GPSG Assembly Board Meeting Minutes

April 11, 2016

University of Pittsburgh William Pitt Union Dining Room A

Meeting Summary:

  • Dr. Sbragia attended meeting to address Graduate student questions
  • Graduate Student Proposalbeing submitted this week to Dr. Sbragia

Attendance:

GPSG Executive Board Officers:

  • Joe Kozak
  • LaTriece Holland
  • Greg Logan
  • Tim Folts
  • Andrew Topp

GPSG Assembly Board Members:

  • Arts & Sciences 1
  • Arts & Sciences 2
  • Arts & Sciences 3
  • Biomedical
  • Dental Medicine
  • Education 1
  • Education 2
  • Engineering
  • GSPIA
  • Health & Rehab Science
  • Katz (Part Time)
  • Katz (Full Time)
  • Law
  • Medicine
  • Nursing (GNSO)
  • Nursing (DNSO)
  • Pharmacy PharmD
  • Pharmacy PhD
  • Public Health
  • Social Work
  • ANKUR
  • CSSA
  • GOSECA
  • PANAF
  • Persian Panthers

Others in Attendance:

  • Christina Mazur

Absent:

  • School of Information Sciences
  • TASA

1. Call to Order

President Kozak called the meeting to order.

Meeting with guest of honor Dr. Sbragia

Dr. Sbragia, Vice Provost of Graduate studies attended this meeting to speak to graduate and professional students and address questions posed to her by the students.

Priorities involving Graduate and Professional Students include placement for employment after graduation whether it be academia or other type of professional area.

Provost’s office works to track employment placement across schools. Schools are the primary source of career services and placement.

Dr. Sbragia noted that Pitt has a lot of key administrators who are good resources for graduate students.

Dr. Sbragia noted that consistency in Graduate student Committee representation is critical.

Jobs in academia are increasingly difficult to find. Dr. Sbragiaaddressed the increase in anxiety associated with this and has stated that counseling services on campus has increased.

Advice from Dr. Sbragia for students entering academia- do not assume that your experience as a graduate student will be very similar to what your experience will be like as a professor or administrator. Do not assume that where you are going is similar to where you have come from. Listen a lot, especially in your first year.

2. Approval of Minutes

Motion to approve March 21, 2016 minutes. Minutes approved

3. Old Business

4. Reports

4a. President’s Report

City Council proclaimed Graduate and Professional Student Week April 3-9, 2016.

Graduate Student Proposal being submitted to Dr. Sbragia this week and will include suggestions: Centralized Graduate student space, ability to communicate directly to students.

4b. Committees’ Report

Committees Thank You Event will take place Friday April 22, 2016 Wyndham 7-9 pm

4c. Communications’ Report

TEDx was a success on March 26, 2016. Graduate student attendance surpassed undergraduate. The planning of next year’s event will start as soon as possible.

4d. Finance’s Report

The 4RS student organization has been approved for supplemental funding in the amount of $1,000 to support their PHICC event.

Travel Grant applications for March have been awarded.

4e. Programming’s Report

Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation week events including Glass blowing, laser tag, the PhD Comic movie screening went well.

Spring Formal will take place on Friday, April 15, 2016

Capitan America Premier May 5 10:00 pm- tickets available on Eventbrite

4f. Administrative Assistant’s Report

The Administrative Assistance Position has been posted. Applications are due April 15, 2016 at noon.

4g. Assembly Board Member Reports

Arts and Science

Graduate Expo included several posters and presentations.

Town hall meeting occurred regarding Graduate Student Union.

Year of Diversity and Inclusion Academic Year 2016-17.

Biomedical

Increased outreach for volunteering with Chatham and Carnegie Science Center-STEM Saturday

Trampoline event planned

Dental Medicine

Several students attended student Dental Association Lobby Day in DC

Education

American Educational Research Conference in DC occurring now

New Board elected and transitioning

Engineering

RA and TA awards are being awarded.

GSPIA

End of the Year event April 1, 2016. Many GSPIAns attended

Board of Visitors Reception occurred last week

Katz Full Time

Spring Fling on April 1st well attended

New Board elected and transitioning

Katz Gives Back- $2,000 being donated to Education Partnership

Habitat for Humanity event last weekend

Medicine

Prepping for graduation

Incoming class being welcomed

NURSING DNSOand GNSO

Travel Funds inservice being planned

Pharmacy PharmD

Interprofessional Social-geared toward health services, but all are welcome will take place at Steel Cactus and include a Treasure Hunt

April 21- drug take back day for expired drugs or drugs you’re no longer taking

University Pharmacy 9-3 pm

Pharmacy PhD

Summer Retreat is being planned

Public health

Trivia Event occurring on Wednesday

School of Health & Rehabilitation Science

Health Information Management Session Taking –place 46 D Forbes Tower Thursday

Pitt SHRS Snapchat conversation with the Dean

7035 Forbes Tower Blood Drive April 14, 2016

centralbloodbank.com W0220026 to schedule apt

Social Work

Legislative Advocacy Day April 12, 2016 in Harrisburg

Yoga De-Stress during Finals week

ANKUR

Holi Celebration 1 pm Saturday April 16, 2016 Schenley Park

CSSA

Sports competition rescheduling to this weekend

GOSECA

Officer turnover will be occurring

PANAF

February had a lecture

Model African Union

April 8 Libyan Ambassador had to be cancelled

April 26 Program Africa Eats Event

Persian Panthers

Meetings will resume in June

Farsi classes being proposed

Iranian Movie night over the summer

5. New Business

PANAF has been under notice of non-compliance for Assembly Board and Finance Committee Delinquency. They have missed Assembly Board meetings on September 2, 2015, October 21, 2015. December 15, 2016, January 19, 2016prior to being issued the notice and the March 21, 2016 meeting after. They also did not attend 6 out of 8 Finance Committee meetings. Record of the Assembly Board meetings is attendance is included in the minutes, which are approved by Assembly Board vote.

Vote to remove suspension contingent upon May Assembly Board Meeting attendance:

24 approval

1 absentention

6. Announcements