The Graduate and Professional Student Senate met for their monthly meeting in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union on Monday night and held their election for the Executive Council of the 2018-19 school year.

Norin Yasin Chaudhry is a graduate student in biochemistry, biophysics and molecular Biology, has been elected as GPSS president. Her vice president is Joshua Wolanyk.

Chaudhry’s opponent was Meghana Akella, a graduate student in mechanical Engineering. The final vote was 63 percent to 36 percent (with one vote abstain). 

Desciptions of the positions and accounts on experiences from the current Executive Council can be found here.

The results of the election for GPSS Executive Council for the 2018-19 school year:

President: Norin Yasin Chaudhry

Vice President: Joshua Wolanyk

Treasurer: Rui (Michael) Ding

Chief Information Officer (CIO): Shuang (Sophie) Zhai

University Relations Legislative Affairs (URLA) Chair: Amanda Bries

Professional Advancement Grants (PAG) Chair: Eleanor Field

Research Conference Chair: Niranjana Krishnan

The GPSS also voted to pass the amendments to the Articles of Cooperation, which is a legislation between Iowa State Student Government and GPSS covering Inter-Government communication, funding and representation.

The most significant amendment to the Articles of Cooperation was the alteration in allocation of Student Activity fees. Prior to the amendment, the first part of Section to read as follows:

“a. The Student Government shall receive 50 percent and the GPSS shall receive 50 percent of the student activity fees paid by graduate and professional students.” 

This has been amended and reads as follows:

“a. Student Government and GPSS shall split the Student Activity Fees paid by graduate professional students:

b. The Student Government shall receive 1/3 and the GPSS shall receive 2/3 of the Student Activities Fees paid by graduate and professional students by [fiscal year] 2022.”

This will have a positive impact on the Graduate and Professional Student Senate, as last month GPSS projected its first financial deficit in five years due to a drop in graduate student enrollment — a deficit of approximately $5,000 as of this meeting.

The bill requires 2/3 vote yes, and an abstain counts as a no vote. 

The bill passed in GPSS with 61 yes votes, 2 no votes and 3 votes abstain and has already been approved in the Student Government.

The GPSS also voted to reallocate funds for graduate and professional organizations. Prior to the projected deficit, GPSS planned on allocating approximately $17,000 according to Treasurer Maria B. Mantilla Perez, and has been changed to $13,000. This bill passed with 95 percent yes votes. 

Tonight’s speaker was Krista McCallum Beatty, the director of the International Student and Scholars Office, who spoke about resources available to international students at Iowa State University.

GPSS President Vivek Lawana promoted Iowa State’s very first Graduate Health and Wellness week at Monday night’s meeting as well. More details about the event can be found here.

The next meeting will take place April 30.