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Announcements Archive
General Committee Appointment Application 2010-2011
Originally posted: April 26, 2010
Applications due April 30th
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Originally posted: April 26, 2010
Each year the Graduate Student Assembly appoints a number of graduate students to serve as important members of committees across campus. These committees address diverse issues facing the graduate student population and university community through a variety of ways.
If you are interested in serving as an active university committee member on one of the many committees in need of graduate student representation, please refer to and consider downloading and completing the application that lists the various committee openings. The application can be accessed here. The due date for the application is April 30th by 4pm. Please submit completed applications to the Graduate Student Assembly box in MAI 101 or via email to mgonzalez@austin.utexas.edu. I encourage you all to apply!
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2010-2011 GSA Officer Applications Available Now
Originally posted: March 25, 2009
Executive and Administrative officer applications are due March 24th!
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Originally posted: March 25, 2009
Fellow Graduate Students,
Each year the Graduate Student Assembly solicits applications for its appointed executive and administrative officer positions. At this time, we are soliciting applications for the 2010-2011 term which will begin in mid-April 2010 and end in early April 2011. All graduate students are eligible to apply. Please see the application and position descriptions if you are interested. In addition, you may contact the current officers for additional information on a given position.
The applications are due on Wednesday, March 24th, by 4:00pm.
Each officer position includes a monetary stipend, and the following positions are available:
Executive Officers ($3,000 Stipend): Financial Director, Programs Director, Communications Director, Administrative Director
Administrative Officers(~$1,000 Stipend): Membership Director, Legislative Relations Director, Student Affairs Director, Webmaster
Regards,
Alden Harris
GSA Vice President for Internal Affairs - Elect
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GSA 5K - April 11, 2010
Originally posted: March 11, 2010
Register Now!
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Originally posted: March 11, 2010
The Graduate Student Assembly invites the graduate student community to join us for our first annual 5K. This event will be an opportunity for graduate students, faculty, staff and families to come out and walk or run for a good cause. All proceeds for the event will go to support graduate student travel.
The race will take place on the UT campus at 8:30 a.m. and will start at the East Side Bus Circle on 23rd Street and San Jacinto. Registration for the event is $20.00.
To register and learn more about the event please visit us at the GSA 5K website at: http://www.utgraduatestudentassembly.org/gsa5kRun/html/index.html
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Graduate and Professional Student Awareness Week (GPSAW)
Originally posted: March 11, 2010
April 5-11, 2010
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Originally posted: March 11, 2010
Join the Graduate Student Assembly for our annual Graduate and Professional Student Awareness Week, April 5-11, 2010. Each day of the week the GSA will be sponsoring events in honor of UT graduate students – free food, free drinks, and numerous social opportunities. Check out the GPSAW events page for the schedule!
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Graduate Research Showcase
Originally posted: March 11, 2010
Submission deadline is March 17th at 5 PM
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Originally posted: March 11, 2010
As part of Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week, the Graduate Student Assembly is hosting a Graduate Research Showcase in which graduate students can present their original research in the form of a poster display. The showcase will be held on Monday, April 5 from 2-4pm at Gregory Gymnasium. Cash prizes will be awarded for the two best posters, as judged by a panel of fellow graduate students. Free Amy's Ice Cream will also be provided for all graduate student visitors!
Applications to participate in this event are due Wednesday, March 17 by 5pm. Applications may be submitted online at http://www.utgraduatestudentassembly.org/gpaw_showcase.php Please include an abstract of your research project of no more than 300 words.
Accepted abstracts will be notified by Monday, March 22.
Please contact Christina McCoy at christinaines@gmail.com or Ahmad Sakhaee Pour at sakhaee@mail.utexas.edu with any questions.
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Graduate Student Film and Photography Showcase
Originally posted: March 11, 2010
Submission deadline is March 22nd at 5 PM
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Originally posted: March 11, 2010
As part of Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week, organized by UT's Graduate Student Assembly, we are pleased to announce a call for submissions for our annual Graduate Student Film and Photography Showcase, to be held on Thursday, April 8 from 7-9pm at the United States Art Authority.
