Graduate & Professional Student Association
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING
GPSA COUNCIL MEETING 44-04
MINUTES
5:30 PM
HYBRID PUBLIC MEETING:
IN PERSON: GRADUATE COMMONS CONFERENCE ROOM
LIED LIBRARY 2ND FLOOR
VIRTUAL: https://unlv.zoom.us/my/gpsa.meeting.room
Passcode: GPSAUNLV
US Phone: +1 719-359-4580
Phone Code: 14888624
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE AGENDA AND PUBLIC MEETING NOTE:
PERTAINING TO VIRTUAL MEETINGS:
This meeting will be held via teleconference only pursuant to Section 1 of the Declaration of Emergency Directive 006 (“Directive 006”) issued by the State of Nevada Executive Department. If a physical location is required for the meeting, participants may be able to access the livestream by visiting the Graduate Commons at the Lied Library 2nd floor.
Public Comment may be submitted via email to gpsapresident@unlv.edu.
Messages received by 9:00 AM on the business day prior to the meeting may be entered into the record during the meeting. Any other public comment form submissions and/or voicemails received prior to the adjournment of the meeting will be transcribed and included in the permanent record.
Members of the public wishing to listen to the meeting may do so via: https://unlv.zoom.us/my/gpsa.meeting.room
CONTINUED:
Below is an agenda of all items scheduled to be presented and considered at the meeting. Notification is hereby provided that items on the agenda may be taken out of the order and presented, two or more agenda items may be combined for consideration, and an agenda item may be removed from the agenda or discussion relating to an item on the agenda may be delayed at any time.
Some agenda items are noted as having accompanying reference material. Copies of the reference materials that are distributed at the meeting may be requested by emailing the Executive Board at gpsa@unlv.edu.
This meeting’s agenda has been posted in accordance with NRS 241.020. Copies of the agenda and reference material will be made available as follows: 1. Digitally at the UNLV.edu/GPSA/Agendas and the Nevada Public Notice Website, 2. Physically located on the First Floor of the Lied Library at 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV, 3. Physically located in the Carol C. Harter Classroom Building Complex (CHB) at 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV.
Reasonable efforts will be made to assist and accommodate persons with a disability attending the meeting. Please email the GPSA Manager at gpsa@unlv.edu in advance so that arrangements may be made.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Public comment will be taken during this agenda item. No action may be taken on a matter raised under this item until the matter is included on an agenda as an item on which action may be taken. Comments will be limited to three minutes per person. Persons making comment will be asked to begin by stating their name for the record and to spell their last name. The Board Chair may elect to allow additional public comment on a specific agenda item when that agenda item is being considered. In accordance with Attorney General Opinion No. 00-047, as restated in the Attorney General’s Open Meeting Law Manual, the Chair may prohibit comment if the content of that comment is a topic that is not relevant to, or within the authority of, the Body, or if the content is willfully disruptive of the meeting by being irrelevant, repetitious, slanderous, offensive, inflammatory, irrational or amounting to personal attacks or interfering with the rights of other speakers.
2024-2025 EXECUTIVE BOARD
PRESIDENT |
VICE PRESIDENT |
TREASURER |
SECRETARY |
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☑ David King |
2024-2025 SUMMER COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES
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College |
Name |
Attendance |
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Lee Business School: |
VACANT |
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Dental Medicine: |
VACANT |
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College of Education: |
Ayodele Aborishade Joined in 5:36pm |
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College of Engineering: |
Daniella Nikoloska |
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College of Fine Arts: |
Karla Lagunas |
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College of Hospitality: |
Jaimi Garlington
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Integrated Health Sciences: |
Gregory Gill |
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Boyd School of Law: |
Blanca Peña |
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College of Liberal Arts: |
Hoor Ul Ain Absent |
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School of Medicine: |
Daniel Aynlender Joined in 5:36pm |
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School of Nursing: |
Wendy Huynh Absent |
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School of Public Health: |
Ernest Cornejo |
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College of Urban Affairs: |
Elisha Longoria |
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College of Sciences: |
Jennifer Napoles |
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Interdisciplinary Programs: |
Katie Bricarell |
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*Members may have been appointed by their department between the time of agenda posting and the meeting. All other members present will be available in the Minutes and listed below.
