July 7, 2009

11:00am
Attendance: Will, Dana, Bean, Peter, Shannon, Melissa, John Alper, Rocio, Prof. Graves
Location: 109 Gilman Hall

Issues:

ChemE Keg
  • Alex Teran is taking over organization from Sarah
  • He should take funding class from GA
Fall Events
  • No budgets yet
  • ChemE annual picnic
    • Should think of a date [last year sept. 13th]
    • maybe Sept. 19th
    • Sarah has volunteered to organize again
    • Need a flyer again [half or quarter-page] - Shannon will make
    • Rocio will make reservation for Codornices Park
    • Grilling - important [John will quarterback]
  • Annual Pizza Party
    • Fri Aug. 21st, 6:30pm [last day of orientation]
    • Used to be at La Vals, but last couple years were held at Bear's Lair
    • Last year Sarah was reimbursed - so could hold anywhere, not just a place that takes purchase orders
    • Flyer also needed - Shannon will make this
    • Should we use an EVite for this event?
Orientation
  • Need a GSAC panel organizer
    • Peter will organize students for panel
  • Sheet of lab reps to give out
    • Will will contact current reps to see if they want to continue
    • Lab reps could give locations of temporary desks - possibly pick up new students and show them the labs [after GSAC panel]
Fellowship Workshop
  • Would GSAC want to host an NSF or other fellowship workshop
  • We should see how many current fellows are willing to be on a panel or mentor students applying
  • A Q&A panel would probably be easiest to implement
  • Should probably be held around the end of September
Graduate Student Lounge
  • Have not finalized schedule yet, but seems like they won't start construction until the fall
  • Important to have some place ready for the incoming students in the fall
  • New GSL is 321 Gilman - still needs a good amount of work done to it
GSI Grievance
  • Beginning of June, Union was contacted by current student about GSI payments for students on fellowship
  • Union investigated department and found department's policy [does not pay fellowship students extra $8k when GSIing] not within rules on contract
  • Grievance came in [Last Tuesday] - department is still in discussions with labor relations and the UAW
  • Union wants past union dues from department for all past fellowship GSI's
  • GSI positions depend on a budget allocation from the university [which has not been given for fall or spring]