We are asking graduate students in all fields for submissions of their independent creative projects in the realm of either short film or photography. Each student may submit up to 5 photographs and 1 short film of 10-15 minutes. Please do not submit work that has been showcased in a previous year by the GSA.
To enter, please submit a digital copy of your work on a DVD or CD in the GSA drop box in the Office of Graduate Studies, MAI 101. (Alternatively, you may submit a print copy of your work for the photography category). Please attach your name, department, EID, email address, phone number, campus mailing address, and the title of the work. Cash prizes will be awarded for the most outstanding film and photography entries, as judged by fellow graduate students. Last year we had a spectacular turnout of nearly 100 fellow graduate and professional students. Due to the publicity that we hope to garner for this event, as well as providing refreshments for the evening, we hope to be able to guarantee each contestant an ample audience for their work.
The deadline for submissions is Monday, March 22 at 5pm. Participants will be notified via email by Monday, March 29. For more information, please email TexasGSA@gmail.com
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GSA 2010-2011 Elected Officers
Originally posted: March 11, 2010
Thanks to all candidates and people who voted in the elections
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Originally posted: March 11, 2010
Thank you to everyone who voted in the GSA Elections. Your 2010-2011 elected officers are:
President - Manny Gonzalez
Vice President for Internal Affairs - Alden Harris
Vice President for External Affairs - Darren Kelly
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GSA and Campus Wide Elections - March 2-3
Originally posted: March 2, 2010
Go to www.utsg.org to vote now!
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Originally posted: March 2, 2010
To continue to build on the momentum that has been created the past few years, it is very important that we get as many people as possible to vote in this year’s elections. Graduate students are an important part of the university community, and it is crucial that we continue to have our voice heard to ensure that we are represented in all matters that impact us as graduate students. This year we have worked on issues such as: increasing awareness of services that are available for graduate students; building capacity within the organization to work towards our goal of adequately and effectively representing the almost 12,000 graduate students; advocating for graduate student interests at the local, state, and federal levels; advocating for affordable and adequate housing; advocating for health insurance for students on fellowships; initiating our first GSA 5K to raise funds for graduate student travel; providing graduate student merchandise at the UT Co-op; increasing services for student parents; passing numerous resolutions in support of graduate-specific issues; and representing graduate interests on various committees throughout the university.
However, we still want to effectively advocate for graduate students, and we want to be aware of the issues that are important to you. We are still facing many challenges in a tough economic climate. As a result, it is important that we continue to build on these successes, improve in areas where we were not as strong as we possibly could be, and continue to press for the issues that are important to you. That begins with electing the officers that we believe will be the best representatives for graduate students.
We have two quality presidential candidates vying to serve as the GSA president this year, and we encourage you to get out and vote for the president of your choice. We also have two quality individuals ready to serve as your Vice-President of Internal Affairs and Vice-President of External Affairs. To find out more about the candidates, please click on the following link: http://www.utgraduatestudentassembly.org/elections.php.
Again, next year some very difficult decisions will have to be made, and we want to make sure you are being represented. Let’s also remember that next year is a legislative session year. As a result, we want to ensure that we elect the officers who will effectively represent the graduate student voice to the administrators, legislators, and all pertinent decision-makers. Please take a moment to vote and encourage all of your fellow graduate students to do the same.
Finally, I wanted to remind you to have your opinion heard on the Green Fund Referendum that is also on this year’s ballot.
To vote, please click on the following link: http://www.utgraduatestudentassembly.org/elections.php or www.utsg.org.
Sincerely,
Daniel Spikes
President, Graduate Student Assembly
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GSA Officer Elections
Originally posted: January 28, 2010
Want to be a GSA Officer for the 2010-2011 term? File by Feb. 17th!
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Originally posted: January 28, 2010
On March 2-3 of this semester, the President, Vice-President for Internal Affairs, and Vice-President for External Affairs of the Graduate Student Assembly will be voted into office by UT's 12,000+ graduate students through an online election.
