US-RUn-rcg140 Graduate Student Association 1966-1987 Finding aid prepared by Kristen Anderson. University of Rhode Island Library, University Archives and Special Collections 2004

15 Lippitt RoadKingston, RI 02881-2011Tel: 401-874-4632email: archives@etal.uri.eduWebsite: https://web.uri.edu/specialcollections/

Finding aid encoded by Yuan Li 2007 November 21, updated by Erin C. Mullen on 2012 January 27, updated by Mark Dionne on 2020 April 16. English Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) English University Archives and Special Collections

15 Lippitt Road Kingston, RI 02881-2011 Tel: 401-874-4632 email: archives@etal.uri.edu

University of Rhode Island. Graduate Student Association Graduate Student Association 1966-1987 Graduate Student Association 24.5 box(es), 12.25 linear feet Contains the records of the Graduate Student Association from 1966 to 1987, and includes minutes and agenda, committee records, and records of the Graduate Council. Rec. Gr. 140 Historical note

Established in 1959, the Graduate Student Association of the University of Rhode Island was developed to enhance graduate students' educational and social experiences at the University of Rhode Island (See Records of President's Office F. Don James 1967-68, Series 1, Box 19, Folder 209). The GSA is a student government body designed to facilitate communication between University departments and students, thus keeping graduate students informed on topics of importance. As an advocate for graduate student concerns, the GSA has worked not only to increase graduate student stipends but also to keep graduate student expenses (tax, health care, child care) low.

In addition to offering advocacy for the graduate students, the GSA provided a social outlet to balance the intensity of graduate work by organizing social activities for the students. The Graduate Student Association is funded through the graduate tax paid by student tuition and fees. ("Graduate Student Association." University of Rhode Island. 26 Oct 2004 (http://www.uri.edu/student_organizations/gsa/Pages/about%20us.html).)

Collection Information

Any qualified person doing scholarly research is permitted to use material housed in the Special Collections Unit.

Terms governing use and reproduction: Photocopying and scanning of materials is a fee based service available in the repository and is allowed at the discretion of the Archivist when in compliance to the Unit's policy on copyright and publication.

Preferred Citation

Graduate Student Association, Rec. Gr. 140, University of Rhode Island, University Archives and Special Collections.

Scope and Content

Within the Records of the Graduate Student Association, one can view graduate students' responses to University issues. Information may be found regarding graduates' concerns on improving graduate life on the campus. During the 1970s, the GSA focused on expanding library access, receiving better services from Career Planning and Placement, increasing available housing, improving communication between the Graduate School and graduate students, offering counseling for further education, fixing the parking problem, eliminating the health fee for graduate students, offering day care, and providing a graduate student handbook for orientation. In 1980s issues of concern included tuition increases, selection criteria for graduate assistantships, inadequate housing, daycare, and shuttle bus needs.

The records show the development of the Graduate Student Association over a twenty-two year period.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into five series as follows: 1. Minutes and Agendas 2. Defunct Committees 3. Subject Files 1966-1982 4. Subject Files 1982-1987 5. Graduate Council

Names

Subjects University of Rhode Island. Graduate Student Association University of Rhode Island -- Graduate Students RIAMCO Browsing Terms Education Inventory Series 1 Minutes and Agendas1966-1987

The commitment of the Graduate Student Association to graduate student advocacy and interdepartmental communication can be viewed by reading the minutes and agendas of Graduate Student Association meetings. The minutes contain detailed reports given by student representatives concerning campus committees such as Campus Parking and Security, Affirmative Action, Development Council, Faculty Senate, Graduate Council, Library Committee, University Appeals Board on Scholastic Conduct and Integrity, and University Board on Student Conduct. The minutes outline critical graduate issues and the steps taken by the Association to address these concerns.

