Graduate Student Council

Advocacy Committee

Chair: David Doll
Members: Evans Boney (URS Advocate), Rosemary Rohde, Ronnie Bryan, Dan Bower, Danielle Brown (Sustainability Advocate), Joel Louwsma, Havala Pye, Anna Beck (ex officio)
Meetings: usually noon on the 3rd Thursday of the Month at the Caltech Y multipurpose room, but see the calendar for the most up-to-date information

The Advocacy Committee is responsible for representing graduate student interests to the institute in these main areas:

Healthcare

Housing

Stipends

Diversity

If you haven't had a chance yet, please check out the presentation on the Caltech Safety Net, which can be found can be found at:
Caltech Safety Net
We should all know what we should be on the watch for, and how we can help with depression amongst our peers.

In 2007, based on a student body wide poll, the GSC recommended to the administration that we keep our current level of coverage and suggested that graduate students would be willing to pay a small fee to help cover the rising costs (poll results). For the most part, these recommendations were followed: over the next two years (07-08 & 08-09), graduate students paid an additional $150 and then $300 annually. This plan will expire, bringing us back to the drawing board for a new plan that will begin 2009/2010. The GSC is working with the administration to choose a plan that covers the areas most important to graduate students -- in order to do so, we will use your input from the most recent Health Care survey (Oct 2008). Email us with any additional thoughts, comments, or questions. The GSC is proud to offer graduate students discounted Westside Rentals memberships, first funded by MHF in Spring 2008, and now funded independently by the GSC. To register for a 60 day membership, please use your Caltech user name and password to access the Westside Rentals Sign Up Page.

Here are the results from the Fall 2008 Housing Survey . Web linked comments can be accessed when viewing the pdf file with an appropriate web browser, also be sure to use your browser's back button after viewing any survey comments.

Virtual Suggestions/Comments Box:
Please email GSCHous-list@caltech.edu with any comments or concerns related to Caltech Housing and suggestions for assistance the GSC can provide in searching for non-Caltech accomodations in the area. The Graduate Studies Office annually makes a minimum stipend recommendation based on their estimate of the cost of living in Pasadena. These recommendations are then either followed or not, on an option by option basis. We have successfully lobbied to bring nearly all options into compliance with these recommendations for 2008/2009

The Graduate Office operates a student emergency fund, created initially by a generous gift from Mr. Rainer Schaaf. Please visit the Student Emergency Fund website for examples of financial needs, including medical bills, that qualify and how to apply. The GSC Advocacy Committee works to provide the graduate community with resources to deal with discrimination and harassment on campus. Our newly created position of Under-Represented Students (URS) Advocate will work with the relevant offices to raise awareness about these issues and disseminate practical information about what to do if you feel discriminated against or harassed. These offices are:
Minority Student Education
Women's Center
International Students Program
Counseling Center

We also advocate for graduate students who have financially dependent spouses and/or children. Possible monthly insurance premium reimbursement exists for graduate student dependents under the Special Needs Allowance, please follow the Request for Medical Insurance Reimbursement link on the Graduate Office website.

Healthcare	Housing	Stipends	Diversity
If you haven't had a chance yet, please check out the presentation on the Caltech Safety Net, which can be found can be found at: Caltech Safety Net We should all know what we should be on the watch for, and how we can help with depression amongst our peers. In 2007, based on a student body wide poll, the GSC recommended to the administration that we keep our current level of coverage and suggested that graduate students would be willing to pay a small fee to help cover the rising costs (poll results). For the most part, these recommendations were followed: over the next two years (07-08 & 08-09), graduate students paid an additional $150 and then $300 annually. This plan will expire, bringing us back to the drawing board for a new plan that will begin 2009/2010. The GSC is working with the administration to choose a plan that covers the areas most important to graduate students -- in order to do so, we will use your input from the most recent Health Care survey (Oct 2008). Email us with any additional thoughts, comments, or questions.	The GSC is proud to offer graduate students discounted Westside Rentals memberships, first funded by MHF in Spring 2008, and now funded independently by the GSC. To register for a 60 day membership, please use your Caltech user name and password to access the Westside Rentals Sign Up Page. Here are the results from the Fall 2008 Housing Survey . Web linked comments can be accessed when viewing the pdf file with an appropriate web browser, also be sure to use your browser's back button after viewing any survey comments. Virtual Suggestions/Comments Box: Please email GSCHous-list@caltech.edu with any comments or concerns related to Caltech Housing and suggestions for assistance the GSC can provide in searching for non-Caltech accomodations in the area.	The Graduate Studies Office annually makes a minimum stipend recommendation based on their estimate of the cost of living in Pasadena. These recommendations are then either followed or not, on an option by option basis. We have successfully lobbied to bring nearly all options into compliance with these recommendations for 2008/2009 The Graduate Office operates a student emergency fund, created initially by a generous gift from Mr. Rainer Schaaf. Please visit the Student Emergency Fund website for examples of financial needs, including medical bills, that qualify and how to apply.	The GSC Advocacy Committee works to provide the graduate community with resources to deal with discrimination and harassment on campus. Our newly created position of Under-Represented Students (URS) Advocate will work with the relevant offices to raise awareness about these issues and disseminate practical information about what to do if you feel discriminated against or harassed. These offices are: Minority Student Education Women's Center International Students Program Counseling Center We also advocate for graduate students who have financially dependent spouses and/or children. Possible monthly insurance premium reimbursement exists for graduate student dependents under the Special Needs Allowance, please follow the Request for Medical Insurance Reimbursement link on the Graduate Office website.