If you are interested in serving graduate students at UT in any of these capacities, please complete and turn in a filing form and the requested supporting documents by February 17th. One important note is that only individuals who are currently members of the GSA for the 2009-2010 year, serving as either a departmental representative or an officer, can run for the office of President.
If you have any questions about the elections process or the duties of these important champions of graduate student concerns on campus and beyond, you may visit our elections page or contact one of the current officers.
Additionally, some basic information about what the Graduate Student Assembly does each year is available here, and information on how the organization is structured and run can be found in our new member welcome packet.
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Next GSA Meeting
Originally posted: September 15, 2009
Wendesday, February 10th from 5-6:30 PM in the Glenn Maloney Room of the Student Services Building (SSB G1.310)
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Originally posted: September 15, 2009
Please join us for our eighth GSA meeting of the 2009-2010 school year on Wednesday, February 10th from 5-6:30 PM in the Glenn Maloney Room of the Student Services Building.
Free food will be provided.
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GSA GSO Funding for Spring 2010
Originally posted: January 16, 2009
The priority deadline is Friday, Feb. 5th at 5:00pm!
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Originally posted: January 16, 2009
Registered Graduate Student Organizations,
Every semester the Graduate Student Assembly accepts requests for funding for events, projects, programs, organizational support, etc. from registered graduate student organizations. The funding application contains instructions on how to complete and submit the application, as well as some general guidelines that GSA will use to evaluate these funding requests. Funding Application
Briefly, the deadline for the priority funding round for the Spring 2010 semester is Friday, February 5th at 5:00pm . GSA will continue to accept and consider funding applications after that date on a first come basis through March 1st, subject to the availability of funds. The priority funding round recommendations will be presented and voted on at the Feb. 10th meeting of the Graduate Student Assembly (5:00pm in SSB G1.310). We highly encourage groups applying for funding to send a representative to our meeting on the date we consider your application in order to answer any questions about it that may arise. After this date, funds will be available to those organizations with approved requests, although you should allow for at least a one week lead time.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Best Regards,
Ashutosh Singh
GSA Financial Director
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Membership Information
Originally posted: September 30, 2009
Interested in becoming a GSA representative for your department? Read below to find out how.
[read more]
Originally posted: September 30, 2009
The Graduate Student Assembly (GSA) is continuously working to ensure that every department at the University of Texas is represented at our assembly meetings. Our efforts include working with graduate coordinators to ensure that every college/department at UT elects a graduate student representative. To date we have 40 departments that are represented.
If you are interested in learning more about the assembly, unsure if your college/department is represented or would like to serve on the GSA, please stop by our meeting contact the GSA membership director Milli Reddy (millireddy@mail.utexas.edu)
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Housing Survey
Originally posted: September 30, 2009
Please take a moment to fill out a survey regarding housing for graduate students. Link: http://www.utgraduatestudentassembly.org/survey.php?SurveyID=50
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Originally posted: September 30, 2009
If you have not taken the survey regarding housing for graduate students, please take a moment to fill out this survey. It will provide the Graduate Student Assembly (GSA) with important information that will enable us to advocate on behalf of graduate students. It should only take a few minutes to take this survey. It can be found online at:
http://www.utgraduatestudentassembly.org/survey.php?SurveyID=50.
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Association for India's Development (Austin Chapter) presents "Milan" - Music Without Borders
Originally posted: September 30, 2009
Concert: Chhandayan Fusion Group
Friday, Nov. 7 @ 5pm
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Originally posted: September 30, 2009
Featuring:
*Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt (Mohan Veena and vocal)
*Salman Ahmad of Junoon (guitar and vocal)
*Samir Chatterjee (tabla)
*Daniel Weiss (drums)
Saturday, November 7, 2009, 5:00 pm
Venue : Fine Arts Facility, Westlake High School, 4100 Westbank Dr, Austin, TX 78746
All proceeds from the concert will support development projects in India.
Tickets: $100, $50, $35, $25, $20 (students)
Call: 512-524-3819
Babysitting is available at the venue for a nominal fee.
