GPSC Notebook Nov. 28: Search for new faculty advisor, fund distribution

November 30, 2016

Daniyal Arshad

Arizona Board of Regents President Eileen I. Klein shares the goals ABOR wants to achieve by 2020 at the GPSC meeting held Tuesday, Nov. 15 in the College of Optical Sciences

The Graduate and Professional Student Council discussed the appointment of a faculty advisor and voted on proposed spending submissions in the Yuma Room of the Student Union Memorial Center at their meeting on Nov. 28.

“We need your energy and engagement,” said Lynn Nadel, the Pharmacology department head to the GPSC members assembled.

Vanderah and the rest of the general council discussed finding a faculty advisor to serve as a liaison between the faculty governing body and the GPSC and offer the members context on certain faculty issues.

He asked the council to provide a list of names of individuals they’d like to have as faculty advisor and said he’d attempt to fill the position and increase coordination between the two governing bodies.

Jim Collins, GPSC treasurer, presented a series of funding appropriations requests for a vote to the general council.

A $500 grant to the GeoClub to provide its members with t-shirts was provisionally approved, pending the submission of a statement adequately explaining why this use benefits all graduate students. All GPSC funds spent are required to benefit the graduate community as a whole.

The council discussed a request made by the GeoClub to have funds awarded last year roll over to this year if not spent. The council didn’t vote on the matter but felt a clear policy should be convened for the future that unspent money won’t carry over to the next year.

The council approved funding for conferences conducted by the English and linguistics departments and the Art History Association. The council voted not to fund a field trip the biosphere conducted by the INFORMS Student Chapter at the UA.

The GPSC approved spending $2,500 to gain an hour of graduate-only office hours and special seating for Noam Chomsky when he comes to campus next semester to teach a seven-week course.

The executive board informed the general council that it plans to put forth amendments to the constitution and bylaws to give the responsibility of resolving election appeals to the ASUA Supreme Court instead of the GPSC Executive Council.

The council voted to table discussion on previously proposed amendments to the bylaws involving stipends and committee appointments.

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