During the last voting meeting, Dean Hubbell talked about a Students in Distress handbook. Before the end of the meeting, he’ll discss it again. The Ivy Summit is this weekend. They will discuss what happens at the next meeting.

III. 5:35—Presentation& Discussion with Presidents and Dean (45 minutes)

a. President David J. Skorton (30 min)

President Skorton commented on the handbook shortly before going into his presentation. He has seen the draft and stated it to have a wealth of information and that it was a terrific resource. His presentation would be mainly on budget issues. He wanted to talk about this because of the relatively modest turnout at the student open forum. President Skorton stated that he hoped people have a chance to look at the emails he sends. The University is projecting that if they didn’t take the actions they did last year with regard to the financial crisis, they would be in a deficit by 2014 of around 215 million dollars. There were no raises this year and he took a voluntary 10% reduction in his own salary. 432 members of staff took early retirement; there were over 200 layoffs. Most construction on campus has stopped. Task forces have been set up. Advisory groups report directly to the Provost with direct student input. The Open Forums are to explain what has been happening and continues to happen. His highest priority is student financial aid. They are currently taking money out of the endowment for financial aid for both domestic and international students. Most are for undergraduates but also for graduate students.

President Skorton took questions from the audience. He explained where the 90 million dollars of administrative budget cuts came from. Procurement is a major problem. Reduction in work force can come in a variety of ways. Removing an already vacant position doesn’t lay anyone off. The number came from consultants.

B. Heavner asked how this vision worked toward attracting graduate students. President Skorton responded that the strength, reputation, and quality of people in the field is what is trying to be protected. He wants to reduce bureaucracy via the Strategic Planning Project. He also wants people from the SA and GPSA to speak their minds. He urged them to consider having the Provost or a representative come to a meeting.

J. Beekman wondered in regard to the Law School, how the vision handles professional schools. They pay different amounts and their sources of financial aid are much fewer. Every dean is involved in these discussions. Every college submits a task force report. Last year it was decided that ALL will contribute. Looking at it across the board doesn’t carefully look at differences. Going forward, all deans will have input. It will be up to your organization to decide who would be in the group. Every school should be involved. The University has a very good track record of planning things going forward. The difference now is that they are facing something that hasn’t happened in our lifetime.

An audience member asked if all efforts undertook would eventually be reversed. President Skorton responded that things such as procurement would not. Short-term efforts such as slow hiring and lack of raises have to be reversed.

President Skorton was asked about how he feels about sustainability. He responded that it is an opportunity. There is the Climate Action Plan, and in some areas, sustainability will help reduce expenses. They now face the question of where investing will do the right thing and earn future savings, which leads to liquidity. In order to have some they needed to change allocation of assets in endowment, and they sold 500 million in taxable bonds.

President Skorton’s view on management of land grants is that it is dangerous is to have one person at the top with all the say. He wants faculty, staff, and student input.

N. Evensen thanked President Skorton for coming. The best ways of contacting him are David.skorton@cornell.edu, president@cornell.edu, or through the Dean of Students.

b. Gina Ryan — University Accreditation.

Gina Ryan spoke on behalf of the University Accreditation group. There is a review the university is undergoing. It allows them to look at the mission of the university and how well the university is adhering to that. They want to look into ways to streamline programs without cutting into missions. She explained the accreditation process and how funding and financial aid is tied to it. There are both internal and external portions. It is overseen by a steering committee and the report is due in early 2011. She then gave names of people on the Steering Committee. They split up the 14 standards into 6 groups led by faculty from different fields. She also gave an overview of the 14 standards as well as the timeline. Their website is http://dpb.cornell.edu/MiddleStates

They took questions from the audience.

IV. 6:20 — Presentation & Discussion about the Activity Fee: By-line funded groups (30 minutes)

a. Explanation of the Activity Fee: Dave (3 min)

D. Walden gave an overview of the Appropriations Committee and introduced its executive board. He then gave a timeline of what they’ve been doing this year. The committee reviewed applications, and they were good, overall. They noticed varying levels of how applications addressed too many questions. The groups are presenting again on Wednesday and Thursday. The meetings are public, but let him know if you are interested in coming because of a space limitation on the rooms. If there is enough interest, a larger room could be arranged. Email questions to him as soon as possible. At the next advisory meeting they will be discussing the overall activity fee before it goes to a vote.

b. Athletics (5 min presentation & 3 minute discussion)

Athletics gave a five-minute presentation on what they do on campus, why they are asking for this increase, and what they would provide in return. Afterwards, they answered questions from the audience.

c. Cornell Cinema (8min)

The director and manager of Cornell Cinema came for their presentation. They gave an explanation of what they will provide for the fee, explaining that the fee was raised due to budget cuts. They fielded questions from the audience.

d. International Students Programming Board (8min)

They gave an overview of what will be provided for their fee. They fielded questions.

e. EMS (8 min)

EMS gave an overview of what they will be providing for their fee. They took questions from the audience.

V. 6:50 - Election of Masters of Engineering Voting Member (5 minutes)

Disha Patel, dmp247, an electrical engineer, wished to run for the last voting position. She introduced herself and explained why she wanted to run. As she was unopposed, B. Forester made a motion for acclimation. C. Clarke seconded. There was no dissent so the motion passed.

VI. 6:55 - Open Forum

Dean Hubbell explained the handbook and handed it out. There is pizza tasting at the Big Red Barn following the meeting. M. Walsh said that the last forum was poorly attended by all students. He wanted to know if anyone had different ideas on how to engage students. If anyone had ideas, please let him know.

VII. Motion to Adjourn

The meeting was adjourned at 7:02pm.

Respectfully submitted,
Brittany Rosen