Members-at-Large:
Lila Hearn, Political Science
Penny Wolkiewicz, Emergency Crisis Management
Dionne Stanfill, Law
Amrit Shahi, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Burak Sahin, Teaching & Learning
Ravi Batra, Environmental & Occupational Health
Joseph Cadiz, Nursing
Ryan Rezaei, Hospitality Management
Joseph Noce, History
Frincesca Howard, Nursing
Susan Dakwa, Social & Behavioral Health
Raven Brown, Public Policy & Leadership
Education
Khandaker Arafin Islam, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Katie Singsank, Psychology
Members of the Public Present:
☑Virginia Smercina
☑Bill Robinson
☑Dante’ Walter
☑Valarie Burke
AGENDA
Called to order at 5:32pm
- ROLL CALL
- PUBLIC COMMENT INFORMATION ONLY
(See foregoing notation regarding public comment)
- APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR POSSIBLE ACTION
4a) The GPSA Council will consider approval of the minutes from the July 2024 Council Meetings (44-04) as posted to the public GPSA drive.
Moved by Treasurer Lopez, seconded by VP Carr. Passed unanimously.
- REPORTS & RECOMMENDATIONS INFORMATION ONLY
5a) Executive Board
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- President
President Marie will report to the GPSA Council concerning UNLV related issues or events important to the UNLV graduate student body. President Marie will provide updates regarding the July 2024 Board of Regents meeting.
President Marie reported about the Board of Regents meeting that happened during July. She mentioned that the board of regents held a workshop regarding student needs and for the regents to be more vigilant about listening to student needs. She also encouraged the council to attend the next board of regents meeting.
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- Vice President
Vice President Carr will report to the GPSA Council concerning UNLV related issues or events important to the UNLV graduate student body. Vice President Carr will provide an update on TDX and the new system process for sponsorship applications. Vice President Carr will provide information on how to join and schedule sponsorship workshops.
$15,993.98 was carried into FY25 from FY24 regarding rollover from the sponsorship budget. VP Carr provides details on Sponsorship, as well as putting together a workshop for the department of criminal justice as well as three more dates for sponsorship workshops.
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- Treasurer
Treasurer Lopez will report to the GPSA Council concerning UNLV related issues or events important to the UNLV graduate Student body.
Treasurer Lopez reports that funds are coming in from the $25 GPSA fee from graduate students. Lopez also announced that Ways & Means is always welcoming more committee members.
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- Secretary
Secretary King will report to the GPSA Council concerning UNLV related issues or events important to the UNLV graduate Student body.
No reports.
5b) President’s Cabinet
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- Director of Communications & Marketing (vacant)
- Director of Engagement & Outreach (vacant)
- Director of Legislative Affairs (vacant)
- Director of Operations (vacant)
- Attorney General
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5c) GPSA Business Manager & Advisor
- Business Manager Virginia Smercina will report to GPSA Council concerning UNLV related issues or events important to the UNLV graduate student body.
- Updates to GPSA Eboard Stipends, Changes to the Graduate Commons Space.
Business Manager Smercina announced that anyone is planning on continuing as a council representative is to fill out the form.
- GPSA Faculty Advisor Dr. Bill Robinson will report to GPSA Council concerning UNLV Related issues or even important to the UNLV graduate student body.
Dr. Robinson expressed his support for President Marie attending the Board of Regents meeting. Public comment can be made from students to express concerns regarding fees and other issues that graduate students are facing.
5d) GPSA Committee Reports
Ways and Means: Chair Peña reported that amendments were made to the operating policy, including removing RSO language from the policy.
Sponsorship:
RSO Funding:
Bylaws & Constitution: President Marie reported that an overhaul is needed for the GPSA bylaws and constitution.
Ad Hoc Fee Evaluation:
5e) UNLV Campus-Wide Committees
Representatives serving on any external committee on GPSA behalf may use this time to provide updates.
Campus committee for voter engagement is currently active to facilitate non-partisan community engagement in voting. There are no updates regarding the safety committee as GPSA is still waiting for a response from the President’s Office.
5f) UNLV Departments/ Units
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- Graduate College
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Dante’ Walter announced GA tuition waivers. Valarie Burke attached the Graduate Course Catalog in the chat that includes a plan of studies and classes for graduate students. Burke also discussed the different events that the Graduate College is currently hosting as well as volunteering opportunities.
