GSA Meeting Minutes- 5/8/03

Call to Order- 7:35 p.m.

Attendance- Laura Bartels, Amrita Ghosh, Jimmy Dube, Michael Humphreys, Michael Nausner, Jim Rovira, Karla Simcikova, Elizabeth Pullen, Insun Yoon, Chris Anderson, David Wright, Dong-Young Yoon, Mitchel Modine, Madeira Edwards, Nathaniel, M Melissa, Alexai Khamik, Dirk Fellerman, Iljoon Park

Laura motioned for the reading of the minutes. Reading of minutes completed by Amrita at 7:45 p.m.

New Business:

Conference Reimbursements discussed. A and B categories of the conference fully funded up to $ 250 and some of the C category requests also funded (but not fully). 

Constitution to be amended in September. The current balance in the GSA budget is $ 7953.95. The budget of $ 12,000 is split into - $ 6000 for spring and fall respectively and any left over money goes to cover the A level requests. It was discussed that the B and C category in the constitution needs to be amended henceforth.

Prospectus Committee Review: Prof. Skaggs had proposed a 3 year moratorium for the Prospectus Committee. However, this proposal was dismissed by the Faculty. The entire methodology of the dissertation and thesis was also addressed. Students interested in working on their prospectus were advised to attend the May 14^th Workshop, held from 7-8.30 p.m. at UC-104.

Religious Studies Area: The proposal to create a new Religious Studies Area was discussed. The proposal meant that all different religion study areas would be collapsed under this new field. The main long term goal was to have a World Religion Studies area in the university. This would not be an immediate affair and a planning team would be set up for this purpose. But the idea of a student representative in this team has been dismissed. Questions were raised as to why a student representation in the design team of this project was refused. Jimmy put forth the idea that this team should consult students. Madeira too wanted that they discuss matters with students once in a while. Many also questioned the need for this team to be confidential. It was finally decided that the new President would write to Charles Courtney to keep students in the loop, and to let us know how things are moving.

Library Carrels: Mavis Johnson in charge of the library carrels has proposed that the carrels should be used for all 5 days of the week. Laura suggested some kind of a compromise in this proposal, so that a commuter can use the carrel on campus with someone else. This was also fine with the person in charge of the carrels. The main reason for this came from the CLA students who complained of lack of space and that lot of empty space was not being properly used in the library. The waiting list for graduate students for the carrels also adds pressure for the carrel usage. The new plan says that the locker would also have to be used at least 2 days a week.

The ‘News and Notes’ has more details on the carrel usage rules and students can access it to find out more!

Confirmation of New Executive Committee: The Nominations were done and motion was carried to have Jim Rovira as the new President; Madeira Edwards, the Vice President, Amrita Ghosh, the Secretary and Michael Humphreys, as the Treasurer.

International Student’s Concerns: The new F1 rules and how they were making international student lives difficult, were discussed. It was stated that the university was simply following Federal guidelines. Students raised the issue of having more scholarships for international students. Michael Nausner also talked about having more work opportunities for international students. Nathaniel reported on the amount of money, specifically $ 17,000 that international students have to show for their living expenses. This figure is generated by the Financial Aid and there was a move to amend these numbers. For this, a student representative body would be formed headed by Jimmy, Nathaniel and a third person would be selected later by the new president. Voting for this was done and motion carried to have this student representation for international students.

Old Business

Dissertation Committee Approval: After the student and professor have chosen two other members of the dissertation committee, the student should ask the members of the Drew graduate faculty if they are willing to serve. The Dean invites a scholar from outside if he/she is needed and when the committee has approved. This also depends on budgetary constraints. The student then sends a complete dissertation committee form which then is sent to the Area for action. If the Area approves of the committee, it is sent to the Dean for approval. In case of a problem, negotiations would be done and the final decision would come from the Dean. If for any reason, a faculty member leaves a dissertation committee, the Dean makes arrangements for a new reader.

Reports

President’s Report: Laura talked about the Trustee Brad Session where a great report on graduate student achievements was presented. Laura also talked about some proposed changes to the parking rules in the university. Undergraduate driving from dorms to the classes sometimes would be denied.

Vice-President’s Report: Jimmy paid a tribute to the entire GSA committee for the whole year’s work and thanked his coworkers for the productive work. Chris Anderson, the Editor of News and Notes was also thanked by everyone for his great input and his work as the editor.

Madeira who would be the new Vice President in the upcoming year also called for the fillings of the various committee position fillings.

Secretary’s Report: Amrita discussed ways to have some more interactions between graduate students in different areas within the university, other than parties.

Treasurer’s Report: Michael talked about the new updated budget that was posted online. He also explained the reimbursement rules for the conference.

Area Reports

Arts and Letters: no report

Biblical Studies: Selection process of new convener going on.  

English Literature: Two new conveners have been selected.

Modern History and Literature: Convener Kevin H. Selected.

Liturgical Studies: No report.

Religion and Society: Asa Nausner to be the convener.

Medical Humanities: no report.

T& R: David Wright is the new convener. Annual survey also done to see student’s growth.

Wesleyan Studies: Elections are being held for convener post. There are three people running for the place.

Women’s Studies: Orysya Hachko is the new student convener. The Annual Colloquium was held and it went very well with faculty attendance.

Committee Reports:

Academic Standing: no report

Affirmative Action: no report

Bookstore: no report

Expenditure/Revenue: New fees and tuition structure announced. 6% increase for MA- PhD students; 2 % for Arts and Letters. The maintaining matriculation fee would be $ 350 now.

Language- Did not meet.

Graduate Faculty: The admissions meeting had concluded on 5/7/03. Renovation of SW Bowne to be done in July.

Grants and NAGPS: no report

News and Notes: Chris Anderson, Editor of News and Notes announced that the new edition of it was online and some paper copies had also been printed for distribution. The new Editor for the coming year would be Michael Adams.

Pub Advisory Board: no report

Policy and Planning: Admissions is trying to develop a survey and form to help people and gauge their sense of direction. The long term plan is to grow the college, increase the number of students; to try and purchase property around and in future plans graduate students wouldn’t live on campus possibly. There is also a proposal to create a housing task force.

Student Life Advisory Board: no report

Sexual Harassment: no report

Social Committee: Announcement of Party on 5/09/03 from 8 am -1 am at the pub.

Space: No report

University Programming Board: no report

University Senate: The meeting was attended by Michael Nausner. A presentation was done by the music department for the concert in the music wing.

Meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by,

Amrita Ghosh

Secretary.