College	Department	Name	Attendance
	Art	Dan Hernandez	☑
	Film	Victoria Marshall	☑
	Music	Lukas Hutchinson	☑
	Theatre	Nick Case	☑
College of Hospitality:	Hospitality & Hotel Administration	Jaimi Garlington	☑
Integrated Health Sciences:	Health Physics & Diagnostic Sciences	Clare Bennett	Absent
	Kinesiology & Nutrition Sciences	Donya Shahamati	☑
	Physical Therapy	VACANT	☑
	Brain Health	Steph | Stephanie Apodaca	☑
Boyd School of Law:	Law	John Netto	☑
College of Liberal Arts:	Anthropology	Emily Edmonds	☑
	English	Carlos Tkacz	☑
	History	Tyler Rodney	☑
	Political Science	Lila Hearn	☑
	Psychology	Hoor Ul Ain	☑
	Sociology	Drue Sahuc	☑
	World Languages & Cultures	VACANT	☐
School of Medicine:	Couple & Family Therapy	VACANT	☐
	Medicine	Nathan Karo	☑
School of Nursing:	Nursing	Laura Chechel	☑
College	Department	Name	Attendance
School of Public Health:	Environmental & Occupational Health	Emylia Terry	☑
	Healthcare Admin & Policy	Sisinyous Zerihun Mengesha	☑
	Epidemiology & Biostatistics	Amruta Godbole	☑
	Social & Behavioral Health	Ana Gonzalez	☑
College of Sciences:	Chemistry & Biochemistry	Jenny | Jennifer Napoles	Absent
	Geoscience	Sierra Ramsey	☑
	Life Sciences	TJ | Thomas Crippen	☑
	Mathematical Sciences	Ali Balooch	☑
	Physics & Astronomy	VACANT	☐
College of Urban Affairs:	Communication Studies	VACANT	☐
	Criminal Justice	Elisha Longoria	☑
	Journalism & Media Studies	Leena Atout	☑
	Public Policy & Leadership	Christine Nolan	☑
	Social Work	Emily Arriviello	☑
Interdisciplinary Programs:	Integrated Health Sciences	Katie | Katherine Bricarell	☑
	Data Analytics & Cybersecurity	Anne Poole	☑

*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: Amrit Shahi – Civil and Environmental Engineering Kevin Navarrete-Parra – Political Science Miriam Borvick – School of Medicine Joe Cadiz – Nursing ☑Kevin Dangler - Nursing

Members of the Public Present: ☑Virginia Smercina – Business Manager ☑Bill Robinson – Faculty Advisor John Colombo – Faculty Advisor Dante Washington

AGENDA

1. CALL TO ORDER

Called to order at 5:35pm.

2. ROLL CALL

Quorum has been established.

3. PUBLIC COMMENT                                                                            INFORMATION ONLY

(See foregoing notation regarding public comment)

No public comment.

4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES                                                                 FOR POSSIBLE ACTION

4a) The GPSA Council will consider approval of the minutes from the November 2024 Council Meetings (44-07) as posted to the public GPSA Drive.

Motion opened by Hoor Ul Ain, seconded by Kristine Bartolome.

For approval, motioned by Treasurer Lopez and seconded by Hoor Ul Ain. Passed unanimously.

5. REPORTS & RECOMMENDATIONS                                              INFORMATION ONLY

5a) Executive Board

1. 1. President

President Marie will report to the GPSA Council concerning UNLV related issues or events important to the UNLV graduate student body.

President Marie reported that UNLV tragically lost another graduate student and took a moment of silence. Board of regents week was happening as well as a variety of events and meetings. The rest of the report was continued in item 7d.

1. 2. Vice President

Vice President Carr will report to the GPSA Council concerning UNLV related issues or events important to the UNLV graduate student body. Updates about sponsorship program.

VP Carr reported that the sponsorship program has implemented a waitlist procedure for applications that qualify but cannot be funded. In the October cycle, $16,969.88 was rewarded to eligible applications.

1. 3. Treasurer

Treasurer Lopez will report to the GPSA Council concerning UNLV related issues or events important to the UNLV graduate Student body. This includes the budget report for the past month.

Treasurer Lopez reported that the current balance for GPSA $132,127.28 across all accounts. He also proxied for President Marie at the President’s breakfast and was disappointed at the lack of conversation at the roundtable regarding student needs. 

