Spectrum - Volume 18 Issue 17 January 18, 1996 - BOV briefed on grad trends

A non-profit publication of the Office of the University Relations of Virginia Tech,
including The Conductor , a special section of the Spectrum printed 4 times a year

BOV briefed on grad trends

By Susan Trulove

Spectrum Volume 18 Issue 17 - January 18, 1996

The Board of Visitors heard Graduate School representatives report that the decline in graduate-student applications in the last year is due to the tuition increase, reduced numbers of assistantships, and fewer faculty members to recruit graduate students, but also reflects a national trend, Danny Waddill, graduate-student representative to the board told the Graduate Student Assembly (GSA) November 30.

Waddill told the GSA that the board approved a state budget proposal that would fund more assistantships and raise faculty salaries, which would help attract faculty members. In response to a question of whether the budget proposals are reasonable, Waddill said, "The BOV members think they are all reasonable and justified. I don't think the requests are far out."

Waddill also discussed the process for selecting the next graduate-student representative to the board. An applicant writes an essay and makes a presentation to the BOV Executive Committee. The committee narrows the field to three candidates, who address the GSA and Commission on Student Affairs. With feedback from these groups, the Executive Committee makes a decision. "The process itself is a worthwhile experience," Waddill said.

"The role of the representative is to let the board members know what graduate-student life is like, issues that affect graduate students, and how BOV decisions will affect graduate students," Waddill said.

"It is a good experience-different from what you are doing every day. You meet and talk with a lot of people."

More information for applying to represent graduate students on the BOV will be announced in the Collegiate Times and Spectrum , as well as to the GSA.

In other business:

* The GSA will sponsor the National Association of Graduate and Professional Students regional meeting at the CEC on February 23-25.

* More information is available on the GSA homepage: http://fbox.vt.edu:10021/org/grads/gsahome.html.

* Travel fund applications are available in the GSA office, 309 Squires. The deadline is February 9.

* Andrea Lawson asked students to contact her who are interested in having a chapter of Alpha Epsilon Lambda, the honor society of graduate and professional school students, at Virginia Tech.

* Ed Davis won the logo contest. The GSA invites ideas for use of the logo.

* Nominations of new GSA officers will be in February. Elections will be in March.

* The next meeting is January 25 in Squires Brush Mountain Room

* April Hamby reported that the Commencement Committee decided that doctoral students will be allowed to sit with faculty members at the Saturday Commencement, December 16.