Spectrum - Volume 18 Issue 04 September 14, 1995 - GSA Meeting

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

GSA Meeting

By Susan Trulove

Spectrum Volume 18 Issue 04 - September 14, 1995

The Graduate Student Assembly's officers decided during a summer retreat to focus the agenda and goals of the organization on governance, programming, and non-academic activities, GSA president Bryan Rowland told the delegates at the August 31 meeting.

Improving the lives of graduate students by working through the university governance system and by providing programs such as the graduate research development program (GRDP) and travel fund will each receive about 40 percent of the GSA's attention, he said. Non-academic activities include service to the university, Rowland explained.

He pointed out that graduate students can have a significant voice in the university's governance, since graduate students sit on university commissions and committees.

Vice President Tabitha Copley added that the officers agreed the GSA should look at such issues as tuition waivers, fees, and insurance. "We want to look at the purpose of the GSA and balance governance and programming activities."

Also at the first meeting of the academic year, the revised constitution was taken off the table. A vote will be asked for at the September 28 meeting.

In other business:

* Treasurer Mike Schroder reported that he attended the university budgeting and planning retreat. "Before I spoke on our behalf, members of the administration talked about graduate programs, graduate-student life, and graduate-student leaders as strengths of the university," he reported.

* Graduate students are needed to serve on the Buildings and Commencement committees. E-mail Tabitha Copley at TCopley@VT.edu . An editor for APEX is needed; it includes a 50-percent tuition waiver. E-mail Andrea Lawson at AMLawson@VT.edu . An executive assistant is needed: E-mail Copley. A conference chair is needed for the regional meeting of the national association of graduate and professional students, which will be at Tech at the DBHCC in February. E-mail Schroder at MSchrode @VT.edu . Someone is needed to run the Graduate Research Development Program; the program provides grants to help students do their research. Interested individuals should contact the GSA office at 1-7919.

* The off-campus housing office, 121 Squires, saw 3,300 students this summer-1,100 were graduate students.

* The travel fund received 59 applications for $17,000 and funded 30 students' travel for $6,230.

* The GRDP received 23 applications. Recipients will be announced the week of September 4.

* Graduate and Professional School Day will be Oct. 11. This is an opportunity for university departments to showcase their offerings and also brings other colleges and universities to campus to help undergraduates make decision about further education. Departments interested in participating should call the GSA office.

* There will be a contest to develop a logo that can be used on T-shirts and elsewhere to help raise the visibility of the GSA. There will be more information at the September 28 meeting.

* The Provost's Office is forming two graduate-student focus groups as part of the University Core Values initiative. There will be a sign-up sheet at the September 28 meeting.

* The 1995-97 Graduate Catalog is available in Sandy Hall and on the World Wide Web http://milieu.grads.vt.edu/rgsGrads.html- along with other information about the Graduate School.

* Provost Peggy Meszaros will be the guest speaker at the September 28 meeting, which will be in Squires Brush Mountain Room at 5:30 p.m.