🚀 go-pugleaf

SOME BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS HERE REGARDING GRADUATE STUDIES POLICY,
UNIONIZING,
CREDIT UNION, UNIVERSITY SMOKING POLICY, GRADING POLICY - PLEASE READ.

Please direct any comments regarding any of these announcements to your
department GSA representative (Kevin krd@cs, Kumar nari@ece)

1.  Graduate Studies Policy
The GSA is working on a draft University Graduate Studies Policy.  The
policy would cover work rules, advising, benefits, and working
conditions
of graduate students.  A basis for the policy is available from the
American Association of University Professors at
http://www.aaup.org/gradst.htm.  Comments on the policy or suggestions
for
the CMU policy are welcome.

2.  Unionization
A decision by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for New York
Univeristy recognized graduate students as employees of universities and
as
such are entitled to organize and bargain with their employer.  Although
no
immediate interest in unionizing at CMU seems to abound, the potential
is a
consideration for both graduate students and the administration.  Read
the
NLRB ruling at:  http://www.nlrb.gov/weeklysum/w2763.html#5

3.  CMU Credit Union.
Graduate students are eligible to become members of the CMU Credit
Union.
Similar to a bank, the credit union provides savings (share) accounts,
loans, and other services, and is located in the Old Student Center
(between Cyert and Hamburg).  It currently does not offer checking, but
should in the near future.  Find out more:
http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/org/cmu-cu/

4.  University Smoking Policy
Changes to the University Smoking Policy are being considered.  In
addition
to the changes on the current draft, smoking may be prohibited within 20
feet of any entrance to an academic building.  Read the full policy at:
http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/org/fac-senate/SmokePol10_26_00.html

5.  University Grading Policy
The undergraduates are pushing for the addition of +/- to the standard
alphabetic grades.  This option is currently available for graduate
students, with an A+, if available, worth 4.33 quality points.  If the
+/-
scheme is adopted for undergraduates, both A+ and A would be worth 4.0
quality points.  The graduate grading system would be redefined to
correspond to the undergraduate system.  Read the current grading policy
at: http://www.cmu.edu/esg/acadreg.html

Comments on any of the above issues should be addressed to your
department
GSA representative.
-- 
-Kumar.