GradSEA Meeting Minutes

Friday, September 11, 2009

Members Present: Kristin Moore (president), Elena Lawrick, Juan Meneses, Laurie A. Pinkert (vice-president), Kristi Wilson, Mia Martini, Aaron DeRosa, Paul Rutz, Cristyn Elder, Adryan Glasgow, Martini Jarusch, Dharmini Patel (Secretary), Morgan Reitnueyer, Michael Corarrubias, Kristin Leaman.

The Meeting began at 4:00 P.M.

I. President’s Report:

  • all committee members need to open a dialogue with their constituents by sending out an e-mail detailing that they are this year’s representative.
  • Representatives or proxies must attend meetings or position will be stripped.
  • Each representative must maintain bulletin boards.

II. Vice-President’s Report:

  • There will be two new faculty appointments. The job search committee is looking for an assistant professor for rhet/comp. Graduate student representative is needed on the job search committee.
  • Discussion of budget cuts and the effect on graduate students. Department is trying to prioritize research and faculty support, as well as interdisciplinary programs.

III. Secretary’s Report

IV. Committee Reports:

  • Creative Writing:
  • ELL:
  • ESL:
  • Excellence in Teaching:
  • Graduate Committee: graduate student fees are going to be reduced. Plans of study need to be in Oct. 15th. Discussion of a name and program change for ESL. It was proposed to change ESL to SLS or second language studies. Committee wants more languages offered for the Ph.D program, and more courses for the MA program in ESL. The committee does not want 501 as prerequisite, but wishes to keep 506, intro to linguistics, as one.
  • Introductory Writing:IWC was receiving reports from 106i instructors that 106 instructors were informing ESL students to drop and take 106i. Discussion included ideas, such as brown bags, 505 ESL practicum, or creating a speaker series on how to help 106 instructors work with ESL students.
  • Job placement meeting-anyone on the market this year or going on the market next year should attend meetings. Jenny Bay has sample materials for job placement. There will be a separate placement meetings for ESL and Rhet/comp.
  • Lenora Woodman Lecture: Do we still have this committee?
  • PGSG meeting- graduate fees will be reduced over the next few years.
  • Library committee is focusing on information literacy and how students access sources. The library budget will be increasing to allow for more resources.
  • Announcements for the University of Liberia wanting textbooks, even single copy books were sent out. You may donate books, or help in anyway contact a PGSG member.
  • Volunteers needed for grad expo Sept. 27th.
  • Richard Severe is meeting with city council to discuss problems, such as bus schedule, recycling, etc.
  • looking for donations to create a trust fund.
  • TCS-possibility of starting a brown bag series with TCS and Phil/Lit to exchange ideas, promoteprofessionalization, and establish communities.
  • Undergraduate Studies:

VI. New Business

  • Job search committee will hold election for graduate representative.
  • Create a subcommittee to investigate the need for a copy policy change. Volunteers are needed.
  • Juan, Paul, and Laura will help plan the prelim forum, where faculty and/or advanced Ph. D students discuss the process of taking prelim’s.
  • Laura needs to talk to faculty about creating a dead hour so that people can attend speaker series.
  • Questions/ Discussion
  • possibility of creating a works in progress series students and faculty.
  • dept. follies as a possible social event.
  • Possibility of having agraduate student book sale so that we sell books to each other.
  • Do we need callout for GRADSEA. Organize a meet & greet before next gradsea meeting?
  • Contact American studies, Women’s studies, and Rhet/comp for representation in GradSEA.

Oct. 5th 9:30 am is the next scheduled meeting.

The Meeting Adjourned at 5:38 P.M.

Submitted by Dharmini Patel

September 19, 2009