Graduate Student Senate
General Meeting
Agenda
20-February-2012
I. Call to Order – 6:00 pm
Approval of Agenda and Minutes (~1 min)
II. Introduction of Senators (~2 min)
III. 2:2:2 (4 min)
IV. Graduate College Report (10 min)
V. Guest Speaker (15 min)
Jennifer Teitle ()
Division of Sponsored Programs
VI. Voting: Hancher-Finkbine Award Nominees (2 reps from GSS) (15 min)
VII. Executive Reports
A. President’s Report – stef shuster*
B. Vice President’s Report – Ulrike Carlson
C. Treasurer’s Report – Andy Koons
D. Membership Officer’s Report – Candice Robinson
E. Parliamentarian’s Report – Sam Bouwers
F. Graduate Council Report – Kristi DiClemente, Andy Koons, Lea Ljumanovic, stef shuster*
G. Graduate Student Organizations Liaison – OPEN POSITION
H. ECGPS Delegate Report – Kristi DiClemente, Ulrike Carlson*
I. DGSAC Chair Report – Steve Levillain
J. Webmaster Report – Maneesh Kumar
VIII. Committee Representative Reports
A. Academic Mentoring Committee – Matt Calamia, Jenni McCabe
B. Computer Resources Committee – Brian Borchers
C. International Student Committee – Emma Hashman*
D. Jakobsen Conference Committee – Danielle Dietz, James Skretta, Kate Wohlman, Tiara Perez
E. Jakobsen Conference Review Committee – stef shuster
F. Legislative Committee – Emma Hashman, Clint Huntrods*
G. Service & Social Committee – Andrew Juhl, Sara Hussain*
H. Travel Funds Committee – Lindsey Thomas, Kristi DiClemente*
IX. Announcements
X. Open Discussion
- Opened by chair - Closed by motion with second and approval by senate
XI. Adjournment (~1 min)
* Reports included
I. Call to Order – 6:00 pm
Approval of Agenda and Minutes (~1 min)
II. Introduction of Senators (~2 min)
III. 2:2:2 (4 min)
IV. Graduate College Report (10 min)
V. Guest Speaker (15 min)
Jennifer Teitle ()
Division of Sponsored Programs
VI. Voting – Hancher-Finkbine Award Nominees (2 from GSS) (15 min)
This is an opportunity for you to recognize someone whose hard work has made a difference on this campus. Medallions are presented at the Finkbine Dinner, to be held this year on Tuesday, April 10, 2012, in the Main Lounge of the IMU. Four Medallions are normally presented to currently enrolled students, two for undergraduate students and two for graduate/professional students. Your organization may nominate two students in each category.The information you provide in the nomination is the primary means for the selection of the final recipients.All nomination information should clearly explain how the student fulfills all the criteria for the Medallion and include specific examples. Please note that your nominees must sign the form to release their grade point average to the Committee and agree to be present at the Dinner if selected. A “Tip Sheet” has been added to the website to assist you. (
VIi. Executive Reports
A. President’s Report – stef shuster
Hello hello! It must be spring because things are picking up around town! We have a workshop on Institutional Review Board policies tailored for grad students THIS Wednesday from 1-2:30 in the IMU room 346. Don’t forget to drop by our social hour this Friday evening. Also, a few items to note for your calendars: Jakobsen Conference is Saturday March 24th. Even if you are not presenting, we encourage graduate students to come on down to the IMU to learn about what grad students are doing across campus. Lobbying efforts are underway and the Legislative Committee is about to start a recruitment campaign for the Hawkeye Caucus and Regent’s Day. Look for more information about that in the coming weeks. We have teamed up, once again, with the UIMA & professional member governments for a social event to be held on April 20th. Appetizers, music, socializing, art….what more could a grad student ask for?!?
Finally, it is time to start thinking about what next year’s GSS will be like. Start thinking about a. if you would like to consider running for an executive position or are interested in chairing a committee and b. if you will not be serving as a senator, start recruiting folks from your department early for next year!
B. Vice President’s Report – Ulrike Carlson
C. Treasurer’s Report – Andy Koons
I hope everyone is having a great semester. I believe committee chairs should know where their committees sit budget-wise. If anyone is uncertain about the status of the money they have been approved to spend, just let me know. Also, I’d like to recommend that folks try to design enough activities so that a good portion if not all of the money they have in their budgets ends up spent by the end of the year. While I don’t want folks to waste money, the money is there to be spent on currently enrolled Graduate students so don’t hesitate to ask me for help or advice if you think you have an idea that had budget ramifications.
On that note, over the next month I will be developing GSS’ budget proposal for next year. I will be organizing the “GSS Finance Committee” which is composed of committee chairs and GSS Executives in order to get the input necessary to make sure the proposed budget is in alignment with everyone’s plans for next year. As such, committee chairs should think about what financial needs they anticipate having next year and also what activities and other plans they have for next year but which they don’t know how much or whether money will be required—which I can help with.
Switching subjects, I am working to organize a GSS tour of the University’s energy control center—the center that Liz Christenson from the UI Office of Sustainability spoke of last semester. If you are interested in participating in such a tour, please email me at andrewmkoons@gmail with your general schedule. The control center can make most times work given sufficient notice, so it sounds like the challenge will be to find hour-long times where all or most folks interested in a tour are available. The center prefers no more than ten people per tour so if there needs to be more than one that is doable.