1 1 1966-1967 Meetings 1 2 1967-1968 Meetings 1 3 1968-1969 Meetings 1 4 1969-1970 Meetings 1 5 1970-1971 Meetings 1 6 1971-1972 Meetings 1 7 1972-1973 Meetings 1 8 1973-1974 Meetings 1 9 1974-1975 Meetings 1 10 1975-1976 Meetings 1 11 1976-1977 Meetings 1 12 1977-1978 Meetings 1 13 1978-1979 Meetings 1 14 1979 Meetings 1 15 1980-1981 Meetings 2 16 1981-1982 Meetings 2 17 1982-1983 Meetings 2 18 1983-1984 Meetings 2 19 1985-1986 Meetings - September #1 2 20 1985-1986 Meetings - October #2 2 21 1985-1986 Meetings - November #3 2 22 1985-1986 Meetings - December #4 2 23 1985-1986 Meetings - January #5 2 24 1985-1986 Meetings - February #6 2 25 1985-1986 Meetings - March #7 2 26 1985-1986 Meetings - April #8 2 27 1986-1987 Meetings - August #1 2 28 1986-1987 Meetings - October #2 2 29 1986-1987 Meetings - November #3 2 30 1986-1987 Meetings - December #4 2 31 1986-1987 Meetings - January #5 2 32 1986-1987 Meetings - February #6 2 33 1986-1987 Meetings - March #7 2 34 1986-1987 Meetings - April #8 2 35 1987-1988 Meetings - September #1 2 36 1987-1988 Meetings - October #2 2 37 1987-1988 Meetings - November #3 2 38 1987-1988 Meetings - December #4 2 39 1987-1988 Meetings - February #5 2 40 1987-1988 Meetings - March #6 2 41 1987-1988 Meetings - April #7 Series 2 Defunct Committees1969-1977

The Defunct Committees Series contains memos, letters, reports, and publications of committees in which the GSA participated. The information contained in these folders represents graduate student involvement on campus. Graduate student representatives can be found on numerous committees such as the Advisory Committee, Commission on Undergraduate Life, Committee to Evaluate Administrators, Faculty Appeal Board and Judicial System Review.

Of interest is the Mackal Forum (See Folder 52), a committee that discussed the use of a donation specifically given to construct an ice arena. After the voters of Rhode Island turned down a referendum requesting necessary additional funding for the project, a committee was formed to decide how to spend the donor's money a manner most consistent with the donor's original wish (See Folder 52).

3 42 1976 Accreditation 3 43 1976 Ad Hoc Committee on Intercessions 3 44 1975-1976 Ad Hoc Committee to Study Ombudsman's Handbook 3 45 1976 Career Planning and Placement 3 46 1977 Center for the Study of Human Transition 3 47 1977 Commission on Undergraduate Life 3 48 1974 Committee to Evaluate Administrators 3 49 1969, 1970, 1976 Faculty Appeal Board 3 50 1976 Judicial System Review Committee 3 51 1973, 1974 Kingston Student Services Inc. 3 52 1975 Mackal Forum 3 53 1976 Questionnaire Report 3 54 1976 Rhode Island Public interest Research Group Constitution (RIPIRG) 3 55 1976-1977 Role of Graduate Student 3 56 1975 Role of Graduate Students on Department Committees 3 57 1976, 1977 Students Older Than Average (SOTA) 3 58 1973, 1974 Student Advisory Council 3 59 1975 Student Media Panel 3 60 1977 Summer Arts Festival 3 61 1975 University Opinion Index Policy Council Series 3 Subject Series 1966-19821966-1982

Subject Series 1966-82 contains materials on tuition assistance, parking concerns, graduate student newsletters, financial transactions, and social gatherings. Always ready to advocate for its members, the Graduate Student Association (GSA) gathered statistical data concerning professors' salaries and graduate student stipends and supported increasing University of Rhode Island wages to match those provided by other universities (See folder 62). Realizing that most graduate students are self-supporting and that many have families, the GSA lobbied for affordable graduate housing and University-site child-care (See folders 92 and 141). Of special importance to the Graduate Student Association was the elimination of the health fee for graduate students. Coverage did not extend to serious illnesses and out-of -pocket medical expenses made the fee redundant (See folders 135-140).

