This semester, the Graduate and Professional Students Assembly is setting up a number of events and proposals to improve life for graduate students, GAPSA Chairman and fourth year Ph.D. student Andrew Rennekamp said.
Rennekamp listed improving housing conditions for graduate students as a major priority. Currently, Sansom Place East is the only solely graduate housing provided by the University. GAPSA proposes to discuss increasing dorm capacity with outside developers to accommodate more students.
GAPSA also plans to help students with children find quality childcare. The current University childcare facilities have a long wait list, and students are often not prioritized over faculty members, said Rennekamp. GAPSA plans to meet with the administration to help remedy this problem.
Rennekamp said that students interested in "green transportation" will benefit from the proposed increase in bike racks, share programs and lockers in parking structures. GAPSA will work with the Undergraduate Assembly on this project.
Some GAPSA subcommittees are going to help advise Penn Connects, the eastward expansion of campus, while others work to set up a Grad Club Day, similar to the Student Activities Fair for undergraduates.
Beginning this semester, GAPSA will provide funding to students in departments facing budget cuts to help them attend conferences and showcase their work.
"It is important for students to be able to present their hard work to peers," said Rennekamp, "GAPSA wants to help make this possible."
GAPSA's International Student Council also hopes to persuade the University to co-sign and acquire loans for international students.
Also important to GAPSA is improving the Penn Alumni Career Network Web site, through which students can seek advice on careers and jobs from Penn alumni. International students will be able to search for international alumni to steer them in the right direction.
GAPSA's Pluralism Council is developing a one-stop Web site that will provide information about upcoming events and programs for minority students.
The International Student Council is also planning a cultural integration event where students can showcase their cultural diversities.
Other plans include hosting a trip for about 20 students to the presidential inauguration on Jan. 20.
Additionally GAPSA will hold social events like happy hours and sporting events. "Educational" social events like wine tasting at the Lacroix and Pinot Boutique are also planned, said Rennekamp. He stressed the "importance of learning in a fun and completely new way."
GAPSA and the Graduate Student Engineering Group will be hosting Jorge Cham, who created Piled Higher and Deeper Comics, a comic book that features grad students.
The biggest event of the spring semester, Gradfest '09, will take place May 2.
