MGSA Meeting Minutes

Subject: MGSA meeting redux (see what you missed)

We had quite a turnout for the meeting--11 out of 57!
 
We discussed several topics, which I will detail here:
 
1) International students- The Executive Committee has drafted a statement to be put on the website to the effect that admissions will be closed to future international students.  This is in response to a new UC Davis policy that requires faculty grants to cover all tuition and benefits.  Faculty in the group contacted various funding bodies to obtain grant coverage of non-resident tuition and were all turned down.  International students in past years had been having difficulty finding a lab due to this funding situation.  Although the Executive Committee felt that such a position would lower UC Davis's status internationally, it was deemed necessary as no meaningful guarantee of financial support could be offered.
 
2) Treasury report- Warren Place reported that the MGSA funds now exceed $300, and there is no longer any monthly fee on the account.  Compliments or complaints can be sent to <wrplace@ucdavis.edu>.
 
3) MGSA and ASM- Mitch Singer (professor) has recently been named to the Student Committee of ASM (American Society for Microbiology).  This body works to increase student membership participation.  He is also the head of the UC Davis student chapter of ASM, an undergraduate organization.  He is interested in coordinating with the MGSA.  He suggested that we might be able to help in undergraduate mentorship and helping students gain experience in labs.  He also mentioned an annual MGSA picnic, which was held in years past (more than 10 years), that was attended by graduate students and faculty members at the beginning of the school year.  He thought if such an event were resurrected it could be used to interact with undergraduates.  He also felt it might be nice to invite them to the start-of-the-year poster session.  More importantly, he said $300-$1000 could be obtained from ASM for such activities.  He also hoped that more graduate students would join ASM, and offered a discount on the already low annual fee of $25.  Kevin Holden was appointed Mitch Singer liaison, you can send him your comments at <kholden@ucdavis.edu>.
 
4) Website- Jon Bragg, the website committee in toto, is waiting for a password so he can begin his overhaul and improvement of the website.  If you have comments or suggestions, he would be glad to hear them at <jhbragg@ucdavis.edu>.
 
5) Annual MGG meeting- Although students were invited in years past, only two attended this time (and I was not among them).  I received a summary of the goings on from MGG head Linda Bisson.  Apart from discussions on the international student situation detailed above, they also discussed, as usual, updating the core curriculum.  There is interest in changing 200A from its prokaryotic focus to "microbial diversity", which would include eukaryotes such as yeast.  It would start with some lectures on genetics and finish up on yeast and bacterial model systems.  Linda also proposed that students write a research proposal for this class.  Although some faculty members felt this was unwise, all in attendance at the MGSA meeting thought it was a good idea.
 
6) New officers- Elections, of a sort, were held.  The results are as follows:
  President: Audrey Gutierrez
  Treasurer: Warren Place
  Educational Policy: Cara Cooke
  Admissions: Kevin Holden
  Website: Jon Bragg
  GSA Representatives: Emily Fleming, Angela Linderholm
  Recruitment: Kevin Holden
  T-shirts?: Michelle Diodati
  Welcome Party: Zach Bent
  ASM Liaison: Kevin Holden
 
Those of you who missed the meeting have no idea how close you came to being elected.
 
My rule has reached its end.  In the future, I'm sure the Dan administration will be recalled as that year we didn't do anything.  But you have no idea what goes on behind the scenes!
 
Dan Barry