The GSA was also interested in providing entertainment to its members and arranged trips to Boston to see Bruins, Celtics, and Red Sox games (See folders 74, 75, 172). For members who wanted active athletic participation, the GSA organized golf tournaments and ski trips (See folders 120, 150).

Scattered issues of the GSA newsletters are also available in the Archives (Archives LD4706 G74 G71, Archives LD4706 G 74 N 4, Archives LD4706 G 74 G7).

4 62 undated. AAUP Professors' Salaries and Graduate Student Stipends 4 63 1975 Agreement Forms 4 64 1978 Alumni Association 4 65 1979-1980 Annual Report URI 4 66 1969-1970, 1976-1977 Annual Reports (Graduate Student Association) 4 67 1980-1981 Assistance Program and 'Request for Payment' Forms 4 68 1975-1977 Assistance Tuition Fees Statistics for New England Universities 4 69 1981-1982 Athletic Activities 4 70 1978-1979 Athletic Advisory Board 4 71 1982-1983 Attorney's Agreement 4 72 undated. Ballots 4 73 1975-1977 Block Island Trip - Graduate Student Association 4 74 1977 Boston Bruins 4 75 1977-1978 Boston Celtics 4 76 1974, 1977, undated. Bookstore 4 77 1982-1984 Budget Cuts/Financial Aid 4 78 1978-1979 Budget, Proposed - University of Rhode Island 4 79 1974-1978, undated. Budget Task Force - University of Rhode Island 4 80 1973, 1976, undated. Business Coordinating Committee - Graduate 4 81 1980-1981 Committee Appointments 4 82 1974-1976 Committee for the Improvement of the Campus Environment 4 83 undated. Committee Report Form 4 84 1977-1979, undated. Committees 4 85 1975, 1976 Committees and Representatives 4 86 1977, undated. Computer Center 4 87 1969, 1970, 1972, 1978, undated. Constitution - Graduate Student Association 4 88 1982-1983 Constitutions 4 89 1979-1980 Constitutions without Amendments 5 90 1975-1977, undated. Correspondence 5 91 1977-1978 Correspondence 5 92 1978-1979 Correspondence 5 93 1980-1981 Correspondence 5 94 1981-1982, undated. Correspondence 5 95 1980-1981, undated. Correspondence with Other Graduate Schools 5 96 1982, undated. Correspondence with Other Graduate Schools 5 97 1976-1977 Day Care Information 5 98 1979 Deferred Tuition 5 99 1977 Department Representative Manual 6 100 1977, 1978 Department Representative Meeting 6 101 1976-1978 Department Representatives 6 102 1980-1981 Department Representatives 6 103 1975-1978 Development Council 6 104 1977, undated. Elections 6 105 undated. Executive Assistant 6 106 1972, 1973 Faculty Advisors 6 107 1975 Faculty Senate 6 108 1978-1980 Faculty Senate 7 109 1977 Film Series 7 110 1975, 1976 Film Series 7 111 1977 Financial Records 7 112 1976-1977 Financial Records 7 113 1975-1976, undated. Financial Records 8 114 1969-1970, 1972 Financial Records 8 115 1966-1983 Financial Records 8 116 1976, 1977, 1979 Fine Arts Council 8 117 1976-1977 Football 8 118 1974 Forum on Financial Assistance 8 119 undated. Golf Tournament 8 120 1969 Grad Asides Newsletter 8 121 1977, 1978 Grad Rag Newsletter 8 122 1967-1976, undated. Grad Side Newsletter 8 123 1976, 1977, undated. Grad Side Newsletter and Cigar Articles 8 124 1977-1979 Grad Side Newsletter and Cigar Articles 8 125 1976-1979, scattered dates Graduate Assistant Stipends 8 126 1982 Graduate Voice Newsletter 8 127 1970, 1971, undated. Graduate Student Academic Appeal Board 8 128 1981 Graduate Student Directories and Listings 9 129 1961, 1962, 1968, 1969, 1974 Graduate Student Tax 9 130 1961, 1963 GSA News, GSA Journal Newsletters 9 131 1972-1973, undated. Handbooks, Graduate Student Association 9 132 