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Summary of Graduate Student Senate Work Group Sessions

Questions and Answers Relevant to Recognition

 

Purpose: To identify and answer relevant questions that will provide insight in the process of deciding whether to pursue governance group recognition for the Graduate Student Senate from the Board of Trustees of UVM.  The below information is meant to inform graduate students as they voice their input in the process

 Meetings: 2/4 and 2/18 

Overview: 

Over the last three years, the Graduate Student Senate (GSS) has attempted, unsuccessfully, to be granted governance recognition from the Board of Trustees from the University of Vermont.  Currently, the GSS is a body that reports directly to the Graduate College.  If the GSS requests and receives governance recognition, it would shift the structure of the organization to be accountable directly to graduate students, rather than solely the Graduate College.  At present, the Faculty Senate (faculty governance group), SGA (undergraduate student governance group), GSS Exec Council, and the Medical Student Council fully support the Graduate Student Senate pursuing governance recognition.  In addition, it is also very likely that at attempt at becoming recognized will be successful.  This document contains answers to frequently asked questions that were generated at answered with the help of the work group members mentioned below.  Please read on for addition information.

 Further questions should be emailed to gss@uvm.edu

 Contributors:  Clint Jasperson, Melanie Brown, Lee Gross, Averill Earls, and Eric Garza

Other Student Attendees: Andrea Glenn, Denise Dunbar, Ted Hart, and Lori Alvarado

Graduate College Attendees: Ida Russin and Pat Stokowski
 

FAQ’s

 

1.  What is GSS' current budget and how is the money used? 

Click here for budgetary information.

 2. What are the main concerns? What alternatives are there to alleviating these concerns, aside from gaining governance recognition?

 There are several “main” concerns that the GSS would alleviate by becoming recognized as governance group by the Board of Trustees.  Currently, we are provided a budget by the Graduate College.  While we believe in the relationship that stands with the Graduate College, and wish to maintain that relationship in the event of any sort of changes made, the existence and funding of the GSS is at the discretion of the Graduate College Dean and not the GSS; in this time of economic decline and fiscal crisis, a need to cut monetary corners could very well result in a loss of GSS funding that substantially hinders the GSS’s ability to perform it’s mission.

Given the troubling economic times, it is expected that the next three years will grow increasingly dim for UVM’s financial situation.  More cuts will be made next year, and likely for two years after that.  The way things stand now, the GSS’s entire budget could be cut and we would not have any formalized influence in the decision process.  This means that as an organization, the GSS is very vulnerable financially because we cannot steer our own financial future.  However, receiving governance recognition would allow us to steer our own financial future by giving us the formal authority to implement our own student fee, if the graduate student senators approved that this approach was needed. 

Gaining recognition enhances the GSS’s ability to serve graduate students because, as a governance body, the GSS would be directly accountable to graduate students.  With the current structure, the GSS is accountable to the Graduate College.  This means that if an issue of mutual interest arose, like stipend increases, and there was a divide in opinion, the GSS would be required to support the Graduate College perspective and not graduate students.  At present, there is no other alternative to changing the structural integrity of the GSS, which is a distinct challenge that is separate from financial concerns.

 Last, there is a significant amount of power and influence that comes with becoming a governance group.  As a governance group, the GSS would be able to ask the Board of Trustees for support, in addition to challenging overall institutional policy.  Currently, our voice in this process is not formally supported and changing institutional leadership could compromise progress we have already achieved.  By becoming a recognized governance group, the GSS will reduce this risk and vulnerability.

 3.  How difficult would it be for the GSS to institute a fee if governance recognition is achieved?

 Implementing a student fee would take approximately a year to implement and would need to be rigorously reviewed and voted on in the GSS. The most difficult part of this process would be determining whether a fee is necessary and then how much and to whom the fee is charged. 

It is possible that, through the request to become recognized, it will be determined that the Graduate College will pay officer stipends and allocate a budget to the GSS for performing duties like putting on Research Day and Orientation, responsibilities that current executive officers perform. 

Otherwise, the Graduate College would be solely responsible for these functions.  It is in the interests of both the Graduate College and the GSS that collaboration continue in this way.  However, the decision to support and “hire” the GSS and executive officers rests in the hands of the soon to be elected Vice-President of Research and Graduate College Dean, who will be chosen by the end of April.  By formally requesting recognition from President Fogel, GSS options would be illuminated in this area and we would have a firm answer to this question before we moving forward in the process.

 4.  How will recognition as a governance group influence the continuity of the GSS?  

It’s the opinion of GSS executive officers and a majority of graduate students that have assisted in the process that this would significantly bolster our ability to improve programming and advocacy for graduate students.  The movement has a history for at least three years.  Fran Carr, the previous Vice President of research, was also in support of this initiative, and so were previous GSS executive officers.  In fact, a request for governance recognition was submitted two years ago, however the Provost denied it because the GSS, as an organization, was very new at the time.

 Because recognition as a governance group from the Board of Trustees formally implements support mechanisms for the GSS across the institution, the continuity of current infrastructure would be enhanced significantly.   This is important incase executive UVM leadership leaves (like President Fogel), because a new president or dean could essentially eliminate the GSS if they wanted by choosing not to support it and denying participation in relevant meetings.  While the previous example is extreme, it demonstrates the vulnerability the GSS has during times of uncertainty and transition.  It is the opinion of GSS Executive Officers that governance group recognition would be a significant milestone for the GSS.  Put simply, governance groups can ask and demand responses from administrators that regular student groups cannot. 

What about the continuity of GSS executive officers?

For the last five years, graduate students have continued to express interest in obtaining leadership positions in the GSS.  This is not anticipated to decline.  In fact, because the financial circumstances of higher education are becoming dire, it is expected that graduate student issues will become more important than ever.  It is the opinion of the GSS exec officers and the majority of graduate students on the recognition work group that graduate students will continue to engage this challenge; this has been the history of success that has resulted in the GSS existing for five years. 

Also, its important to recognize that continuity beyond the year’s term for an exec officer is integral to the success of any governing body.  Therefore, it would be in the GSS’s and the Graduate College’s best interest to continue to have the Dean of the Graduate College, or other relevant administrator as assigned, serve as an advisor to the GSS.  This would provide additional support to enhancing the continuity of GSS and is also the precedent for other student governance groups on campus.  It is also the current model that the GSS operates under.

 5. What has the GSS not been able to achieve under our current status that it would be able to with governance recognition? 

 Much has been accomplished under the current structure of the GSS. Fortunately, the GSS has a history of being successful with most issues due to informal relationships that exist across campus. However, if a circumstance were to arise that comprised the mutual interest of that relationship, the ability for the GSS to fully represent the issues of graduate students could become compromised.  For example, consider if the Graduate College decided to decrease stipends or discontinue support for health insurance or reduce the GSS budget (this is the case this year).  Because the interests of graduate students and the Graduate College are likely to be divided on these issues of mutual interest, it is difficult for the GSS to advocate for student concerns when the GSS is directly accountable to the Graduate College.  In addition, there are no formal mechanisms in place to formally redress decisions of this nature if it is disagreeable with the GSS.  However, if the GSS were recognized as a governance group, graduate students would need to be consulted collaboratively through all the processes mentioned above, in much the same way that the Faculty Senate and Faculty Union works with administration to change administrative policy, design contracts, provide health insurance, and other benefits. 

 In addition, becoming a recognized governance body would significantly enhance the GSS’s ability to grow as an organization, not in terms of physical size, but impact.  Acknowledging graduate student groups so they can rent space in the Davis Center and operating under our own authority (financial decisions and otherwise) are two significant capabilities that would be gained as a result of governance recognition.  For example, we could decide what to cut from our budget rather then having the Grad College decide for us.  In addition, graduate students would have the authority to implement a student fee to support programming and social functions to promote the graduate student experience, so long as graduate student senators approved it.  Why is this authority a nice resource to have?  Because a student fee structure is a more stable budget resource, whereas our current funding from the Graduate College is not, due to dire economic times. 

 6. Is the GSS under the Graduate College structure under recognized already? 

 It is the opinion of the GSS, the Faculty Senate, and the SGA (under-graduate governance group), that the GSS should become a governance group.  In addition, many graduate students expect the GSS to have an impact on policy and decision making that governance groups have influence over. An example includes serving on President Fogel’s Financial Advisory Committee.  During these pressing financial times, its important that graduate students be represented at the table, and it took some work to ensure that we could participate as part of that committee. This work consumes valuable time that could be better spent on utilizing resources that would automatically be in place if the GSS were a governance group. As a governance group, the GSS wouldn’t have to fight to make sure graduate students had a seat at the table.

