President Report
Semi-Annual General Meeting (March)
President
Graduate Students’ Union
Graduate Fee Structure Committee
Graduate Fee Structure Committee (October 14th)
- Monthly meeting
- Discussed solutions regarding the GSU and the Health and Dental plan in
terms of status changes.
- Committee is looking into the possibility of implementing a deadline for change of status from part to full time.
Graduate Fee Structure Committee (November 30th)
- This committee has established some changes we would like to see made to the university calendar regarding the structures of graduate fees
- During this meeting we broke up into sub-committees so that we might discuss each and report back in the New Year.
- The subcommittee I’m on will be looking at establishing a deadline for declaration of student status, lowering the completion time for masters programs from seven years to five years and explore possible refinements to the definition of student status to mitigate problems the deadline might introduce, especially for education students.
Graduate Fee Structure Committee (Look up date of subcommittee meetings, discuss the last one that Doug attended)
Finance Committee and Health and Dental Committee
Finance Committee/ Health and Dental Committee (October 29th)
- It was discussed in the Finance Committee that the Executive should begin to comply a list of purchases in the past two years.
- GSDF meeting will be taking place in the next month or so.
- Reviewed Appeals in the Health and Dental Committee meeting
Health and Dental Committee (January 19th)
- Discussed appeals
Employment Relations Committee (CHAIR)
Employment Relations Committee (October 28th)
- The ERC reviewed resumes for the Constitutional Editor position
- Interviews were conducted in conjunction with members of the Constitutional Committee. The interview panel consisted of Jay Shah, Erin Stevens, and Nathan Wilke.
- The committee is pleased to report that Brent Augustus was a successful applicant for the position.
Employment Relations Committee (February 1st)
- Discussed GRADSWEP applications for Aldrich Conference Coordinator.
- Members of the Aldrich Conference Committee interviewed the candidates this past week.
Facilities Management Board (CHAIR)
Facilities Management Board (October 23rd)
- Reviewed the Budget for Bitters
- Gave a quick overview on the improvements thus far and the new directions we wish to go.
- Items the Board is looking at purchasing in the future are a glasses dishwasher for behind the bar, new furniture, and fixing the fireplace or purchasing a new one if necessary.
- We also reviewed the stock within the bar and discussed the possibility of bringing in new liquors as well as Storm beer.
Facilities Management Board (November 18th)
- Reviewed the budget for Bitters
- The fireplace in Bitters will be replaced in January.
- We will also be getting a new debit machine which will allow patrons to obtain cash back.
- New furniture will hopefully be purchased in the New Year as well. We are currently seeking an interior designer or space consultant to advise us on how best to utilize our space in the dining area.
- Items the Board is looking at purchasing in the future are a glasses dishwasher for behind the bar and new furniture
Facilities Management Board (January 19th)
- During this meeting we discussed issues raised in a letter that was served to the BoD by Feild Hall representatives.
- We reached several solutions during this meeting, however discussions are still ongoing.
- More information will follow.
Facilities Management Board (February 11th)
- Discussed parking outside of Feild Hall.
- Phil Smith, Assistant Director of Parking attended to give the committee an overview of past practices and provided clarification on how the parking rules and regulations are structured for university, particularly around Feild Hall.
- Committee passed motion directing Chair to write a letter to the Director of Facilities Management, Darrell Miles, to lobby for parking space for graduate student residents in Feild Hall.
- The motion read: The residents of Field Hall request that the FMB lobby the Director of Facilities management for six (6) graduate student resident parking spaces within lot 62.
- This letter was drafted, reviewed by the committee, and sent on Wednesday, March 3rd. We are currently awaiting a response from Facilities Management.
Academic Council of the School of Graduate Studies
Academic Council (October 19th , November 16th)
- Ex-officio member
- Reviewed business of the Council
Academic Council (January 18th)
- Ex-officio member
- Discussed the issue regarding the university using NEWSLINE as their main source to disseminate important information to the campus and the safety issues that some graduate students faced with its use.
- Since this meeting, I’ve been working with Andrew Kim to add graduate students to this list-serve. Currently, he is looking into the best way to implement this strategy.
