The Social Welfare Graduate Assembly (SWGA)

SWGA Agenda
Meeting Minutes
2/12/08

Reports from the Executive Meeting and BTS Meeting

Library Hours – requested for Saturday (11am to 5pm) and Sunday (1pm to 5pm) afternoon. Faculty voted to approve these changes on a trial basis. This change will not be in effect until fall semester

Spanish Course – has been approved for next spring semester. This will not be an introductory course, but will be for those who are fluent or have conversational skills.

Admissions Information - last year only 10 people applied for gerontology. Rafa would like input on how to increase.

Discussion about Format of SWGA Meeting

Format can be what ever we want to see: guest speakers (i.e. the Dean, Andy Scharlach, professionals from outside agencies that we are interested in, advice from recent grads on the job search).

Suggestion Box – Currently there is a SWGA envelope on the door to the SWGA office (located across from the library).

Career Colloquim - Recent graduates sat on a panel to share their experience after their MSW program at Berkeley. Topics included advice on employment, contract negotiations, their personal experience of getting a job and how to overcome challenges in the process.

Resources Available – Alumni Association, Student Advocate Program, Election Speakers.

Summer Opportunities – Interest in learning about the available jobs out there.

Workshops – resume and cover letter writing workshop

Lockers

Japera Moses will coordinate with Evelyn Prada ensuring the project is not dropped. Looks promising. Lockers will be 12 x12 (small gym size locker).

PPSC

Monie Bohnsack will bring up concerns that were bought up to the faculty about making information about the program and process more accessible to student, particularly in other concentrations.

T-shirt Committee Update

Have been shipped back and will be returned shortly. Pick up dates will be arranged and announced.

Diversity Task Force

Cythnia Dimon discussed a GSR position proposal that will be submitted in 2 weeks. Dean is neutral. Plans for fall.

Spring Days & Diversity Days – Dean is trying to recruit a more diverse population in school. One reason may be that Berkeley does not offer part time programs, which makes it more difficult with students with children. GRE requirement may be deterrent, but that won’t change due to university policy. Fact that it is research based (PhD) as opposed to programs more concentrated on direct practice. A lot of pressure and people won’t apply. January 5 deadline may be another deterrent.

Question: What are they doing? – visiting classrooms, state systems not welcome Berkeley because they want to retain their own students, have students reach other, letters to local agencies, visit other UCs, website with student input.

Statistic – Last year 28 African-American students applied. 13 were admitted and 10 came to Berkeley.

Student Body Participation – Need for students to become more involved in the process. Rafael Herrera, Admission Director, is only one person.

Lobby Days

Need to reserve rooms by the 18th of February. Gerontology group is going and have reservations together.

Funding – grant to rent vans & coordinate carpools. SWGA has $ for food in the morning. Nathan is trying to get support from NASW. If NASW member, possibly get ½ of hotel fee reimbursed.

SWGA Events

Candy Grams - successful raised $180 dollars.

Happy Hour at Triple Rock - Next week on Thursday at 4:30 pm. Shattuck & Hearst. Friends and significant others welcome.

Field Seminar Days

There were plans to have seminar days increased from 3-4 times a semester in the 2nd year to every other Thursday, but the idea was tabled. Compared to other programs were have less.

Spanish Class

For conversational or fluent only, not an introductory course. Most likely will be taught by Rafael Herrera. Class will be taught in Spanish. Will cover the different concentrations and materials SW need to have.

Financial Status

Mike Myette discussed SGWA finances. Currently balance is at ~$350 or above. Funding for SWGA meeting food come from a different stream - the Graduate Assembly.

Ideas to raise more $ - plant sale for Arbor Day, more bake sales (create a calendar for the different bake sales), spring cleaning auctions

$ will be used for – Raise $ for orientation. Perhaps organize potluck style meal instead of just snacks, but to do this we need to raise more $.

Caucuses

Jenn Hopping representative. Need for coordination of the different bake sales run by the caucuses. Calendar will be posted in SWGA office for the semester. Sign in what day of the event and which caucus.

Social Justice Symposium – January 26, 2008. Positive evaluations and feedback. 140 people came as opposed to 75 from last year.

African-American Continuum – Black History Month. Soul food bake sale on the 19th. Also showing of movie Unprecedented (about 200 elections). Monday 25th at 5:00pm

Asian Pacific Islander Caucus – Bake/asian food sale for the Chinese New Year to raise $ for caucus.

Queer Caucus – Also had a bake sale. No rep to comment.

Caucus for International Awareness – Mark Samples, representative. Caucus will focus on raising awareness. International social work – summer plants, more curriculum. Need support and participation. Idea for a talk/series of talks about sharing international experience among fellow students. Need more people to join. Get involved!

Dual Programs

Representative Dylan de Kervor . Those interested in getting a PhD, law degree, public health, international studies, and others – the process is very difficult. Start a working group to support each other.

Alumni Association

Teacher of the Year Award. Send out email nominations. Voting will be conducted online. This award will be presented at the Alumni dinner on April 25th. $25 for students. (Cost may be a deterrent - idea of having faculty sponsors?) Greg Merrill was the recipient last year.

National Day of Service – On April 26th. Rebuild houses together. A day to give together.

Nominations during meeting – Andy Scharlach, Mary Cavanaugh, and Stan Taubman.