7. What are the best/worse case scenarios?

 IF WE ARE RECOGNIZED:

Best case scenario: The GSS obtains fiscal independence, as an official and formal governing body for the graduate student community and UVM, while maintaining all of the relationships with the current institutions that we have—including the Graduate College. The Graduate College would continue to channel monies into certain programs, i.e. Research Day and Orientation, working with the Executive Council in a formal advising position to conduct the programs that they fund, but also to guide and help to maintain the GSS as a functioning body.  This is a very likely possibility.

Worse case scenario: the Graduate College can no longer align itself financially with the GSS, and therefore pulls out of the funding of the GSS operating budget.  The GSS is left to deal with its budgeting and expenses solo and would have no influence in research day, orientation, etc

MAINTAINING STATUS QUO

Best-case scenario: We continue to function in an advisory capacity to the Graduate College, and continue with our current informal avenues of influence.  Financial climates improve and the Graduate College is able to improve its financial support.

Worse case scenario: the Graduate College is forced to cut funding for the GSS because of difficult fiscal times, and the GSS is left without a budget to work with or a means to implement its own survival mechanism.

 8. What is the vision for the GSS?  What is the purpose for becoming or not becoming a recognized governance group? 

The purpose for becoming a recognized governance group is to enhance the breadth and depth of our capability as an organization that advocates and supports graduate students and to be directly accountable to graduate students.  Gaining recognition would allow us to continue our collaborative relationship with the Grad College because we have similar interests and mission statements, while simultaneously giving us more autonomy and influence to function as an organization.  Specifically, programming, budget, and governance functions would be decided by graduate students while being advised by the Graduate College, instead of the other way around.

 As a governance group, the opportunity to collaborate with the Graduate College would still exist, and it is very likely that events like Research Day and Orientation would benefit from joint investment from the GSS and Graduate College.

 9. How will becoming a governance body affect the relationship between the GSS and the Graduate College?  

This has been the most difficult question to determine, and more detail will solidify after the new VP of Research and Dean of the Graduate College is announced.  On the GSS end, we foresee a collaborative and mutually beneficial partnership.  It was commented on during our last meeting together that the Grad College would likely not be creating a new position to handle the responsibilities of coordinating Research Day or Orientation if the GSS became recognized as a governance group. 

 The GSS would certainly be open to continuing to contract out services to assist the Graduate College, which would provide an additional operating fund, and would extend our ability to do programs. However, the continued collaboration with the Graduate College is contingent upon the terms of our independence, the incoming Dean (TBA), and the function of the GSS as an independent body. At the last meeting with representatives from the Grad College, concern was expressed about entangling Graduate College funding with a political body (which is what the GSS would essentially seek to become.)  As such the by-laws and structure of the GSS would have to make some changes to make the collaboration more comfortable for it to continue.  This process would be vetted out with UVM legal council and other relevant parties. 

10. What guarantees, if any, are there of the Grad College financially supporting the GSS with regard to our options?  

Whether maintaining status quo or gaining governance recognition, there are no guarantees.  Currently the Graduate College is uncomfortable guaranteeing any financial support.  Though we have an allocated budget for next year, it is likely that this will continue to be cut in years to come and it may be cut further than it has year, already by $2500. 

11. What could the GSS stand to lose if it pursues governance recognition?  What could the GSS stand to gain? 

Steadfast

Constitution and purpose of the GSS and Grad College, to support graduate students and their education

Orientation in some way

Research Day in some way

Collaborative relationship in some way 

Potential Gains

·        Autonomy- Grad college becomes advisor, we become a governance group rather then other way around

·        Formalized support and continuity measures as a governance body of UVM- in many ways the GSS already acts this way, and its time to get formal support for doing so.

·        A steady and guaranteed financial budget that the GSS has sole discretion over, if graduate students decide to implement a fee.

·        An ability to perform services to extend our operating funds, i.e. put on research day and orientation, the same as the GSS has in the past.

·        Opportunity to advocate as GSS wishes independent of the Graduate College, if need be.

·        Opportunity to function as a political entity without Graduate College oversight, if need be.

 Potential Losses

·        Grad College no longer provides our operating funds for stipends, lunch, or other programs.

·        Grad College services (Treasure, Voting platform, etc)

·        Grad College and GSS may be in opposition on issues of mutual interest (stipend levels, health insurance, etc)

 Non-Guarantees and up in the airs

 ·        New Dean

·        Continued financial support from the Graduate College

Last modified April 04 2009 03:48 PM

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