The UCLA Graduate Students Association is the voice of graduate students on campus. The association meets for forum every three weeks and takes positions on current issues affecting graduate students. Forum meetings are at 5:30 p.m. in the Ackerman Viewpoint Lounge.

Officer Reports

• GSA President Nicole Robinson was not able to attend the meeting.

• Cody Trojan, vice president of academic affairs, told the forum that the Graduate Council is considering revisions to the Student Code of Conduct.  He also said that the graduate student delegate to the Undergraduate Council will soon receive data about changes in class sizes over time.

• Hope McCoy, vice president of external affairs, said that the Student Advocates for Graduate Education conference will take place in early November. She also asked members of the forum about how the government shutdown has affected their research, and asked them to email her their stories.

• Nina Drucker, vice president of internal affairs, said the John Wooden Center Board of Governors is looking for two graduate representatives to join the board. She also told the forum that the Intramural Field will soon be covered with AstroTurf.

Special Presentations

• The graduate representative for the Healthy Campus Initiative asked the forum for input about the survey questions graduate students should be asked concerning their mental, physical and social health.  The representative said the survey results will be used to help target graduate students appropriately for future programs.

• Trojan presented to the forum regarding the University of California Academic Senate’s report about the ability of UC schools to recruit highly qualified graduate students. Trojan said the report suggests that UC schools could remain competitive recruiters by offering increased stipends for graduate students, eliminating nonresident supplemental tuition and eliminating the limit on the number of quarters graduate students can work as a teaching assistant.  After deliberation, GSA members decided to vote on whether to write a letter calling on UC President Janet Napolitano to take action on these criteria at the next forum.

Compiled by Stephen Stewart, Bruin senior staff.