From the Chair

Jai Shanata, GSC Chair

As we embark on another school year, I wanted to let you know about how your GSC funds are working for you. October marks the beginning of our Fiscal Year and I am pleased to announce that, despite the current economic climate, we do not anticipate a systematic decrease in GSC budget since the majority of our budget is tied to the number of enrolled graduate students. Student Affairs has also committed to maintaining the portion of our budget that they provide (~15%).

Prudent spending over the last several months has left us financially sound, nevertheless, this year the Treasurer, Jacob Sendowski, and I thought that the Budget could use some refocusing. The Budget that we proposed to the GSC Budget Committee reduced Social Committee's budget (14% decrease), while increasing that of Academics Committee (13% increase). Despite the cuts to Social Committee, I have every confidence that the Committee Chair, Luke Boosey, will still be able to provide ample social events. We are always looking for event ideas, so please let us know if you have an idea you'd like us to support-we'll do our best to make it happen.

This change in funding priority reflects the GSC's renewed commitment to the issues that have the most substantial impact on us: our time in classes and lab and our interactions with our advisors as well as each other. Advocacy Committee will remain the committee that does some of the most important nuts-and-bolts work of the GSC in order to ensure high quality graduate student life. We also granted a higher level of club funding, reversing the trend of the last few years that has seen significant cuts. We will hold clubs to a high standard in spending this money-including encouraging sustainable choices for events-and we hope that you will attend the events that they hold.

Increased funding and GSC commitment is driving the largest expansion of Academics Committees in recent history with a variety of new programs. This year the interdisciplinary Journal Club program for graduate students to meet and discuss articles of their own selection became official (see full article for details). We will also launch a Take A Prof to Lunch program-modeled after ASCIT's program-to encourage graduate students to interact in many different ways with faculty as well as learn what being a faculty member is like. As was suggested by a group of thoughtful graduate students, we also plan to make our lab reviews a real-time website to which current graduate students will be able to post their experiences in the lab. Then, in early 2010, Academics Committee will also host its second annual Graduate Student Poster Session-we hope you will participate!

At the risk of being redundant, let me remind you of the questions to ask potential advisors. See my October 23rd e-mail or the full article for details.

Last but not least, in the coming weeks we will be running a survey regarding your experiences here as a graduate student in preparation for an important January presentation about graduate student life to the Board of Trustees. I hope that you will each make the time to take that important survey and have your voice be heard!

Sincerely,
Jai Shanata GSC Chair

David Doll, Advocacy Committee Chair

We had our monthly Advocacy committee meeting on the 15th of October in the Caltech-Y multipurpose room. Progress on several topics was shared. If you are interested in any of the topics covered below, or have some concerns of your own, please either attend our next meeting on November 19th in the Caltech-Y multipurpose room, or email them to David Doll (davidd AT caltech DOT edu).

In healthcare, Anna Beck (abeck AT caltech DOT edu) has followed up on loosing Mak and Klieger from our Delta Dental coverage with the faculty health committee chair, as it appears the office is settled in its decision. Also, there have been reports of some oversights in our new health insurance cards. If you have not received your new Aetna health card, and you did not choose to opt out of the program, please let Anna Beck know. Finally, Amy Hofmann is the Graduate Student representative to the Safety Net Working Group, tasked with suicide and violence prevention on campus, founded by Dr. Kevin Austin, Director of the Counseling Center. This group is working hard to try to increase awareness of different aspects of the Caltech Safety Net (www.counseling.caltech.edu/sn/safetynet.swf ), and is very interested in any input graduate students may have. If you have any ideas on how our Institute can improve the Safety Net, please contact Amy (hofmann AT gps DOT caltech DOT edu), or share them at the next Advocacy meeting.

Also, all the Aetna enrollments have been completed and corrections were made for some students who were accidentally not automatically enrolled. Next year's enrollment period will be smoother than this year. If you have not received your new Aetna health card, and you did not choose to opt out of the program, please contact the Caltech Benefits office to make sure your mailing address is up to date.

In housing, the GSC is still offering subsidized memberships at $20 per student to Westside rentals apartment listings. Please contact Havala Pye (havala AT caltech DOT edu) if you are interested. Also under housing, it had been brought to our attention that internet service in the Catalina apartments had recently become a bit unreliable. Havala is following up with the Institute on this issue; if you're still having problems with your internet connection, please let her know about it.

