Graduate bill passes, referendum extended
The Associated Students of Utah State University passed two bills Tuesday focusing on increasing the quality of graduate student life and advancing graduate academic study.
The first bill passed by the Executive Council asked to increase the Graduate Student Studies vice president budget, Erica Thomas, Graduate Studies vice president, said.
Thomas said, “I feel increasing the budget will enhance graduate student education at USU, and it’s what they want.”
Thomas said the proposed new budget calls for an increase from $1,848 to $15,000 in funding for activities and academic support.
Pending further approval, this new budget will allow graduate students to receive funding on a departmental level, Thomas said. Graduate students can contact ASUSU with their departmental needs for activities and research by applying for funding, she said.
Thomas said she would like to offer more activities throughout the year to graduate students such as a recognition dinner for finishing graduates and a dinner to acknowledge outstanding efforts by the students.
Thomas said some of the new funding will also go towards supporting academic resources such as journals for the libraries
“These are initiatives that have been supported by all the directors of Student Services,” Thomas said.
The second bill passed on Tuesday compliments the first bill by allotting $8,000 of the proposed $15,000 budget to build a new graduate student study center in the Merrill Library, Thomas said.
Andy Haws, Academic vice president, said his only concern was ASUSU would be giving funding to “a center we don’t yet have space for.”
However, Thomas said she feels “very confident that this bill will be further approved and funding will be given by state legislators to rebuild the Merrill Library which will include a new area for the graduate student study center.
As a result of Monday’s snow day, the student referendum has been extended until Thursday, Nollie Haws, Public Relations vice president, said.
Haws said students can vote online 24 hours a day until 4 p.m. Thursday.
Students are encouraged to take part in deciding whether to eliminate the Extensions vice president position on the ASUSU Executive Council, to create a new position on the Executive Council for a Diversity vice president and whether or not to allow secondary education majors to run for Education Senator.