From owner-info@gso.bu.edu Thu Jul 29 13:03 EDT 1999 Received: from gso.bu.edu (GSO.BU.EDU [128.197.60.71]) by cs.bu.edu ((8.8.8.buoit.v1.0)/8.8.8/(BU-S-10/16/98-v1.0a)) with ESMTP id NAA12810; Thu, 29 Jul 1999 13:03:29 -0400 (EDT) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by gso.bu.edu (8.8.5/8.8.5/(BU-S-02/10/97-v1.0)) id NAA26823 for info-list; Thu, 29 Jul 1999 13:00:03 -0400 (EDT) Received: from cs.bu.edu (root@CS.BU.EDU [128.197.10.2]) by gso.bu.edu (8.8.5/8.8.5/(BU-S-02/10/97-v1.0)) with ESMTP id MAA26816 for ; Thu, 29 Jul 1999 12:59:57 -0400 (EDT) Received: from csb.bu.edu (rip@csb [128.197.10.4]) by cs.bu.edu ((8.8.8.buoit.v1.0)/8.8.8/(BU-S-10/16/98-v1.0a)) with ESMTP id MAA11916 for ; Thu, 29 Jul 1999 12:59:55 -0400 (EDT) From: Robert Pitts Received: (from rip@localhost) by csb.bu.edu (8.8.5/8.8.5/(BU-C-02/10/97-v1.0)) id MAA08415 for info@gso; Thu, 29 Jul 1999 12:59:53 -0400 (EDT) Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1999 12:59:53 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <199907291659.MAA08415@csb.bu.edu> To: info@gso.bu.edu Subject: GSO - summary of Wed, Jul 28, 99 meeting Sender: owner-info@gso.bu.edu Precedence: bulk Content-Type: text Content-Length: 5365 Status: RO Here is a summary of what we did at yesterday's Graduate Student Organization meeting. Our next general meeting will be in August (to be announced). --Rob Summary ======= 1. Committee Reports Financial, Academic and Research Committee ========================================== Ann Walker reported for this committee. - They have finished writing a policy statement for "Advising" and other aspects of the graduate student process. Again, this is a document that states what they think the responsibilities of students, faculty, depts and the univ should be in the advisor/ advisee relationship and degree process. It is now ready for members of other committees to review. Other interested students may also learn more about it by contacting Ann. ---- One attendee communicated a suggestion for how to get the "Advising" document recognized once it has been reviewed, i.e., by taking a step-by-step approach: having the GSO/grad students "sign on" to the policies in the document, then faculty/depts and finally the GRS administration. Another suggested that when it is ready for the administration, it should be presented via the Liaison Committee. Healthcare Committee ==================== Rob Pitts reported for this committee. They have: - Listed a portion of Massachusetts' minimum coverage requirements for Qualifying Student Health Insurance Plans in the "Legislation/Laws" section of the Healthcare Pages (http://gso.bu.edu/healthcare). This portion of the regulations mainly describes what maximums/deductibles/ copayments student insurance programs can have. - Although the NAGPS-endorsed health insurance plan is supposed to reflect those state regulations, the plan is still in the process of getting their Claims Dept up to speed on that. So we will defer making those updates on our web site until then. I.e., the NAGPS health plan write-up on the Healthcare Pages currently reflects the coverage for the plan nationally for 99/00, but does not list the better coverage they are supposed to provide in Mass. - Updated the Association Dental Plan for 99/00 on the Healthcare Pages. This is the NAGPS-endorsed dental discount plan, which apparently will no longer be endorsed this fall. - Added an additional dental discount plan to the Healthcare Pages, the CAREINGTON Dental Plan, which is offered through the Education Finance Group (the company that offers the NAGPS-endorsed health plan). Housing Committee ================= This committee is out of town for the summer. Liaison Committee ================= Rob Pitts , acting liaison for the summer, reported for this committee. Some of the following information comes from meetings with Andrea White (assistant to Assoc. Dean Whitaker). International TF Orientation ---------------------------- Mike Elioff volunteered to run a social event during this orientation. The event will probably be the evening of Monday, August 23rd, 6pm in the GSU. GRS will provide some food and Mike's band will play. They would like to invite continuing students to come mingle with the new students, but this will be contingent on costs. Also, there are other events for new int'l TFs during this orientation, including a Red Sox game, trolley tour of Boston, movie, and various receptions. In addition, they are giving these new students a free week's T pass (to use whenever they like). New Student Packets ------------------- We've given an updated "GSO Sept. '99 Events" flyer to GRS to be included in the information packets that new students will receive when they arrive in the Fall. It lists 4 events: the information fair for new students, a talk on "Intellectual Property", a social event, and our first GSO meeting of the semester. Library Privileges ------------------ Aimee Trochio , a grad rep from English who is currently representing those students on this issue, met with Martha Wellman Kahn from GRS. Ms. Kahn was not able to help on the issue, but suggested continuing to keep after Assoc. Dean Whitaker. She did inform Aimee, however, that the library gets info about who are TFs from the main student information system rather than the Records Office. Aimee and our liaison will try to meet with Whitaker after he returns from his vacation. Grad Student Fee ---------------- Andrea White suggested that if we want to pursue instituting a student fee by which the GSO would be funded, we may be able to have GRS send an e-mail to GRS students, surveying them on that issue. GRS Funding for GSO ------------------- As far as GRS funding different GSO events, Andrea White would just like to make sure that she gets notice of the money needed (e.g., for social events, etc.) at least one week prior to the event. Social Committee ================ This committee did not report. Steering Committee ================== This committee did not report. 2. Fall Activities This discussion was deferred until another meeting.