Committees with a Graduate Student Presence

Admissions and Registration Committee | Bicycle Committee | Calendar Committee | Commencement and Academic Ceremonies Committee | Committee on Financial Aid to Students | Dean’s Student Advisory Council | Educational Policy Committee | Faculty Building Advisory Committee | Faculty Council | Graduate Assembly | Information Technology Committee | Outstanding Graduate Advisor Awards Committee | Outstanding Graduate Coordinator Awards Committee | Outstanding Graduate Teaching Awards Committee | Parking and Traffic Appeals Panel | Parking and Traffic Policies Committee | President’s Student Advisory Council | Recruitment and Retention Committee | Research Policy Committee | Responsibilities, Rights & Welfare of Graduate Student A | Shuttle Bus Committee | Student Endowed Centennial Lectureship | Student Health Advisory Committee | Student Library Council | Tuition Policy Advisory Committee | University of Texas Libraries Committee | University of Texas System Student Advisory Council

2008-2009 Academic Year

External Appointments

• Committee Name: Graduate Assembly
• Description: The Graduate Assembly is responsible for the conduct of graduate student work at the University of Texas at Austin. It has the power to legislate on all matters pertaining to the academic character of the graduate program. GSA appointments consist of the GSA President and Vice-President External, along with four other graduate students.
• Members:
  • Daniel Spikes
  • Paul Gavaza
  • Manuel Gonzalez
  • Shannon Mann
  • Brian Gatten
  • Puja Kowley
• Alternates:
• Notes: Must be at least one student from each of the three “groups” as listed on the website. Once appointed to the general Graduate Assembly, members are divided into sub-committees.

• Committee Name: Dean’s Student Advisory Council
• Description: The Dean’s Student Advisory Council (DSAC) is an opportunity to set a Graduate Student agenda with the Dean of Graduate Studies and discuss whichever issues are felt to be pressing at the time. It consists of the GSA President and eight other members, as well as the Dean.
• Members:
  • Daniel Spikes
  • Manuel Gonzalez
  • Paul Gavaza
  • Alexandra Ritzenberg
• Alternates:
• Notes:

• Committee Name: Outstanding Graduate Advisor Awards Committee
• Description: The Graduate Student Assembly appoints one member to this committee, which is tasked with choosing a recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Advisor Award. The award recognizes a Graduate Adviser’s exemplary service in a graduate program and comes with a $4,000 monetary award.
• Members:
  • TBD
• Alternates:
• Notes:

• Committee Name: Outstanding Graduate Coordinator Awards Committee
• Description: The Graduate Student Assembly appoints one member to this committee, which is tasked with choosing a recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Coordinator Award. The award recognizes a Graduate Coordinator’s exemplary service in a graduate program and comes with a $4,000 monetary award.
• Members:
  • TBD
• Alternates:
• Notes:

• Committee Name: Outstanding Graduate Teaching Awards Committee
• Description: The Graduate Student Assembly appoints one member to this committee, which is tasked with choosing a recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award. The award recognizes a faculty member’s exemplary service teaching and mentoring at the graduate level and comes with a $4,000 monetary award.
• Members:
  • TBD
• Alternates:
• Notes:

• Committee Name: Bicycle Committee
• Description: Holds monthly meetings to discuss bicycle issues on campus.
• Members:
  • Brian Gatten
• Alternates:
• Notes:

• Committee Name: Faculty Council
• Description: The mission of the Office of the General Faculty is to support the General Faculty and its elected representative body, the Faculty Council, in their roles in the governance of the University. The functions of the Office include publication of legislation and reports, including faculty memorial resolutions; maintenance of minutes and other records; support of the officers of the Faculty Council and the standing committees of the General Faculty; conduction of faculty elections; and facilitation of communication between the General Faculty, the Faculty Council, and the President. The GSA selects two students to act as voting members on the council.
• Members:
  • Adam Ekenseair
  • Daniel Spikes
• Alternates:
• Notes: Except in extenuating circumstances, the appointments usually consist of the GSA President and Vice-President Internal

