Ohio University Graduate Student Senate will vote on eight resolutions at its Tuesday night meeting.
Body members will discuss creating an official stance of GSS, which would make it the sole voice of graduate students at OU. If passed, it would create constitutional changes in both GSS and Student Senate’s constitutions, according to a previous Post report.
GSS President Maria Modayil said the resolution would declare its independence within OU’s system of shared governance.
“This one is specifically asking that we recognize GSS as the official voice and then asking the administration’s support in facilitating a transition to achieve this goal,” Modayil said.
Members will also discuss three budget requests, including funding for a plaque to be located in Baker Center for winners of the Outstanding Graduate Faculty Award. GSS has named winners of the award since 1975, yet there isn’t a plaque representing its winners, Modayil said.
The body will also vote on four changes to its rules and procedures. One resolution would change GSS’ election process for the 2019-20 academic year.
Currently, elections are held at the end of Spring Semester. Modayil said that resolution would host elections for executive members toward the end of the fall, then have the executives partially in their roles throughout the spring.
“The exec members would have a transition period of a year to learn the ropes and also … help the current execs on some of the activities,” Modayil said. “So it doesn’t feel like you’re alone in it.”