GSA has opening for voting members

The GSA’s constitution sets the number of voting members to one percent of the graduate student enrollment. We are allowed 23 voting members.

A few of our voting members graduated in December 2002 and as a result we have openings for voting members. If you would like to be a voting member, please attend our next meeting on February 13th or contact us.

The Fourth Annual Graduate Academic Conference

Friday, April 11th, The GSA will be hosting the Fourth Annual Graduate Academic Conference here at UMass Boston in the Healey Library. Sharpen your skills by attending training sessions. Network with students from other departments. Attend panel sessions focused on your area of study. Information will be available soon on the GSA website.

Benefits of using your UMass Student ID

Use your UMass ID for free admission to the Museum of Fine Arts and the John F. Kennedy Library.

Discounted movie passes are available in the Office of Student Life, W-4-181.

While at Student Life, check out the board for discounted tickets to other events. These may include Boston sports events, concerts and music related events.

New Students – Remember to stop by the Healey Library Circulation Desk get your Library barcode sticker for your ID. The barcode allows you to access the Healey Library catalog from off-site computers and to order Inter Library Loan items.

GSA and Clinical Graduate Student Assembly Co-sponsoring speaker

On Thursday, February 20th from 3- 5PM, the GSA and Clinical Graduate Student Assembly are sponsoring a lecture by Dr. Paul Wachtel. He is speaking on Therapeutic Communication: Knowing What to Say When.

Professional Development Grants

Professional Development Grants are awarded to students who attend program related conferences. The grant maximum is $500. The $500 is partial coverage of travel expenses including hotel and airfare, conference registration and meal. Students are reimbursed for acceptable expenses and must submit original expense receipts. Students must submit a completed application form 30 days before the scheduled travel date. Applications are available for download on our website, www.gsa.umb.edu.

Graduate Students are represented on a variety of Campus Committees

Faculty Council – Christine Gagliardi is the graduate student representative to the Faculty Council. She is serving the full academic year in this position.

Campus Community Team – Shino Ito, Computer Science, is the graduate student representative to the Campus Community Team. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 11th at 11AM in the Troy Conference Room, Wheatley, second floor. Kevin Murphy of Institutional Research will be giving a presentation on student demographics.

Strategic Planning Council – Caroline Coscia, Public Policy, represents graduate students on the strategic planning council. She is a member of the student services/campus community sub committee.

Thank you to the graduate students who serve on these committees. GSA Representatives give Committee updates at GSA meetings.

MIT Graduate Student Council Invitation to attend a Midnight Mardi Gras Cruise

MIT’s Graduate Student Council is organizing midnight Mardi Gras 2003. The cruise departs Rowe’s Wharf at 11PM on Saturday, February 22nd and returns at 1AM on Sunday, February 23. The cruise on the Odyssey Cruise ship will have two DJs on two dance floors. Hot and cold appetizers and non-alcoholic beverages are included in the ticket price of $35. There is also a cash bar.

MIT will give one complimentary ticket for every twenty tickets an individual sells. Cruise participants also include BU and Tufts students.

To purchase tickets or for more information, contact Sharon, MIT Activities Chair at [email protected].

Next GSA Meeting is Thursday, February 13th at 4PM in the Wheatley Student Lounge, 4th floor. Vice Chancellor for University Communications and Community Relations, Annemarie Lewis-Kerwin will be discussing an internal communications plan that has been designed to improve the flow of communication to students, faculty and staff. She is seeking graduate student feedback on the plan. Ms. Lewis-Kerwin’s presentation is at 4:15PM.