A special presentation by Brian Patchcoski, Director, Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity from the October 28 2020 Assembly meeting of the Graduate and Professional Student Association
10.14 Assembly Meeting
- Student affairs has had 1600 referrals for COVID-19 violations this semester so far to the Office of Student Conduct.
- Since Spring Break is not occurring next semester, there will be wellness days implemented for students and their mental health.
- Damon Sims, Vice President of Student Affairs, also urges everyone to register to vote as the PA deadline to register to vote is Oct. 19.
- Kelly Wolgast will attend the Nov. 11 Assembly meeting as the special presentation for further questions about Penn State’s response to COVID-19.
- Resolution 70-09 Constitutional Amendment (Membership Eligibility) was passed, stating that GPSA does not represent Dickinson’s Law and that GPSA does represent IUG students who are currently enrolled in graduate students.
- One new delegate was confirmed: Niladri Sekhar Mandal from the College of Engineering.
- Grad Council Alternate Confirmation, Ali Watts, was appointed.
- Resolution 70-10 Bylaws Amendment (Executive Board Duties) was passed which clarified terms of Executive duties such as changing the inconsistent name of Executive Secretary to just secretary, and clearing up the duties of Grad Council members
- Resolution 70-11 Constitutional Amendment (Track Changes in the Constitution) was proposed and tabled to the next meeting by the Internal Development Committee to track changes to the constitution in a log for them.
- Resolution 70-12 Racial Justice: Black Lives Matter was passed and is a resolution that outlines what Penn State should be doing to support and change to better support their minority students
- For community outreach, location points like the HUB office can be used for food drive drop off points leading up to Oct. 25.
The Assembly started out with a special presentation by Damon Sims, Vice President of Student Affairs. He recently had a meeting with Deborah Birx, the US Coronavirus Response Coordinator and Penn State alum about Penn State’s plans implementation to curb COVID-19 cases on campus. Student affairs have had 1600 referrals for COVID-19 violations this semester so far to the Office of Student Conduct. A tend has been seen is that students who test positive are reluctant to share who they have been in contact with so that their best friends do not have to isolate. Since Spring Break is not occurring next semester, there will be wellness days implemented for students and their mental health.
In terms of the Diversity task force and questions about student code of conduct, they are meeting and starting deliberation on how to feel students more welcome and make Penn State a more diverse and inclusive environment. Sims also urges everyone to register to vote as the PA deadline to register to vote is Oct. 19. There is an effort to see how the hybrid model of teaching can be made more efficient in light of the dwindling attendance of students in the in-person experience classes.
In Executive Reports, the President and Vice President for GPSA recounted his meeting with Kelly Wolgast about COVID-19 concerns and procedures that the University is doing. There are still unanswered questions, however Kelly Wolgast will attend the Nov. 11 Assembly meeting as the special presentation for further questions about Penn State’s response to COVID-19.
In unfinished business, Resolution 70-09 Constitutional Amendment (Membership Eligibility) was passed, stating that GPSA does not represent Dickinson’s Law and that GPSA does represent IUG students who are currently enrolled in graduate students.
In new business, one new delegate was confirmed: Niladri Sekhar Mandal from the College of Engineering. In the search of At-Large Delegates, more effort and new plans will be made to make sure more representation from colleges outside of STEM in the future. Grad Council Alternate Confirmation, Ali Watts, was appointed.
Resolution 70-10 Bylaws Amendment (Executive Duties) was passed which clarified terms of Executive duties such as changing the inconsistent name of Executive secretary to just secretary, and clearing up the duties of Grad Council members. Resolution 70-11 Constitutional Amendment (Track Changes in the Constitution) was proposed and tabled to the next meeting by the Internal Development Committee to track changes to the constitution in a log for them.
Resolution 70-12 Racial Justice: Black Lives Matter was passed and is a resolution that outlines what Penn State should be doing to support and change to better support their minority students. Transparency and consultation with Black student affiliated groups on campus were one of the many points recommended to the university.
For the Committee reports, the Professional Development committee is open to thoughts and suggestions on creating workshops people are interested in going to different topic workshops. For community outreach, location points like the HUB office can be used for food drive drop off points leading up to Oct. 25. The Internal Development committee is working on the semester newsletter, open student forum advertising, and bylaw amendment writing.
GPSA Special Presentation: Damon Sims, Vice President of Student Affairs
GPSA Special Presentation: Anna Barone, Director, Student Care and Advocacy
9/30 Meeting Recap
- This year Student Care and Advocacy is aiming for equity and equitable support as opposed to equality. This includes recognizing and pointing out the barriers to reaching out for students from different backgrounds and how they can make the office more reachable
- The HUB Walk-In Testing will be extended until Nov. 20 and is being expanded to include employees on campus and those who work in-person in labs and classrooms on campus
- An emergency faculty senate meeting was held the day prior. However, no resolutions were successfully passed, but the regular Faculty Senate meeting will be held in October. More updates will follow following the meeting.
- Two new At-Large Delegates were appointed: Ama Agyapong and Maureen Kahiu
- Resolution 70-09 Constitutional Amendment (Membership Eligibility) which dealt with proposes to the Constitution regarding IUG students and Dickinson School of Law students being represented by GPSA was tabled until next assembly.
- Bill 70-08 Virtual, At-Home Pottery-Painting Event Part 2 was passed which added funding for an additional 80 vouchers for the At-Home Pottery events to provide for a total of 140 kits for October and November
- Grad Cup signups are open till Oct.4; 80 people have signed up already.
The meeting kicked off with a special presentation by Anna Barone, the Director of Student Care and Advocacy and the services they provide to graduate and professional students. This year Student Care and Advocacy is aiming for equity and equitable support as opposed to equality. This includes recognizing and pointing out the barriers to reaching out for students from different backgrounds and how they can make the office more reachable. If interested in services or anyone has questions they can email Student Advocacy at studentcare@psu.edu or call 8148632020. They also have a 24/7 crisis hot line for any students who need it.
In Executive Reports, the UPAC individual funding opportunity was recommended to GPSA members which is a way you can request up to 500 dollars from UPAC for individual and organizational needs. All GPSA members who volunteered to be a moderator during the Town Hall on Sept. 28 were thanked for their time and a recap of the Town Hall was given. The HUB Walk-In Testing will be extended until Nov. 20 and is being expanded to include employees on campus and those who work in-person in labs and classrooms on campus. An emergency faculty senate meeting was held the day prior, which went over peoples concerns about half classes and faculty upset about a number of elimination of fixed term jobs. However, no resolutions were successfully passed, but the regular Faculty Senate meeting will be held in October. More updates will follow following the meeting.
Two new At-Large Delegates were appointed: Ama Agyapong and Maureen Kahiu. Resolution 70-09 Constitutional Amendment (Membership Eligibility) which dealt with proposes to the Constitution regarding IUG students and Dickinson School of Law students being represented by GPSA was tabled until next assembly. Bill 70-08 Virtual, At-Home Pottery-Painting Event Part 2 was passed which added funding for an additional 80 vouchers for the At-Home Pottery events to provide for a total of 140 kits for October and November. People may only participate once and a question will be added t the beginning of the sign-up form to ensure they are students.
In reports, the Speaker of the Assembly emphasized the importance of Assembly attendance and Chair of the Programming Committee, Jocelyn Delgado, stated that Grad Cup signups are open till Oct.4; 80 people have signed up already.
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- …
- 20
- Next Page »