November General Body Meeting

Monday, November 2nd, 6:30pm

Zoom

Roll Call
- Reached quorum of 7 department representatives.
Updates, News, and Reminders
- Q&A with Dean Barnaby
  - Email forthcoming with various initiatives for doctoral students.
  - Working with DGSes and advisors to implement creative opportunities to jump-start research that the pandemic has affected
  - Working on a few initiatives to extend living support
  - Will there be any changes to grad student stipend/payment schedules with changes in the academic calendar?
    - No change at all; as far as the graduate school is concerned, there are two 20-week pay periods, unaffected by the shifting date of classes.
  - Are there any initiatives regarding the support of digital pedagogy for instructors?
    - There were digital pedagogy internships for graduating students this past summer. The dean’s office is piloting ways of bringing that into the academic year.
    - CTE and PhD+ have opportunities for this, and more going forward.
  - How is GSAS supporting international grad students right now?
    - A&S hands are tied by university and federal policies and economic realities. This was the only semester you can be outside the country and still be paid as a TA/RA.
- Department updates
  - None
Committee Updates
- Honor Committee
  - Reforms to the multi-sanction system are on the agenda.
- University Judiciary Committee
  - No graduate students have come before UJC this semester—keep up the good work!
- Social Committee
  - Brainstorming ways to use the funds we’ve been allocated to facilitate safe but fun social activities for grad students; contact the chairs to share any ideas.
- Research Committee
  - Research grant applications are due Nov. 23, and winners will be announced mid-December.
  - Volunteer grant reviewers (minimum of 9) needed; contact Tyler if interested.
    - You can be a reviewer and still submit a grant application! This can go on your CV! See inside the grant review process!
  - There will be a second round of grants in the spring.
- Finance Committee
  - No requests for funding.
- Graduate Education Committee
  - Schools and departments might be trending toward fewer PhD students with more years of funding.
  - Looking for general changes to graduate education to cope with changes to the job market.
  - More emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  - Survey forthcoming to give input about the direction of graduate education.
  - It will be at least a year before any changes really happen, but people are thinking about the future.
For the Good of the Order
- GO VOTE TOMORROW (if you are eligible and haven’t already)!!
- Final meeting of the semester will be December 7.