• GSA

The Graduate Student Assembly, known as the GSA, functions as the University-wide student government for students enrolled in the Graduate School, the School of Pharmacy, the LBJ School of Public Affairs, and The University Of Texas School Of Law. Anyone who is a graduate or professional student is a member of GSA. Thus GSA represents all graduate and professional students from across The University.

Representation

For Fall 2008, the Computer Science graduate students are represented in the GSA by Kevin Bush and Richard Chang.

Announcements

[2007-11-27]

* Office of Sponsored Projects

• - Susan Sedwick addressed the assembly - Reminder that OoSP has information regarding external funding of
  • research projects, including a PhD Thesis

  - Contact Susan @ sedwick@austin.utexas.edu for more info.

* GAIN 08

• - Ben Spivey addressed the assembly - Reminder that the Graduate Engineering Council operates the Graduate
  • and Industry Networking Conference
  - They have a call for presentations, Comp. Sci. Allowed!

  - Website: http://www.engr.utexas.edu/gec/gain08/ - Contact Ben @ ben.spivey@gmail.com for more info.

* Student Library Council

• - The SLC will be providing new technology services in the Spring:
  • + Print using Bevo Bucks + Color Printing ($0.80/page) + Wireless printing through utexas wireless APs

  - http://www.lib.utexas.edu/vprovost/meetings/slcminutes/slc_index.html

* AR-2: "In Support of UT Families and Graduate Student Housing"

• - A new resolution was passed by the GSA - AR-2 acts as a formalization of our commitment to graduate student
  • housing

[2007-11-13]

* President Powers RE: Brackenridge Tract concerns

• - In an unprecedented event, President Powers answered questions
  • directly from the assembly.
  - He emphasized his focus to increase in the priority of graduate
  • student life at UT. This includes the housing situation.
  - He made note to mention that no decision will be made to end
  • graduate student housing without a lengthy process in the board.

* "In Support of UT Families and Graduate Student Housing"

• - A new resolution to emphasize our commitment to student housing. - The GSA is working in conjunction with the SG to pass this as a join
  • resolution.
  - Voting will take place on Nov 27th.

* NAGPS

• - The National Association of Graduate-Professional Students'
  • conference is here!
  - Still looking for volunteers.

  - For more information, visit: http://www.nagps.org/ - GSA contact: Rotimi Ojifinni - rojifinni@mail.utexas.edu

[2007-10-30]

• Student Library Council's Software
  • The Student Library Council has a central resource which provides
    • links to services that may help with paper authoring.
  • Examples:
    • Google Gadget for UT Libraries
    • Endnode firefox plugin
    • CD/DVD search plugin for UT Libraries

  • http://www.lib.utexas.edu/tools/

• Division of Statistics ramp-up
  • The GSA has been pushing to centralize the statistics courses
    • offered across the university.
  • If you're interested in seeing this happen, contact Brian Gatten and

    • let him know: gatten@mail.utexas.edu

• Brackenridge Tract
  • Graduate student housing + golf course deemed "too valuable" by an
    • external advisory committee.
  • President Powers is to attend a future GSA meeting to hear our
    • concerns about losing the graduate student housing.

  • If you have a concern related to this, contact Bradley Carpenter: bradleywcarpenter@gmail.com

• The Committee on Graduate Student Funding
  • I have joined the committee
  • Committee's primary concerns:
    • discrepancy across schools within UT in average student stipends.
    • discrepancy between UT and analogues in average student stipends.
  • If you have any concerns which should be brought to the committee's
    • attention, contact me.
• GSA social: HAPPY HOUR
  • Bi-weekly starting Wednesday, Nov 7, 2007.
  • Location: Hole in The Wall
  • Time: 5-7pm
• GSA social: TAILGATE PARTY
  • Nov 10 when Texas hosts Tech.
  • Details TBA.

[2007-10-16]

******************* AWARENESS: *******************

* Intellectual Entrepreneurship (IE):

A pre-graduate school internship which connects motivated undergraduates to graduates to gain experience conducting research. A limited number of $500 stipends to participating graduate students are available. If you're interested, visit www.utexas.edu/coc/cms/faculty/cherwitz .

* The Graduate School

Help for your writing (papers, projects, disertations, etc.) is available at the graduate school. Contact Dr. Tommy Darwin tdarwin@mail.utexas.edu for more information.

******************* UPDATES: *******************

* Statistics department

• - Previous efforts to centralize statistics instruction on campus have
  • lost momentum because of a funding shortage. Currently stalled.

* Flat rate tuition

• - TPAC is going forward with a proposal for a flat rate tuition plan
  • for all schools except law and business.

* Health insurance for fellowship recipients

• - the GSA has brought this issue to the attention of several
  • administrators. A task force is being formed.

* Graduate Student Housing

• - The Brackenridge Tract Task Force Report suggests the removal of
  • graduate student housing from Brackenridge. If you might be affected, you should contact Bradley Carpenter at

    bradleywcarpenter@gmail.com and tell him your story.

******************* Announcements: *******************

* Happy Hour!!

• - Free drinks for all graduate students hosted by the GSA at the Hole
  • in the Wall on Weds 24th from 5-7pm.

* Talk with Powers

• - PhD students are still needed to discuss issues they care about with

  • President Powers. Contact gatten@mail.utexas.edu if interested.

[2007-03-26] GPAW: National Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week (April 2-6)

Join us in celebrating National Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week. Events include Graduate Student Pizza Party, Professional Development Workshops, Interdisciplinary Perspectives, and much more. A full schedule of events along with details can be found at this link.

[2007-03-26] Natural Sciences Dean Review Student Forum

The Natural Sciences Dean Review Committee is hosting an open forum to hear student feedback on Tuesday March 27, 2007 from 5-6pm in PHR 2.110. Please come voice your opinion!

Is the Dean accessible to hear your concerns? Is there anything you think our college/Dean does better than other colleges? Is there anything that you wish our college/Dean would do better? Grad Students, how do you feel about: Amount of TA positions, Stipends for TAs, Teaching support and help, Career advising, Department research support, Department support in general?What have we left off the list? Come let us know!

[2007-03-26] Keep UT Hate Free Week

• Tuesday, March 27th: Keep UT Hate Free Day Rally and Keep UT Hate Free

• Wednesday, March 28th: Celebrating Religious Diversity

• Thursday, March 29th: Dimensions of Diversity

• Friday, March 30: Looking to the Future

Read more for details and RSVP information.

[2007-03-03] GSA Happy Hour #3

The happy hour for the month of March is this Thursday, March 8th from 5-7pm at The Draught House (4112 Medical Pkwy). GSA will pay for drinks via tickets until the allotted money runs out (and appetizers are free while supplies last)! Spread the word and get there early!

[2007-03-01] UT Environmental Volunteering Opportunities for Spring 2007

Invtation to volunteer with the SG Campus Environmental Center for one of several upcoming environmental service events: Trash to Treasure, Beautiful U Day, or the Waller Creek Cleanup. Please consider signing up as a group. Read more.

Older Announcements

Old Announcements are archived here

Issues

The 14-Semester Rule. Status: closed.

This issue was taken up for a vote and handled at the GA level. Students showing good progress will be eligible for waivers.