Graduate Student Committees — 2010–2011

Here are a list of the current offices, with the people holding those positions and brief descriptions of their jobs.


President

Member:

The president basically makes his own job. For example, he can be a liason between the physics graduate students and the physics department head, helping communicate and resolve issues for the graduate students. He also runs the elections.

You must have passed the qualifiers to hold this office.


Vice President

Member:

The only official duties are running the elections and recording who gets elected to what office. Running the elections includes learning how to use the iClickers, arranging for them to be available at the elections, and getting the election to run smoothly with them.

This person is also a second-in-command for the president, and should keep up to date on what's going on in the department (esepcially what the president is doing in fulfillment of his/her office).

You must have passed the qualifiers to hold this office.


Curriculum Committee

Members:

2 members (with a possible extra)

Works with the faculty on the curriculum committee, which decides on the undergraduate curriculum.

You must have passed the qualifiers to be on this committee.


Graduate Studies Committee

Members:

3 members

Works with the faculty on the graduate education committee, deciding what classes should be offered/required.

Use to be one member, but we talked the department head (Steve Kevan) into letting us have three members.

You must have passed the qualifiers to be on this committee.


Faculty Committee

Members:

2 members

Sits in on faculty meetings, offering input when requested. Records what happens in the meetings (especially any entertaining faculty outbursts) and reports back to the graduate students.

You must have passed the qualifiers to be on this committee.


Admissions Committee

Members:

3 members

Only works during the few weeks that new graduate student applications are being reviewed. Members spend several hours per week reviewing applications, and have some input over who gets admitted during weekly meetings. These meetings typically last a few hours.

You must have passed the qualifiers to be on this committee.


Computer Controller

Member:

Deals with all things pertaining to the computers in the Binney Lounge. Includes maintenance, replacement, and removal.


Invited Speaker Coordinator

Member:

Also known as the Minister of Propaganda.

The graduate students get to invite a few speakers for the colloquiums. This person is in charge of soliciting input on who to invite from the graduate students, making the selection, and notifying the department of that selection.


Lounge Lizard

Members:

This office was formerly known as Lounge Lord, but the name changed when the duties changed.

Gets newpapers from the EMU and delivers them to the Binney Lounge, arranges to have the lounge and refrigerator cleaned up when needed, and talks with the office staff about procuring new swag for the lounge.


List Master

Members:

Maintains physgradlist, the email list for the physics graduate students. This involves list configuration and maintenance, adding/removing new members, moderating (if desired), and handling bounced messages. Responsible for seeking out new member addresses for adding to the list. Also responsible for managing a current committee members webpage.


Colloquium Lunch Committee

Members:

2 members

Arranges the lunches with colloquium speakers. The faculty usually arrange for the speaker to have lunch with graduate students, but it doesn't hurt to check. This committee makes sure a room is reserved for the event, sets the room up beforehand if necessary, cleans up afterwards, makes sure the speaker gets on to the next meeting in a timely fashion, advertises the lunch (sends out an email beforehand), and is responsible for food (typically ordering pizza and buying drinks beforehand), cups, plates, etc. Food may be billed to a personal credit card, and the department will reimburse afterwards.

Finally, during the lunch, the committee members are expected to greet the speaker, show them their seat, and make sure they get pizza, drinks, and in general know the flow of things. The committee members should also have a few questions prepared in case the conversation lags. These do not need to be directed at the speaker, but may be directed at the graduate students as well.


Graduate Student Seminar (GSS) Committee

Members:

3 members

Schedules and runs the GSS's. Responsible for getting speakers, reserving a room and time, advertising (email, posters, and running the webpage), and room setup/cleanup. This includes getting snacks, for which the department will reimburse you.

The committee is recommended to reserve the room for an hour and a half, as sometimes GSS's run overtime.


Refreshments Committee

Members:

2 members

Responsible for getting everything but the coffee and cookies (like drinks and fruit) for the pre-colloquium refreshment period. They are reimbursed for their purchases.


GTFF Stewards

Members:

About a tenth of the physics graduate student population

These are physics graduate students selected to represent the physics department in the graduate students' union.


Recruiting Committee

Members:

Many members

Works with the faculty recruiting committee to plan and run the recruiting weekend in the spring. Involves a few planning meetings before the event, and typically takes a lot of work during the actual weekend, ferrying prospective students around, talking to them, and making sure things run smoothly and that they have fun. Members get a lot of free food and drinks. All members will be expected to get certified to drive a van, with rare exceptions.


Fall Picnic Planning Committee

Members:

The more the merrier.

Plans the annual Fall Picnic held at the beginning of the fall term.


Holiday Party Planning Committee

Members:

The more the merrier.

Plans the annual Holiday Party held at the end of fall term.


Wanton Mechanics Planning Comittee

Members:

The more the merrier.

Plan the annual physics department anti-talent show held near the beginning of spring term, usually after the qualifiers are taken but before the results are in. Need to reserve the space (usually Agate Hall) early.

The committee usually puts on at least one of the acts.


Summer Outings Committee

Members:

The more the merrier.

Plans at least one social outing for graduate students, faculty, and others involved with the physics department during the summer.

Previous committees:

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