Graduate and Professional Student Assembly Council of Representatives Notes

Big Red Barn Greenhouse December 10, 2001 5:00–6:00 p.m.

I. Call to Order O. Salminen, At-Large Representative and Vice-President of the 2001–2002 GPSA, called the meeting to order at 5:02 p.m.

II. Announcements and Reports P. Carr, Geological Sciences representative and President of the GPSA, announced the graduate and professional student activity fee was unanimously passed at the November GPSA meeting. He stated that Cornell EMS received the $1.50 they asked for, while the GPSA allocation was decreased to 0.50. He noted the GPSA gave Cornell Cinema $9.00 and the Student Assembly gave them $8.00. The cinema promised the GPSA they would implement two tiers for ticket prices that acknowledged this difference in activity fee money contributions. P. Carr told members he asked Susan Murphy, Vice President of Student and Academic Services, about going back to the color-coded ID cards given the fact that the university is issuing new ID cards in the fall. He reported that S. Murphy would look into this possibility. He added the cinema is also considering investing in an ID card-reading machine.

P. Carr also reported that COR reorganization was discussed at the last GPSA meeting. The current method of determining how fields are clustered and how GPSA members are elected will be examined. This topic will be brought up for more in-depth discussion at a later meeting.

III. Open Forum D. Demaine, Soil, Crop, & Atmospheric Science representative, issued an update regarding the health insurance survey.

O. Salminen inquired when the surveys are due.

D. Demaine responded there is no deadline. He’s received 17 responses including ISSO, Env.Toxicology, Food Science, and his department. He plans to summarize responses and give them to the committee. He pointed out that he hasn’t heard from anyone reporting to say they w fully funded but had to pay health insurance for themselves. Outside fellowships seem to be working properly. He summarized that people have commented that mental health coverage was too low and the appeals process too lengthy. The majority of problems were with dental coverage, the cap on prescription drugs, and eye care. There was concern about the limited number of eye care providers and the discount provided. He noted that many positive and negative comments were made about Gannett.

P. Carr commented that, as a basis for comparison, dental coverage for Cornell employees isn’t good either.

O. Salminen inquired if there was a reason why there were so few participating health care providers.

P. Carr commented he imagined it was a money issue.

C. Skopec, Food Science & Technology representative, informed members that the Fall Creek dentist seemed good.

D. Demaine remarked if one is covered and in Geneva that it’s a problem to get care. Prescriptions must be filled in Ithaca.

C. Skopec said half of her field is in Geneva and they have to come to Ithaca to go to the doctor.

A member said he knows of grads that are fully funded who have to pay their own insurance. One is a Fullbright scholar.

L. Eubanks, History representative, said she knows of people having the same problem. People abroad have problems with the health care plan, especially with prescriptions.

P. Carr suggested they pay for prescriptions and send for reimbursement.

L. Eubanks replied that prescriptions in France under twenty dollars aren’t covered. Individual drug prices tend to be inexpensive, but one is forced to buy a greater number of drugs and it ends up costing a lot.

C. Skopec asked if a student is forced to use SHIP if one isn’t fully funded and therefore Cornell isn’t paying their insurance.

P. Carr said people could use any other insurance plan, as long as it meets Cornell standards. There is a stringent waiver process.

O. Salminen remarked Gannett does not advertise alternative insurance plans, but students could go to ISSO if they wanted that information.

L. Williams, Genetics and Development representative, stated that no one from her department responded to the survey. However, she felt the $750 cap was not enough if one needed maintenance medication.

D. Demaine stated the committee is trying to provide a good plan that’s affordable. He conceded that this year it might be harder to negotiate a plan people would be pleased with as rates are expected to rise.

P. Carr reminded graduate members that even though insurance is paid by Cornell for a majority of them, that they still have to represent Vet, professional schools, and self-payers.

J. Wightman, Environmental Toxicology representative pointed out that prescriptions shouldn’t be considered optional healthcare. People may be able to go for longer periods of time without something such as dental care, for example, but a prescription is prescribed because it is needed at that time.

D. Demaine commented that he thought there was a [total] cap on the amount people should have to pay for prescriptions, but he wasn’t positive. He noted that typically when the committee hears about these “horror stories” of people who are having to go to such extreme lengths for health care coverage that they are usually able to work things out. Sometimes it just means the person needs to know the right person to approach for help in getting something straightened out. He added it is good for people to come forward when they experience issues or problems.

M. Lee, Architecture Representative, stated people in his department don’t have the information they need and he feels this problem should be addressed. Students come to Cornell thinking their costs will be covered, but get here and find out they aren’t.

V. Augusta, Education representative and liaison to the Faculty Senate, said Dean Cooke is very willing to help the GPSA in straightening this out, but they need actual names and cases to better address the problem. At this point, all these tales are coming through as hearsay and no one really knows if the reports are true. If people who have these problems would come forward and be specific about their case, they stand a better chance of receiving help.

A member inquired if providing a name was enough or if the student experiencing the problem needed to complete a questionnaire.

V. Augusta replied a name would be enough.

O. Salminen added that if it was discovered that students should have had their plans covered and didn’t, that they could be reimbursed.

P. Carr commented he wasn’t sure if some of the cases are malicious by departments, citing tales of redefining positions under different names.

V. Augusta said there might be some misunderstandings by departments.

P. Carr suggested sending names and social security number’s or student ID numbers of those who think they should have health insurance and don’t.

D. Demaine interjected that if people could forward responses to him he would share that with the committee. His email address is dcd8@cornell.edu.

O. Salminen asked if there were any other items for Open Forum.

S. Adam, Physics representative, commented that the $1,000 grant for travel through the Graduate School only pays for airfare. It doesn’t cover associated fees such as conference fees. He suggested they consider changing this policy and asked if people thought this was a good idea. If so, he offered to do the associated research on this topic and bring it back to the GPSA.

A member contended the amount was lower than $1000, citing $500-$600.

S. Wernimont, Nutritional Science representative, inquired if there was a finite amount of money and given to a specific number of students.

O. Salimen said this depended on whether it was personal research or not.

S. Adam added he’s not looking to increase the total amount allotted. He stated he’d like to allow the money to be used for more than travel.

A member stated that unused money might go back into the pool. She stated she’d be opposed to making a change if it consequently limited the number of students who could receive grants.

J. Sebastian and S. Adam volunteered to get details.

A member added that the $600.00 cap discriminates for travel anywhere outside the U.S. or Europe.

J. Wightman stated there are only two allotments of travel money for each student in her field during their graduate study. She felt there should be more flexibility with the money as long as one shows receipts.

S. Adam stated some departments have done a good job of handling this internally, but it should be standardized.

J. Sebastian said they would bring this issue up at the General Committee meeting.

O. Salminen questioned if, when using gpsa-l, members would want a prompt asking if they would like to reply to the entire list or reply just to the sender of the message.

Members unanimously approved this suggestion.

O. Salminen asked if there was anything else for discussion or any suggestions for next semester.

E. Conrey, Nutritional Sciences representative, said there was interest in her field in a forum on unionization.

P. Carr said he, J. Sebastian, and J. Moriarty are looking in to this.

M. Lee mentioned a lack of connection between his field and others. He would like to promote more interaction.

O. Salminen replied the GPSA could sponsor once a month interdepartmental meetings.

P. Carr suggested the GPSA could sponsor interdepartmental happy hours, with two departments at each planned function.

A member suggested having one department play host and inviting anyone who wanted to come.

P. Carr said he thought attendance might be better if departments were identified.

IV. Adjournment

This meeting adjourned at 5:56 p.m..

Respectfully Submitted, Margaret Heavey Office of the Assemblies