Concert Website: http://austin.aidindia.org/milan
Milan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=138965519696
About AID:
AID (Association for India's Development), is a registered 501c(3) non-profit, volunteer organization that supports a wide variety of social service and development projects addressing such issues as literacy, health care, rural credit, vocational training, women's empowerment and children's welfare.
AID website - http://www.aidindia.org
For more information please send an email to concert@austin.aidindia.org
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ASPECTS Trainings for the week of October 5th - October 9th
Originally posted: September 30, 2009
See below for more information
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Originally posted: September 30, 2009
Blackboard: Enhancing Communication
Tuesday, October 6, 2009 10:00am
GSB 2.130
This hands-on session will focus on the effective uses of Blackboard's
communication tools to connect instructors with students outside the
classroom. We will discuss how to use, facilitate, and manage these tools to elevate class communication online. These tools include email, discussion board, chat and announcements.
Assessing Your Teaching
Tuesday, October 6, 2009 2:00pm
ACE 2.404B
In this workshop we will discuss the reasons for assessing instruction, learn the assessment process, and plan an instructional assessment. Specifically, workshop participants will be shown ways to integrate assessment into their instruction using the Ongoing Course Assessment (OCA) system, the Course Instructor Survey (CIS), and DIIA’s Instructional Assessment Resources Online. Participants will have the opportunity to begin developing an assessment plan for a course.
Teaching with Blogs and Wikis
Wednesday, October 7, 2009 10:00am
GSB 2.130
Have you heard of wikis and blogs, but aren’t sure where to begin searching for more information? This is the workshop for you! A wiki is a real-time, collaborative, Web page writing and editing tool, in which any number of people can participate. Blogging-a contraction of "Web logging"-is a method of posting information to an on-line diary. This hands-on session will focus on wikis and blogs available at UT and how to use them effectively in your class.
Promoting Active Learning
Wednesday, October 7, 2009 11:00am
ACE 2.404B
By using discussions, instructors can promote their students' active
participation in class, thereby addressing students' poor content retention, weak conceptual understanding, and inability to transfer knowledge to authentic situations. When students actively engage instructional material, they process information more deeply and engage higher level thinking skills, which generally translates into better grades and greater motivation for learning. After we examine three techniques for promoting classroom discussion, you’ll experience them for yourself and consider the instructional situations in which each would be most effective.
Exploring Multiple Identities
Thursday, October 8, 2009 1:00pm
ACE 2.404B
This session will focus on multiple identities that impact daily
interactions and relationships. Participants will identify and reflect upon
dimensions of their own individual identities as well as the identities of
others. Through small and large group discussion, participants will explore
the impact of multiple identities on classroom dynamics, and how the
activation of multiple identities shapes interactions with students,
colleagues, and instructors.
Teaching with PowerPoint (2hr session)
Thursday, October 8, 2009 1:00pm
GSB 2.130
As PowerPoint has become the standard presentation software used at UT
Austin, many students find the presentations boring and accuse some teachers
of becoming note-dependent while using it. We will demonstrate effective
ways to use PowerPoint, covering techniques for increasing student
participation, maintaining students’ attention, and branching presentations
to enable student interaction. Providing images, slides, or graphics during
class helps students link content with the “big picture” of the course and
with their prior knowledge about the topic. Visual materials can also serve
as memory cues for later recall and may also pique the interest of students
in exploring content further.
Effective Public Speaking Techniques
Friday, October 9, 2009 11:00am
ACE 2.404B
The difference between sharing academic knowledge in writing and in speech is that lectures and public speaking occur with the audience present. Just as writing can be learned, you can learn to speak publicly. We will discuss how to plan what you will say and how to make your message clear, while avoiding becoming a bundle of nerves!
For more information and registration options for all ASPECTS sessions, visit:
http://www.utexas.edu/academic/diia/gsi/aspects/view_sessions.php
An interactive map to all UT Buildings can be found at:
http://www.utexas.edu/maps/
PLEASE NOTE:
* Please be sure to register for any session you wish to attend.
* If you have registered for a session and do not plan to attend please cancel your registration as soon as possible by returning to the registration section of the website.
