SASI

This has been my first Fall as a SASI co-director, and let me tell you — September is the busiest month of the year for new officers of a student council! There’s orientations and trainings to attend, re-registration paperwork for the “registered student organization” status and separate paperwork to fill out for the “sponsored student organization” status. Then there’s new officer orientation, Senate of College Councils orientation (which we missed this year) and meetings, Treasurer training, Financial Resources training, TETA awards meetings, GSA meetings, and on and on! Add to that the hunt for two new co-directors, setting up GRE info sessions for the Stepping Up grant (hosted by SASI), finding new student reps for iSchool committees, and this little kickball league thing we’ve got going on, and you find yourself with two very frazzled Co-D’s!

We’ll be getting back with you shortly on the Co-D hunt, but let me take a moment to point you to our new page on the site, devoted to introducing the new iSchool committee members to their constituents.

We’ve also included a page on how to get funding for your project or your student organization (complete with forms and deadlines!), so give that a look when you have a moment… free money is always good.

I’m so proud of the people who have stepped up to the plate to volunteer for all the many (many) things we’ve asked so far this semester.  I’d like to extend my personal thanks to the GRE Info Session Volunteers who will be giving their tips to folks who want to be involved in the Stepping Up grant: Priscilla Delgado, Maggie DeBaldo, Alex Addison, Janice Kowemy, Eryn Whitworth, Yaguchi Yumi, and my own fellow Co-D, Lea Engle.  You all are truly awesome and generous folks, and I appreciate you greatly.

A few things from the most recent Senate of College Councils meeting I attended (last night):

• If anyone is interested, the deadline for signing up for the Texas4000 bike ride from Austin to Alaska is coming soon! I’ve got a flyer, or you can visit the website for more info.
• The Senate is asking for nominations for students who would be interested in serving on the Higher Education Coordinating Board. The selection won’t be made for a while, and there’s only one seat, but that one person will be the representative for the entire campus. If you’re interested, please email me.
• On October 9th, UT will be unveiling our statue of Cesar Chavez in front of Painter hall from 6-8:30. This will be an historic event as this is only the second status of Chavez that has been placed on a university campus.
• Two Senate Resolutions will be voted on at the next meeting. I plan to vote in favor of each resolution.  I’d like feedback on both, but I will interpret silence as assent, so be warned!
  • SR 401 - Encouraging the formal recognition of (academic) Minors to the Academic Transcript. This is primarily of interest to those in the undergraduate program, but this resolution would recommend to the faculty council that undergraduate minors be formally included on an individual’s transcript. This would be retroactive.  Would be put into effect within the next two years.
  • SR 402 - Encouraging the formal recognition of programs and certificates to the academic transcript.  This will affect any iSchool student who participate in any of the Masters & PhD portfolio programs offered (as well as other certificate programs within the university). This would most likely not be retroactive, and might take longer to go into effect.

Please contact me if you have any questions about anything that SASI is working on right now!

Coming soon - details on Kickball and Tea with the Dean!