Thursday, March 27, 2008

                Agenda

                I.Guest - Prof. Susan Maze-Rothstein, School of Law

                II.Budget Allocations for FY 09
                    A.  Survey Results
                    B.  Operating Expenses
                        1.  Hypothetical
                    C.  Conferences and Programs
                        1.  Increase in Group Programs budget?
                        2.  Conference Budget backed out as a function of use of reserve

                III.Policy Changes
                    A.  Group Request procedure
                        1. can work with next VP of Finance to make changes to website/deadline
                        September/December applications?

                    B.  Outline priorities more specifically
                        1. doesn&t have to be an amendment to bylaws, but can be
                        2. what should priority be?
                        Current wording:  Awards to individuals for conference travel support are based on the available budget,
                        the number of applicants, the information in the application, and other applicable information and considerations.

                    C.  Bylaw amendment - emergency access of reserve
                    Proposed text:

                          THEREFOR BE IT RESOLVED That the following amendment be added to the Finance Committee By-law under Article IV - Budget:

                          Section 4: Emergency Access of Reserve Account

                          In an effort to ensure that the GPSA is supporting as many graduate students attending conferences as possible, 
                          the Senate will be allowed emergency access of the reserve account if necessary.  Such access must follow the 
                          following procedures:

                          a) The Senate will only be allowed to access the account once per academic year;

                          b) The funds may only be transferred to the Conference and Research Fund;

                          c) The amount transferred shall not exceed _ percent of the original Conference Budget for that academic year.

                          d) A majority vote in the Senate is required to approve the transfer
              
                III.New Business
                      A.  Next Meeting - Scheduled for 4/24 (deadline is 4/18 - has to be after)