Graduate Student Association Senate
Regular Meeting Minutes
for
March 1st, 2010, 4:00pm, 421 Belk Library
President Presiding
Serena Heinz called the meeting to order and proceeded to call the roll. A statement of quorum was declared. Serena opened the agenda for any additions, and no additions were added. Subsequently, Serena made a motion to approve the minutes from February 1st. This motion was seconded and passed with all in favor.
- Reports from the Executive Council
Meeting with Chancellor Peacock. Rachel Stratton gave an update regarding the progress made in scheduling a meeting between GSAS leadership and Chancellor Peacock. Currently, the Chancellor is extremely booked. GSAS will be unable to meet with him before the mid-March Board of Trustees meeting. However, Serena Heinz and Rachel Stratton plan to meet with him before the end of the semester.
- President’s Remarks
SGA Representative to GSAS. Serena Heinz introduced PA Rowe, SGA’s Director of Academic Affairs. PA will be serving as an SGA Representative to GSAS by attending GSAS meetings and relaying graduate concerns to SGA. Serena welcomed PA to the meeting.
- Committee Updates
Finance. Brandon Carpenter announced that March 1st marks a GSAS grant deadline. Those in the finance committee will be meeting Tuesday or Wednesday evening to award grant money to the new applicants.
In regards to the previous February 2nd deadline, Brandon Carpenter gave a review of the decisions made. Twenty-five applicants applied for grant funds, including twenty-two travel applicants and three research applicants. Six students received funding. Most travelapplications were delayed to later deadlines due to the dates of travel. Brandon reminded all senators that if travel is involved at all in the research they are asking to be funded, students must apply for a travel grant. Ryan Pandoff and Brandon Carpenter have moved these instructions to the top of the GSAS grant guidelines in bold letters.
Brandon reviewed the original budget given to GSAS for the semester. GSAS was awarded $4057 for the spring. The original amount allocated to the February 1st deadline was split due to the small number of qualifiers. The finance committee expects many applicants for the March 1st and April 1st deadlines. Indeed, many travel applications have already been held from previous deadlines. Brandon encouraged that a strong finance committee would be needed for deliberations regarding the March and April deadlines. Any interested senators should contact Brandon Carpenter or Ryan Pandoff.
Social. Joanna Pepple gave a summary of the GSAS Spring community service project that took place on Saturday, February 20th. GSAS senators assisted the Watauga County Hospitality House at their Rock Haven facility. Students helped by folding blankets, vacuuming and cleaning chairs, and shoveling snow. Senators watched a slideshow of pictures from the event. Joanna expressed appreciation to the senators who participated in the project.
Communications. Rachel Stratton gave an update regarding her research in helping Haiti. She found several news reports that indicated that Haiti needed support through financialmeans rather than through the donation of items. However, since Senator Vicky Lewis had connections to Malta, an organization which continues to accept and deliver necessary items to Haiti, Rachel suggested that GSAS could collect items for Malta to deliver. Rachel would need a committee of interested senators to help in advertising the project by making flyers.
Ariel Grosshuesch asked about whether GSAS would plan a benefit to help Chile as well in view of the recent earthquakes. Vicky Lewis commented that the people of Chile have not yet asked for help; whereas the people of Haiti are still asking for help. Rachel Stratton replied that GSAS could still pursue the idea of a 5K benefit later in the semester to help Haiti, Chile, or both.
Rachel Stratton urged senators to give feedback regarding their willingness to help out with this project. There is a discussion group on the GSAS facebook page, and Rachel will be sending out an e-mail in the near future. By partnering with Malta in collecting items for the people of Haiti, it could be as simple as setting up boxes in each department and posting flyers. However, participation from senators is necessary to allow the project to be successful.
Elections. Serena Heinz informed senators that GSAS elections will be happening in the near future. Four meetings are left in the Spring Semester. Nominations for the executive council must be completed by the end of March. Senators will then vote at the April 14th GSAS meeting. In turn, the new executive council will lead the last meeting, scheduled for April 29th. If any current senators are interested in serving on the executive council, senators should prepare to make nominations in the upcoming meetings. Serena encouraged current GSAS senators to also start recruiting senators and alternates for next year from their respective departments. Any graduate students are welcome to attend meetings to ascertain whether they would be interested in being a part of the GSAS executive council or senate in the fall.
Academic Policies and Procedures (APP). Rachel Stratton mentioned that members attending the upcoming APP meeting will be voting on dual-listed course changes for the graduate school. The previous APP meeting dealt with issues such as pre-requisite changes and splitting certain dual-listed courses.
