GSO Meeting Minutes
August 31, 2009
Introductions from executive committee: Citlali Cortés (President, Forestry), Alex Perry (VP, Statistics),
Shona Granillo (Secretary-Communication Sciences and Disorders). Jessica Gist (Communications
Officer, Environmental Science and Policy) not in attendance.
Updates from the Graduate College (Ramona Mellott)
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The Graduate College represents all grad students
The NAU Graduate College has a Facebook page, please join
Invitation to attend events that sponsored by the college–some for teaching assistants,
sometimes national speakers; great training and learning opportunities
Overview of GSO activities in the past year
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Housing listserv started and up and running, up to 200 people have posted
President Haeger, VP for Research and Provost each attended a meeting
Survey conducted to assess graduate student priorities by GSO and used to present graduate
student priorities to the UGC (University Graduate Committee)
University Graduate Committee Update (Shona Granillo)
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No updates
We need a new UGC rep. Committee meets on Wednesday nights, curriculum changes, and also
changes that affect curriculum for all students, Lindsey Passenger is interested.
Strategic Planning Committee
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No update from Jean-G., he will continue to be representative
Next meeting in 2 weeks
Some of their objectives :
o To set university-wide long term directions and priorities
o To develop a budget that follows the set priorities
Important to maintain representation
Strategic Planning for GSO
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process that guides a group to help them set long term goals and processes to achieve them
GSO needs this in order to have at least a 5 year plan
The more people that are in attendance the better assurance there will be that all students’ and
departments’ views are included
GSO agreed to carry out a Strategic Planning meeting on November 6th, 12 to 5
Samantha Acevedo (MBA) student will facilitate
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GSO will try to obtain funding for food through ASNAU
ASA Update
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Troy Campbell is the current representative-not in attendance
He is our graduate voice at ABOR (Arizona Board of Regents) meetings
ASNAU
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Joey Ruiz is in attendance
He is our voice for graduate students on campus in ASNAU
There are currently: 13 Senators- 12 undergrad, 1 grad,
GSO budget has gone up to $5000
ASNAU funding can be obtained to fund all sorts of student initiatives such as workshops,
speakers, etc.; his office hours are Mondays and Tuesdays, 9-11am in the ASNAU office (2nd
floor of the Union), joey.ruiz@nau.edu
ASNAU is currently undergoing discussions with the President’s office to establish a fee for all
students, including graduate students. GSO needs to remain informed in order to lobby ASNAU
and President’s office if and when fee is agreed upon in order to manage the money from
graduate students.
Ideas for this year’s GSO activities
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Future guest speakers to attend?
Campus Sustainability Office
An ABHOR Representative
President Haegar
Email suggestions to: gso@nau.edu
Fundraising
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Granny’s Closet last spring $102
Bryan McLaren (Sustainable communities), Jessica Woods (Sociology), Sandra Flores (Music)
and John Kester-(Sustainable Communities) agreed to form a fundraising committee
Considerations for becoming an Independent Organization as Opposed to a Club
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Lack of funding (ASNAU has a budget assigned by President’s office)
Poor communication with ASNAU and President’s Office (currently, GSO is under ASNAU,
therefore graduate students don’t really have an independent representation with university
officials)
this issue is part of the strategic planning workshop and will be discussed then
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Most universities have two separate organizations, one for undergraduate students and one for
graduate students
We would lose ASNAU monies but potentially would be able to access other funding sources
Ideas for Committees
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Distance Learning
International Students
Sustainability
o Students from Sustainable Communities program are already working on sustainability
issues on campus and will keep GSO informed of their activities
o Some ideas for this committee are: bike and pedestrian paths, water bottles, city bus
passes
Decreasing Bureaucratic Difficulties-Streamlining administrative processes for graduate students
o transferring prerequisites is difficult
o charges through grants are also complicated
o Tabitha Graves will head the committee and make recommendations about possible
changes
Travel Awards
o Send out request for applications by the end of September
o A committee was formed, including Alison Clough and Tabitha Graves
o Some of the issues that the committee needs to work on:
 application process
 consider increasing amounts awarded –if this is done, application process needs
to be revised
 Elaborate guidelines to form review and selection committee
 Award calendar is the same: July 1st – Dec 30th 2009, Jan 1st – June 30th, 2010
(awards can be retroactive)
Help Wanted
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Webmaster
o GSO webpage
o Communication Department- talk to the professors about extra credit or project
o Advertise on My Nau Community
o we could perhaps have someone to redesign it and then have another person update it
Housing Listserv
o Need someone to monitor the list serve
o make sure there is NO INAPPROPRIATE USAGE OF THE LIST
o Stephanie Peterson is interested
Good to Know
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Facebook Social Group
o Sheena Kauppila is group administrator
o looking for places that can help fundraise during a night out, suggestions??, let her know
Meeting times
o GSO by-laws officially changed to monthly instead of 4th week of each month
Location of meetings
o Different locations each month
o Alternate between North/South Campus
o Dept. representatives should make the locations accessible and well-known
o Music Building next month-across from the union!
o Please bring your own plate, silverware, and cups for future meetings
o Potluck would be great in the future as well!
WELCOME GSO BBQ:
o September 19, 4-7pm Kiwanis Park (in front of SkyDome)
o Varun Bongu (MBA) will help organize