Sage Minutes
September 6, 2005
5:00 p.m., 3132 Wescoe

5:02 Call to Order

5:03 Introductions

We skipped the approval of minutes as we still do not have them from the last meeting.

5:06 Officer Reports

1. Presidents’ Report

   a. We're still looking for a non-GTA First Year Liaison, so if anybody is interested, or if people are in classes with FY non-GTA's and could talk them up, that would help us out.

   b. Special thanks from John to everyone for showing at BBQ, he feels it really started the year out on the right note.

   c. Reminder to Dept. Committee representatives to attend next week’s Departmental meeting on Tuesday, September 13 at 4pm in Wescoe 4019. The graduate student voice matters!

   d. We are looking to make four amendments to the SAGE constitution. Kristin will send more detailed overviews of these changes out over email at least a week before the next SAGE meeting, where they will be discussed and then voted on.

   1. We are looking to add tow committees – Academics Anonymous, Professionalization Workshops

   2.  The constitution currently requires us to meet once a month, we are looking to limit that to three necessary meetings with the option for more as needed.

   3. Currently the constitution reads like this in regard to serving on committees: “There is a two year limit for officers to work at any one position or on any one committee, but there is no term limit for SAGE membership.” – but we would like to alter that to account for uncontested positions. The possible change we're considering is to “unless committee position is uncontested”?

   4. The current terminology in the constitution for removing officers due to absence states: “This includes missing three SAGE meetings during the academic year or two consecutive monthly meetings.” – we would like to amend this, allowing for reports submitted in absentia.

2. Secretary had no report.

3. Treasurer reported that she is still working to acquire treasury materials and figure the system out.

4. FY Liaison was absent. (Probably due to listserv problem, not negligence.)

5:15 Committee Reports

1.  Advisory Committee has been approved for no national searches except a combined one with the Indigenous Studies Department

   a.  Anyone with a more than 5 point appointment might have a vote at senior staff meetings.

2. FSE Committee hasn't met yet. Conflict sheets have been sent out.

3. Graduate Assembly met. There was some confusion over meeting times. They are trying to make the Assembly more effective by streamlining it. They want to only work with the treasurer (not co-chairs) of SAGE, and only send one representative. They are also pushing the Kansas Research Symposium which selects graduate research to be presented to local government in order to show how KU helps Kansas.

4. Graduate Committee

   a.  Professors are complaining about graduate enrollment in graduate classes

   b.  This leads to the possibility of assessing the needs of students rather than professors

   c.  The suggestion was thrown out that they also assess the policy of leaving enrollment open until late fees are assigned but canceling classes before those late fees apply.

5. GTA/Lecturers Committee hasn't met yet. Conflict sheets have been sent out.

6. Lecturers/Readers Committee hasn't met yet. Conflict sheets have been sent out.

7. Library Committee hasn't met yet.

8. New Literacies Conference. Committee still does not exist, as department is as of yet unorganized for this.

9. Supplemental Funds. No reports sent in for this.

10. Entertainment Committee is having an event this Friday, 7pm at above Henry's on Mass. An email was sent out through the SAGE list and personal emails will be going out to all first years. For future events they are looking to do more nights like this one, also possibly a bowling night. They haven't begun talking about the Halloween Party.

11. SAGE Advice. So far as we know, Shannon has everything filled.

12. Academics Anonymous. Hopefully this committee will be made official next meeting. Right now John Wiehl is looking for anyone to suggest someone they'd like to see present at an Academics Anonymous meeting, either a disserting PhD candidate or a professor with interesting research. Jenny Noyce suggested that we think about how to integrate the creative writers into this program. Please email him if you have suggestions.

13. Professionalization Workshops committee. Again, hopefully to be made official at the next meeting. Now consists of Jen Humphrey and Alicia Sutliff. Needs one more member. Workload is very light -- making some fliers, deciding topics, asking faculty to participate, students to come.

5:35 New Business

1. John would like some assistance cleaning out the SAGE computer lab, organizing the films,etc.

2. Lisa St. Ledger wants to know if anyone has suggestions on what they want out of FSE workshops this year. Two are already being planned to handle the transition for 102, and one about the new 200 level but the fourth is up in the air. Email her if you have ideas.

5:43 Next Meeting Time. Tentatively scheduled for October 11, 2005, at 5pm in Wescoe 3132.

5:44 Meeting adjourned.

Minutes submitted by Leslee Friedman, Secretary.