Graduate and Professional Student Assembly
Big Red Barn
August 29, 2005
5:30–7:30 p.m.

I. Introductions
T. McConnochie called the meeting to order a 5:34 p.m.

The assembly members introduced themselves.

II. Open Forum
Victoria said that she went to a meeting with the student academic services. At the meeting they discussed that they will be giving free bus passes for old students, and they are phasing this in within the next 3 years. Bus passes are also non transferable.

Gwen said that she is a campus club member and she was telling people to join the club. Mainly women do various activities in this club. Men are also welcome to come.

III. Approval of Minutes
a. April 25, 2005 One amendment was made and then minutes were unanimously adopted.

IV. Announcements and Updates � T. McConnochie
a. �How things work� T. McConnochie said that the overview of how the GPSA/COR operate will be discussed at the COR meeting on Sept 12. Most people already know this process which is an �assembly� system which includes the UA, GPSA, SA and employee assembly. There is also the faculty senate which has more power than the UA

b. Council of Representatives elections T. McConnochie just reminded people to get ready for elections.

c. Election of Masters student GPSA voting members T. McConnochie said that there are 2 seats open for 2 assembly masters students. They will be elected on Sept 12, however they need to be elected by their field. Tammy needs to be contacted if somebody wants to run for seats.

d. Committee Applications T. McConnochie said that Sept 19 is the deadline for the operations and staff committee to make committee appointments. Applications are available online.

e. Transportation Referendum T. McConnochie said that we need a liason for the SA because the GPSA needs to coordinate with the undergrad SA. Also, a liason for the employee assembly is needed. Dan offered to be a liason to the faculty senate.

T. McConnochie said that SA and GPSA need to discuss holding transportation referendum.

f. Presidential Search Committee student forum The forum will be on August 30 at 4:30 in G10 Biotech building. Doug will write an editorial in the Daily sun. There will be a small forum after the meeting for the GPSA.

A. Beggs said to look over the e-mail on goals in the finding new president e-mail.

V. Pay and Benefits Survey � J. Sullivan
J. Sullivan said that he was not involved in the creation of the survey. He said that the survey covers health insurance, domestic partner and spouse issues, child care, housing and transportation issues, and income.

J. Sullivan said that voting members have a draft of the report. Health care and childcare seemed the most important.

G. Curtis said that we need to talk to other day care bodies.

J. Sullivan said there were three issues with healthcare. 1) we possibly might have primary care providers 2) international students requested on having workshops on how NY healthcare works 3) there was an inconsistency of information given concerning healthcare, two different people were giving two different answers

J. Sullivan said concerning the domestic partner and spouse issues, not all domestic couples were equal. Somehow homosexuals get more benefits. They�re trying to think of what to do to help partners and spouses to find jobs. International students said they needed help in finding jobs.

J. Sullivan said according to the survey, transportation and housing cost too much.

VI. Goal Setting
T. McConnochie said that the goals will be discussed later at the COR meeting.

VII. Adjournment
T. McConnochie adjourned the meeting at 6:58 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

YuhLi Tsuei Office of the Assemblies