Graduate Center, CUNY
Doctoral Students’ Council
Plenary Minutes

December 14, 2007—6pm

Members and Voting Alternates Present:

Anthropology: Javiela Evangelista, Mariya Radeva
Art History: Whitney Thompson
Biology: Kathleen Schnaars Uvino (proxy: Karyn Collie), Lisa Offringa
Chemistry: Nancy Medina (proxy: Michelle Morazan)
Classics: Michael Broder
Comparative Literature: Andrea Efthymiou, Adele Kudish
Computer Science: Deniz Sarioz (proxy: Debora Upegui)
Criminal Justice: Alissa Ackerman, Crystal Rodriguez
Earth/Environmental Science: Lesley Patrick
Engineering Biomedical: Xiang (Ian) Gu
Engineering Chemical: Mehrdad Kheiripour (proxy: Caroline Artistico)
Engineering Civil: Rouzbeh Nazari
Engineering Electrical: Rex Wong
English: Kerdiana Chez, Allyson Foster, Cori Gabbard
French: Chong Wojtkowski
Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian Lit: Teresa Darwich
History: Carl Lindskoog
Liberal Studies: Christopher Ian Foster
Linguistics: Elizabeth Pratt
Mathematics: Micah Miller
Philosophy: Chris Sula
Political Science: Aaron Ibur
Psychology: Bio: Maria Maust
Psychology: Cognition, Brain, Behavior: Karla Felix
Psychology: Environmental: Stephanie Domenici Cabonargi (proxy: Paul McBreen)
Psychology: Industrial and Organizational: Jessica Anderson
Psychology: Learning Processes: Matthew Taylor (proxy: Marisol Hernandez)
Psychology: Neuro: Jenny Ly
Psychology: Social Personality: Rachel Verni
Social Welfare: Denise Torres
Sociology: Jesse Goldstein
Speech & Hearing Sciences: Kristen Maul
Theatre: Ana Martinez
Urban Education: Pamela Proscia

At-large Reps: Nazreen Bacchus (proxy: Roberto Barnaro), Jill Belli (proxy: Emily Sherwood), Randy Cota, Gregory Donovan, Rob Faunce, Dave Golland (proxy: Corey Frost), Anton Masterovoy, Amy Meyers, Aya Shohat, Amanda Springs (proxy: Antonia Levy), Kate Wilson, Danielle Wu

Members Absent:
Art History: Monica Steinberg
Audiology: Allison Shapiro
Chemistry: Clayton Mattis
Computer Science: Omer Demr
History: Jameel Haque
Mathematics: Brooke Orosz
Music DMA: Judy Woo
Political Science: April Henning
Public Health: Lauren Evans (excused)
Psychology: Forensic: Elizabeth Arias (excused)
Sociology: Valerie Francisco

At-Large Reps: Ericka Calton (excused), Caroline Erb, Fiona Lee (excused), Charles Lieberman (excused), Frank Muscara, Geoff Rab (excused), Meghan Sacks (excused), Brenda Vollman (excused)

Members Present: 52; Members Absent: 19

Chair: Gregory Donovan (GD)
Minutes: Adele Kudish (AK)

Guest Present: Manfred Philipp, Chair of the University Faculty Senate

Manfred Philipp discussed the joint degree in science doctoral programs (Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Biochemistry). Campus rankings are not as high, and most science programs will not accept students without full funding with a living wage. In addition, faculty in the sciences are not based at the GC, but at other schools. The faculty agreed with the chancellor to “fix” the problem. The proposals include one year with at least $25 thousand in funding, including health insurance (insurance and tuition would be paid by the Central Office). For years 2-5, the campus would pay for the tuition, but the Central Office would continue to pay healthcare. Philipp stated that a divorce from the Graduate Center is not feasible, but a joint degree would be. The State Education Board approved the idea already, and agreed that the curriculum decisions belong with the faculty, rather than the administration. On 12/15, the Graduate Council passed the resolution, but other programs signed off on it as stating “only in the natural sciences.” Questions arose about other programs, including engineering and public health.

Next, the USS Rep, Rouzbeh Nazari (RN), spoke briefly about the need for and possibility of cross-campus privileges, for example a unified health insurance system.

I. Approval of the Agenda

The following items were added to the agenda:
IX a. health issues committee
IX b. Adjunct Project
IX b. 2nd floor Library printers

Alissa Ackerman (AA) motioned to approve the agenda
Rob Faunce (RF) seconded the motion
It was passed by unanimous consent

II. Approval of Old Minutes
RF Motioned to approve the old minutes
AA seconded the motion
It was passed by unanimous consent

III. Old Business
a. Windows Live Hotmail

GD explained that the IT department put a hold on the transition to Windows Live Hotmail, and that they are actively pursuing in-house options, or possibly not going into Windows altogether. GD put a white paper on the DSC web site explaining why the Steering Committee was against the idea in the first place. IT was responsible in responding to our concerns, and will speak to the DSC in the spring to talk about what other options we have.

b. Bylaw
GD explains that the bylaw change only means to update terms like “postmark,” “mail,” and some other words to include their digital manifestations.

GD motioned to approve the Bylaw
RF seconded the motion
It was passed by unanimous consent

IV. New Business
a. Elections Process
GD said we spoke to votenet.com about e-ballot software. All we must do is sign a contract, and we will follow the same timeline as stated in the constitution for voting. We will not mail out physical ballots, but rather postcards indicating that the process is now online with a link. For voting, we will use banner ID numbers for identification purposes.

Denise Torres (DT) motioned to approve online voting process
Michael Broder (MB) seconded the motion
It was passed by unanimous consent

V. Student Affairs Report (GD)

In terms of the IT situation on the second floor of the library, GD mentioned a discussion with head of student services, Elaine Montilla, who indicated that they are not out of toner for the year. They have ordered toner, and it will take a few weeks to arrive.

