GSA Assembly Meeting Minutes
Friday, March 4, 2016
Downtown Campus Husted Amphitheater 106A
Caitlin called meeting to order at 6:00 pm
1. Conversation with Provost Stellar and Dr. Christakis
a. Provost Stellar’s opening comments
i. MA and PhD differences are big, similar to undergrad and graduate
ii. Appreciate those that went here as undergraduates, those that go
into higher education
b. Nakissa’s questions:
i. Blue ribbon panels – how are we following up to these?
1. Graduate Commission issued report: offered departments
increase in duration of funding, increase in level of funding
for same duration;
a. Humanities took longer period of funding,
b. Sciences more money for same number of years,
c. Benchmark of what stipends were, and moved
towards that, however money is limited and have to
take a step at a time;
d. Another round of compact planning proposals and
catch up over a couple years;
2. Contingent Faculty report: GTA report intersects with the
Contingent report – people who can’t finish within funding
sometimes teach, and this takes up time, can’t finish in a
timely manner and stay on as Contingent faculty;
a. First – increase funds; issue is again money; went up
to $3,000, some up to $5,000, trying to move that
number up; first efforts to pay those who make least
more money,
b. Second, a pathway to permanence – have a way to
have people over time get a permanent position here,
on the model that tenured faculty have (research,
teach, ; lecturers – small/no research component,
hired to teach
ii. ESL consultant at the writing center – how can we make this
happen?
1. Defer to Kevin Williams because specific line item, lots of
details Stellar doesn’t know about; constantly look at our
expenditures, interest to people who want to teach it, good
for internationalization (a stake of the President)
c. Amani’s question about childcare
i. Christakis – wants to follow up with human resources (Randy Stark)
ii. Stellar – wants us to write him to talk about this issue
d. Abby’s question about making events during a time that working
graduate students can attend
i. Stellar’s response: changing bus route between ALS and UA,
improve buses between East and uptown campuses
ii. Needs integration between campuses
iii. Look into ITLAL, IT trainings,
e. Stellar wants to move counseling to main campus to make it more
accessible
1. Approval to change the Agenda – Caitlin motioned, seconded – approved.
2. Approval of minutes from February 5, 2016 – motion to approve, approved.
Constitutional and Bylaws Amendments
1. University Council Representative and Lead Senator
i. If these positions are appointed and approved by Assembly can be
good for legitimacy of the positions
ii. This has to go to the overall graduate student body to be vote on
(i.e. voting tonight does not change it)
2. Speaker elected at the May meeting – passes
3. Language about attending “Senate meetings” passed – in addition to “except in
extenuating circumstances” – Amendment - passed
ESL Resolution –
Passed with 100% approval
Stipend Proposal –
Hirah chairs discussion
a. Three models – professional, volunteer, thank you stipend
i. In our governing documents, sound like what a professional model
b. Two parts to this proposal
i. One part now
ii. One part that should be part of five-year planning community
c. Explained adjustments in stipends on several pillars (Liaising, etc.)
i. Proposed rubric from the report
d. This is an all-year job
i. Make an Oversight Committee (speaker plus 5 members from
different departments) to keep accountability of officers – during
year and summer – so they freeze stipend
e. Only President has the ability not to pay someone
f. Great deal of discussion about the Oversight Committee – Amani made a
motion to limit discussion of the Oversight Committee to 2 minutes and the
motion passed by majority.
Vote on the Amendment to the Amendment –
Passed
Vote on Stipend Proposal –
Not passed
RGSO Representation
a. Overview: 1) limits RGSO representation to 1 person each, 2) increases
the number of persons that departments send to 1
b. Died
NAGPS Attendance Proposal
a. There be an application process; versus stipend report where e-board
gets first dibs
b. Died
Officer Reports –
Normal order
1. President Report – Kat Slye (not in attendance) –
a. Still working on budget reconciliation and trying to figure out issues.
2. Vice-Presidents Report – Hirah Mir –
a. Sent out email to RGSO leaders about student involvement and if you
don’t have access to your page yet send an email to the Vice-President
and she will give them another nudge and get you your access. Then you
will need to register your page and after you register your page we can put
money into your account.
3. Treasurer – Hina –
Did a reconcile twice. Then she was told she was not doing the reports
correctly. There is a discrepancy in her reports. Caitlin said they were
incorrect and that we should not approve them.
a. Not approved
Motion made to adjourn, second made. Eli made debate for adjournment. Vote – 50/50
decision to be made by Hirah who was chairing the meeting at the time. Hirah decided
to adjourn the meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 8:08 pm.