EGSS Meeting Agenda

Date: March 27th, 2017

Room: 203

Attendance: Dorelle Hinton (DH), Shalini Sivathasan (SS), Janet Amos (JA), Jessica Insogna

(JI), Emma Clark (EC), Carole Spake (CS), Charlie Ohayon (CO), Gwenaelle Philibert (GP),

David Santin (DS), Anna Otto (AO), Dylan Moran (DM)

Late Attendance:

Regrets: Emilie Michalovic, Aiden Hallihan

Absent with no regrets:

1. Approval of Meeting Minutes Feb 22

- Approved JI and AO

2. Approval of Meeting Agenda March 27

- Addition Items 11 and 12, approved by JI and JA

3. VP Academic Report: Planning for Spring Fellowships - DH

- Departments should be promoting fellowships, needs based and travel based. Council

members need to be prepared to receive a file and rank applications that have already be

anonymized. Full council that decides the winners. DH will ask that you look them over

ahead of the meeting in early May. The applications are due on May 1st.

4. Recap GSEA Feb Draw - DH

- All money is allocated except for one applicant due to a miscommunication but will be sent

out tomorrow. Are in the process of asking Dean’s office if there is extra money - yes so may

have extra award in May

5. GA & Social Report - JI

- GA in one week and social in another week - 2 separate events. Voting period will

still be going on during GA and can present new council at social. Date for GA: April

6th from 4-6 in EDUC434. Social - email Blis for social the week after, looking into

Wed or Thurs of following week, same style as holiday party. GA - food options,

could get platters from costco or pizza. EC, JI, JA, & CS will confer for final decision.

6. Recent Student Concerns - DM

- One of our current MATL students and a grad went to global news about problems with

internships and student affairs without informing DM. That night DM emailed EGSS, admin

of program, and grad and student group. EC and DM have been talking and is talking to ISA,

and has put out google docs survey of current and former students to get info about their

stage/program experience. Has 40 responses so far. 77.5% of respondents have had

concerns about their internships, some extremely serious. Issue is that there is a high

demand for stages and few places that are available. Has been contacted by ISA, director

emailed, DS: also had issue with stages and VP academic has been in touch with ISA. ISA

states that they know there are issues but nothing has been done, have their hands tied and

have some members who are inflexible.

- DM: is thinking of reaching out to Concordia, UQAM, and EdM. Looked up internship rights,

might be a bigger issue present. DS: information for student rights is almost inaccessible. EC:

took it to the dean’s meeting, they were aware, they said when there is something

anonymous, don’t act. EC said in return, there is a statement for EGSS to put out that we are

a support and are there for students. They can come to us and we can advocate and direct

them to services. If you hear anything in passing, state EGSS is aware and we are making

efforts to address this and to follow up with a program rep or another EGSS member. JA:

anonymity is an issue since it is daunting to go against the faculty EC: hopefully the students

will come to us and we can speak on behalf of them. DM: if you know teachers in the MTL

region, tell them to be cooperating teachers.

- EC: steps: whoever comes to council will be a case by case situation asking them how they

want to work with us. We will explain what is available and they can choose how much

support they want from us. JA - maybe can add that info on website and advocacy JI -

student advocacy tab. DS will mention to Edus council. EC: if this become bigger than EGSS,

might need a council.

7. Exit Reports - EC

- Keep in mind, a report of what to expect, what you did, things you wish you had known,

issues encountered, what to be proactive about (MATL capstone), contacts, etc. Doesn’t

have to be long. Once voting closes, puts out a call. Next meeting in early May either 5, 8,

after 15th. CO to send up doodle.

8. SPSA Recognition - EC & JA

- Reformed this year to be a strong association. Want recognition of student association

status. PGSS says we have to amend our constitution for this to happen. DISE formed their

own council under Erin. JA: to increase cohesiveness in program. Want to know how to exist

officially, can either disassociate from EGSS but is not what they want. Would like the official

recognition in EGSS constitution. DH: if separate, only get $10 per student, what can you do

with that vs where you are under EGSS. EC: will have to be voted on at GA. If not this one,

the next. JI: questions if can be recognized without separating. JA: according to Jacynthe yes

but EGSS doesnt get money from school psyc students, therefore their own funding. Wants

to do things only within their program to support their students. DH: if you don’t want to

separate, asking EGSS for a rep at the council. JA: not interested in separating, just want the

association to be legitimate. DM: write a constitution and have EGSS recognize the

constitution. EC: in contact with next year’s PGSS VP finance about discretionary funding,

will meet to discuss budgets moving forward and possibility of program size being a factor.

JA: will bring a slide for GA, and EC: everyone should make a slide for GA as their reports

send to EC the morning of the GA.

9. Conference Updates - Volunteering - SS

- Hoping council will be there for conference, if anyone is available to volunteer, still looking.

Sending out volunteer roles tonight. Keynotes: Thursday at 9:30AM (KPE related talk) and

Friday at 2PM (Indigenous talk) in coach house. There is breakfast, lunch, and a wine and

cheese on Friday at 4PM. If you are not on the list and planning to come, talk to JI. SS spoke

to CS re:reimbursement and she will provide cheques for money spent. DS: there will be a

documentary viewing on Indigenous people, have the producers coming to do a viewing.

Julie (VP academic) is running the event.

10. Communications - JA

- 3 people for the elections. Sent out April newsletter today and will send out email at the end

of the week again for elections for how many positions are open for 2nd round and GA. First

round is over on the 30th. Second round starts 31st until april 4th. April 6th is first day of

voting. People running for positions have the right to present themselves and campaign at

the GA. Time will be capped at 2mins.

11. Election Update - JI

- 3 people. Edited DH original document on drive. Started March 16 - March 30th. Second

round March 31-April 4th. Voting April 6th - April 10th. GA = April 6th and will promote

voting and candidates can speak. Social will be after and call for secretary application April

10-21st. JA: if people want to co a role, on nomination form put names together and get

signatures for your teams and on ballot their names are together. This is in the constitution.

Reached out to MLISSA aka SIS, in our constitution for the election since it says that they are

entitled to a rep. Turns out they are not part of our faculty anymore. After GA need to

amend that.

12. Discretionary funds - GP

- Update about ECP funds. Discussed with JA for awards night for school psyc. re:

discretionary funds. A part will go towards the awards night and another portion of the

budget will go towards pet therapy for the end of the year - brainstorm with SS. GP will

investigate process and where can run the event. EC: if the animals are therapy trained, will

not have a problem with location. DM: brought dogs to Brown for disabilities week, need to

get approval from facilities, used Therapeutic Paws of Canada. GP: For Funds, there is a

google form CS made on our website.

Adjourned - EC, JI, AO, SS