On the stipends front, the GSC has met with half of the division chairs about increasing graduate student involvement in fundraising for fellowships, and the responses have been quite positive. The thought is that graduate students are in a uniquely qualified position for sharing with potential donors the different research that takes place here, but are often not called upon to do so. We believe graduate student involvement in fundraising can have a positive impact. If you would like to help, or have any comments or concerns about anything involving stipends, please contact David (davidd AT caltech DOT edu). We are also working to get a cost of living estimate together. If you are interested, please contact David as well.

The GSC is working with the undergraduate community to start a mentoring program on campus. This program will debut around November 7th, and is open to all students in the Caltech community who would like to either mentor others, or have a mentor themselves. This program concerns both academic affairs and life experiences (loss of parent, relationship issues, etc.), and is anonymous upon request. If you're interested, keep an eye out for future announcements, or contact Glenn Garret (grg AT caltech DOT edu) or David Doll for further information.

Our weekly moment of silence against violence towards students in Iran and around the world has contributed to a Moore-Hufstedler fund application to bring different speakers about the current state of affairs in Iran to campus. If you have any suggestions concerning the moment of silence, please contact Ronnie Bryan (Ronnie AT caltech DOT edu)

Juan from Housing maintenance said that anyone who's heard of another student abusing the Internet in the Catalinas should let him know. IMSS is investigating the issue as well.

Teaching and Mentoring Awards Each year the GSC recognizes outstanding teachers and mentors through the Teaching and Mentoring Awards. As this semester nears the end I would like to encourage everyone who has a fantastic TA or professor to nominate them for this award. Please go here to nominate someone.

Everheart Lecture Series The Everhart Lecture Series is a forum to encourage interdisciplinary interaction among graduate students and faculty and to recognize the exemplary presentation and research abilities of Caltech's graduate students. Each fall, three graduate-student lecturers are selected to present their work as part of the Everhart Lecture Series based on each student's dynamic speaking skills, ability to communicate their research and their impact of their research on the scientific community. If you know someone who fits these characteristics, please go here to nominate someone. Also, to view previous lectures check out the Caltech Theater.

Vacation I would like to remind all grad students that in addition to the institute holidays, you are entitled to 2 weeks of additional vacation time. Please be sure to schedule your time off with your adviser. Bon voyage.

Lab Reviews Are you currently doing lab rotations or considering switching labs? Check out the GSC's Lab Reviews. When grad students graduate they complete a survey about their adviser and their experience in that lab. The GSC has made those results available to aid in your choice of a lab. Also, in the very near future we will be launching a Caltech-grad-student-only web forum to discuss lab/adviser related issues and get advice from other grad students. Watch out for that announcement.

Luke Boosey, Social Commitee Chair

Social Committee thanks all those who volunteered to make this year's NSO a huge success! The next event Social Committee brings you is this Saturday's Halloween Party at Prufrock House. Prufrock is right next to the Catalinas, across from the area that used to be the Beckman Institute lawn.

Check out Ibiza Night November 7:

RSVP via Facebook

On Friday, November 14 at 3pm there will be a Third Eye Blind concert on campus! After a reception for students and Alumni, the band Grand Buffet will open at 4:30. Third Eye blind will follow at 5pm. Bring your Caltech student ID. Stay tuned for the location!

This Affects YOU!

In February 2010, the Institute will move the pay date for all graduate students to the end of the month. What this means for you is that you will NOT receive a pay check February 1st, 2010, but instead on February 28th. We understand how this may present difficulties to many graduate students who do not have enough cushion in savings to last what is effectively 2 months between paychecks. Advocacy Committee has been working with the Graduate Studies office and the Finance office to set up a program that will avoid much of the hardships this may cause.

First a bit of background into why such a shift is necessary. As it stands right now, each graduate student is paid at the beginning of the month for work they have not yet performed. While for many this isn't an obvious problem, this system does create several difficulties. For example, if someone is on a TA at the beginning of the month and changes to an RA during the month, they were not paid a sufficient amount, nor from the right sources of funding. Also, currently graduating students do not receive a final paycheck after leaving the institute. Shifting the pay schedule will eliminate or reduce many of the administrative problems in payroll processing, ensure more accuracy in graduate student payments, and help in making sure all graduate students are getting paid what they should when they should. Plus, in the future, graduate students will receive a final paycheck after finishing their studies to help with the transition to their next career.

