GSA Meeting Roundup – Jan. 23

The UCLA Graduate Students Association is the voice of graduate students on campus. The association meets for forum every three weeks and takes positions on current issues affecting graduate students. Forum meetings are at 5:30 p.m. in the Ackerman Viewpoint Lounge.

Agenda:

  • Representatives from the career services subcommittee of the Graduate and Professional Student Welfare Committee announced that they are seeking student and general stakeholder input concerning career services at UCLA.

Special Presentations:

  • Representatives from UCLA Graduate Division Joseph Watson, the associate dean of the graduate division and a professor of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences, and April de Stefano, director of academic services, explained the changes in the leave of absence and in absentia policies. De Stefano gave a brief history of the policy and its implementation throughout the UC system and said one of the reasons for the policy was the encouragement of continuous enrollment for graduate students. GSA formed a subcommittee to determine desired changes in the policies and bring a resolution to the next forum for a vote.
  • Mavis Wong, a representative from the Tobacco-Free Campus Steering Committee, reminded the council the policy will be implemented on April 22. Wong passed out a flier that contained resources for the kick-off event, including websites and contact information for the UCLA Smoke-Free Resource center and the California Youth Advocacy Network.

Officer Reports:

  • GSA President David Zeke met last week with the National Association of Graduate-Professional Students, a national, non-profit, student-run lobbying organization. Zeke said GSA is seriously considering joining the organization. The membership fee is $500 for the association.
  • Vanessa Thulsiraj, GSA vice president of internal affairs, met with the Student Activities Center Board of Governors and said she is working to get a larger amount of space allotted to GSA in the Student Activities Center.

  • The John Wooden Center Board of Governors is holding a kickoff event for the healthiest campus initiative on Jan. 28. The board is also considering an initiative to clean up Stone Creek and make it into a recreational space.

  • GSA Vice President of Academic Affairs Nicole Robinson asked for council input on the leave of absence and in absentia policies. Robinson said GSA may put a referendum regarding the policy changes on the GSA elections ballot in the spring. Robinson also asked for input regarding ways to move forward with the sustainability and funding of the Graduate Writing Center.

  • Dani Molina, GSA vice president of external affairs was not present, but Thulsiraj said she will send out his report.

Appointments:

  • No appointments were made at Wednesday’s meeting, but director of elections Daniel Goodman announced the first elections board meeting will take place next Tuesday and every council must submit a representative to serve on the board.
  • Thulsiraj announced that GSA is still searching for an applicant to appoint as General Representative for the Campus Programs Committee.

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