Sage Minutes
September 6, 2007
3:00 p.m., 3132 Wescoe

Attending: Heather Bastian, Keri Behre, Amy Sherman, Samantha Bishop Simmons, Angela Kordahl, Nate Williams, Kristin Bovaird-Abbo, Louise Stauffer, Erin Conley, Andy Anderegg, Chloe Jones, Stephanie Scurto, Jessica Isaac, Kristen Lillvis, Alicia Sutliff, Daryl Lynn Dance

Call to order.

Minutes approved.

Presidents’ report: Welcome to new students, and thanks for the picnic. Key issues and goals:

1. Fundraiser—book sale in the spring. Need volunteers to fill hour or half-hour shifts.

2. Hires—Three hires will probably be in the spring with executive members running them. Everyone is encouraged to attend and or provide feedback to the department. Reports from grad students will be anonymous this year. Grad student participation is a factor in hires' consideration of whether or not to take a job; it gives them a sense of how much participation & vitality our program has.

3. Travel Awards—in the process of figuring out—Stephanie has more details. Sutliff asked about last year's travel money. Behre checked on it last week; previous applicants should still be getting it (hopefully, September).

4. Renovations for SAGE lab—trying to establish and maintain a better (and safer) work environment

5. Other suggestions or goals welcomed.

Secretary’s report: Fill in sign up lists at meetings as your secretary puts individuals' faces/names together.

Treasurer’s report: $476 plus a few recent additions, roughly $500. Confirmed that GSO money is good to use for travel expenses. Kordahl will look into correct final amount we can get from Grad Professional Association.

First-year liaison: Haven't heard of problems for 1st years.

Academics Anonymous: No report.

Advisory: Voting Dept. meetings are every other Tuesday. Advisory is every other week. Will confirm if grad students can attend Voting Dept., but not necessarily vote. SAGE website has form that lists which committees have voting rights. Dorice Elliott's goals for coming year are implementing strategic plan, requires number crunching. Dean wants increased grad funding, more interdisciplinary opportunities, more diversity, more faculty grants. Dean is focusing on "research agenda" for instructors. Funding to replace Wescoe vents means we may be moving floors again soon. Grad students may have some input in how offices are reorganized in Wescoe and are encouraged to give it. For example, they might consider a larger graduate lounge/office instead of individual offices. Also, two unexpected financial donations to dept. may be given to dissertation research, travel funds or elsewhere.

FSE: Has not met.

Grad Assembly: Treasurer training for GPA. Two search positions available for grad students.

Grad committee: Has not met.

GTAL: Has not met. Karla is available by email for Medieval search.

Lecturers and Readers: No report.

Library: No report

MFA: Search committee for fiction is looking for someone with a book, with a secondary expertise that may cross over to other areas besides MFA. 1st creative writers meeting is 5pm on Sunday the 9th at Henry's.

Professionalization skills: Two workshops this fall. One on selecting committee members for thesis, dissertation, and exams will be in October with professors from various fields. Networking and conferences will be in November. Times and places to be announced. Let committee member know via email if you have ideas for Spring.

Public & Alumni relations: Has not met. Bob Elliott mentioned that they may buy a postage machine to increase alumni mailings. Committee wants recommendations for ideas about sustaining alumni relations, esp. ones you've seen work elsewhere. For example, alumni meetings at MLA or 4C's.

SAGE Advice: No report

Social committee: SAGE gathering at Henry's at 7pm on Friday.

Summer Institutes: No report.

Supplemental funds: Has approved one request already.

Website: Thanks to Kristin for her updates. Send pictures (email or print) that you think will work on SAGE site. Send suggestions for new content if you have them.

Old business: Last year's travel money from GSO.

New business: Community Service info from Stephanie Scurto. Make-a-Difference Day is Oct. 27 and they're looking for groups who might help (ex: Habitat for Humanity, cleaning trails at parks). J. Isaac asked if there were any specifically related to literacy or tutoring. Stephanie is contact person. General interest was indicated. More details to come.

Meeting adjourned.

Minutes submitted by Nathaniel Williams, Secretary.