Meeting Highlights – October 16th, 2024

Call to Order and Adoption of Agenda
The 74th GPSA Assembly commenced at 7:31 PM. The agenda and minutes from the prior meeting were adopted and approved.

Open Student Forum
The floor was open for public comments; however, no one came forward.

Special Presentation

Graduate Student Career and Professional Development – Leslie Jackson
Leslie Jackson from the Graduate School discussed initiatives supporting graduate students, including professional development programs and wellness activities. She highlighted improvements to the Graduate School’s website for easier access to resources and promoted upcoming events like the “Three Minute Thesis” and “Accelerate to Industry” series.

Old Business

Bill 74-07: ITE SLS 2024
After revisiting Bill 74-07, discussions concluded with an amendment to fund food costs only, raising the budget to $1,800. The bill passed with a majority vote.

New Business

Winter Gala – Bill 74-08
Jessica Shaw and Morgan presented details for the Winter Gala 2024, discussing the venue, catering, and ticketing. Following a supportive discussion, the bill passed.

Diwali Celebration – Bill 74-09
Pratima proposed funding for the Diwali celebration, focusing on food expenses. The assembly approved an amendment requiring additional funding efforts from other sources before passing the bill.

Indian Carnival (Mela) – Bill 74-10
The assembly discussed the significance of Mela, approving the bill to cover food, DJ, and decorations.

Executive Branch Updates

• President Seth Hojnacki highlighted upcoming changes to health insurance policies for 2025–2026, requiring semester-based enrollment verification. He encouraged voting registration and anticipated a joint statement on free speech.
• Vice President Anthony Miduri welcomed Dr. D as the new GPSA advisor.
• Finance, Advocacy, and Other Committees: Updates included funding opportunities, the formation of a graduate funding task force, and initiatives for new graduate student spaces.

Committee Reports

• Advocacy and Diversity Committee: Ongoing networking efforts with GSAs to understand and address graduate student concerns.
• Climate Action Subcommittee: GPSA will now be represented at the Sustainability Operations Council.

Closing and Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 9:36 PM.

Welcome to our latest blog post where we recap the exciting developments from the GPSA 74th Assembly meeting held on September 4, 2024. This session was full of dynamic discussions, important decisions, and valuable insights into the upcoming plans and initiatives of the Graduate and Professional Student Association at Penn State.

Key Takeaways from the Meeting

1. Welcoming New Delegates and Leadership

The meeting began with a warm welcome to new Assembly Delegates Ahmed Alam and Marvellous Faluyi. Robert Robinson was also elected as the new Speaker of the Assembly, promising to bring a fresh perspective and streamlined process to our meetings.

2. A Successful Inaugural Tailgate Bill

One of the highlights of the evening was the introduction and approval of Bill 74-01, which outlines plans for our inaugural Graduate and Professional Student Tailgate. This event aims to foster community spirit and engage students. After a thorough discussion, the bill was passed, reflecting strong support from the assembly.

3. Spotlight on Committees and Initiatives

Our committee reports revealed a range of ongoing and upcoming projects:

• Climate Action Subcommittee: Musa Mohammed shared exciting plans to promote sustainability on campus. The committee is working on various initiatives to reduce our environmental footprint and welcomes new ideas from the assembly. This is a great opportunity for members interested in climate action to get involved and make a difference.
• Professional Development: Nusrat Tabassum expressed a desire to enhance engagement and collaboration with other committees, aiming to provide valuable resources and opportunities for graduate students.

4. Exciting New Initiatives

Several new initiatives were discussed:

• Global Ambassadors’ Graduate Student and Family Day: Vaibhav Pal encouraged participation in this event scheduled for September 8th.
• Collaborative Event Planning: Manvita Mareboina is working on a potential event with Penn State alumni boards for next spring.

5. Looking Forward

The assembly emphasized the importance of active participation and encouraged delegates to advocate for their respective schools. We also reminded members to join our WhatsApp group for timely updates and discussions.

Upcoming Events

• Graduate and Professional Student Tailgate: Don’t miss out on our tailgate event this Saturday! It’s a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow graduate and professional students.
• Next Assembly Meeting: Join us at our next assembly meeting to continue shaping the future of GPSA and discuss new proposals.

Get Involved

We invite all members to stay engaged and contribute to our initiatives. Whether it’s volunteering for the tailgate or joining one of our committees, your involvement is crucial to our success.

Thank you for reading, and we look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events!

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