August 18, 2004
MINUTES GABS Meeting 8/18
Kim Schneider acting secretary
1)Dr. Sally Woodin, Chair met with GABS to discuss several issues
GOOD NEWS
-She is going to contribute an additional $1106 to all TAs to go towards our tuition bill
-Faculty are being asked to put up equal funds for RAs
-There are funds to repeat this in the spring
BAD NEWS: We still have to pay some fees (ex: technology, health)
OTHER POINTS:
- She apologized for not have the funding situation figured out sooner
- Woodin is working on other funding (e.g. possible raise); stay tuned for details
- Hope to have another meeting in ~4 weeks to discuss funding and other issues
- Woodin will work on FICA summer $$ situation, hope to have it figured out before next summer
- She would like to meet with us every semester to keep us updated on departmental situation and to answer our questions
- She made it clear that she believes graduate students are the life of the department and she is doing what she can to make us content and wants to make this a better place for us financially and intellectually
- Woodin encouraged us to attend seminars because they (1) represent our ties to the larger intellectual community, (2) are a training ground for new graduate students, (3) are an ad for your department, and (4) allow students to learn how to appropriately ask questions.
- GABS speakers (2/semester) will continue
- Starting December 6 the air will be off and the power will be off from 2-4 weeks. Emergency power will be available but expect surges. This means you should (1) unplug equipment (or purchase voltage conditioners) or (2) Find a place for equipment
2) Marcos Veiyra- Computer HERO of the department
- NEW students should stop by during office hours Tues through Thursday to get an email address (tell the new students in your lab)
- All computers hooked up to USC network are required to have Macafee software, it is free to USC students. Ask Marcos for a copy.
3) GABS UPDATES
- Joseph Nadeau, MCDB speaker, will be here on November 8
- BIOLOGY STUDENT PARTY, 7pm at Jen Jost. Old students bring a side or beverages… We look forward to seeing everyone there. Need directions? Email Jen at jostj@biol.sc.edu
- GABS seminar series will be on Fridays from 12:30-1:30 in CLS 202. We are currently looking for grads to speak. Please email Kim at schneidk@biol.sc.edu