Executive Board Reports
In Executive Board reports, President Schönn Franklin shared that he has his monthly meeting with the interim Graduate Dean next week, as well as with the Associate Dean of the Graduate School. As well as he has a meeting with the University President and his leadership team later this month. He then shared the priorities he will be focusing on this semester. The first priority is finalizing the development officer for the Graduate School position. He is working with the interim Graduate Dean and the VP for development and alumni relations to have this completed by the end of the semester. The second priority is having a graduate/professional student trustee position added to the Board of Trustees, which he is approaching in two ways. Schonn has reached out to have it added to the Governance and Long Range Planning committee’s February agenda so they can discuss it, and secondly, he reached out to the Governor’s secretary for Governmental Relations to talk to him and to see if he can have the Governor appoint a graduate/professional student. Lastly, President Franklin will also work on the leadership for GPSA for the next school year, including elections.
Vice President Jalen Jeter shared that the Board of Trustees will be in the coming month. He then added he will keep working with the Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response office and those meetings will also resume in the next month.
Treasurer Matt Billups shared that GPSA’s remaining funds for the fiscal year are about $20,000. That amount might increase as unspent money from other events is freed up. Matt also mentions that if delegates are purchasing goods or services for events, they should reach out to him in order to help speed that process along.
Secretary Alex Zhao asked committee chairs to please send him attendance records. He also said that tomorrow’s newswire is the first one of the year so please submit any event announcements or graphics by noon tomorrow.
Faculty Senator Lillian Schaeffer shared she has the first meeting with the Faculty Senate will be in the next few weeks and will share more then.
Graduate Council Claire Kelling shared to please share feedback on the Graduate Minor policy changes proposed by the Graduate Council as their first meeting is next week and they are looking for as much diverse feedback as possible. The feedback form is on our social media and is at tinyurl.com/minpolicy
Speaker of the Assembly Sandeep Krishnakumar shared that committee members and chairs should schedule their meeting times as soon as possible and to get any initiatives they might have underway as soon as possible.
Chief Justice Sam Altland mentioned that the judiciary was working on the intent to run form, which they plan on having available by the end of the month.
New Business
Presidential Appointments
- Drake Broussard who is doing a Master’s of Higher Education shared why he wants to be an Associate Justice, his experience, and what he wants from the position. Voting took place and he was confirmed by the Assembly.
Reports:
- Advocacy and Diversity: Chair Megan Minnich shared that their committee met before this meeting and they decided to move the PRIDE Brunch that was going to be held on Sunday, Jan 16th to an online event as well as move it to a later date that is to be determined.
- Professional Development: Chair Niladri Sekhar shared that they will update the priorities of this semester next week, as well as the events they are planning on.
- Programming: Chair Ama Agyapong shared they have not met this semester but there is a Doodle poll for the programming committee that is due to be filled this Friday, and she asked that committee members fill out the poll.
- Community Outreach: Chair Ram Neupane shared they haven’t met yet this semester and will meet next week.
- Internal Development: No report
No liaison reports were delivered, and no other reports were delivered.
During comments for the good of the order, Vice President Jalen Jeter mentioned that next week the director of Student Legal Services will give a presentation, and Graduate Council Student Caucus Chair Claire Kelling once again reiterated the need for feedback on changes to the Graduate Minor policy.