The working group on financial support has met a third time, and membership for the health and wellness working group has been finalized. The task force will continue to review all comments submitted through this form, including those related to SAA compensation and workload, graduate student well-being, and other ideas for improving the educational experience for all graduate students. The task force plans to submit several recommendations to the provost and Bloomington Faculty Council to consider for Fall 2022 implementation and will continue to work through the coming year on many other issues of concern to our graduate students and faculty. In addition to the recommendations for immediate action, the task force will deliver long-term objectives and actions as a new strategic plan for graduate education at IU Bloomington, sometime during the 2022-23 academic year.
This past week, a new SAA Council in the College—which is home to more than half of all IU Bloomington SAAs—hosted its first meeting, co-chaired by history professor Padraic Kenny. This work will complement the work of the BFC’s re-constituted campuswide SAA Affairs Committee. An open, unfilled seat remains available for representation from the IU Graduate & Professional Student Government (on all committees). We have received over 150 feedback forms on the task force on topics ranging from increased funding to mental health support to ensuring that undergraduate courses continue, uninterrupted, this academic year.
As of July 8, 2022, the working group on financial support had met twice as a full group and once in breakout groups that discussed SAAs, fees, and stipends. Membership for the working group on health & wellness will soon be finalized. Committees will also discuss graduate student housing; curriculum and academics; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and career and professional development. The coordinating committee has met seven times since May 18. An open, unfilled seat remains available for representation from the IU Graduate & Professional Student Government (on all committees).