1979-1981, undated. Handbooks, Other Organizations 9 133 1976, 1977, undated. Happy Hours 9 134 1970, 1973-1975, 1977, 1978, undated. Health Advisory Council 9 135 1975, 1977, 1978, undated. Health Fee 9 136 1975-1977, undated. Health Service Fee 9 137 1972-1974, undated. Health Services 9 138 1975 Jan Health Services Ad Hoc Committees Final Report 10 139 1970, 1972-1975, 1977 Health Services Correspondence 10 140 1972, 1975-1977, undated. Housing Committee 10 141 1977, 1978, undated. Insurance 10 142 1974, 1976 International Students 10 143 1973-1974 Joint Educational Policy Committee 10 144 1974-1975 Joint Educational Policy Committee 10 145 1975-1976 Joint Educational Policy Committee 11 146 1976-1977 Joint Educational Policy Committee 11 147 1977-1979 Joint Educational Policy Committee 11 148 1978, 1980, undated. Joint Educational Policy Committee, Correspondence from President's Office 11 149 1977, 1979 Killington Ski Resort 11 150 1975-1976 Ledger Sheets 11 151 1977-1978, 1981-1982 Legal Council for Graduate Students 11 152 1978-1979 Library Committee 11 153 1975 Library Concerns 11 154 1971 Manual, University 11 155 1979 Meetings and Summer Activities 11 156 1962-1979, scattered dates Memorial Union 11 157 1971, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1985, undated. Newsletters, Other Organizations 12 158 1976-1977, undated. Orientation 12 159 1978, 1981 Orientation 12 160 1977 Orientation, Other Departments 12 161 1980-1981 Other Business 12 162 1981-1982, undated. Paper Delivery Approvals 12 163 1980-1981 Paper Delivery Reimburse 12 164 1976-1977 Paper Delivery and Assistance 12 165 1980 Jul Parking and Traffic Regulations, University of Rhode Island 12 166 1978-1979, undated. Peripheral Parking and Traffic Committee 13 167 1977-1978 Post Secondary Subcommittee 13 168 1976-1977 Publications 13 169 1976-1977, 1978 Receipts 13 170 1979-1981 Receipts 13 171 1981-1982 Receipts 13 172 1976-1978 Red Sox and Yankee Games 13 173 1980-1982, undated. Representatives 13 174 1976, 1977 Resumes for Graduate Student Association Employment 13 175 1976 Rhode Island 2000 13 176 undated. Short Term Loans 13 177 1975, 1977 Shuttle Bus 13 178 1980-1981, undated. Sigma Xi 13 179 1982, undated. Sigma Xi 13 180 1979-1980 Social Committee 13 181 1981-1982 Social Committee - Flyers for Socials and Planning Notes 13 182 1974, 1976, undated. Space Allocation Committee 13 183 1979 Space Allocation Committee 13 184 1974, 1975, 1977, undated. Sports Committee 13 185 1978-1979, undated. Student Affairs Advisory Board 13 186 1972, 1979 Student Conduct and Scholastic Integrity - Appeal Board 13 187 1975-1976 Student Handbook - Rampages 14 188 1972-1973 Student Manual - Underground Publication 14 189 undated. Student Senate Roster 14 190 1982 Tax Information 14 191 1981 Telephone Bills 14 192 1976, undated. Temporary Opportunities in Business Industry and Education - TOBIE 14 193 1977 Temporary Opportunities in Business Industry and Education - TOBIE 14 194 1975, 1977, undated. Tennis Tournament 14 195 undated. Term-type Users Guide 14 196 1972 Theses Typists 14 197 1978 Title IX - Affirmative Action 14 198 X-Ref Traffic - See Also Space Allocation Committee 14 199 1970 Sep Treasurers Handbook - URI Student Senate Organizations 14 200 1975 Tuition 14 201 1975-1977 Union Fee Increase 14 202 1973 Volleyball 14 203 1974 Mar Work-Study Agreement Between University of Rhode Island and Graduate Student Association 14 204 1966-1970, 1975, 1982-1983, 1985 Miscellaneous Series 4 Subject Series 1982-19871982-1987

