GSAS
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MISSION
The Graduate Student Association Senate of Appalachian State University is an elected body through which the graduate students express their concern for the welfare of the graduate students at the University, develop and disseminate ideas for the improvement of graduate education, and contribute to the formation of relevant University policy.
What is GSAS?
The ASU Graduate Student Association Senate is a student-run organization representing the graduate student population of Appalachian State University. Representatives from participating graduate programs throughout the campus attend GSAS meetings and relay information back to their fellow students. GSAS representatives are a great source of information on graduate programs, graduate student events, and the university. The GSAS continues to grow and improve, restructuring where necessary, creating new programs to address newly-recognized graduate students needs, and continuing its relationship with the Graduate School, in which the open exchange of ideas and information continuously improves the graduate student experience.
What does GSAS do?
- Seeks to improve graduate education and student life by providing services, social events, and a forum for graduate student concerns.
- Takes part in crucial ASU administrative committees to advocate graduate student opinion in establishing policy.
- Seeks to improve graduate education and student life by providing services, social events, and a forum for graduate student concerns.
- Enriches graduate scholarly research by providing financial support.
The Graduate Council is currently examining the issue of dual-listed courses and would like to hear feedback from graduate students at Appalachian on this issue. What have been your experiences in dual-listed courses? Did they meet your expectations for a graduate-level course? In what ways could dual-listed courses be improved so that there is value-added for the graduate students enrolled in them? In what ways did they add to your graduate education? Please share any thoughts you have on this issue by sending me an email (se35545@appstate.edu), and I will post your anonymous comments here. If you'd prefer your comments not to be posted, please indicate that in your email.
The next Graduate Council meeting is on November 16th, and a representative from GSAS will be sharing your input with the council at that time. The meetings are open, so if you'd like to attend I can give you further information as to the meeting time and place.
To learn more, refer to the Ad hoc committee report on dual-listed courses that was recently presented to the Graduate Council.
Serena
Graduate student feedback on dual-listed courses:
1. Experience indicates that it's playing with fire to put undergrads and grads in the same class. That is, there's a potential for something great, but only if the pitfalls can be avoided. My thinking is that a set of guidelines be established and enforced, maybe by the Graduate Council. They'd basically say, if a dept. wants to run dual-listed courses, that's fine, but they have to abide by X Y and Z. Maybe whoever administers these guidelines sets up a way for students to report problems directly, as a quality control measure. The guidelines would stipulate how much and what kind of extra involvement grad students in dual-listed courses would have, maybe going so far as to give a few options, e.g. "a lit review of X length OR a teaching/mentoring component OR" etc.
2. Although I have not had any dual listed courses yet, I look forward to the experience. It sounds like the role of graduate student in a dual class often affords the opportunity to lead and teach to some extent. This is something that appeals to me as I am unsure how comfortable I would be committing to be an instructor for a full semester. While I think that the administration should strive for more and more Graduate only courses, I believe it should be done voluntarily and not through a more restrictive academic policy.
3. My personal experience with dual-listed courses is nothing but wonderful. By no means has it ever threatened me that undergrads have learned beside me. The syllabus clearly distinguishes the responsibilities between grads and undergrads. It all comes down to what one takes from the class itself - my drive has always led me to go above and beyond the requirements of the classes to apply the principles and concepts toward my area of interest. I like the dual-listed courses and understand that some degrees need them to expand curriculum choices.
Dean Huntley has challenged GSAS to raise $1000 by Dec. 1st for the Graduate Student Association Research and Travel Endowment. If we meet this goal, Dean Huntley will match the funds! We are deeply grateful for Dean Huntley's past and continued support of our efforts to provide graduate students with funds for research and travel. By meeting her current challenge, we have the opportunity to increase our endowment by 20% in a single semester! The interest from the endowment will be used to fund grants for graduate students.
Persons interested in contributing may write checks or money orders to the Appalachian Foundation. Please send contributions to the Graduate School (ASU Box 32068; Boone, NC 28608), with a note clearly stating that the funds are being donated to the GSAS Research and Travel Endowment (#94128).
Donation levels are as follows:
Individual: $25
Bronze: $50
Silver: $100
Gold: $250
Platinum: $500
Diamond: $1,000
Naming: $5,000
Dean Huntley recommended that if GSAS senators can secure 10 faculty members to each contribute $100, the $1000 will be reached. GSAS senators should ask faculty members for their help. We will discuss other options for raising the money at our next GSAS meeting on October 6, 2009.
The Agenda and Minutes for all Senate meetings will now be posted on the "Schedule" part of the Website! To read the minutes from past meetings, just click the link beside the date and download the document!