• Committee Name: President’s Student Advisory Council
• Description: The President’s Student Advisory Council serves as an advisory board to the President of the University. The council meets once a month to discuss and voice concerns about issues involving the students of the University of Texas at Austin, while also serving as a way for students and administrators to work together in implement initiatives. The GSA’s appointment consists of the GSA President and Vice-President External, along with two other graduate students.
• Members:
  • Tianyang Wang
  • Ben Barnes
  • Paul Gavaza
  • Daniel Spikes
• Alternates:
• Notes: In order to assure a diverse body of students on this committee, gender, race, ethnicity and academic focus are taken into account during the selection process.

• Committee Name: Shuttle Bus Committee
• Description: A subcommittee of the Parking and Traffic Policies Committee charged with addressing shuttle issues on campus. The members meet on a monthly basis to discuss present and future issues as they pertain to the shuttle buses. The function of this committee is to review annually the present and future plans for the shuttle buses. The members also serve as the voice of the student body and it that capacity they are charged with making the best possible decisions on issues which will ultimately affect the route and community.
• Members:
  • Saurabh Kulkarni
  • Vahid Akhavan
• Alternates:
• Notes:

• Committee Name: Student Health Advisory Committee
• Description: The mission of the Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) is to serve as a student organization for individuals interested in promoting health related issues on campus, and to identify and represent all groups of the student body. SHAC is to serve as a liaison between the student body and the administrators of UHS, thereby serving as a mechanism by which UHS may better respond to student needs.
• Members:
  • Rachel Barrera
• Alternates:
• Notes:

• Committee Name: Student Library Council
• Description: The Student Library Council (SLC) is charged with maintaining effective communication channels between student organizations and the University of Texas Libraries. SLC will serve as a conduit for the transmission of student needs and concerns to the University of Texas Libraries. SLC will work with library administrators in reviewing critical issues and policies.
• Members:
  • Crystal Kurzen
  • Molly Hardy
  • Chloe Barnett
• Alternates:
• Notes:

• Committee Name: Tuition Policy Advisory Committee
• Description: The Tuition Policy Advisory Committee (TPAC) is a panel of students, faculty and administrators at The University of Texas at Austin that make recommendations on tuition policy. In addition to weekly meetings, they also hold an annual open forum on tuition policy.
• Members:
  • Daniel Spikes
• Alternates:
• Notes: Except in extenuating circumstances, appointee is the GSA President

• Committee Name: University of Texas System Student Advisory Council
• Description: The aim of The University of Texas System Student Advisory Council is to provide advice on a variety of student issues to the University of Texas system. The Student Advisory Council consists of two student representatives from each U.T. System component institution enrolling students and meets three times a year, usually in Austin, Texas.
• Members:
• Alternates:
• Notes: The GSA appoints its President to this committee every alternate year; 2008-2009 is the GSA’s term to appoint

• Committee Name: Student Endowed Centennial Lectureship
• Description: The Student Endowed Centennial Lectureship (SECL) is an endowed organization, supported by the $2 student contribution through registration. SECL hosts high-profile speakers and provides an opportunity for them to interact with the university community.
• Members:
  • Ahmad Sakhaee-Pour
• Alternates:
• Notes:

• Committee Name: Committee on Financial Aid to Students
• Description: This committee initiates and reviews policies and procedures related to student Financial Aid. In addition, it hears appeals from decisions of the Office of Student Financial Services
• Members:
  • Shannon Mann
• Alternates:
• Notes:

• Committee Name: Admissions and Registration Committee
• Description: This committee recommends to the Director of Admissions, the registrar, and the Faculty Council changes in policies regarding undergraduate admission and registration. In addition, it consults with and advises the Director of Admissions and the registrar about procedures pertaining to their offices.
• Members:
  • James Lloyd
• Alternates:
• Notes:

