GSA Meeting Minutes - January 26, 2010

UGA Graduate Student Association

MEETING MINUTES

DATE: January 26, 2010

LOCATION: MLC 245

For more information about GSA, please visit us online at www.ugagsa.org

1.     WELCOME

1.1               Meeting called to order at 7:01 p.m.

1.2               GSA President Robert Shostack welcomed all graduate students in attendance.  Robert has taken over for Past-President Will Rooks, who stepped down from his position to study in Oxford, England throughout spring semester 2010. Lauren King has stepped in as the new GSA Vice President.  Lauren is a graduate student in Educational Psychology.

1.3               Being the first meeting of the semester, students were asked to introduce themselves.

2.       OLD BUSINESS

2.1        HEALTH INSURANCE UPDATE

2.1.1  CURRENT ACADEMIC TERM (FALL 09 - SPRING 10):  Last year, the Board of Regents had changed maximum out of pocket from $2,500 to $10,000.  In reality, this only impacted 25 students throughout Georgia’s 300,000 students, but 17 were UGA students.  UGA implemented an $86 rider that everyone paid to decrease the semester maximum out-of-pocket ($51.60 for students eligible for the 40% University cost share).

2.1.2  NEXT ACADEMIC YEAR (FALL 10 – SPRING 11): The Board of Regents have and will continue to meet to discuss price points and benefits for 2010-2011.  The Board of Regents may allow riders for various benefits (e.g., lower deductibles, max. out-of-pocket, wellness benefits) for different universities at institutional level.  There will be one or two more Board of Regents committee meetings this semester (Spring 10).

2.1.3  FUTURE ACADEMIC YEARS (FALL 11 & Beyond):  Next year is our last definite year with Pearce & Pearce.  The Board of Regents contracts with companies for a five year period.  The Board of Regents will discuss other options including new insurance company and new system with larger universities having own providers.  The University of Georgia may have the opportunity to choose a new university wide provider at that time.  UGA and other universities will provide their input.

2.1.4  QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS:  If you have questions about insurance or benefits, please contact UGA’s Human Resource Office.

Email:  gshiplan@uga.edu

Phone:  706-542-2222

Online, go to: http://www.hr.uga.edu/benefits/stuins/stuins.html

2.2        DISCUSSION OF OLD BUSINESS:  The floor was opened for general discussion.  No comments or questions were put forth.  The floor was closed for discussion.

3.       NEW BUSINESS 

3.1        CENSUS INFORMATION:  2010 Census forms will be distributed in March.  April 1, 2010 is Census Day, the official day of the population count.  All 2010 Census responses should represent the household as it exists on this day.  All UGA students are asked to fill out their own Census forms.  This can be a confusing process, so here is some important information.

·         International students must fill out a Census form. 

·         Parents DO NOT fill out Census form for the college student. 

·         UGA Housing will give out forms for Graduate Housing residents in April or May.  The forms can be completed and turned in to UGA’s designated form return site

·         If you live off-campus, all residents at your address are counted on the same form. 

·         People of all ages, races, ethnic groups, and citizenship status should fill out Census forms.

·         If you are studying abroad, you will not be counted in the Census.

·         Temporary job opportunities are available by visiting www.2010censusjobs.gov.

For more information about the 2010 Census, go to www.2010Census.gov.  

3.2        INTERDISCIPLINARY CONFERENCE:  The Graduate Student Association is hosting the Graduate Interdisciplinary Conference at the MLC on Saturday, March 27. We have extended the abstract submission deadline to January 31, 2010, so please visit the conference website to learn more about the conference and how to submit an abstract: Conference Website Link. Any graduate student from a Georgia university or college is allowed to submit.  Please apply, because we are accepting abstracts from ALL disciplines and fields and desiring very broad and creative interpretations of "health".  Please e-mail ugaconference@gmail.com if you are interested in volunteering at the conference or being on the planning committee.  This is an excellent opportunity to gain hands on conference experience and to add university service to your resume.

3.3        DISCUSSION OF NEW BUSINESS:  The floor opened for discussion of new business. 

ECOLOGY GRADUATE STUDENT SYMPOSIUM:  The Graduate Student Symposium (GSS) is an annual event completely organized and hosted by the graduate students of Odum School of Ecology. This free symposium is an opportunity for graduate students at all levels to present professional talks and for undergraduates to present posters regarding past, current, or future research. The upcoming 2010 symposium will be the 16th GSS and will occur on January 29th and 30th. All graduate students are invited to attend.  The keynote speaker will be Dr. Elizabeth Anderson of the Chicago Field Museum, who is also an alumni from the Ecology graduate program.  For more information, go to http://ecology.uga.edu/events.php?Graduate_Student_Symposium-298/

The floor was closed for discussion.

4.         GSA COMMITTEES

If anyone is interested in serving on the social committee, philanthropy committee, or service committee, please contact GSA Vice President Lauren King at leking@uga.edu

5.       CLOSING 

Meeting adjourned at 7:42 p.m.