Cori Gabbard (CG) brings up printer issue.

GD responded that there are two kinds of printers. It is not an issue of staff not addressing the issue, but rather that sometimes the printers can’t handles the number of files sent to be printed, and they shut down.

CG asked if it is a software problem.

GD indicates that the job and problem should be visible to the IT staff, and that IT acknowledges that there are problems. They are switching to a better software to track who’s printing and what, to unclog the printer, etc. It is not only an IT issue, but it’s also a user issue. GD indicates that students should report any problems we have to IT directly. Even if they don’t send a response, they’re still aware of the issue

Kate Wilson (KW) asked another question about software.

GD says that there are settings we could put on, pop up windows, etc., that could give information on the printing you’re trying to do.

Pamela Proscia (PP) comments that there are 11 open positions in IT.

GD says they’re civil service jobs, so they could not hire people until now. Now they will interview for these positions. People who answer the phones are not technicians, it’s a work study job.

PP mentioned that Hunter has a good IT system.

a. Chartered Organizations

GD indicates the sheet indicating which chartered organizations need to send the DSC rosters. We will have to re-charter any groups which did not submit these rosters.

Four groups that we discussed at the last meeting were eligible at this meeting to be chartered.

1. CUNY Women in Science, Engineering, and Math
DT motioned to charter the organization.
RF seconded the motion.

2. CUNY Spatial Scholars Group
RF motioned to charter the organization
DT seconded the motion

3. Early Modern Interdisciplinary Group
Chris Sula (CS) motioned to charter the organization
PP seconded the motion.

4. GC Poetics Group
RF motioned to charter the organization.
Andrea Efthymiou (AE) seconded the motion.

All the motions to charter the organizations were passed by unanimous consent.

DT mentioned that the semester ended already so no money carries over, unless money was spent today would count as next semester’s funding. In other words, a standing, existing body can carry over funds from semester to semester, but a new chartered org cannot.

MB mentioned that if this meeting had been held last week, it would have been different for these four groups.

VI. Communications report (RF)

RF recommended that we all look at the master plan response, which is now on the general GC site. He mentioned that Julia Rigley is coming to the next plenary, she will be the interim provost at that point. This is a good opportunity to ask questions of a candidate for the provost job.

MB asked whether Rigley replacing someone.

RF explained that the temporary provost, Linda Evans, is leaving, and that we don’t know what she will do afterwards.

MB asked whether we have more than one provost

GD and RF together answered that we have associate provosts, but we are talking about the general provost’s position.

VII. Business Report (DT)

DT explained that the business office had finished converting from Quicken to Excel in order to increase speed to determine money available, to have a system with transferability with continuity, and to be able to close out years versus running accounts. She also mentioned that to improve institutional memory and transfer of knowledge from SC to SC, a flash card was purchased for each of the three co-chairs, to assure that important history and information is passed on.

The co-chair met with Linda Perrotta and Sharon Lerner to discuss the plenary’s decision not to fund the Child Development Center. DT agreed to examine the possibility of getting grant monies available to the DSC through alternate sources to leverage with administration in support of the role the center plays in assisting graduate parents.

Finally, DT wanted to thank all those who sent in their fund requests. Today was the last day so submit requests.

PP mentioned that at the last meeting there was a discussion which was not passed about the child care center.

DT elaborated that she is applying for a $2000 grant. That money will be used to leverage money with the administration to pay for the child care center.

PP indicated that in addition to the children that the center serves, it also serves other departments here in terms of research, that the Center is also a “lab” in a sense, so we don’t want to lose it.

VIII. USS Report (Allyson Foster (AF))
AF had nothing to report or add to what was said earlier by RN. There is nothing that impacts the GC.

IX. Committee Reports.
b. Adjunct Project (Carl Lindskoog (CL))
CL indicated that a lot is going on with the contract struggle; issues that are meaningful for adjuncts and grad student workers. The union has prioritized achieving grad student health insurance through the bargaining process. He said that they are working with the union to push CUNY administration to deliver a plan for student health insurance. Something similar to SUNY’s health insurance may come through. At this point, we have a petition drive for grad student health insurance. Today at contract negotiations, CL presented 700 signatures to CUNY across the bargaining table (collected over two weeks). He spoke in the bargaining process about the urgent need for this. He also mentioned that he wants to work closely with the Health Issues Committee.

GD offered to put a link to the petition on the DSC web site

a. Health Issues (DT)
DT indicated that on 11/29, Danielle Wu (DW), DT and Annabell from The Wellness Center tabled for World AIDS Day. The table was well received. DW has started to reach out to the standing health issues committee members to let everyone know she is the incoming chair. She has been selected by the steering committee and the existing health issues committee.
DT motioned to officially ratify DW as chair for the Health Issues Committee
GD seconded the motion.
The motion was passed with all votes in favor except one abstention

DT mentioned that volunteers need to sign up for the Scholarship Development Committee. Brenda Vollman had made sure that the leftover money goes to awards to students, and members of the award committee are to develop guidelines for submissions across the disciplines.

GD added that Student Affairs will be interviewing nurse practitioners for the Wellness Center and that they’re near signing a contract.

DT added that volunteers are needed for the advisory committee to interview nurse practitioners.

RF indicated that Anton Masterovoy (AM) will be meeting with the library committee soon.

X. Announcements:

CL announced that five schools only pay two-thirds the adjunct rates for final exams week. If we don’t get paid for the third hour, there are protests at all these five schools this week.

MB invited everyone to meet for the Classical and Near Eastern Studies Group meeting, which would be watching a film.

RF motioned to adjourn the meeting.
GD seconded the motion.
It was passed by unanimous consent.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:40.