EGSO Meeting Minutes 11/12
The next EGSO meeting will take place on December 3rd at 2:00 PM in the Graduate Student Library.
Tasks that Need to Be Completed:Elaina Frulla needs to attend the GSO Thanksgiving dinner on November 24th from 12-3 in SEFCU Hall of Fame Room.
Attendees: Sara Alotaibi, Kaitlin Albertson, Tony Delgado, Janelle Adsit, Joshua Bartlett, Degrassi, Luke Martin, Matt McGregor, Elaina Frulla, Joel Sodano, Eric Anderson, and Chris Jacques.
The next EGSO meeting will take place on December 3rd at 2:00 PM in the Graduate Student Library.
Tasks that Need to Be Completed:Elaina Frulla needs to attend the GSO Thanksgiving dinner on November 24th from 12-3 in SEFCU Hall of Fame Room.
Attendees: Sara Alotaibi, Kaitlin Albertson, Tony Delgado, Janelle Adsit, Joshua Bartlett, Degrassi, Luke Martin, Matt McGregor, Elaina Frulla, Joel Sodano, Eric Anderson, and Chris Jacques.
Minutes 11/12
2:15-3:20 Announcements
Matt McGregor reported that more faculty than graduate students from the English Department attended Wednesday’s Public Assembly regarding the potential budget cuts. To receive information about the cuts and how those concerned about them will continue to respond, contact James Searle at [email protected] and place your email in the body of the message. He also announced that at 3 PM Monday in the Alumni House the Senate will vote about whether or not to make the proposed cuts. All students are encouraged to attend this event.
Sara Alotaibi reported that a GSO Thanksgiving dinner will be held on November 24th from 12-3 in the SEFCU Hall of Fame Room. Someone from the EGSO must attend to fulfill our GSO obligation and insure that we receive future funding. Elaina Frulla volunteered to attend this event. A Holiday Gala will also take place on December third from 3:00 to 5:00 PM in the Terrace Lounge in the Campus Center. There will be refreshments, games, and prizes.
Sara also reported that students may contact the Dean of Graduate Studies, Kevin Williams, at [email protected] to voice their concern and or obtain information about the budget cuts.
Joel Sodano reported having once attended an awesome bad sweater party. He then read the notes Anna Eyre took at the meeting between English Department faculty and Susan Phillips. This document will soon be available on Google Docs and accessible through the egsoalbany account. The account password is “foucault.”
Joel Sodano also reported about the GAC meeting open to English Graduate Students. At the meeting: Josh Bartlett suggested somehow relieving some of the teaching burden on students working on their dissertation to expedite the writing process; students vented frustration over getting course assignments and their course descriptions posted later than undergraduates begin signing-up for classes; students also suggested some standardization of the required English 770 pedagogy classes, which would perhaps provide information about departmental and university policy; and Charles Shepherdson suggested reconceiving of the Humanities and the English Department.
Chris Jacques introduced the idea of the EGSO drafting a letter to present to the Undergraduate Advisory Committee. The letter would represent the concerns of graduate student instructors. Graduate instructors are unsure as to what constitutes a successful course description, why a particular course is chosen over another, and also why course descriptions are posted online after undergraduates have begun registering for classes.
Matt McGregor voiced his dissatisfaction with the first-year instructor syllabus review session that took place this year days before the semester began. He felt that the meeting should have taken place earlier, since syllabus revisions were mandated and changes in material were suggested. Luke Martin suggested that the UAC provide feedback on course descriptions submitted by first-year instructors so they have some idea of what the UAC thinks of as a successful course description.
Joel Sodano encouraged students to attend performances of Dear Harvey to support the Theatre Department, echoing Eric Keenaghan’s recent email. For show information visit http://www.albany.edu/theatre.
Josh Bartlett announced that The Americanist Group will hold a roundtable on December 2nd at 2 PM in Arts and Sciences 122. Jennifer Greiman, Donald Byrd, and Helene Regueiro Elam have agreed to participate. Other faculty members might be added to the lineup as well. If you know of any faculty who would like to participate, feel free to invite them and contact Josh Bartlett at [email protected]. An open meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 17 at 4 PM in Humanities 384 to plan the Americanist roundtable. Students are encouraged to attend.
3:20-3:35 Committee Updates
The Conference Committee reported electing Luke Martin as the Conference Committee Chair. The committee decided to hold next year’s conference at the Downtown campus. The committee confirmed that December 3rd is still the deadline for completing the CFP.
The Costitution Committee reported working on a mission statement for the EGSO. Chris Jacques and Michael Amrozowicz would like other students to voice their opinions on what the mission of the EGSO should be. Chris asked specifically if students envision the EGSO as an advocate for English graduate students and their needs. You can email Chris at [email protected] and Michael at [email protected] with your input.