* Classes have LIMITED enrollment and some sessions fill up quickly, so plan ahead and REGISTER EARLY.
*Sessions are *FREE and open to ALL graduate students*.
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IE Mentorship
Originally posted: April 3, 2009
Opportunity for Grad Students
[read more]
Originally posted: April 3, 2009
Dear Graduate Student,
With registration for next semester coming up, I want to bring to your attention an important opportunity.
Are you looking for a rewarding professional development experience --a chance to enhance your teaching portfolio? Does working one-to-one with bright, talented undergraduates who someday might be graduate students excite you? Let me tell you about a wonderful mentoring opportunity, as well as a chance to earn a $500 stipend.
The Intellectual Entrepreneurship (IE) Pre-Graduate School Internship enables undergraduate students (particularly juniors and seniors) from all colleges and departments at UT to explore graduate education (conducting research, writing for scholarly audiences, participating in seminars, serving as teaching and research assistants, publishing articles in professional journals, etc.). It is also an opportunity for graduate students like you to experience teaching and mentoring in a different way than typically gained through being a teaching assistant or assistant instructor. Since graduate student mentors for the IE Pre-Grad Internship work one-to-one with undergraduates, the experience is similar to the kind of relationship that faculty members and graduate students develop. In other words, serving as a mentor will prepare you for the role of a professor working with would-be graduate students. In collaboration with the intern, you design a semester long curriculum based on what you consider most important in experiencing and/or preparing for graduate education. The idea is to expose undergraduates to the culture of your discipline and graduate study through a variety of formal and informal activities.
We have discovered that the real driving force behind the success of the internship is the graduate student "mentor." If you spot a promising and enthusiastic undergraduate student (in your lab or class as a TA/AI) who might be interested in pursuing graduate school - or perhaps one that wouldn't have considered the opportunity without encouragement from you - I invite you to approach him/her about this internship. If you don't know of anyone in particular but would like to serve as an internship mentor, please talk to your faculty or contact the Undergraduate Advisor in your department (all of whom have just received an announcement about the pre-grad internship to forward to undergraduate students) for the names of possible interns.
This internship has had some remarkable "unintended consequences," raising awareness of graduate school among underrepresented minority and first-generation students (neither parent completed a college degree) at UT. The internship, therefore, is a chance for graduate students to make a difference by mentoring students who might otherwise not have thought of further education as a possibility following graduation.
NOTE: Starting immediately, the Intellectual Entrepreneurship Consortium and the Office of the Vice President for Diversity and Community Engagement are offering a limited number of $500 stipends to graduate students in any discipline who locate and serve as a mentor (via the IE Pre-Grad Internship) for a UT underrepresented minority (defined as Hispanic, African American or Native American) or first-generation (neither parent completed college) undergraduate student. Interns must be permanent residents.
Also: Because of the generosity of several UT deans, grad student mentors for interns who do their pre-grad internship in programs in the following colleges will be eligible to receive travel grants to help cover part of the cost of attending an academic conference (with their intern)--- Law, Public Affairs, Communication, Business, Engineering, Liberal Arts, Pharmacy, Social Work, Education, Natural Sciences, Fine Arts.
To learn about the IE Pre-Grad Internship (including FAQs, examples of internship activities and a copy of the internship contract) check out:
http://www.utexas.edu/coc/cms/faculty/cherwitz/
A wonderful UT web feature about this program is at:
http://www.utexas.edu/features/2008/ie-2/
If you have questions about the internship, please feel free to contact me at ruby.morua@mccombs.utexas.edu or Professor Rick Cherwitz at spaj737@uts.cc.utexas.edu.
Questions about the $500 stipend should be directed directly to Professor Cherwitz (471-1939 or e-mail). Since stipends will be awarded on a first come first served basis, please be sure to contact Professor Cherwitz as soon as you have found a first-generation or underrepresented minority undergraduate for whom you will serve a Pre-Grad Internship mentor.
Thank you for your support and interest.
Ruby Morua
IE Pre-Grad Internship Director
ruby.morua@mccombs.utexas.edu
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