Special Presentation
Claire Kelling from the Student Fee Board shared the history and background of the SFB, including how the various different student fees (activities fee, facilities fee, technology fee) were combined or rolled into tuition. She also shared the facilities projects they have under consideration that would utilize the fee, like a new HUB addition, a new Natatorium, a well-being building with an office for CAPS, Campus Recreation and more.
Executive Board Reports
In Executive Board reports, President Schönn Franklin discussed his meeting with the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Office in Student Affairs where they discussed plans for the Love is Louder event held last week and the counter protests to the Milo event. He also attended the town halls for the first four candidates for the Vice Provost of Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate School, as well as a private meeting with each. Furthermore, he had a meeting with Associate Dean Sarah Ades about the establishment of a Development Officer and the pursuit of new forms of revenue-raising.
Vice President Jalen Jeter announced he will be attending the Board of Trustees meeting tomorrow and 11/12, and that he attended a Student Leadership roundtable meeting on 11/8.
Treasurer Matt Billups shared the available funds from the Student Fee Board and said to reach out to him with questions about purchasing on behalf of GPSA, and event planning.
Secretary Alex Zhao asked committee chairs to please send him attendance records after each committee meeting and to please let someone know if you are not coming to the meeting. He also said he will be sending out the newswire tomorrow so please submit any event announcements or graphics by noon.
Faculty Senator Lillian Schaeffer shared that they are still discussing the work that the Educational Equity Committee of the Faculty Senate is doing around recent reporting requirements and to increase student access to Title IX resources. Graduate Council Claire Kelling shared that the next meeting is November 17th and proxies need to be appointed.
Speaker of the Assembly Sandeep Krishnakumar asked members to please fill out the attendance form if you can’t attend the meeting and that if you need a proxy to let him know. As well as he asked members to check their Slack regularly and to be active in committee meetings.
New Business
Confirmation of Presidential Appointments
- Lilian Schaeffer and Schonn Franklin were confirmed as Graduate Council Alternates.
- Qian Zhang explained why she wants to be Engineering Delegate and her experiences. Voting took place and she was confirmed by the Assembly.
- Sara Albrecht Soto explained why she wants to be an At-Large Delegate from the College of Liberal Arts and her experiences. Voting took place and she was confirmed by the Assembly.
- Gerren Graham explained why he wants to be the School of International Affairs Delegate and his experiences. Voting took place and he was confirmed by the Assembly.
Next was Resolution 71-08 which is in support of the Schreyer Gender Equity Coalition’s Sexual Misconduct Survey recommendations, which the GPSA would be endorsing. Voting took place and the resolution passed.
Reports:
- Advocacy and Diversity: Chair Megan Minnich discussed how the committee was focused on the PRIDE Brunch scheduled for January 15th.
- Professional Development: Chair Niladri Sekhar Mandal shared that they are wrapping up this semester’s events and planning mentorship programs for next semester.
- Programming: Chair Ama Agyapong shared that they have around 129 people involved in Grad Cup, and asked for anyone who wants to volunteer for the events to contact her on Slack. She also shared that next month the coffee hour event will be back.
- Community Outreach: Chair Ram Neupane shared that they met last week about hosting an event discussing agriculture from a legal perspective, but they are waiting to hear from the speakers.
- Internal Development: Nothing to report.
Liaison Reports:
Eli Fields, liaison to the Student Legal Services Advisory Board, shared that Student Legal Services recently hired a lawyer for Commonwealth Campus services. They are handling more civil cases than criminal cases and usage has gone up. Additionally, the recent name change fund from UPUA has been well utilized and there is a landlord/tenant education module that is being released soon.
Katie Warczak, liaison to the Center for Performing Arts Student Advisory Board, shared their meeting discussed sustainability events for spring and how to keep them COVID safe. She also said to let her know in Slack if you have ideas of want you want to see the Center for Performing Arts do.
Farhan Sadique, liaison to Campus Recreation Student Advisory Board, shared concerns about how graduate and professional students often have partners that want access to facilities for physical health, and mentioned that there is an ability to access with a different cost, and that tennis courts are likely to get updated equipment.
Student Trustee Janiyah Davis was not present but will provide a written report following the Board of Trustees meeting for the next Assembly meeting.