Subject Series 1982-87 contains materials on the Graduate Student Association assistant program, elections, campus planning and coordinating, graduate student newsletters, financial transactions, and social gatherings. The Graduate Student Association assistance program aided students by providing additional funding for programs varying from cultural education to sporting events. Of interest is a 1985 chemistry symposium on the designs and implications of the space shuttle (See folder 210). The Graduate Student Association placed special emphasis upon providing orientation information to new graduate students and assembled a package which included a graduate student manual as well as information on health care, library usage, student development, intramural sports, and Rhode Island maps, guides, and directories (See folders 267-269).

15 205 1985, 1986, undated. Advertising 15 206 1986-1987 Advertising 15 207 1982, 1983 Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Committee 15 208 1982-1983 Assistance Program 15 209 1983-1984 Assistance Program 15 210 1985, 1986, undated. Assistance Program 15 211 1982, 1983 Athletics Advisory Board 15 212 1984, 1985 Attorney's Fees 15 213 1982-1983 Ballots - Graduate Student Association 15 214 1984-1985 Ballots - Graduate Student Association 15 215 1986 Apr Ballots - Graduate Student Association 15 216 1985, 1986 Ballots - - Graduate Student Association and Voter Registration 15 217 1984 Ballots - Referendum 15 218 1984 Bank Statements - Checkbook 16 219 1984-1986 Bank Statements - Cancelled Checks 16 220 1985-1986 Banking Transactions 16 221 1986-1987 Banking Transactions 16 222 1982-1984 Board of Governors 16 223 1985-1986 Board of Governors 16 224 1983-1984 Bookstore Committee 16 225 1985 Broadsword (Graduate Student Association Newsletter) 16 226 1983-1984 Budget Advisory Committee 16 227 1983 Jan Business and Finance Division of University of Rhode Island - Administrative Computer Center Long-Range Plan 16 228 1978, 1980, 1982-1983 Campus Planning and Coordinating 16 229 1983-1984 Campus Planning and Coordinating 16 230 1982, 1983 Campus Security and Parking Committee 16 231 undated. Cap and Gown Information 16 232 1985, 1986-1987, undated. Chinese Christian Fellowship 16 233 1982, 1983 Commencement and Ceremonials Committee 16 234 undated. Committee Description 16 235 1985-1986 Committee Members 16 236 1982-1984, undated. Committee to Improve Campus Environment 16 237 1982-1983 Correspondence 16 238 1983-1984 Correspondence 17 239 1984-1985, undated. Correspondence 17 240 1985-1986, undated. Correspondence 17 241 1986-1987, undated. Correspondence 17 242 1983-1984 Department Representatives 17 243 1984-1985 Department Representatives 17 244 1985-1986 Department Representatives 17 245 1986-1987 Department Representatives 17 246 1982-1983 Development Council University of Rhode Island Foundation - General Information 17 247 1982-1983 Development Council University of Rhode Island Foundation - Proposal Logs 1-11(Missing #s 6 & 7) 18 248 1982-1983 Development Council University of Rhode Island Foundation - Proposal Logs 12-30 (Missing #25) 18 249 1983-1984 Development Council University of Rhode Island Foundation - Proposal Logs 1-14 18 250 1983-1984 Development Council University of Rhode Island Foundation - Proposal Logs 15-33 (Missing #24) 18 251 1983-1984 Development Council University of Rhode Island Foundation - Proposal Logs 1-29 18 252 1987 Development Council University of Rhode Island Foundation - Proposal Logs 1-16 18 253 1982-1983 Faculty Senate 18 254 1983-1984 Faculty Senate 19 255 1984-1985 Faculty Senate 19 256 1985-1987 Faculty Senate 19 257 1986-1987, undated. Film Committee 19 258 1985, undated. Film Society 19 259 1982, undated. Governor Garrahy Fiscal Meeting 19 260 1985-1986 Graduate Departments 19 261 1983-1984 Graduate Student Rosters by Department 19 262 1977, 1981, undated. Housing Committee 19 263 1986 Job Applicants 19 264 1986 Library Committee - Faculty Senate 19 265 undated. Name/Campus Department Labels 19 266 1982-1983 Omsbudperson Annual Report 19 267 1982 Orientation Package 19 268 1982-1983 Orientation Package 19 269 1983-1984 Orientation Package 19 270 1985-1986 Pamphlet, Graduate Student Association 19 271 1982-1983 Paper Delivery Requests 19 272 1983-1984 Paper Delivery Requests 20 273 1984-1985 Paper Delivery Requests 20 274 1985-1986 Paper Delivery Requests 20 275 1986-1987 Paper Delivery Requests 20 276 1983 Presidential Search Committee 20 277 1981-1983 Receipts 20 278 1983-1984 Receipts 20 279 1984-1985 Receipts 20 280 1985-1986 Receipts 20 281 1986-1987 Receipts 20 282 1982-1983 Representatives 20 283 1987 Request for Payment 20 284 1983 Research Policy and Facilities Committee 20 285 1982-1983 Social Events 21 286 1983-1984 Social Events 21 287 1984-1985 Social Events 21 288 1985-1986 Social Events 21 289 undated. Social Events - Original Flyers 21 290 1982-1984 Space Allocation Committee 21 291 1987-1988, undated. Sports, Intramural - Basketball, Volleyball 21 292 1982-1984 Student Employee Committee 21 293 1982-1983 Student Health Advisory Council 21 294 1986, undated. Summer Softball 21 295 1982-1983 Telephone Billing 21 296 1983-1984 Telephone Billing 21 297 1984-1985 Telephone Billing 21 298 1985-1986 Telephone Billing 21 299 1986-1987 Telephone Billing 21 300 1986-1987 Telephone Billing 21 301 1985 Undergraduate Student Organizations 21 302 1983 University Board for Student Conduct 21 303 1983-1984 University Council for Research 21 304 1982-1983, undated. University of Rhode Island Women's Center 21 305 1983-1986 Miscellaneous Series 5 Graduate Council1966-1986

