Humanities Graduate Student Association
Council Meeting Minutes
Date – 20 June 2013
Time – 4:00 pm – 4:53 pm
Location – Humanities Reading Room – Library
Attendance
HGSA Board Present
Kelly Weber, President Present
Anthony Koth , Internal Vice-President Present
Michael Heyes , External Vice-President Absent
Carolyn Van Wingerden , Treasurer Present
Larry A Butz , Secretary Present
Derek Woods, English Rep Present (Skype)
Kyle , Art History Rep Present
Sarah Cain, Linguistics Present
Goat, GSA President (Religious Studies) Present
Suraya Khan, History GSA Rep Present
Agenda
Old Business:
1. Blanket tax secured.
New Business:
1. Professional development seminars:
1st yr student skills:
* Time management
* How to read for graduate school
* Etiquette
* University structure and hierarchy
* Rice oddities
* Living on the stipend
Teaching development:
* Dealing with problematic students
* Syllabus writing, including Rice rules and regulations
Research development:
* Publication training
* Revision techniques
* Paper workshops and Work in Progress
* Abstract writing
* Organization, records, archival storage, and data management (Digital Humanities ? HRC and Digital Media Center)
* Theory swap (inter- and trans-disciplinary training)
Funding development:
* Funding how tos
* Stipend service across departments
2. Officer board’s recommendation on the English department’s letter to President Leebron
*Council needs to vote on what, if any, action to take
4. Day of week/time for school year-meetings
3. Brown bag lunch talks?
Blanket Tax
Set up.
Goat: Internal VP of GSA needs to see year end budget of HGSA to continue blanket tax. GSA will get back to us on this process.
Professional Development Seminars
Need 8.
Linguistics: Brown bag lunch hour seems good
Abstract writing and theory swap
Paper workshops – revision techniques (contact Jennifer Cane from Center for Writing etc. for skill seminar) vs. WIP
Humanities structure and hierarchy – power and decisions explained by Dean’s Office
LaTeX – typesetting, word processor program. Linguistics had training for this.
Evernote
Zotero
Funding development (grant writing)
English Department Letter Response
Some concern about the tone of the letter and being oppositional toward Dean Shumway.
Clarifying, HGSA would send letter of support to English, a letter to the President, and any communication with the Dean of HUMA would be separate.
Motion to vote in support of writing letter of support to English:
Passes. Unanimous support less one abstention.
Due before August meeting
Agreed:
Steps:
-
Letter to English
-
Fact-finding mission about how the funding went out
-
Statement on staggering (Pre-condition to writing a letter to Dean Sanders or Pres Leebron, says Derek). A list of questions for Humanities deans and department chairs.
Meeting Times
Discussion. After 5:30.
Lunchtime Friday another possibility.
Brownbag Lunch Talks
In addition to Professional Development brownbags?
Test the waters. Set up one or two for September and October.
Time conflict with President’s Dinner?
Email Mike to check orientation schedule and contact GSA about time slots. Check with Anne Hellebust (anne.hellebust@rice.edu)?
