Graduate Student Senate works parallel to the goals of USU
Like President Kermit L. Hall, the Graduate Student Senate (GSS) is trying to cut down on paperwork for graduate students this year.
Their first steps have been to place board minutes and monthly newsletter, The Informer, on their new Web Site at www.usu.edu/~usugss/index.html.
“The Internet is a lot more accessible, it saves money,” Erica Thomas, senate president, said.
The GSS met for their first formal meeting Wednesday. Representatives from each department on campus were invited to attend.
The GSS is working to address graduate student issues this year. Robert Franckowiak, a representative from the physics department, said GSS would like to see the possibility of a testing center on campus, not necessarily for everyone, but at least for graduate students.
Another element the GSS is trying to parallel with the university is retention issues, Thomas said. They’re looking into other means to provide financial support.
Suzette Beatrice, from the marriage and family therapy department, said there needs to be more recruiting done for students from other states and countries, other students could do this.
“The faculty can tell you what the university has to offer, but students can tell you what it’s really like,” she said.
Another GSS member said he was concerned about international students being able to get into their programs after they come here.
One of the benefits the GSS tries to provide to graduate students is a travel fund to help them alleviate the cost associated with presenting papers or projects at conferences across the country.
“We have money allocated only to be used for students to present their material. In the past, it has not all been used. If we don’t use it, we loose it,” said Brad Taylor, representative from the Nutrition and Food Sciences department.
Usually, there is $9,000 to $11,000 left in the $32,000 fund at the end of the fiscal year, Taylor said.
This year the amount of awards increased by $50, which is $300 per award, Taylor said. Master’s students are allowed to apply for one of these awards, and doctoral students can apply for two.
The fund is available because when students present, it “gives us [USU] some recognition, that’s why they give us the money,” Taylor said.
“If there’s no money left in the account at the end of the year, we’ve done our job,” Thomas said.
Applications are available outside the GSS office in the Taggart Student Center, Room 318 and must be turned in four weeks in advance.
Another issue addressed was the work done by the Student Health Advisory Committee, which is trying to make students more aware of the differences between being insured by the student health insurance and the services provided by the student health center.
“Many undergraduates don’t understand the importance of health insurance,” Thomas said.
The GSS talked about continuing to supply discounted copy cards to graduate students. The GSS sells the cards for $5 each, and of the initial $800 worth they purchase, there are only a quarter left, Thomas said.