Advocacy and Initiatives
Currently SASgov is working on the following issues.
A SAS Student Handbook
There is no repository of information for SAS students that covers the general information applicable to all SAS students. Some programs have very detailed websites or their own handbooks, but these typically cover only the details of the program such as when exams happen, required courses, forming a dissertation committee, etc. We are trying to compile a handbook of information that all SAS students should be aware of and providing links to pages around the University where more detailed information can be found.
Dental Insurance
Last year, SASgov began urging the School of Arts and Sciences to complement graduate student healthcare plans with reasonable dental insurance, which it presently lacks (students who wish to add dental insurance to the standard university plan must pay roughly $300). SASgov will continue its efforts to encourage the School of Arts and Sciences to remedy this problem, through such efforts as the essay contest which raised awareness about this important issue by awarding dental insurance as prizes.
Master’s Students
SASgov is aware that SAS graduate students who are enrolled in terminal master’s programs face various problems that differ markedly from those faced by doctoral students. Having made such strides in advocacy for doctoral students last year, this year SASgov is committed to examining ways to improve the lives of master’s students and to putting together a program through which to address problems specific to this segment of our constituency.