1. 4. Secretary

Secretary King will report to the GPSA Council concerning UNLV related issues or events important to the UNLV graduate Student body. Provide a brief training on Robert’s rules.

No reports.

5b) President’s Cabinet

Director of Communications & Marketing - No reports.

Director of Engagement & Outreach -

• G.R.A.D night at the symphony. 157 graduate and professional students 427 tickets requested.

President Marie reported the huge success the GRAD night at the symphony had as well as future collaborations. There was also a call for volunteers for Grad appreciation at the dining commons and for the research forum.

• • • Attorney General (vacant)

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.
  • Changes to the Graduate Commons Space

Business Manager Smercina announced that the council meetings will be held in the student union in the future.

• GPSA Faculty Advisor Dr. Bill Robinson will report to GPSA Council concerning UNLV Related issues or even important to the UNLV graduate student body.

Faculty advisor Robinson encouraged graduate student involvement in board of regents meetings as there are plans being discussed that are not inclusive of graduate students, as well as questioning of the fee increases that have been proposed. President Marie and Business Manager Smercina also mentioned that there is an effort from NSHE to change compensation of those in student government to scholarship pay, which would be financially detrimental to students.

• GPSA Faculty Advisor Dr. John Colombo will report to GPSA Council concerning UNLV Related issues or even important to the UNLV graduate student body.

5d) GPSA Committee Reports

Ways and Means: Treasurer Lopez reported that the next Ways & Means meeting will be December 13^th at 4pm.

Sponsorship:

Constitution & Bylaws: President Marie reported that the next constitution and bylaws meeting will be held next semester and is currently accepting committee members.

5e) UNLV Campus-Wide Committees

Representatives serving on any external committee on GPSA behalf may use this time to provide updates.

5f) UNLV Departments/ Units

5. • • Graduate College: Dante Washington reported that waivers should show up by January. Dr. Burke also announced some upcoming events hosted by the Grad College.
6. 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.

7. NEW BUSINESS                                                                                               FOR POSSIBLE ACTION

New business is any motion that is new to this meeting. All items will be for possible action unless otherwise stated.

7a) UNLV Office of Student Affairs                                                                 INFORMATION ONLY

Associate Vice President of Student Life, Dr. Merino Contino requests time to give a presentation regarding student life feedback and discussion of student life fee. 10 mins

7b) Nevada Graduate Student Workers Letters                                             INFORMATION ONLY

President Marie requests time to discuss the progress of the graduate assistant organizing efforts. 7 mins.

President Marie reported that NGSW successfully reached supermajority support for unionization from the graduate student body and there are conversations being held between the president/chancellor of UNLV and NGSW to move forward with collective bargaining.

7c) NSA Mixer                                                                                                    INFORMATION ONLY

President Marie requests time to discuss GPSA hosting the NSA mixer for the board of regents tomorrow night Tuesday, December 3^rd, 2024 in the graduate commons starting at 4pm. 5 mins

President Marie announced that the NSA mixer will take place in the graduate commons on December 4rd and everyone is welcome to attend.

7d) Board of Regents 12/4 and 12/5 meetings @ UNLV Ballrooms              INFORMATION ONLY

President Marie requests time to discuss the Board of Regents Quarterly Meeting held in the Student Union Ballrooms from 8am to approximately 5pm Wednesday 12/4 and from 8am to approximately 1pm. 5 mins

President Marie reported that there were two 12 hour meetings for board of regents and a variety of issues discussed, most importantly student fee increases. The tech fee and differential fees in nursing, dental, and engineering are included. President Marie encouraged students to go to the meeting and speak during public comment. Faculty advisor Robinson mentioned to question why fee increases are occurring despite UNLV’s current fee account balances. 

7e) December 6^th A gathering to Remember and Reflect                               INFORMATION ONLY

President Marie requests time to discuss the campus event being held on December 6^th at 11am at the UNLV amphitheater (by FDH), subject to move indoors depending on the weather. 5 mins

President Marie discussed the gathering being held to remember and reflect + that CAPS will be there to offer services and supports for students.

7f) 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).

8. ANNOUNCEMENTS                                                                                        INFORMATION ONLY
   - Research Forum 2025 April 12, 2025.
   - Next Meeting THURSDAY February 6^th, 2024 @5:30pm
9. PUBLIC COMMENT                                                                                        INFORMATION ONLY

(See foregoing notation regarding public comment)

No public comment.

10. ADJOURNMENT                                                                                             FOR POSSIBLE ACTION

Adjourned at 7:27pm.