GGSA Minutes 3-25

Geology Graduate Student Association minutes

March 25, 2010

Meeting was called to order.

Members present:

Shanna Losee

Rob Dennen

Dawn Sweeney

Ken Christle

Patrick Whelley

Christine Sumner

Mandy Hintz

Pauline Paul Nesaraja

Star George

Jessica Ball

Issues discussed:

1.      Red Cross Donation

·         Donation paperwork for $200 in support of Haiti Earthquake Relief is in process with GSA; Jessica will personally deliver the check to the Buffalo Red Cross

2.      Buffalo Gem and Mineral Show

·         This weekend (March 27-28) from 10 AM – 5 PM

·         Cost $5 to attend

·         Jessica offering rides

3.      Spring open house on Saturday (3-27)

·         Held in Student Union from 10-12 AM

·         Contact Melissa Zelazny if you’re interested in helping (she needs two students)

4.      Ideas for spending remaining club money

·         We have $257.06 remaining that needs to be spent by the end of June (July?)

·         Purchase grill for club purposes?

·         Field trip possibilities (April or May)

o   Gore Mountain garnet mine

o   Alleghany State Park

5.      New student “survival guide”

·         Document will be posted on GoogleDocs; all are welcome to edit

·         Tips for new grads, information about places to live, etc.

6.      External Review results

·         Discussed future plans of department (new hires, changes to advising and class quotas, changes of balance of MA/MS/PhD student numbers)

·         Suggestion that graduate club nominate and/or support speakers for Pegrum series in order to diversify the subject matter of the talks, and to further involve the club with department activities.

·         Discussed faculty solution to missing student Pegrum talks for faculty meetings (adding more student talks); suggested that faculty reschedule meetings instead. Will be addressed at next faculty meeting (4-1-10)

Meeting was then adjourned.

Submitted by:

Jessica Ball for Sonja Melander (absent)

Geology Graduate Student Association President

Report from March 4 Faculty Meeting

1. The department is undergoing an external review, to address growth and future goals. If you would like to nominate yourself for "Lunch With the Exterior Review Committee" contact Patrick Whelley ASAP. Lunch is on currently scheduled for March 18th at 12:00, and 5 to 8 students will be selected to go.

2. Info on grad applications and expected enrollment (see Patrick's email!)

3. Dr. Mitchell's and the Volcanology research groups are still scheduled to move to their new spaces this summer.

4. The issue with the swipe card locks should be fixed within a week or so.

5. Further discussion of general security issues will occur at future faculty meetings.

6. Some changes may be made to the Pegrum schedule to allow faculty to attend student research talks. Again, contact Patrick with ideas and input on the issue!