10/13/09

SASgov General Body

Amado Recital Hall

Present: President, VPs Finance, Policy, Public Affairs, Social, Communications. Reps: AAMW, Ancient History, Applied Math, Art History, Bio, Classical Studies, Comp Lit, Criminology, Demography, EALC, Earth & ES, English, Fels, HSS, History, Internat’l Studies, Linguistics, Math, Music, NELC, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Sociology

5:30-6:30 Dinner/Committees
6:30-6:40 Library Meet & Greet Recap
6:40-6:55 About Department Funding
6:55-7:10 Speaker Julie Vick from Career Services
7:10-7:15 GAPSA reports
7:15-7:25 Committee/Officer Reports
7:25-7:30 New Business

6:30-6:40 Library Meet & Greet Recap

Deirdre told us all about the search plugins (LibEx) that the library has set up. She will send us all a link – share with your colleagues! It is recommended that we contact our area specialists, & that we let the library know if we need new books.

6:40-6:55 About Department Funding

Bryan spoke abt dept funding – each dept eligible for up to $750 per year depending on # of graduate students. 1-50 $300; 51-100 $500; 101+ $750. Also, you must attend all meetings! Procedure for “getting your hands on that money” involves, at this point, emailing Bryan about the event (if w/in the next 2 weeks.) – but SAS finance has created new guidelines for us all. Deadline = 2 days before event, if no alcohol. If you will have a fancier event, w/ lots of alcohol &/or vendors, deadline = 2 weeks. nb There will be no reimbursement! If your dept has an account w/ business office, we can transfer funds as well. Conclusion: whenever you want to spend your funds, let Bryan know and he can work it out w/ you. Raleigh: funding is basically whatever students in your department want.

Claudia makes an announcement: we reps have to dress up for Halloween. October 29, from 5-8. Costume party/show! With prizes! Spread the word! Also, there are Halloween party flyers for us to post. Reminder that international students need to have ID – a photocopy of their official one, if not the passport / ID itself. Email Claudia w/ suggestions for additional social events.

Raleigh: There is a SASgov group on Facebook! Please join, if you haven’t done so already, and invite your friends!!

A list for professional programs, and a volunteer one for upcoming events, were passed around the room.

GAPSA report (bumped up b/c we were ahead of schedule)

Professional report, Matt: council is trying to find ways to bring the professional schools together. “School”/bar crawl. Funding presentations/solicitations have had specific questions asked of them. Be specific as to what you will use the money for, and how much you need. Smile and make eye contact.

Scott reminds everyone of what the funding’s about, and reminds everyone of travel funding applications as well. Discussion of travel grants – GAPSA you can get more than once a year, whereas w/ SAS you can only get one.

Officer reports

Raleigh: Julie Vick can’t make it. Reminds everyone of who he is. Public Affairs makes flyers, yes, but is also interested in putting on events to get students more engaged in career possibilities, provide more networking, etc. Met w/ Julie Vick this morning. Career Services Office = incredible resource. There are people there specifically for graduate students; research as well as professional. They can be a neutral third party, where you can go & talk & not worry about gossip, potential repercussions, etc. Some of the events that Julie was going to talk about ; also, they have information-packed guides that you can obtain there. Based on that discussion, Raleigh thinks we should better connect students w/ resources that are already there. Get most relevant events into weekly emails. Resource guide. Main issue = better connecting people; get them out of the department mindset. Also continuing to talk about lunchtime/ dinner seminars w/ faculty to discuss broadly interesting subject. Film screenings possible. Raleigh talked to Margorie (sp?) @ library, who’s really gung-ho about getting word out about resources available there. PA will work with her to get information out about library special services & resources.

If anyone has any thoughts about career development events, etc., that they want us to do – please let PA group know. Considering putting together a career services survey; will keep you posted next week.

Claudia makes a special plug for the Rare Book Library. J “Come and get it.”

Arthur: Policy committee discussed wide variety of topics. Health care was one concern. Last Monday = first mtg of SHIAC (student health advisory committee). Committee asks its members to go through policy, w/ constituents, & think about potential tweaks. Today P committee discussed things like: is it logical to include dental in this health insurance plan? Part of problem = dental is an additional expense; hard to justify having that expense applied to all students who apply to Penn’s insurance policy.

Touched on tuition reform; will have a report to present to you next meeting, drawing on the work that was done last year.

Working on expanding SASgov’s reach to LPS. We should try & figure out how we might better meet their needs – w/ funding options, speakers, etc. Any and all ideas are welcome! (try & figure out why some LPS programs are more “dispersed” ? than others.

Bryan: Today F decided on funding for interdisciplinary events deadlines for rest of year. Nov. 6, Feb. 5, April 16

Claudia: We already discussed Halloween party a bit – there will be lots of food, & prizes! Please be creative, & let your friends know! It doesn’t have to be fancy, just creative. Raleigh made a sheet w/ dates for all of the events that we have planned. Volunteer to set up or clean up; if you come 3 times, you get a prize!

New Business?

*crickets*

Motion to adjourn; seconded; vote.

Meeting adjourned.