Awards. Dave Lee informed GSAS senators that there will be one more Awards meeting for the semester. The date is to be determined.
Graduate Council. Serena Heinz gave updates from the last Graduate Council meeting. Funds for graduate assistantships in 2010-2011 will remain the same. Several research awards were awarded. The Council also spent considerable time discussing a new health insurance issue that will be affecting graduate students. This issue is on the GSAS agenda to be discussed in the current meeting. Serena also reminded everyone that the deadline for Provost and Alumni fellowship applicationsfor continuing students is March 10th.
Library. In Brian Wilson’s absence, Heather Carpenter gave the report on recent developments in the Library committee. They are currently concerned that there may be severe cuts in funding for next year. This could cause a variety of budget changes in 2010-2011.
Registration and Calendar. Dave Lee informed GSAS senators that the Registration and Calendar committee has determined to leave the format of the final exam period at the end of the semester unchanged. Significant feedback on behalf of both students and faculty influenced this decision. Other notable news includes a committee decision to move a reading day to a Saturday in 2010-2011.
Holly Hirst asked Dave Lee if any changes were made to Fall Break. Dave responded that they kept Fall Break half-way through the semester as before. The committee considered proposals to move the days to the week of Thanksgiving, but those proposals were declined. The committee did move some state holidays to the Christmas break in order to be able to shut down the university and to save power costs. This decision will only affect university staff.
University Forum. Ley Linder stated that he is still waiting to hear back whether the lecture series has been finalized or not for the 2010-2011 academic year. He also mentioned that the Forum is seeking to reschedule the Abe Lincoln talk that was canceled due to the snow. No official date has been set at this time.
- Old Business
Graduate Student Voice Committee. Serena Heinz encouraged GSAS senators to express interest and give feedback regarding the Graduate Student Voice Committee, a committee that seeks opportunities to allow the graduate voice to be heard at higher levels in the administration. She informed everyone that since the meeting with the Chancellor has been delayed due to the snow, GSAS leadership will be unable to meet with the Chancellor before the Board of Trustees meeting in mid-March. Therefore, if GSAS senators are interested in making presentations at a future Board of Trustees meeting, GSAS could request to be put on the agenda for a summer or fall meeting. Interested senators should contact Serena Heinz.
- New Business
North Carolina Tuition Increase. SGA representative PA Rowe gave an update on the student efforts to express their voice regarding the NC Tuition Increase. He stated that 23,000 student signatures have been acquired on a petition to stop the NC tuition increase. SGA is currently making efforts to ensure that as many students as possible are registered to vote. Students registered to vote have greater abilities to be heard in lobbying efforts.
Graduate Student Request from the Marriage and Family Therapy Program. Serena Heinz introduced a request from a graduate student in the Marriage and Family Therapy program. This student is asking for funds to cover the cost of an important speaker who will be presenting a conference at ASU open to graduate students as well as members from the community. The Marriage and Family Therapy program originally asked for $650 to cover the cost of the speaker, but they have said that even $200 would be helpful. This student is asking for GSAS to consider co-sponsoring the event.
Dave Lee inquired where the money would be coming from. Brandon Carpenter responded that the treasury earmarked for grant money is the source of any funds released from GSAS. Brandon mentioned that it would be wise to determine how many graduate students would be interested in attending this conference.
Holly Hirst asked if the Marriage and Family Therapy program intends to charge an entrance fee for this event. Serena Heinz replied that those plans are uncertain. The student who made the request was unsure if she was able to charge an entrance fee. Holly then added that if the department is trying to plan a conference, they can work with ASU Conferences and Institutes. ASU Conferences and Institutes can help with the logistics of charging an entrance fee.
Dave Lee asked Brandon Carpenter the amount of the largest grant GSAS has awarded this year. Brandon Carpenter replied that $250 was the largest grant sum awarded this year. On average, grant funds have ranged from $117-$250. However, Brandon reminded everyone that the finance committee already has stacks of applications waiting for the March and April deadlines. Serena Heinz contributed that with a great number of applications already collected for the upcoming deadlines, the typical amount of grant award could be significantly reduced in the March and April deadlines.
Holly Hirst asserted that should any GSAS funds be allocated to the Marriage and Family Therapy program, the funds must ultimately be distributed to a graduate student. They cannot be given directly to the speaker or to the department. Vicky Lewis shared that many graduate students were unable to attend a similar conference in Raleigh because of the cost of travel, and that the Marriage and Family Therapy program was making this conference affordable for the students by bringing the speaker to ASU.
