1. Council of Graduate Students General Assembly October 18, 2006

2. P & R Council Meetings Assembly (all councils): Assembly (all councils): –Tuesday Oct. 24, 3:00-5:00 Social Sciences: Social Sciences: –Tuesday Oct. 31, 2006, 3:00-5:00 Language, Literature, and Arts: Language, Literature, and Arts: –Wednesday Nov. 1, 3:00-5:00 Engineering, Physical, Mathematical Sciences: Engineering, Physical, Mathematical Sciences: –Tuesday Nov. 7, 3:00-5:00 Health Sciences: Health Sciences: –Wednesday Nov. 8, 3:00-5:00 Biological Sciences: Biological Sciences: –Tuesday Nov. 14, 3:00-5:00 Education and Psychology: Education and Psychology: –Wednesday Nov. 15, 3:00-5:00 Executive Council: Executive Council: –Tuesday Nov. 21 and Dec. 12, 3:00-5:00

3. Graduate Student Life Workshops Sifting through grad school paperwork Sifting through grad school paperwork –Contact: Sara Kempner and Carol Powers *2:30-4:00 in 102 Fraser Hall –November 9 th for Masters students –November 14 th for PhD students Roundtable discussion on Graduate Student Lobbying Roundtable discussion on Graduate Student Lobbying –Contact: Eden Kaiser and Eli Meyerhoff

4. GAPSA Meeting Elections and Resignations— Elections and Resignations— –President: Suzanne Sobotka replaces Dmitry Zhdanov –Executive VP: Tagee Khaled replaces Suzanne Sobotka –VP for Student Affairs: Kristen Denzer replaces Tony Kouba Student Conduct Code revisions Student Conduct Code revisions Fees Selectors Fees Selectors Campus Firearms Ban resolution Campus Firearms Ban resolution Community Action Coalition/Neighborhood Association—Contact Alissa Ausan Community Action Coalition/Neighborhood Association—Contact Alissa Ausan

5. Updates and Discussion Graduate Insurance Issue Graduate Insurance Issue –Recap of Issue –Update on Administration response –Highlight COGS position from Open Letter Student Health Advisory Committee Update: Lindsey Batts, COGS rep. Student Health Advisory Committee Update: Lindsey Batts, COGS rep.

6. Open Positions for COGS Vice President of External Relations Vice President of External Relations Senate Senate Parking and Transportation Advisory Committee (Thurs. Oct. 26 2:30-4:00) Parking and Transportation Advisory Committee (Thurs. Oct. 26 2:30-4:00) Student One-Stop Advisory Committee Student One-Stop Advisory Committee Student On-Campus Stadium Advisory Committee Student On-Campus Stadium Advisory Committee CLA Budget Advisory Committee CLA Budget Advisory Committee

7. Non-COGS Opportunities Restorative Justice Panel: Restorative Justice Panel: –see handout Focus Groups on Degree Progress: Focus Groups on Degree Progress: –Oct. 24 and Oct. 25 from 12-1 –Please RSVP to gscmte@umn.edu gscmte@umn.edu

8. Changes to Constitution and Bylaws Vote on mandated clauses, see hand out for details. Vote on mandated clauses, see hand out for details. Executive committee, please sign approved changes for submission to the Student Activities Office. Executive committee, please sign approved changes for submission to the Student Activities Office.

9. Open Letter 2006 What is the Open Letter? What is the Open Letter? Why is it important? Why is it important? Who reads it? Who reads it? Highlights of 2006 Letter Highlights of 2006 Letter

10. Elections Vice President for External Relations Vice President for External Relations –Nominations/volunteers? –$500 stipend –5-10 hour commitment per month –Coordinate GradLetter and communication with Directors of Graduate Studies Senators: Senators: –Kate Fleming/Kristen Nichols (shared position) –Other nominations?

11. Open Forum for Concerns, Suggestions, or New Ideas Degree Progress Letter: Eli Meyerhoff, Social Sciences P & R Council Chair Degree Progress Letter: Eli Meyerhoff, Social Sciences P & R Council Chair Parking Proposal and possible Resolution: Jason Wilde, Family Social Sciences rep Parking Proposal and possible Resolution: Jason Wilde, Family Social Sciences rep Others? Others?

12. Degree Progress Letter example Dear Student X: All Department of Y students are required to file their Doctoral Degree program plans (Graduate School and Departmental) no later than the fourth semester of their residency. According to my records, you were first registered in Fall 2004 and you have now surpassed the expected deadline. Since you have failed to meet this program requirement, I have asked the graduate school to place a "hold" on your Fall 2006 registration. As long as the hold remains in effect, you will be unable to register. If you fail to file your Degree Program by the middle of September 2006, the Graduate School will terminate you from the program and you will be unable to make further official progress toward your doctoral degree. At that point, reinstatement would require that you apply to the Graduate School for readmission, pay an application fee, and provide the DGS with an outline of your plans for completing the degree. The Graduate School and the DGS may choose to not approve your readmission. As you can see, this fairly simple requirement could become a serious problem for you. However, you can have the registration hold removed before things escalate by submitting your Degree Program forms to the Graduate Program Associate by the end of this Summer. I would urge you to do this sooner rather than later. Alternatively, if your circumstances warrant that an extension be granted, please have your advisor write up an amended timeline which I will approve in my capacity as DGS. I can be reached by phone (612.xxx-xxxx) or by e-mail (professor@umn.edu) if you have any questions. You should also feel free to contact me if there appears to be a mistake in your record. Sincerely, Professor Z, Professor and Director of Graduate Studies cc:Professor A, Advisor Ms. B, Assistant to the Chair Ms. B, Assistant to the ChairFile