- UNFINISHED BUSINESS FOR POSSIBLE ACTION
Unfinished Business is any motion or action item that was under discussion and was postponed or moved to this meeting at the discretion of the public body as approved by the chair.
New business is any motion that is new to this meeting. All items will be for possible action unless otherwise stated.
7a) Graduate Campus Committees INFORMATION ONLY
Secretary King requests time for the discussion of the campus committees that have seats available for GPSA students.
Secretary King reported that GPSA is still accepting applications for the President’s Cabinet and the various committees that GPSA currently operates.
7b) Discussion of Parking Fee Increase INFORMATION ONLY
President Marie requests time for the discussion of the unnotified parking fee increase that went into effect for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
President Marie stated that there was a $36 fee increase proposed for a new parking structure behind the transit center. The Board of Regents were not happy with the multiple fees increases and were not interested in moving forward with a decision on the fee increase. Regent Downs asked if no decision was made, would the parking fees still increase, and UNLV stated that it is not expected for that to occur and more analysis is needed. However, the fees were still increased without notification from administration.
7c) Events for the 2024-2025 year INFORMATION ONLY
President Marie requests time to discuss the events GPSA has planned of the 2024-2025 school year.
This includes:
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President Marie reported the various events that will be occurring in the coming weeks.
7d) Creation of RSO Funding Committee FOR POSSIBLE ACTION
President Marie requests time to discuss and possible voting establishing the RSO Funding Committee (or subcommittee) and approval of its operating policy. This one will be pressing with the new school year starting.
President Marie stated that many discussions have been made about separating RSO funding from ways & means and will be placed in sponsorship. The committee has to be made to handle RSO funding.
Motioned by Secretary King, seconded by VP Carr.
Passed unanimously.
7e) Discussion of Programs Under Moratorium FOR POSSIBLE ACTION
President Marie requests time to discuss and possible voting on the Operating Policies for the RSO funding, Continuation and support grant, and open access journal fund.
7f) Discussion of Sponsorship Program INFORMATION ONLY
Vice President Carr requests time to discuss the updates to the sponsorship program and policies.
VP Carr discussed that Sponsorship will include language in the operating policy are not able to receive direct monetary benefit from utilization of their sponsorship funds as they were deemed inappropriate since student funds are used for sponsorship. She also reported that faculty endorsements come slowly and are a required part of the sponsorship application.
7g) Discussion of Budget Allocation INFORMATION ONLY
Treasurer Lopez requests time to discuss the budget allocations for 2024-2025 budget. To be presented at the September meeting for possible action.
Treasurer Lopez reported that the new budget for FY25 will be reviewed by Ways & Means so that it is ready to be discussed by the general council in September.
7h) Discussion of New Divisions FOR POSSIBLE ACTION
President Marie requests time to discuss and possible vote on expansion of President’s Cabinet with a new Division for Program Initiatives and Oversight and/or position of Attorney General.
President Marie discussed that there is a need for oversight within GPSA and the attorney general position has been in discussion to be created
Motioned by Treasurer Lopez, Seconded by Daniel Aynlender.
Passed unanimously.
7i) Call for New Business Items INFORMATION ONLY
Items for consideration at future meetings may be suggested. Discussion is limited to description and clarification of the subject matter of the item, including the reasons for the request; emergency items added at the discretion of the President (GPSA Bylaws Article IV, Sec.3).
No new business.
- ANNOUNCEMENTS INFORMATION ONLY
- Graduate Assistant Active Assailant Training with University Police Department 08/22/24 3pm-4pm
- UNLV Premier Thursday - August 29, 2024 from 5:30pm to 9pm, Intermural Fields
- UNLV Involvement Fair - September 4, 2024 from 10am-2pm, Academic Mall. (Typo)
- Graduate/Professional Appreciation Day at the Dining Commons - September 18, 2024
- OKTA updates will be pushed to graduate students on September 23, 2024
- Graduate/Professional Appreciation Day at Football – September 28, 2024
Tailgating 8:30am Kickoff 12:30
- Homecoming October 21-25, 2024.
- Next Meeting will be September 12, 2024 @ 5:30pm - PUBLIC COMMENT INFORMATION ONLY
(See foregoing notation regarding public comment)
No public comment.
- ADJOURNMENT FOR POSSIBLE ACTION
Adjourned at 6:29pm.