Graduate Student Association

Graduate Student Association

September 2009

Business Meeting

The Executive Committee

2009 – 2010 School Year President: Mikael Wagner Vice President: Xiaopeng Li Treasurer: Amy Stanley Secretary: Bhavin Shah GRGA Chair: Phooiwah Khoo PDA Chair: Rinky Alreja

Calendar of Events

Fall 2008 Semester 9/11 September Business Meeting 9/18 Club Registration Deadline

Finalized Agenda for October Bus. Meeting 10/2 October Business Meeting 11/6 November Business Meeting 12/4 Holiday Party / December Business MeetingSpring 2009 Semester 2/5 February Business Meeting 3/5 March Business Meeting 4/2 April Business Meeting TBA Spring Awards Banquet (Saturday) 5/7 May Business Meeting

A Note about TLA’s and other Acronyms

GSA: Graduate Student Association GSO: Graduate Student Organization PDA: Professional Development Award GRGA: Graduate Research Grant Award EXCOM: Executive Committee SAO: Student Activities Office

Club Registration

Get a form here or from the GSA Web Site Submit by September 18th to Debbie White’s

Office in Cumnock Hall Clubs MUST get a University e-mail address

(see your advisor)

Club Participation

Clubs are expected to volunteer to assist with business meeting food and cleanup

Clubs are expected to send members to serve with various committees– GRGA Committee– PDA Committee– Holiday Banquet Committee– Spring Banquet Committee

Treasurer’s Notes

GSA Budget

Total GSA budget– $55,000

Total encumbered– ~$34,000

Club allotments– TBD

2009-2010 Budget Breakdown

Important Information

All travel reimbursements must be turned

into GSA office Order from WB Mason when applicable Reimbursement deadlines:

– Fall Semester is December 11th

– Spring Semester is April 30th

Graduate Research Grant Award

For good research

GRGA

GRGA grants awards to good research proposals every semester.

Applications deadlines – tentative dates,~ Fall 2009 – 3rd week of October ~ Spring 2009 - 2nd week of March

The applications will be reviewed by the GRGA committee (which will involve students with varied backgrounds) and the recipients declared in the following GSA meeting.

The money can be used for various encumbered expenses of the proposed work and reimbursed from the association at the end of the semester.

GRGA Application Process

Forms are available from the GSA web site. Submit copies of all forms to the GSA office

Kitson 300 in clearly labeled envelopes Applications are reviewed by the board once per

semester. Board consists of graduate student volunteers,

contact Sethu for info Make copies of all documents for record

purposes

What is PDA?

PDA stands for Professional Development Awards.

Financial assistance for attending conferences, seminars, etc.

Who is eligible for PDA application?

ALL GRADUATE STUDENTS

How to apply for PDA?

Forms are available at the GSA web site – www.uml.edu/gsa

Fill the Travel Authorization and Liability Waiver forms.

Fill the PDA application and Travel Reimbursement forms.

Submit the completed PDA application at GSA office Kitson 300 in clearly labeled envelopes.

Requirements for getting PDA?

Submit Travel Authorization and Liability Waiver forms to Debbie White at Cumnock Hall (Provost’s office) before leaving for your conference, seminar, etc. or the PDA CANNOT be granted.

SAVE ALL TRAVEL RECEIPTS! Original receipts must be submitted with Travel

Reimbursement form. (Make copies of all the documents and receipts for records.)

Copy of Credit card statement must be submitted.

What can be reimbursed?

Transportation,

Lodging and

Conference registration fees

What cannot be reimbursed?

Food

Entertainment costs

Payments made BY/TO ‘third party’

What amount is reimbursed?

Non-presenting students - $250

Presenting students - $500

What is the deadline for PDA application?

No earlier than one month before the departure date of the trip,

OR No later than one month after the return date.

How are PDA funds awarded?

The PDA budget is set based on the total GSA funds available.

PDA’s are awarded on a first come first serve basis. Only one PDA award per student per academic year. PDA Applications are reviewed by the PDA board once per

semester. PDA Board consists of graduate student volunteers from

many departments. PDA Board volunteers should contact Rinky Devre.

2008 – 2009 GSO Requirements

Minutes from at least one meeting Events paid for by funding Approx. amounts for each event

Questions, Comments, and Concerns?

GSA@uml.edu

Mikael_Wagner@student.uml.edu

Amy_Stanley@student.uml.edu

Bhavin_Shah@student.uml.edu

Phooiwah_Khoo@student.uml.edu

Rinky_Devre@student.uml.edu