Minutes from the EGSA General Meeting 02.05.2010

I. Continuing Business

Steven Petersheim briefly updated EGSA on upcoming department news

– PhD students will receive an 11% stipend increase, possible raises TBD for MA students

– All EGSA members were encouraged to help welcome all eight job candidates to campus during the month of February.

– Summer Courses will include Dr. Fulton’s “Rags to Riches” seminar (Summer 1), Dr. Hunt’s Shakespearean Comedy course, and Dr. Thomas’s Contemporary American seminar (Hunt and Thomas both Summer 2).

Note: Dr. Fulton’s class will only count as American I.

II. EGSA Conference Update

During the March meeting chairs should let EGSA Officials and Kathleen know what they need to execute their conference duties. Additionally, conference chairs are encouraged to keep track of their work, so that future chairs will have a road-map of sorts to guide their own planning.

Send abstracts! Email your abstracts to Kathleen_A_Miller and Rachel_Webster by March 15.

III. EGSA Executive Reports

A. President (Steve)

Give Steve and Mary any issues you would like raised at English Department

Faculty Meetings.

B. VP (Mary)

Don’t forget to use the helpful degree requirement worksheets, available on the EGSA website

Take advantage of your GA/TA/RA Reps – go to them with questions or concerns

C. Secretary

Do we want t-shirts? Watch for emails.

D. Treasurer

Many people still have not paid their dues.

Conference chairs need to read Virginia’s email about conference finances

E. GSA Rep (Vivien)

– GSA is waiting to hear about their ability to advocate for MA raises.

– Parental leave – probably coming in 2011, allowing new parents to retain pay and student status after the birth of a child

– Health Insurance – a report on the focus groups is forthcoming. Contact the people in Health Services if you have any trouble with insurance policies or claims – they are on your side!

– New initiative: Money is available to anyone wishing to plan a GSA social event. There may be a possibility for other kinds of funding, including health emergencies, travel, etc. Talk to Vivien with any ideas.

F. Heteroglossia (Cameron?)

Feb 26 – Round Table discussion on balancing teaching and research. 1 PM, location TBA.

G. PhD Rep (Laura)

– It is too late to graduate in May if you have not already filed.

– You must file early in the semester (by June 8 in order to graduate in August)

– If you are interested in teaching a survey course, email Dr. Vitanza if you will have passed prelims by the fall.

H. MA Rep

– Watch for emails about deadlines

– MAs can take two independent studies – Dr. Losey has verified this

I. Technology

Under the “Activities” Tab on the website (www.bayloregsa.org), you can now access a full EGSA calendar of events. Email Jeff Bilbro or Bethany Bear with any events you would like to see on the calendar.

IV. Open Questions

When is registration for summer and fall?

Answer: Summer and Fall Registration will be March 30 (later than normal, I think).  Course catalogs will probably be available just before (or immediately upon returning from) spring break. Some course descriptions are available already on EGSA’s website under “Information.”