Letter to the editor, Feb 8

Dear Graduate Student,

 

In an October 2011 survey, the Graduate Student Association (GSA) and the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska (ASUN) found that you do not feel represented by your student government. Our lack of communication and inadequate representation is regretful. We are excited to tell you, however, that we are working hard to address this and that we have done something about it.

 

Recently, ASUN formed the Graduate Student Task Force, a collaboration between GSA and ASUN. This group is currently better integrating graduate student leaders into ASUN to ensure that any and all gaps in communication are quickly and effectively filled.

 

Additionally, the Grad Student Task Force has already begun tackling some of the specific issues you identified as important in the survey. One such concern is the availability of Graduate Student travel grants. The task force identified this as a priority, and our university administration has been very supportive. The senior vice chancellor for Academic Affairs and the dean of the Office of Graduate Studies have been invaluable in crafting and supporting the policies that will govern the proposed travel grants.

 

The Grad Student Task Force has extensively researched travel grants as they exist at other institutions. A couple quick facts: 1) All schools in the Big Ten have a university-wide graduate student travel fund except UNL, and 2) 10 of the 12 schools in the Big Ten pay for the university-wide graduate student travel fund through graduate student fees.

 

Using parts of each schools' travel grant systems as a model, we believe we have created a fantastic proposal. Here is what we were thinking: Each year at UNL, there are around 65,000 graduate credit hours accumulated in all sessions. Our proposal is to create a "Graduate Student Travel Grant Fund" by assessing a $1 per credit hour fee to all graduate-level courses, thus anyone (including undergraduates, distance students, etc.) who pays the $1 per credit hour fee for graduate-level courses is eligible to apply and receive funding for this program. Awards can used to pay for travel, research and other expenses associated with other graduate programs.

 

You have the chance to vote whether or not to approve this proposed travel grant on Feb. 22-23 on MyRED. We wanted you to be aware of this proposed fee so you have a chance to share with us your ideas, thoughts, or concerns on the subject. Visit asun.unl.edu to learn more about the proposal, and join us at our upcoming Open Forum discussions on Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. in the Nebraska Union and on Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. in the East Campus Union.

 

In the meantime, know that we have heard your concerns and that we are working to make your time at UNL happy and productive. We're diligently working to create an integrated student government that best serves the needs of undergraduates and graduates. We're excited to continue the collaboration and we're committed to serving all students at the university.

 

Best wishes,

 

Sylvia Jons

Graduate Student Association President

 

Lane Carr

ASUN Student Government President