GSA ASSEMBLY MINUTES – DECEMBER 6TH, 2013
November Minutes Approved
Treasurer’s Report
-
2 Online Voucher Trainings; only 1 or 2 groups did not show – required for
funding for next semester. Contact if you did not attend, as it was mandatory.
You must have a student involvement page to use the system as of the Spring
so assure that that is set up and recognized by then.
See Jessica for budget mis-prints from handouts during the Assembly
meeting, will be fixed online for viewing.
New printers will be reflected in the next budget to be released (February).
Programming Report
-
Food and coffee in GSA offices on all campuses. 11am-2pm (or as long as it
lasts).
Trivia night being planned for the beginning of next semester.
Please fill out the surveys as put out on the listserv to help Programming fill
their calendar for the upcoming Semester.
MCAA Report
-
-
Caitlin took over for Joel who did not finish his term. Attempted to get a
committee meeting set up but from lack response on Joel. Meaning only
AGSO and Indian Student Org (ISO) were able to get approved for funds due
to lack of response on Joel’s part.
Joel will be replaced as of this assembly meeting.
Vice President Report
-
Application date for next semester proposed to be moved from the last
Monday of January (27th) to a later date.
Application date moved to January 31st (same week, Friday).
If you did not receive the RGSO document sent out by Nic please ask the eboard of your organization to receive a copy.
Grants Chair Report
-
45 grants, $14,000 allocated.
Some grants coming in under amount allocated.
Application is going to move to myInvolvement – will be up by the end of the
calendar year so people can apply 100% digitally and not through the grants
e-mail.
Application is identical, merely being moved to a digital format.
President’s Report
-
-
-
SUNY SA Conference: unfortunately the discussion of our proposed
resolution was shorter than 20 minutes, due to undergraduate and
community college students being the majority of the participants a longer
discussion is necessary but a report has been requested to clarify things so
the SUNY SA members can have a more well rounded understanding. Will be
brought up again at the Spring meeting.
President’s Forum: attendance was unfortunately poor, what was talked
about seemed decently listened to by the administration. Looking to improve
for Spring semester – hoping to get more people involved so it can be better
developed through the pending committee. UUP seemed very interested as a
result of the President’s forum about our resolution and supporting it.
Campus Center Expansion Project: will not be moving for Spring or the
remainder of the year. Move pending for Summer or Fall.
RGSOs be warned that there will be a much stricter adherence to policy due
to many instances of inconsistency of people following official policy and
denying knowing pertinent information.
3 Goals: Mandatory RGSO training to attempt to fix the above issue, Folders
will be given to each RGSO to keep on record that has all necessary
information on it for each organization to promote institutional memory,
financial guidelines were not adhered to as well as they should have been
and this will fall under the same ambiguous warning as the rest.
Lead Senator Report
-
-
SUNY Board of Trustees is adopting a new budget.
Open SUNY – Online Enabled learning opportunities.
Start Up New York – starting January 1st. There seems to be a lot of vagueties
and unclear notes, they feel rushed but there is no way around it – what our
regulations are must be decided upon ASAP. Largely based around allowing
businesses to use space tax free. See governor’s website for more
information.
Still unclear about what’s going on with CNSE.
National Weather Service has released their space at CNSE for another 4
years.
Presidential Scholarship increased.
Developing Engineering and Applied Health programs.
Chair Report: CNSE stall.
Nothing to report from SA or Committees.
Graduate Academic Council
-
-
Kevin Williams reported about President’s Forum that format could be
changed but good initiative important to recognize President’s commitment
to answer students. SA concerns seemed out of place for the President’s
Forum.
Proposal for a new certificate program to be initiated out of Rockafeller
College.
President’s Forum
-
Need to solidify purpose of Committee and garner interest. Tabling passing of
standing committee or not until things are solidified.
Something is in the works, though nothing is official as far as committees go –
Programming chair will be planning it and we are still pursuing interest in
the committee.
Issues with communication with SA are a priority of getting past.
Pros and Cons to splitting it: including lack of graduate students attending
and further issues of lack of communication.
Student Revolutionary Coalition disappearance from involvement fell apart
during the planning of the date during the initial planning periods which
became an unfortunate mess. Then there was another issue of
Communications issues, illness, and missed meetings furthered this split.
They did attend and we are hoping to get them involved again in the process
of planning for the Spring Forum.
MCAA
-
3 people expressed interest.
Only 1 person submitted the requested proposal.
Caitlin’s recommendation for MCAA Chair: Natasha Williams
Hoping to improve the active voice of the GSA in other UAlbany events.
Already has ideas for events, including a movie screening involving durg
policy that is very relevant to many of our high ranking graduate programs at
UAlbany.
Would like to further communications between MCAA Chair/GSA and other
organizations.
Perhaps a small scale Cultural Festival event to promote diversity, other
cultures, and interaction.
Appointment approved.
New Position
-
-
Communications Director Position: similar to a chair position to replace this
OM position.
In charge of overseeing the website, listserv, newsletter, social media, and
reporting to e-board and other organizations at and involved with UAlbany.
Effectively to encompass marketing, PR, and advertising efforts within the
GSA.
Financial issues behind this are pending due to a consulting of the
constitution and the funds.
Director will be appointed in the same manner as an e-board member (much
like the replacement of the MCAA chair). They would be serving as of the next
assembly meeting.
Mentor Program
-
Older students mentoring new graduate students who come to UAlbany on a
volunteer basis.
Help to promote interdisciplinary work.
Perhaps gets aligned with the Communications Director.
Look into already set-up department mentoring programs.
Assigned for Jessica to start fishing for interest.