Graduate and Professional Student Council

Meeting Minutes for October 23, 2007

Kaskaskia Room, Student Center, 7:00 PM

I. Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 7:07 PM.

II. Roll Call

Qiaoyun (Janet) Zhang (Anthropology), Trey Gossett (Art and Design), Ed Ford (Educational Psychology), Jennifer Mulnix (Educational Psychology), Timothy Hudspeth (Law), Lance Camp (Law), Cord Wittig (Law), Sumi Rebeiro (Law), Alex Strong (Philosophy), Mike Stahl (Zoology), Christina Bearden-White (History), Nathaniel Taylor (History), Amanda Moore (Speech Communication), Ashley Phillips (Mass Communications and Media Arts), Janet Mayher (Graduate Council), Claudia Torres-Ambriz (Graduate Council), Jonathon Remo (Graduate Council), Jason Hammand (Graduate Council), Sara Samson (VP Administrative Affairs), Linka G Crosby (LSA).

III. Approval of the Agenda

Steven Middleton proposed to delete guest speaker Dr. Katie Sermersheim, the proposal from Project Eco-Dawgs, and the committee report from Recreational Sports and Services Advisory Board was from the agenda. The agenda was approved as amended.

IV. Approval of the Minutes from October 9, 2007

The minutes were approved as presented.

V. Guest Speaker

A. Megan Pulliam, student trustee to the SIU Board of Trustees came to describe her position and talk about some of the activities.

VI. Officer Reports

A. President: Steven Middleton

1. Steven reported on the Chancellor’s Advisory and Budget Committee. The committee is discussing undergraduate fees increase by 10% and graduate fees increasing 14%. The University wants the graduate tuition to be 1.4% higher than undergraduate tuition like peer universities. This most recent increase would put the difference at 1.35%. Graduate tuition will be continue to increased until the 1.4%difference is reached, at which point undergraduate and graduate tuition will increase at the same level.

2. Steven also had a meeting with Dr. Dietz to discuss fees. Fee proposals will be submitted soon (November 6 meeting) in order for GPSC to vote on their recommendations for the February 28th Board of Trustees meeting. Most fees will increase by 6-8%.

3. The Chancellor has decided not to offer prompt care for faculty and staff at the student health center. This proposal will be not be considered by the Board of Trustees.

B. Vice President for Administrative Affairs: Sara Samson

1. Sara, Steven Middleton, and several USG representatives met with Mass Transit. It is asking for a $1 increase in fees per semester because Mass transit is now being charged the University Service Expense.

C. Vice President for Graduate School Affairs: Shelly McGrath

1. No report.

VII. New Business

A. Underground Arts, a student discussion talk show

1. Underground Arts will air on SPC television on Wednesday’s from 10-11 P.M. 1st show would be next semester to have discussion on topics that affect students. The talk show requested assistance with advertising and discussion topics from GPSC.

VIII. Committee Reports

None

IX. Roundtable Discussion

A. GPSC and USG have made a proposal to the Fine Arts Activity Fee Committee to allow GPSC and USG to choose seven members of the committee and allow the faculty representative choose seven members of the committee. The members chosen by GPSC and USG would not have to have a major within the fine arts. GPSC and USG has have not heard back from the committee chairman. A suggestion was made to take a further look at the Fine Arts Fee Committee operating paper; copies will be available at the GPSC office.

B. At next meeting Student Affairs will be presenting fee proposals.

X. Announcements

A. The Art Department is conducting studio walk-thrus on Friday October 26, 2007 starting at 3pm. The walk thru will start at the Foundry, then will proceed to Pulliam, and will end at the Glove Factory.

IX. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 PM.