Joel Sodano suggested that Chris and Michael hold an open meeting that would enable graduate students to contribute their ideas to the drafting of the EGSO constitution. This meeting will take place ideally sometime in February.
Tentative Agenda for EGSO Meeting 12/3/10, 2:00 p.m., Graduate Student Library.
1. Committee reports.
a. Outreach: A report on the can and coat drive.
b. Social: An update on the can and coat drive party to occur on Monday, 12/6/10.
c. Conference: Presenting a draft CFP for the EGSO to comment upon.
d. Constitution.
2. Americanist Group.
a. A report on the roundtable discussion.
2:15-3:20 Announcements
Matt McGregor reported that more faculty than graduate students from the English Department attended Wednesday’s Public Assembly regarding the potential budget cuts. To receive information about the cuts and how those concerned about them will continue to respond, contact James Searle at [email protected] and place your email in the body of the message. He also announced that at 3 PM Monday in the Alumni House the Senate will vote about whether or not to make the proposed cuts. All students are encouraged to attend this event.
Sara Alotaibi reported that a GSO Thanksgiving dinner will be held on November 24th from 12-3 in the SEFCU Hall of Fame Room. Someone from the EGSO must attend to fulfill our GSO obligation and insure that we receive future funding. Elaina Frulla volunteered to attend this event. A Holiday Gala will also take place on December third from 3:00 to 5:00 PM in the Terrace Lounge in the Campus Center. There will be refreshments, games, and prizes.
Sara also reported that students may contact the Dean of Graduate Studies, Kevin Williams, at [email protected] to voice their concern and or obtain information about the budget cuts.
Joel Sodano reported having once attended an awesome bad sweater party. He then read the notes Anna Eyre took at the meeting between English Department faculty and Susan Phillips. This document will soon be available on Google Docs and accessible through the egsoalbany account. The account password is “foucault.”
Joel Sodano also reported about the GAC meeting open to English Graduate Students. At the meeting: Josh Bartlett suggested somehow relieving some of the teaching burden on students working on their dissertation to expedite the writing process; students vented frustration over getting course assignments and their course descriptions posted later than undergraduates begin signing-up for classes; students also suggested some standardization of the required English 770 pedagogy classes, which would perhaps provide information about departmental and university policy; and Charles Shepherdson suggested reconceiving of the Humanities and the English Department.
Chris Jacques introduced the idea of the EGSO drafting a letter to present to the Undergraduate Advisory Committee. The letter would represent the concerns of graduate student instructors. Graduate instructors are unsure as to what constitutes a successful course description, why a particular course is chosen over another, and also why course descriptions are posted online after undergraduates have begun registering for classes.
Matt McGregor voiced his dissatisfaction with the first-year instructor syllabus review session that took place this year days before the semester began. He felt that the meeting should have taken place earlier, since syllabus revisions were mandated and changes in material were suggested. Luke Martin suggested that the UAC provide feedback on course descriptions submitted by first-year instructors so they have some idea of what the UAC thinks of as a successful course description.
Joel Sodano encouraged students to attend performances of Dear Harvey to support the Theatre Department, echoing Eric Keenaghan’s recent email. For show information visit http://www.albany.edu/theatre.
Josh Bartlett announced that The Americanist Group will hold a roundtable on December 2nd at 2 PM in Arts and Sciences 122. Jennifer Greiman, Donald Byrd, and Helene Regueiro Elam have agreed to participate. Other faculty members might be added to the lineup as well. If you know of any faculty who would like to participate, feel free to invite them and contact Josh Bartlett at [email protected]. An open meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 17 at 4 PM in Humanities 384 to plan the Americanist roundtable. Students are encouraged to attend.
3:20-3:35 Committee Updates
The Conference Committee reported electing Luke Martin as the Conference Committee Chair. The committee decided to hold next year’s conference at the Downtown campus. The committee confirmed that December 3rd is still the deadline for completing the CFP.
The Costitution Committee reported working on a mission statement for the EGSO. Chris Jacques and Michael Amrozowicz would like other students to voice their opinions on what the mission of the EGSO should be. Chris asked specifically if students envision the EGSO as an advocate for English graduate students and their needs. You can email Chris at [email protected] and Michael at [email protected] with your input.
Joel Sodano suggested that Chris and Michael hold an open meeting that would enable graduate students to contribute their ideas to the drafting of the EGSO constitution. This meeting will take place ideally sometime in February.
Tentative Agenda for EGSO Meeting 12/3/10, 2:00 p.m., Graduate Student Library.
1. Committee reports.
a. Outreach: A report on the can and coat drive.
b. Social: An update on the can and coat drive party to occur on Monday, 12/6/10.
c. Conference: Presenting a draft CFP for the EGSO to comment upon.
d. Constitution.
2. Americanist Group.
a. A report on the roundtable discussion.