Graduate and Professional Student Assembly
Council of Representatives
Big Red Barn
November 14, 2005
5:30–7:00 p.m.

I. Presentation: Cornell’s Bias Response Program (Alan Mittman, Senior Program Manager, Office of Workforce Diversity, Equality and Life Quality)′

A. Mittman described what the Office of Workforce Diversity, Equality and Life Quality does and its responsibilities. He also gave a history of how it was formed

A. Mittman said that we are celebrating 5th year of the Bias Response Program, and also 5th year of the initiative sponsored by Cornell; which is the “open doors, open hearts, open minds” motto.

A. Mittman showed assembly a brochure about the Bias Response Program and discussed the program.

A. Mittman talked about what things are available on the website and resources available and encouraged people to use them. He handed out a list of “reporting team members” who are people you can go to and report bias activities.

A. Beggs reiterated the multi-tiered a grievance procedures that are available for graduate students: academic grievances go through the Graduate School, and harassment/discrimination grievances go through the Office for Workforce Diversity etc. If there is a combination of discrimination and academic grievance, the Grad School and the Office work together in investigating the matter. A. Mittman concurred by saying if there are items that are related to bias it will be passed onto them.

II. Presentation: Gannett Health Services and the Student Health Insurance Program (Valerie Lyon, Assoc. Director, Business & Finance, Gannett Health Center)

V. Lyon got a list of questions to get started from the pay and benefits survey. She gave a presentation on Gannett Health services, based upon those questions. She talked about the health insurance program and how the different plans are set up.

V. Lyon said that she needs students to be involved, she needs students that are willing to put the time into it and be committed.

V. Lyon is a social director of health services and she does a lot of work in terms of education and advising.

Assembly members asked questions regarding insurance costs, prescription benefits, and dental insurance.

III. Internal Committee Reports

J. Vertesi talked about the Events Committee. She said they are planning on having a Christmas party on the second weekend of December with the Big Red Barn.

J. Vertesi said that they are still trying to find a location for a possible student showcase event that might be held in the spring. She is also trying to put together a more detailed budget for the showcase.

J. Vertesi said that plans for having graduate student ball in the Sage Atrium is underway. She said that information will be said as soon as it’s available. They are trying to make tickets less expensive this year than last year.

IV. External Committee Reports

J. Vertesi gave a UA update. The UA held an open forum to address sustainability and transportation.

The GPSA Liason to the SA talked about the SA meeting and how the SA focused a lot of their time on student activity fee this year. The SA has approved Cornell Cinema’s funding request.

T. McConnochie talked about Convocation and Slope Day and how the SA wanted the GPSA to contribute money to these events and help fund it. The general consensus was against adding Slope Day funding as a line item on the Graduate Student Activity Fee.

V. Open Forum

S. Boutin asked about Greek Peak tickets; T. McConnochie said prices were lowered for grad/prof students after complaints. Retroactive refunds are presumed to be available for those who had already purchased tickets.

Gwen pointed out the problems involved when field representatives are appointed by DGS’s. She suggested the consideration of a more formal system for electing field representatives. A. Beggs and T. McConnochie agreed to add this to items for discussion at a future Assembly meeting.

VI. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 7:02

Respectfully submitted,
YuhLi Tsuei
Office of the Assemblies