Graduate and Professional Student Council

Meeting Minutes for November 6, 2007

Kaskaskia Room, Student Center, 7:00 PM

I. Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM.

II. Roll Call

Trey Gossett (Art and Design), Ed Ford (Educational Psychology), Alex Strong (Philosophy), Janet Mayher (Anthropology), Kristina Dzara (Sociology), Kyle Stevens (Law), Claudia Torres-Ambriz (Art and Design), Andrea Jones (Law), Christina Bearden-White (History), Ashley Phillips (Mass Communication and Media Arts), Sara Samson (Vice President for Administrative Affairs), Shelly McGrath (Vice President for Graduate School Affairs), Jonathan Remo (Geology), Gediminas Markevicius (Physics), Mike Stahl (Zoology), Elena Esquibel (Speech Communications).

III. Approval of the Agenda

Sara Samson proposed moving guest speaker Larry Dietz from IV to V. The agenda was approved as amended.

IV. Approval of the Minutes from October 23, 2007

The minutes were approved as presented.

V. Guest Speaker

A. V.P for Student Affairs Dr. Larry Dietz presented fee proposals. The proposals will be presented to the Board of Trustees.

B. Willie Ehling, director of Recreational Sports and Services proposed increasing the campus recreation fee from $6 to $31.60. This fee increase will be used to rebuild facilities that will be displaced by the new football field. This fee increase will last for six years. He also proposed increasing the Student Recreation fee from $114 to $122. This fee increase will be used to offset the minimum wage increase, pay for a new coordinator, and pay for new equipment.

C. Jake Baggot, Associate Director of Student Health Center, recommended increasing the S.M.B Primary Care fee from $171 to $181 per semester.

D. Sheila Echols and another representative from the Student Center recommended increasing the student center fee from $115 to $119 per semester.

VI. Officer Reports

A. President: Steven Middleton

1. A proposal for the Fine Arts Committee has been made which would add 7 at-large members to serve on the committee, in addition to the 7 members from the designated areas and the 7 faculty members.

B. Vice President for Administrative Affairs: Sara Samson

1. No report.

C. Vice President for Graduate School Affairs: Shelly McGrath

1. No report.

VII. Old Business

A. Fine Arts Activity Fee Committee

1. The council discussed and voted to support the proposed compromise that will add 7 at-large members to the committee and will retain the 7 members from fine art programs and the 7 faculty members.

VIII. New Business

A. Resolution Supporting Faculty Review Committee

1. The resolution passed 10-0-4.

B. Resolution Concerning Cost and Priorities

1. The resolution passed 10-0-4.

IX. Roundtable Discussion

A. The council discussed the Fine Arts Activity Committee and its operating papers.

X. Announcements

A. GA United has ended its contract negotiations. Graduate Students will be able to vote to accept or reject the contract the week before final exams. If approved, the contract will be presented to the Board of Trustees in January.

IX. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 9:29 PM.