Now for the details of the program. The Finance office has arranged for loans to graduate students in the amount of $2000, to be issued February 1st, 2010. These loans will be interest free (and tax free), and repayment on the loan will start with your July 2010 paycheck (which you will receive on July 31st, 2010). The repayment will be monthly over a 2 year period, and will consist of $83.33 being deducted from each paycheck. In the next few weeks, you will be receiving a promissory note that you need to sign and return to the bursars office indicating that you would like to receive such a loan. These loans are OPT-IN only, and no loans will be given to graduate students who don't sign up to receive them. This obviously means that if you do not want such a loan, no action on your part is required. The final day to return the signed promissory note is December 15th.

Please be on the lookout for this notice. If you have any concerns, contact either Jai Shanata (jshanata AT caltech DOT edu) or David Doll (davidd AT caltech DOT edu), and they'll try to answer your questions.

Thursday October 29, 2009 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Location: Sherman Fairchild Library, multimedia conference room

Have you always wanted a house without an expensive monthly heating, electric, or water bill? Well, here is your chance to make one! Come and hear about the Solar Decathlon 2011. This is an international competition, sponsored by the Department of Energy, which aims to build the most efficient solar-powered house. Eric Chang, who is spearheading the effort to field a Caltech team in the competition, wants to attract a group of interested students for this project. Everyone is welcome and lunch will be provided.

Caltech students showcasing the panels they installed on the roof of Watson last year

Every Monday, 6pm, Avery Conferece Room (2nd floor)

Toastmasters International has helped millions around the globe perfect their public speaking skills. Meetings are at most an hour long and consist of several pre-prepared 6 minute speeches, a handful of 1-2 minute impromptu speeches on interesting topics, and evaluations of all speakers based on time, grammar, and number of filler words such as "ah"s or "like"s.

Toastmasters also provides the opportunity to compete in International speech competitions. Come practice and refine your public speaking skills. Everyone is welcome!

Donate Data, Get Paid

Looking for ways to earn a few extra dollars? Want to learn more about brain research at Caltech? Check out brainscience.caltech.edu for opportunities to sign up for local studies that pay out $$$. Donating data is a painless way to help your colleagues at Tech earn their degrees! The best part is, your data is a renewable resource! Check back often to see new experiment listings.

No experience, special attire or partner required! Join us in us in our ballroom and swing dances to learn how to dance and make new friends!

Beginner Ballroom: Sunday, 12-2pm, October 4 to November 22, Winnett Lounge; Four weeks of waltz and cha cha and Four weeks of quickstep and Rumba.

Beginner West Coast Swing: Monday 8:30-9:30 pm, October 5 to November 23, Winnett Lounge

For more information, visit our website: caltech.edu/~ballroom

It's our best estimate that this website has been visited by

It's my pleasure to bring you this month's issue of the GSC publication formerly known as gscnews. Why the name change? Well, to be honest, we thought that "GSC News" sounded a bit disconnected from the grad student population, so we tried to come up with something more inviting of your readership. The news and information in these issues are of interest to all graduate students, not just members of the GSC board of directors!

As the new term begins, the GSC continues to seek ways to enrich the lives of graduate students at Caltech. Take a look through this issue to find information about events on campus ranging from parties to world reknown speakers. We hope that there is something for everyone in this issue. If there is an aspect of graduate student life that you would like the GSC to address, please do no hesitate to contact us.

I would also like to encourage any first year students reading this to consider coming to our next board meeting on November 5 at 12pm in Winnett to share your experience at Caltech so far. Joining the board is easy, just bring this form with signatures from 4 members of your option. We are actively pursuing a wide range of activities through our three committees: Social, Academic, and Advocacy. We could really use your help staying on top of all the issues that come up at Caltech!

In the meantime, check our calendar of events to stay posted on what is going on: http://gsc.caltech.edu/social/

Thanks for your time!
Yours,
Ronnie Bryan, GSC Vice-Chair