List of Meeting Minutes
BGSA meeting, 18 February 2010
Start Time: 4:30
Van Safety
- We discussed ways to make driving the vans safer at the suggestion of Alice Harmon
- Most attendees were in favor of allowing practice driving the vans before we took classes out. This could be in the form of Pete being more amicable to us borrowing keys to practice or a couple hours at the beginning of the semester being set aside as practice time or even making it a part of the IP course.
- Most attendees also supported having van checklists with several caveats.
- First, the things we have to check should be basic enough for those of us with little automotive experience to understand
- Second, if we have to sign off on this check list, we want to make sure that this does not make us more liable should something happen
- Third, the checklists need to go to someone (not a grad student) who does know something about cars and has the power to get the vans repaired. The checklists are useless if no one reads them.
- Grad students, who use the vans more often than staff or faculty, are in the best position to anticipate maintenance problems with the vans.
Grad Student Lounge
- In general, it would be ideal for this space to support a table/chairs, couch(es), dry erase board, coffee maker, hot water kettle and microwave.
- This space could be used to have lunch, coffee/tea time and for general decompression.
- The lounge could also be a place for brainstorming sessions and building collaborations.
- We are currently voting on whether we support this idea.
- After the vote, we will begin looking at location options.
Misc
- Jenny reminded us to be aware of worker’s comp. Many injuries we sustain, even if only mildly associated with work, are covered under worker’s comp, and if Gator Grad Care decides your injury should have been covered under worker’s comp, they will not pay for medical treatment. Should we have Julie Neubig come for a Q and A to help us clear things up?
- Jada reminded us that the 6th floor of Library West is an awesome place to study, has lots of natural light, is quiet, and is for grad students only. Get your access granted on the second floor.
- Clare reiterated that grad reps should contact the faculty on their committee about upcoming meetings. DO NOT assume the faculty will contact you. Ask Amy or go to the Biology Dept website to find out who the faculty are.
BGSA meeting, 1 December 2009
Start Time: 4:50 — Five Star Pizza was decent today.
Report from GSA meeting
- Julie reported back from the GSA meeting.
- There are $250 travel grants available from GSC. 14, 12, 8, 7 are left for January, February, March, and April, respectively. There are many available for May and June. You need an accepted abstract to apply, but may be able to get letter of acceptance earlier if you ask the conference organizer.
- Wednesday, February 3rd is the GSC research day. We need at least one poster from the biology department to be presented. If you have a poster ready, please consider presenting, especially if you have received a travel grant.
- Undergrads have voted to raise fees to renovate the Reitz Union. Estimated increase is $50 a semester. The GSC has written a letter to Bernie Machen protesting this. The GAU will be protesting it
- A raise in salary may be on the horizon?! It would probably be a raise of the minimum pay or a raise for incoming students.
Report from the graduate student opinion survey
Smirthi reported on the results of the graduate student opinion survey.
- The majority of us have been funded by TA ships. What is the “other” category of funding?
- The majority of graduate students were satisfied or very satisfied with their situation (workload, classwork, space, etc.) except for salary, financial support from the department, and financial support from the University.
- Smirthi suggests that if the minority is unsatisfied or very unsatisfied is a substantial amount (at times it is 15 people) than they should not be ignored even if the majority is happy.
- Jada suggested that a raw data breakdown looking at satisfaction based on source of funding.
- The majority was very satisfied or satisfied with the quality of mentoring. Though Kathleen suggested this could benefit from being broken down by years in program.
- Smirthi is worried the results seem too rosy and may make the department not want to improve, since 15% are unsatisfied.
- The majority of us are satisfied with the program as a whole, including the diversity of classes. Again this may be affected by the breakdown—is one an ecologist or a physiologist?
- Should new, first year students, be included in the survey? They may not have enough experience to really answer the questions.
- The majority was satisfied with logistical support. This includes IT, building maintenance, financial office, etc.
- The majority were only OK with gender and ethnic diversity. Ethnic diversity could definitely be improved.
- Overall, we are a generally happy, satisfied bunch!
- What is the motivation of this survey? The faculty also took a survey. We want to see these results!
Office trash
Office trash is only being picked up on Thursday evenings. It is now best to use hallway trashcans for your trash as these are emptied more regularly.
Faculty searches
There are 3 faculty searches next semester. That means about 12 seminars, lunches, field trips, and dinner parties.
- How can we maximize participation to minimize burnout?
- Jada reminded us that these searches are a great learning opportunity for us to understand how job searches work.
- One is for an “Eco Theorist” (i.e., the new Ben), one is for an evolutionary geneticist at the emerging pathogens institute, one is for an epidemiologist at the emerging pathogens institute.
- Andrew reminded us that the grad reps to these search committees are here to get input from us and bring it to the committee, so let them know if you want the candidates to have a certain skill or characteristic.
- Each candidate has a lunch in the courtyard, a field trip, a reception, and a dinner.
- Should we drop the dinner? How important is that on top of everything else?
- Should we drop the lunch? It is too big? Should they occur in the Botany Conference Room around a table to encourage more conversation with the candidate and less with one’s own group of friends?
- WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS IN OUR LAB TO GO TO THESE EVENTS. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY THEY ARE GOING TO COME. FACULTY SHOULD ENCOURAGE THEIR STUDENTS TO BE INVOLVED.
Balance
$2594 is our current balance. $300 will go to our research grant.
T-shirt
Jessica presented a new t-shirt design but many found it too “cute-sy”. They were however playing instruments, which was pretty awesome. But it needs more plants. We ultimately decided “no” on it but it and the old zoology design will be sent out to other people to make changes if they want.
End Time: 6:08
Miscellaneous notes from the President (Lori)
- Gaby Blohm has graciously volunteered to serve as the grad rep for the 3rd job search (emerging infectious diseases). Thank you Gaby!
- Thanks for all the ideas about grad student involvement in the upcoming searches. Several past and current grad reps are meeting with the faculty chairs of the searches on Friday. We will pass along these suggestions and keep everyone posted on the outcome.
- Finally, I wanted to thank Adrian for his positive comments during the discussion of the grad survey results. The merging of our departments wasn’t seamless, but I totally agree that the end result is an awesome biology department and I am also happy to be here.