Serena Heinz clarified that the date of the projected conference in April 12th. Holly asked GSAS senators if they would be interested in considering a block grant for a group of students from the Marriage and Family Therapy program. Such a grant might average about $25 per student, and the students would then be responsible to allotting that money to the speaker.
Brandon Carpenter responded that GSAS has considered similar block grants. However, in general, the finance committee gives preference to students who are traveling to present research and represent Appalachian State either nationally or internationally. Brandon added that,by funding the Marriage and Therapy conference, the finance committee would be rejecting their current philosophy of preferentially awarding grants to students whoare traveling to present their own work at conferences.
Vicky Lewis asked whether the student fee funds that supply the budget for GSAS grant money are usually allocated specifically for research and travel grants. Holly Hirst responded that every three years, GSAS must clarify the intentions of why the organization is requesting an allocation from the student fee funding. Three years ago, GSAS submitted a proposal that these funds will be used to subsidize research and travel expenses for graduate students. This academic year marks the turn of the three-year cycle, and GSAS must once again apply for funding. This application is due by March 22nd.
Ley Linder asked a hypothetical question. If GSAS did promise to give the Marriage and Family Therapy program $200, what would happen if they could not raise the other $450 required for the speaker? Would the GSAS money be lost? Vicky Lewis added that the department is also requesting money from the ASU Club Council.
Eric Urban suggested that the finance committee should not make exceptions to the original GSAS guidelines. By making exceptions, GSAS will be setting an unfavorable precedent. Heather Carpenter proposed that perhaps students in the Marriage and Family Therapy program could apply for a grant through the usual process. Therefore, their request for funds will be evaluated on a fair basis among the other grant applications. Ley Linder agreed with this suggestion, adding that the finance committee could still use discretion in giving priority to graduate students presenting at conferences.
Serena Heinz made a motion to vote on the possibility of having GSAS co-sponsor the Marriage and Family Therapyconference by giving $200 to help secure the speaker, and Brandon Carpenter seconded the motion. The proposal did not pass, with the majority declining and one senator in favor.
Health Insurance Policy for 2010-2011. Holly Hirst gave an overview of recent changes regarding health insurance requirements for all students. A new policy has recently been mandated by the North Carolina Board of Governors. In previous years, the UNC system has discussed the idea of requiring that students prove that they have health insurance in order to attend the school. Effective fall 2010, AppState will be required to carry out this requirement. Every student will be asked to provide proof that he or she has major medicalhealth insurance. There will be an online database students can access to submit health care information. If the student cannot show that he or she has adequate major medical health insurance, the university will automatically enroll the student for a university health insurance plan and bill the student’s account. This policy will be effective for any on-campus student enrolled in 6 or more hours. In addition to the major medical health insurance, on-campus students enrolled in 6 or more hours will also be automatically charged the $118 Health Services fee to access the Health Center on campus. Currently, students enrolled in 9 or more hours pay this fee.
The university major medical health insurance fee will be $650 for the entire year. Students unable to provide adequate means of health insurance will be billed $325.00 each semester for major medical health insurance. No charge will be added if the student if able to prove that he or she already has sufficient health insurance coverage.
For in-state students enrolled in 6 hours, the health insurance mandate will produce a 26% increase in tuition and fees. If in-state students enrolled in 9 or more hours, the addition produces an 18% increase.
Holly Hirst stressed that this decision is non-negotiable. The job of the university now is to give honest information to current and prospective students regarding the change. Holly will be striving to make sure that no students are unaware or caught by surprise.
On the positive side, there are many pros to the university health insurance. The $650 fee gives students major medical health insurance for 12 months regardless of whether the students will be enrolled in summer classes. The $650 is an extremely cheap health insurance fee. This health insurance plan is a better plan than that received by state employees. It offers lower co-pay fees, and it is independent of age or pre-existing conditions. Holly Hirst further explained that this university health insurance is similar to a Blue Cross/Blue Shield policy.
On the negative side, for students who do not have adequate health insurance for financial reasons, this added fee of $650 (major medical) and $118 (Health Services fee) could be debilitating, and might discourage such students from attending the university.
Because the decision is non-negotiable, Holly Hirst asked GSAS senators to assist her in formulating questions about the new health insurance policy that students would ask. The following questions reflect ideas that Holly has already formulated about the health insurance policy: