• The theme for the March 11 Wellness Day will be “Intellectual and Spiritual Wellness” and the theme for the April 7 Wellness Day is “Physical and Environmental Wellness. University-wide programming will be made for these days.
• The University condemned the zoom bombing of the Black Student Caucasus event, if Penn State students are found to be involved, this will be a case where they apply the new student code of conduct. Both zoom-bombing events that have occurred have an ongoing police investigation.
• Bill #70-17: Funding for Bangladesh Night 2021 was passed. Bangladesh Night is a celebration of Bangladeshi culture through a night of music, dance, poetry, drama, and Bangladeshi food.
• Bill #70-18: Spring 2021 Graduate Writing Boot Camp (GWBC) Session 2 was passed which requests funding for additional members since the first session was capped at a full-house due to popularity.
• Resolution #70-22 Bylaws Amendment (Resignation Process) was passed which includes a a formal resignation process listed in the governing documents for members who resign.

The meeting kicked off with a special presentation from Dan Murphy, Director of Student Orientation and Transition Programs. He discussed Wellness Day Programming for the next few Wellness Days. The theme for the March 11 Wellness Day will be “Intellectual and Spiritual Wellness” and the theme for the April 7 Wellness Day is “Physical and Environmental Wellness.” He also outlined guidelines for the next few wellness days such as not recording lectures in place of class, cancelling meetings, and not having assignments due on or immediately after a wellness day.

In Executive Reports, President Alex Zhao discussed the University responses to GPSA’s demands in their most recent resolutions passed.  The University condemned the zoom bombing of the Black Student Caucasus event, if Penn State students are found to be involved, this will be a case where they apply the new student code of conduct. Both zoom-bombing events that have occurred have an ongoing police investigation. The Student Emergency fund has awarded over $978,000 to over 13,000 recipients. The Student Fee Handbook has had substantive changes to address in regards to harassment and bias.

Gradual Council met earlier that day and Graduate Council representative, Claire Kelling, urges those who know a faculty member who has been very supportive in helping he graduate student community to be considered for an Ombud.

In New Business, Bill #70-17: Funding for Bangladesh Night 2021 was passed. Bangladesh Night is a celebration of Bangladeshi culture through a night of music, dance, poetry, drama, and Bangladeshi food. The Bangladesh Student Association (BSA) is requesting funding from GPSA to co-sponsor the event and participate in celebrating the cultural diversity of Penn State. The approved requested amount is $2450.

Bill #70-18: Spring 2021 Graduate Writing Boot Camp (GWBC) Session 2 was passed which requests funding for additional members since the first session was capped at a full-house due to popularity. The Graduate Writing Boot Camp is designed to support graduate and professional students in meeting their writing goals by providing a quiet and supportive writing environment. In the last bill there were 20 participants per session and they want to increase to 60 participants with the new 40 participants being able to get the voucher for food every other week.

Resolution 70-21 Bylaws Amendment (Recording and Publicizing of Meetings) was tabled for next Assembly but it would change the ByLaws  due to the new online COVID-19 environment and state clearly on what should or should not be recorded.

Resolution 70-22 Bylaws Amendment (Resignation Process) was passed which includes a a formal resignation process listed in the governing documents for members who resign. In the past, people have stopped showing up to meetings or there were many informal ways so this Resolution adds guidelines to follow to resign.

In Committee reports, the Advocacy and Diversity committee is working on responding to the most latter zoom bombing events as well as how they can better support graduate and professional students with disabilities. The Programming Committee is in the process of registration for the Grad Cup, Pottery, and Coffee Hour events. They are also working on resolutions for a trivia and mocktail night to present to the Assembly soon.

• The Paul Robeson Cultural Center’s first in-person event will be held in February and called “Securing the Bag” and is a personal finance/budget focused workshop.
• Student Engagement Expo is looking for graduate and professional students for a panel for an event.
• There are a few liaison positions open and people can reach out to President Alex Zhao for more information
• The Assembly discussed ideas on how they can strengthen the response to the resolutions by Advocacy and Diversity from senior leadership at Penn State
• In New Business, Ali Watts was confirmed as a Graduate Council Student Caucus delegate and resigned her seat as a College of Education delegate, while John Luc Lgerand was confirmed as a Law School delegate
• Bill 70-14 Virtual Pottery Painting was passed continuing the popular at-home pottery nights for students  in conjunction with the State College business 2000 Degrees
• Bill 70-15 Grad Cup 2021 was also passed which also continues a popular GPSA event that allows graduate and professional students the opportunity to socialize in a friendly competition featuring different virtual and wellness events.
• Bill 70-16 Virtual Coffee Hour was passed. GPSA will give $5 gift cards to select local coffee shops coupled with a virtual zoom event (virtual 45 minute coffee hour event).
• Resolution 70-19 Response to Events on 1/6 at the Capitol was passed which discusses responses to news that allegedly Penn State community members were at the insurrection and local legislators that refused to seat a Democratic candidate in the legislature
• Resolution 70-20 Safety first: Racist and Homophobic Acts of Vandalism at Penn State was passed which responds to both the vandalism of a Bellefonte Pride Flag mural and the planting of stickers with white supremacist messages by a hate group in downtown State College

The Assembly kicked off with a special presentation from Carlos Wiley, Director of the Paul Robeson Cultural Center. The Center helps students develop social responsibility and consciousness. They host programs like keynote speakers, workshops, open forums, and conversations for students. Although they don’t have focus specifically on graduate and professional students, they aim to help all types of students feel welcome and encourage graduate and professional students to come to the center for services. Their first in-person event will be held in February called “Securing the Bag” and is a personal finance/budget focused workshop.

In Executive Reports, it was announced how there are a few liaison positions open and people can reach out to President Alex Zhao for more information. Student Engagement Expo is looking for graduate and professional students for a panel for an event. The Assembly discussed ideas on how they can strengthen the response to the resolutions by Advocacy and Diversity from senior leadership at Penn State.

The COVID case dashboard will be updated Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays now as opposed to twice a week last semester. There will probably be alternative grading exceptions but no blanket alternative grading for all students this semester.

In New Business, Ali Watts was confirmed as a Graduate Council Student Caucus delegate and resigned her seat as a College of Education delegate, while John Luc Lgerand was confirmed as a Law School delegate.

Bill 70-14 Virtual Pottery Painting was passed continues the popular at-home pottery nights for students in conjunction with the State College business 2000 Degrees. The Programming Committee will host a virtual painting night each month to allow graduate and professional students to meet and interact with one another while painting their pottery.

Bill 70-15 Grad Cup 2021 was also passed which also continues a popular GPSA event that allows graduate and professional students the opportunity to socialize in a friendly competition featuring different virtual and wellness events. They want to continue their wellness challenges that were a hit and the top three teams will get gift cards. Everyone in the Grad Cup will also receive a free sweatshirt. Grad Cup is tentatively scheduled to begin Monday, March 1, 2021 through Monday, March 29, 2021.

Bill 70-16 Virtual Coffee Hour was passed. GPSA will give $5 gift cards to select local coffee shops coupled with a virtual zoom event (virtual 45 minute coffee hour event). These coffee hours will happen once a month during 6 the months of February, March, and April.

Bill 70-17 Bangladesh Night 2021 Cosponsorship was tabled to vote on in the next Assembly Meeting in two weeks.

Resolution 70-19 Response to Events on 1/6 at the Capitol was passed which discusses responses to news that allegedly Penn State community members were at the insurrection and local legislators that refused to seat a Democratic candidate in the legislature. They are calling for action items such as seeing the university leverage it’s institutional power and for an investigation to be launched into any Penn State faculty, staff, and student who might have been involved in the insurrection and see accountability. They are specifically asking Penn State to provide a detailed accounting of any or past relationships with elected officials involved in the dis-information campaign.

Resolution 70-20 Safety first: Racist and Homophobic Acts of Vandalism at Penn State was passed which responds to both the vandalism of a Bellefonte Pride Flag mural and the planting of stickers with white supremacist messages by a hate group in downtown State College. About 50 stickers with the name and website of the far-right white-nationalist group Patriot Front were found. They are calling for Penn State to take action and address these issues.

In committee updates, the Advocacy and Diversity Committee is working on legislation to address the Black Caucus Zoom bombing racist and harassment incident. The Internal Development Committee is working on resignation procedures for all GPSA members and working on various ByLaws as well.

• Some of the current initiatives of the Student Disability Resources include:
  • Recognize social integration in addition to academic integration as a core responsibility
  • Promote campus climate evolution
  • Serve as an adviser to faculty
• Those returning to state college to go on campus or within 20 miles of campus should request the arrival testing from Penn State.
• In New Delegate Confirmation, Bristol Gunderson from the Smeal College of Business was confirmed.
• Bill 70-12: Virtual Cook-Along with a Professional Chef was passed and would consist of an event cooking alongside Greg Franklin, a Creole inspired Louisiana based Chef for three cooking events.
• Bill 70-13 Professional Headshots was passed which will help provide graduate and professional students with headshots during a COVID-19 era while maintaining COVID-19 guidelines during the photoshoots that will happen three times this semester.

The meeting kicked off with a special presentation from Leah Zimmerman, Executive Director if Student Disability Resources at Penn State. She discussed the resources that the office offers specifically graduate and professional students and what accommodations they can provide. You can follow them at instagram @psudisabilityresources. Some include:

• Qualifying and Comprehensive Exams:
  • Extended time on exam
  • Notes (oral proposal or thesis defense)
  • Record discussions
• Flexibility on
  • attendance policies
  • deadline extensions
  • exam rescheduling
• Adjustments on
  • teaching responsibilities/work hours
  • comprehensive exam location

Some of their current initiatives include

• Recognize social integration in addition to academic integration as a core responsibility
• Promote campus climate evolution
• Serve as an adviser to faculty

In Executive Officer Reports, President of GPSA, Alex Zhao, discussed that those returning to state college to go on campus or within 20 miles of campus should request the arrival testing from Penn State. Vice President, Julia, said no change was made to the February 9 wellness day despite it being during the covid remote period. Those who did a walk-up test need to do the mail-in arrival testing as of right now, but no penalties have been discussed for not doing the mail-in test.

In New Delegate Confirmation, Bristol Gunderson from the Smeal College of Business was confirmed.

• Jesse Barlow, State College Borough Council President outlined the forecast of plans on their local action responsibilities of combating climate change in State College.
• Student Fee Board president, Claire Kelling explained who makes up the University Fee Board, how what GPSA does with their events is funded, andthe core values of the Fee Board
• In Executive Reports, the President and Vice President urged members to visit https://actiontogether.psu.edu/ to provide feedback and share your ideas on how the University should combat racism
• In New Business, Eli Fields was confirmed as a New Delegate
• Bill 70-09 Grocery Assistance for Graduate and Professional Students Impacted by COVID19 was passed which authorizes the Executive Board to organize and sponsor grocery services for graduate and professional students impacted by COVID-19.
• Bill 70-10 Spring 2021 Writing Bootcamp was passed and is designed to help graduate and professional students in meeting their writing goals by providing a quiet and supportive writing environment
• Resolution 70-18 Rescheduling the GPSA Elections was passed to reschedule the GPSA Elections for April 5, 2021 since Spring Break is cancelled and usually occurred Wednesday, 13 days after the conclusion of Spring Break.
• In committee updates, The Professional Development Committee will be succeeded by Farhan Sadique as committee chair as current chair Justin Korman is graduating.

The meeting kicked off with a special presentation by Jesse Barlow, State College Borough Council President who outlined the forecast of plans on their local action responsibilities of combating climate change in State College. He urges State College residents to “not wait for the tornado” to happen in State College and take action now as they need cooperation and action from residents as well with elected officials.

The second special presentation was led by Student Fee Board president, Claire Kelling. Her presentation explained who makes up the University Fee Board, how what GPSA does with their events is funded, andthe core values of the Fee Board. In April/May the Fee Board collects members and has chair elections, in the summer and fall there is training and development, hearings from November-February, deliberations from February-March, and in march the formal recommendation goes to the VP of Student Affairs and President. You can email at studentfeepsu@gmail.com.

In Executive Reports, the President and Vice President urged members to visit https://actiontogether.psu.edu/ to provide feedback and share your ideas on how the University should combat racism. Penn State has a certification that will allow them to do a lot more testing next semester than previous.

In New Business, Eli Fields was confirmed as a New Delegate. They are involved in the Student Bar Association, Human Rights Society  the Law and Equity Committee, and more. 

Bill 70-09 Grocery Assistance for Graduate and Professional Students Impacted by COVID19 was passed which authorizes the Executive Board to organize and sponsor grocery services for graduate and professional students impacted by COVID-19. Gift cards for local grocery stores were $30 and will be purchased directly from the stores and mailed out to participants.

Bill 70-10 Spring 2021 Writing Bootcamp was passed and is designed to help graduate and professional students in meeting their writing goals by providing a quiet and supportive writing environment. 20 participants for the dedicated writing time will be given a lunch voucher for places that have vegan and gluten free options. This would be once a week for four hours for students to have a dedicated writing time throughout the semester.

Resolution 70-18 Rescheduling the GPSA Elections was passed to reschedule the GPSA Elections for April 5, 2021 since Spring Break is cancelled and usually occurred Wednesday, 13 days after the conclusion of Spring Break.

In committee updates, The Professional Development Committee will be succeeded by Farhan Sadique as committee chair as current chair Justin Korman is graduating.

• Special guest Kelly Wolgast, Director of the COVID-19 Operations Control Center at Penn State, discussed the Return Home program which is the program where all students can access voluntary testing before they go home
• Graduate students that are staying past Nov. 19 are advised to self-quarantine during break as walk-up testing has ended today and appointment testing ends Nov. 19
• In Executive Reports, the President reminded everyone that the State College Borough Graduate/Professional Student Representative Application is open. This representative will sit in on the Borough meetings and represent the graduate and professional student population
• Graduate Council meetings will be opened up to the University community possibly starting in the Spring after logistics are figured out.
• Resolution 70-16 Constitutional Amendment (Membership Eligibility) was passed, this is to clear up Articles XI and XIII in the constitution that includes changing verbiage to align better with assembly powers given in the constitution.
• Resolution 70-17 Bylaws Amendment (Proxies) was passed. GPSA is hoping to be more clear about who can be a proxy and the process for a proxy. Some of the additions/changes are a proxy cannot be someone who is in GPSA except for the University Faculty Senator, delegates are encouraged to find a proxy in their college, and a few more details.

Kicking off the meeting was a special presentation by Kelly Wolgast, Director of the COVID-19 Operations Control Center at Penn State. She discussed the Return Home program which is the program where all students can access voluntary testing before they go home. Graduate students that are staying past Nov. 19 are advised to self-quarantine during break as walk-up testing has ended today and appointment testing ends Nov. 19. However, employees in Return to work (RTW) can opt-in for future voluntary testing.

A few questions were about what after Thanksgiving break is going to look like and testing for Spring 2021. So far, Penn State is gathering information on how many students will be back after Thanksgiving Break, and it looks like few students will be back so far so testing will evolve with that on who and how often will students and faculty be tested. Testing before coming back to campus in January will not be focused on just highly concentrated areas with COVID-19 but everyone for every area will be considered for return to campus testing.

In Executive Reports, the President reminded everyone that the State College Borough Graduate/Professional Student Representative Application is open. This representative will sit in on the Borough meetings and represent the graduate and professional student population. A meeting with the Board of Trustees will be this Friday.

The next Faculty Senate meeting will be in December. There will be no SRTE’s this semester. Graduate Council meetings will be opened up to the University community possibly starting in the Spring after logistics are figured out.

In Old Business, Resolution 70-16 Constitutional Amendment (Membership Eligibility) was passed, this is to clear up articles 11 and 13 in the constitution that includes changing verbiage to align better with assembly powers given in the constitution.

Resolution 70-17 Bylaws Amendment (Proxies) was passed. GPSA is hoping to be more clear about who can be a proxy and the process for a proxy. Some of the additions/changes are a proxy cannot be someone who is in GPSA except for the University Faculty Senator, delegates are encouraged to find a proxy in their college, and a few more details.

In committee reports, the Advocacy and Diversity Committee discussed how they can increase mental health awareness on campus and beginning an inquiry of what mental health looks like across the graduate student body and thinking about wellness seminars, trainings, and more. The Professional Development Committee is continuing their work on the future mentoring program. For the Programming Committee, the pottery event registration is still open and first-time applicants will be given priority. The Thanksgiving Basket Drive will just be collecting gift cards this year due to COVID-19.

The student trustee is looking to get more details on the Board of Trustee’s Diversity goals for 2025 to answer questions coming from GPSA members.