Executive Committee
Report of Meeting
2004 January 26

In addition to the agenda for the GSA general meeting Erik has posted, here's a quick summary of the other decisions we made.

• Grant Report. Marian agreed to contact Dr. Grant and Dr. Rodriguez to ask if Dr. Grant could discuss the Racial Respect and Fairness Report and its potential impact on graduate students.

• NAPGS Regional Conference. Erik proposed and Excom members agreed to explore submitting a bid for the NAPGS regional conference in conjunction with GPSW 5-9 April. Dan agreed to work with Ginger and Melissa to estimate the financial requirements. Erik agreed to explore the UT administrative requirements for holding such a conference at UT and to check with NAPGS and see if the date is OK and what is expected. Erik agreed to be Conference Coordinator should GSA decide to make a bid and the bid was accepted. This was contingent on support from the GSA membership at the next general meeting.

• Social Events. The Excom considered Melissa's proposed events idea. Dan proposed and Excom members agreed that social events for the remainder of the year should be prioritized according to the approved budget. The Fall Barbecue should be first, then GPSW (perhaps offset by NAPGS funds), then the awards social, then something on finals week (maybe coffee/bagels or beagles) finally something in February if funds are available. Don agreed to work with Dan and to get with Marian, Bryan, Sly, Dr. Terry Newman, and Lynn Davis to determine what funds we have been allocated for this year and what has been approved for next year.

• Funding Support. There was some confusion on what outside funding support we could expect for the fall Barbecue. Dan agreed to work with Melissa to get firm commitments from DOS, TxExes, and perhaps other organizations with money. Marian said she would look into here contact at the Center for American History.

• Rant and Rave. Ginger suggested via email and Excom members agreed that no further Rant and Rave sessions would be called unless some important student captivating issue arises.

• Annual GSA Awards. The Excom considered the items proposed in a message from Ginger.
  • Award Category for GA. The Excom members agreed with an award category for Graduate Assistants.
  • Forms for Awards. The Excom agreed with the instructions and nomination forms for the annual awards.
  • Awards Money. Dan agreed to review the budget and let the Excom members know how much we can afford for awards.
  • Date of Ceremony. The Excom agreed with April 8 for the awards ceremony with consideration of the possible NAGPS Regional Conference. Erik agreed to work with Ginger on finalizing the date.

• What's Happening. Don provided a summary of current UT administrative activities from FC, GA, and the Tuition Committee. He agreed to ask Marian the status of getting graduate students on UT committees.

• SG Vacancy. Marian proposed and Excom members approved Laura Gladney-Lemon, Liberal Arts-Women's Studies and Psychology, to fill the graduate student vacancy among the graduate student representatives to Student Government. Marian agreed to notify SG so that Laura could participate in Tuesday's SG meeting.

• Thirty-fifth Anniversary. Excom members did not know the result of Ginger's discussion with Pedro Reyes at UT System about GSA's history with the System and the Board of Regents. Erik mentioned the availability of a folder in OGS that might help.

• Action on Resolutions. At the last Excom meeting we agreed that Ginger and Erik would distribute copies of resolutions if Joyce so desired. Joyce said that she so desired. Erik agreed to get with Ginger and make sure such distribution has been made on past resolutions. The Excom members appreciated Erik creating a new Webpage for resolutions and asked that a subbullet (or link) be added to each one reflecting the GSA action taken on the motion.

• Ad Hoc Committees. Excom members agreed that we should ask for volunteers to serve on ad hoc committees at the next general meeting, specifically the following. Although the constitution states that members of the Excom should chair ad-hoc committees, any graduate student in good standing can serve on them. Don agreed to draft a sign up sheet for the next meeting.
  • TA/AI/GRA/GA Rights and Responsibilities.
  • Financial Aid for Graduate Students.
  • International Student Issues.
  • Masters Student Issues.
  • State Legislative Issues.
  • Alternate Employment Opportunities for Graduate Students.
  • Constitution and Bylaws Rewrite. Excom members agreed we should go ahead with the current four members. Don will contact the members and find a good meeting time. We will still ask for members at the meeting.
  • Finance. Dan mentioned that one more member would not hurt.
  • Events. Announced at the last general meeting.
  • NAGPS Regional Conference. If GSA decides to do this, Erik to chair.

• University Committees: Excom members agreed that we should ask for volunteers to serve on university committees at the next general meeting, specifically the following.
  • Shuttle Bus Committee. At the last general meeting, Taran Johnston volunteered be on the Committee and to provide her EID to Don so that he could submit her name. She has not done that.
  • Faculty Research Policy Committee. Requires one member due to Stephanie Craig's resignation.
  • OGS Committee on scholarship, etc. The purpose of the committee as expressed in the last Excom was to "holistically look at the tuition, financial aid, fellowships, work awards, etc." Don and Marian discussed this committee with Dr. Dollard. Dr. Dollard's concern was that there needs to be a result that the committee hopes to accomplish in order to be created. For example, if the committee decided that the work awards by the departments were not integrated with the fellowship awards of the Graduate School, what impact would it have. Marian and Don agreed to review the intent with the Excom. Erik pointed out that the purpose of the committee, as he interpreted the GSA discussion when the motion was passed, was to determine methods of increasing the amount of funds available for OGS fellowships--to improve our development efforts for new sources of funds. Don agreed to discuss this concept with Dr. Dollard.

• Duty Assignment Table. Don advised that he was working with Erik to develop a table of duties regarding GSA paper and electronic correspondence.

• Objectives. Erik suggested that we provide the membership a status report on the accomplishment of our objectives. Don pointed out that the Excom had decided that all officers were responsible for all objectives. He agreed to consolidate the inputs into a report of what the Excom members have done.

Submitted by Don Drumtra
Reviewed by Marian Barber
Co-Chairs