The Graduate Council series contains minutes, agendas, and course offering proposals from the Graduate Council Meetings dating 1966, 1968-78, and 1980-86. The Graduate Council minutes contain information concerning curriculum, graduate degree requirements, changes in existing courses and new degree programs. Of interest is a 1974 course proposal on historic house restoration. Citing an increase in historic interest with the advent of the bi-centennial, the College of Home Economics offered a course emphasizing interior restoration of finishes, hardware, furniture and textiles (See folder 317). For graduate students interested in speech-communication, a 1975 course on the Ethics of Persuasion proposed to study the purposes, means and results of persuasive speech on an interpersonal, institutional and political id="c311" level (See folder 316).

22 306 1966, 1968 Graduate Council 22 307 1969 Graduate Council 22 308 1970 Graduate Council 22 309 1971 Graduate Council 22 310 1972 Graduate Council 22 311 1973 Graduate Council 22 312 1973 Graduate Council 22 313 1973 Graduate Council 22 314 1974 Graduate Council 22 315 1974 Jan Graduate Council 22 316 1974 Feb Graduate Council 22 317 1974 Mar Graduate Council 22 318 1974 Apr-Jun Graduate Council 23 319 1975 Graduate Council 23 320 1976-1978 Graduate Council 23 321 1980 Graduate Council 23 322 1981-1982 Graduate Council 24 323 1983 Graduate Council 24 324 1984 Graduate Council 24 325 1985 Apr Graduate Council 24 326 1985 Oct Graduate Council 24 327 1985 Nov Graduate Council 24 328 1986 Feb Graduate Council 25 329 1986 Mar Graduate Council 25 330 1986 Apr Graduate Council 25 331 1986 Dec Graduate Council