GRACS

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

* 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

• 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.

* 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.

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.

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!

• 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.

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!

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.

Old Announcements are archived here

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