GSA Newsletter: Feb. 11, 2019

GSA Director Shoutouts:
Amanda Jacobs and Dannon Cox:
Thanks for setting up and running the Graduate Teaching Assistant Town Hall and the Graduate Student Town Hall meetings.

Ann-Elizabeth Nash, Margaret Sebastian, Mel Lafferty, Nicholas Dix and Nouri Marrakchi
Thanks for representing graduate student interests on the Academic Appeals Board and ensuring that graduate students are treated fairly.

Elizabeth Shmikler
Thanks for suggesting the creation of a graduate student “writing circle.” A regularly scheduled day and time might be what graduate students need to help them finish those dissertations. I have a high tech room tentatively reserved for your group for the rest of the semester and the library is willing to send over research librarians to assist students.

Oluwagbenga “David” Agboola and Shumin Shen
Thanks for leading the graduate student meet-up at the APASS Lunar New Year Celebration.

Sophia Castro-Jurado
Glad to have a graduate student from the MBA program interested in volunteering. I look forward to hearing your ideas on graduate student activities.

Zac McCarver
Student Senate election nominations just opened. You’ve done a great job as the NHS rep on Student Senate this year. The GSA hopes that you will run for office again! We would definitely support you and any other graduate students who are considering elected office.

UNC Off-Campus Housing Fair
Wednesday, Feb. 13
10 a.m.–2 p.m.
University Center, First Floor

Looking for a new place to live? Gather information from various property providers in one convenient location. This free event is open to all UNC students, faculty, and staff.

GSA Grant Application Cycle 3 Closes Friday, Feb. 15, 5 p.m.
If you are attending a conference or beginning a research project between Jan. 1-April 30, 2019, you can apply for GSA grant funding during this grant cycle. You can still apply even if you are waiting on your conference presentation acceptance or IRB/IACUC approval. Students who didn’t apply (or who had their applications turned down) in grant cycle 2 can reapply during the current grant cycle.

GSA Wins ITECH Funding Grant
The Graduate Student Association was recently awarded $2,690 in funding for technology purchases. The GSA plans to purchase several iPads, a Gimbal Video Stabilizer, wireless lavalier microphones, USB computer microphones and a power bank for GSA and/or graduate student use.

Graduate Student Panelists Wanted
Monday, March 4
5-6 p.m.
McNair Scholars Program
The GSA has been invited to do a panel discussion for the undergraduate students at the McNair Scholars Program. These students want to know more about what it’s like to be a graduate student and how to overcome some of the challenges you’ve faced in your academic career. Format will be a Q&A panel discussion. To volunteer, email david.shimokawa@unco.edu.

Chatbot Testers
Thanks to the help of graduate student testers, the Graduate School’s chatbot is now live to assist incoming graduate students with their enrollment questions. Thanks to the following participants:
Ann Kuhn
Annabel Li
Ann-Elizabeth Nash
Anthony Azari
Aspen King
Brandy Tackett
Brittney Morgan
David Shimokawa
Elizabeth Shmikler
Gabby McAllaster
Gianna Stover
Jacob Kisiolek
John Matthews
Jonny Lisano
Kathy Casey
Margaret Sebastian
Peter Smoak
Rower Thomas
Sarah Zwetzig
Shane Murphy
Yolanda Chatwood
Zoe King

Earn $1,000-$3,000 per semester working for Student Senate
Graduate students are eligible to run for Student Senate office. Four cabinet positions (President, Student Trustee, Director of Student Affairs and Director of Finance) have ten office hours per week and are paid $3,000 per semester. Fifteen Student Senator positions are available (three from each college) requiring four office hours per week and getting paid $1,000 per semester.

Message from Bear Pantry Graduate Assistant: Charlette Flanders
Bear Pantry is a collaborative initiative on the UNC campus to assist students who are faced with food insecurity. The Bear Pantry is open to all UNC undergraduate and graduate students. Students can receive five items, twice a week. Our big event of the semester will be the Bear Pantry Fundraiser on April 18 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the University Center Panorama room. More information about the event will be posted once details are finalized.