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Other events and meetings:
AGM (October 29th)
- Gave executive work report to general membership
- Major portion of the meeting consisted of reviewing the budget
Canadian Association of Graduate Studies Meeting (November 4th-7th Halifax)
- Attended as graduate student delegate with members of the School of Graduate Studies
- Attended all the sessions, most of which related to the economy and its effects on graduate education
- During the meeting there was also a presentation by the funding tri-councils, which was meant to highlight investments from government.
CFS Skills Symposium (November 6th-8th St. John’s)
- All members of the executive and some members of the BoD attended this symposium held at the Battery Hotel
- This successful event brought students from around the province to discuss various ‘skills’ required to help better run your student union
I also participated in a roundtable discussion as part of the Provincial Executive in which members highlighted issues related to post-secondary
GSU Services Survey (November 10th)
- Created and administered survey on services offered by the GSU between November 9th-16th
- Results from this survey are forthcoming
Remembrance Day Ceremony (November 10th)
- Attended ceremony and laid wreath on behalf of the GSU
Reception for the new president (November 18th)
- Attended reception for new president held for members of Senate.
NEW Computers (November 19th)
- The GSU has recently purchased 4 new computers for the Executive Assistants and for the VP’s
- The new computers are to allow executive members to work and save information in the office rather than using their personal computers for somewhat confidential information
- The computers will also be networked and contain a shared folder in which all the past documents, such as minutes, will be scanned and saved.
CFS Semi Annual National General Meeting Ottawa (November 24th-29th)
- Attended meeting on behalf of the GSU with Erin Stevens, VP Communications and Research
- During the meeting, we were able to discuss issues with other grad unions across the country.
- In the National Graduate Caucus component of the meeting, the delegates passed motions to direct campaigns for the next year.
- When a final copy of this becomes available, I will forward it onto the board.
- We also reviewed policies, budgets, campaigns and services of the Federation
Luncheon with SGS (November 30th)
- The executive had lunch with Noreen Golfman and Faye Murrin.
- We discussed the Aldrich conference and some ideas for speakers.
Graduate Student Development Fund (December 7th)
- VP Finance Nate Wilke, BoD representative Mike Freeman, and myself meet with Lily Walker and Noreen Golfman regarding our request for funds from the GSDF.
- Nate provided the group with a presentation and rationale for our request
- The request was passed by this committee that evening.
Senate Planning and Budget committee (December 9th)
- Attended for VP Finance, Nate Wilke
- Discussed the 2009-10 University Budget. We didn’t go over specifics but focused on carryovers and deferred revenue from government funding.
- The committee plans to strike a sub-committee to review the policy related to carryovers in the budget. The GSU will be seeking student involvement on this sub-committee
Social Events Committee (December 9th)
- Attended as ex-officio member
- Discussed some of the events planned for the Winter semester
CFS Provincial Executive Meeting (January 16th)
- Attended as Local 100, Graduate Students’ Union of Memorial University representative.
- Discussed campaigns for the coming year, focusing mainly on increasing awareness around membership. Specifically, the campaign will make students aware that, in Newfoundland and Labrador, they all belong to the CFS. This will hopefully increase awareness around lobbying efforts in the province.
- The 2010 budget submission to the provincial finance committee was also discussed. Concerning graduate students, this year’s budget submission focuses on increasing core funding for graduate students and recommends that the Research and Development Council consider placing graduate students on its board of directors. Having a student representative on this council is imperative if graduate students are going to have a say in funding allocations allotted by the Council.
- March 11th will be Canada’s first Bottled Water Free Day. I encourage all of you to go to the website, http://www.bottledwaterfreeday.ca for more information. Please make your departments aware of it.
BOD meeting (February 16th)
- The Board of Directors voted to allow MUNDISC, the Memorial University of Newfoundland Disability Information and Support Centre, to have a seat on our board.
National Graduate Caucus of the Canadian Federation of Students, Ottawa (February 24th-27th)
Executive meetings October 20th , 27th, November 3rd , 10th , 17th, December 1st,8th, 15th, January 5th, 12th , 19th, 26th , February 2nd (CHAIR)
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