D. Membership Officer’s Report – James Skretta
Nothing to Report
E. Parliamentarian’s Report – Sam Bouwers
Nothing to Report
F. Grad Council Report – Kristi DiClemente, Andy Koons, Lea Ljumanovic, stef shuster
At the last Graduate Council meeting we considered a proposal for early entry to the PhD programs in Microbiology and Biochemistry. Look for more information in next month’s report for information on that, in addition to some programs of combined degree programs in CLAS and the College of Public Health including: a BA in Psychology/MPH (Community & Behavior Health) and a BA in Biology/MS in Epidemiology or BA in Biology/MPH (Epidemiology).
G. Graduate Student Organizations Liaison – OPEN POSITION
H. ECGPS Delegate Report – Kristi DiClemente, Ulrike Carlson
At the last ECGPS meeting we approved funding for the American Indian Student Association’s annual Powwow. Look for more information soon regarding that campus and community based event. We also approved the budgets for the Supplemental Funding period. If you are involved in a student organization and requested funding through GPAC and have questions, please contact the GPAC Chair, Donna Lancianese (). The ECGPS is currently reviewing the charter and will release more information once the delegates have approved the changes. Finally, we are also in the mid-stages of planning the annual co-sponsored event with the UI Museum of Art. The event will be held on April 20th. Mark your calendars, and anticipate more details in the near future about this fun event!
I. DGSAC Chair Report – Steve Levillain
Nothing to Report
J. Webmaster Report – Maneesh Kumar
Nothing to Report
VIIi. Committee Representative Reports
A. Academic Mentoring Committee – Matt Calamia, Jenni McCabe
B. Computer Resources Committee – Brian Borchers
C. International Student Committee – Emma Hashman
We will have a booth at the Cultural Diversity Fair on March 31 from noon-5 p.m. We will need people (preferably 2) for each hour at the booth. Please let me know if you are interested in helping out!
D. Jakobsen Conference Committee – Danielle Dietz, James Skretta, Kate Wohlman, Tiara Perez
E. Jakobsen Conference Review Committee – stef shuster
F. Legislative Committee – Emma Hashman, Clint Huntrods
We will be participating in Hawkeye Caucus (March 27) and Regents Day (March 29) this year. For Regents Day we are in need of 5 students to be "Team Leaders" and they will be in charge of 3-5 students, to make it a more organized event. Please let me know if you are interested in being a team leader or just attending the event. Also, in regards to Hawkeye Caucus, please let me know if you have some very interesting research that you would like to share at the caucus, especially if it impacts Iowans or if you are from Western Iowa. My email is , please feel free to contact me if you want to come or want more information!
G. Service & Social Committee – Andrew Juhl, Sara Hussain
Last month we prepared a dinner for the Ronald McDonald House and painted bowls to be donated to the Domestic Violence Intervention Program’s annual Souper Bowl. We are looking for volunteers to help work this event sponsored by DVIP on Thursday March 29th from 5:30-7:30, information at:
This Friday we are hosting a FAC at Joes Place from 5-10:30. More information can be found on the University of Iowa Graduate Student Senate facebook page (
H. Travel Funds Committee – Lindsey Thomas, Kristi DiClemente
A big thank you to all of the GSS members who helped with the last (January 2012) scoring session! We received almost 70 applications, and we funded almost 80% of the eligible applicants.
The remaining GSS Travel Funds deadlines are on Thursdays, 11:59pm, as follows: March 22 (also the final Supplemental Award deadline for fiscal year 2011/12), May 17, and July 19 (next fiscal year). The committee meetings (scoring sessions) during the spring semester will be held in lab N186LC (Lindquist Center) at 5:00 PM on the following Tuesdays: March 27 and May 22.
IX. Announcements
* GSS Sponsored Workshop on Institutional Review Board policies and best-practices for graduate student researchers: THIS WEDNESDAY 1-2:30pm in the IMU Room #356
* GSS sponsored Social Hour THIS FRIDAY at Joe’s Place
* Jakobsen Conference: March 24th at the IMU (all day, beginning at noon)
* Hawkeye Caucus and Regent’s Day (ie.Lobbying at the Capitol) coming up at the end of March!
X. Open Discussion
- Opened by chair - Closed by motion with second and approval by senate
XI. Adjournment (~1 min)
2011-2012 Graduate Student Senate
Roster of Elected Positions
Executive Officers:
Presidentstef
Vice PresidentUlrike Carlson
Treasurer Andy
Executive AssociateKimberly
Membership OfficerCandice
ParliamentarianSam
ECGPS DelegatesKristi
Ulrike
stef shuster (alt)
Emma Hashman (alt)
Graduate CouncilKristi
Lea Andy Koons
stef
WebmasterManeesh
Roster of Appointed Positions
Committee Chairs:
Academic Mentoring CommitteeMatt
Jenni
Computer Resources Committee Brian
International Student CommitteeEmma
Jakobsen Conference CommitteeDanielle
James
Kate
Tiara
Jakobsen Conference Review stef
Legislative CommitteeEmma
Clint
Service & Social Committee Andrew Juhl
Sara Hussain
Travel Funds CommitteeLindsey
Kristi
Additional GSS Representatives:
Dean’s Graduate Student AdvisorySteve Levillain
Committee (DGSAC)
Graduate Student Organizations LiaisonOPEN POSITION
GPACAndy
Benjamin Gillig
Gene Parker