• Committee Name: Calendar Committee
• Description: This committee makes recommendations to the Faculty Council and to the President concerning the University academic calendar. The University Academic Calendar Committee reviews the Principles for the Development of the Academic Calendar each year. If changes are needed, the committee will submit a recommendation to the Faculty Council in time for consideration at the council’s April meeting. If no changes are needed, the committee will confirm in its annual report that it reviewed the principles and recommended no changes.
• Members:
  • Manuel Gonzalez
• Alternates:
• Notes:

• Committee Name: Commencement and Academic Ceremonies Committee
• Description: This committee advises the Faculty Council, the President, and academic deans on policy matters, including selection of speakers, in planning graduation, Honors Day, and other formal academic ceremonies.
• Members:
  • Erin Phalon
• Alternates:
• Notes:

• Committee Name: Educational Policy Committee
• Description: This committee studies proposals on educational policy and assesses their possibilities and alternatives. It also presents recommendations on such matters to the Faculty Council. The committee actively seeks advice from students.
• Members:
  • Reid Long
• Alternates:
• Notes:

• Committee Name: Faculty Building Advisory Committee
• Description: This committee represents the faculty, staff, and students in the planning and programming of buildings. The committee has a strong voice in (a) campus master planning, (b) priority of building construction, (c) building location, (d) programming of buildings, and (e) reviewing and recommending of final plans.
• Members:
  • Ahmad Sakhaee-Pour
• Alternates:
• Notes:

• Committee Name: University of Texas Libraries Committee
• Description: This committee advises in the development of policies and procedures, advises the librarian, the Faculty Council and the president concerning the direction and growth of the University of Texas Libraries and advises the president in the event it becomes necessary to appoint a new librarian.
• Members:
  • Lorrie Dong
  • Brian Gatten
• Alternates:
• Notes:

• Committee Name: Parking and Traffic Appeals Panel
• Description: This committee reviews petitions and appeals arising in connection with parking priorities and enforcement of regulations.
• Members:
  • TBD
  • Zachary Pozum
• Alternates:
• Notes:

• Committee Name: Parking and Traffic Policies Committee
• Description: This committee establishes traffic and parking regulations and annually reviews a system of priorities for permits to be issued in reserved areas. It also recommends to the President ways and means of meeting parking needs of faculty, staff, and students and recommends to the Faculty Council any changes in the composition and operation of the Parking and Traffic Appeals Panel.
• Members:
  • Erin Ferguson
• Alternates:
  • Star Khoza
• Notes:

• Committee Name: Recruitment and Retention Committee
• Description: This committee addresses the matter of recruitment and retention of minority students and to advise the Faculty Council and the president on constructive solutions to alleviate the problems of recruitment and retention.
• Members:
  • Rachel Barrera
• Alternates:
• Notes:

• Committee Name: Research Policy Committee
• Description: This committee advises the president on matters relating to the research mission of the University and the relationship between the research mission and other components of the University's overall mission. It also provides for wider dissemination of information concerning the research mission of the University and how that mission is being discharged.
• Members:
  • Alexandra Stone
  • Navid Ghorashian
• Alternates:
• Notes: Must be a Ph. D student to be eligible for this committee

• Committee Name: Responsibilities, Rights & Welfare of Graduate Student A
• Description: This committee advises the Faculty Council and the President on matters pertaining to the responsibilities, rights, and welfare of graduate student academic employees.
• Members:
  • Elyshia Aseltine (AI)
  • Akshara Richhariya (TA)
  • Deryl Hatch (RA)
• Alternates:
  • Vahid Shabro (RA)
  • Lucia Henderson (AI)
• Notes: GSA appointment consists of one TA, one RA and one AI.

• Committee Name: Information Technology Committee
• Description: This committee recommends to the President, the Vice-President for Information Technology, and to the Faculty Council changes in policies regarding information technology. It also consults with and advises the Vice-President for Information Technology about policies and procedures pertaining to information technology at The University of Texas at Austin.
• Members:
  • Ankit Shah
• Alternates:
• Notes: