As we face these difficult, uncertain times, I (DSC Co-Chair for Communications) send good wishes and positive energy to you and your loved ones. We are all facing challenges, disruptions, and losses in varying ways. We are now at a stage in this crisis where many of us know someone who has been directly impacted. If you or someone close to you has gotten sick, I send thoughts for a smooth and speedy recovery. To those who may have lost a loved one to COVID-19, I extend my heartfelt condolences. We face tough weeks ahead, but as a community, we will get through this together.

I would like to take this opportunity to bring your attention to several matters of importance to us as GC students and Graduate Assistants/Adjuncts. Additional information on each item can be found by following the links provided.

 

Emergency Student Grants

The Petrie Student Emergency Grant Fund, to which the DSC allocates a portion of its budget each year, provides quick-response grants of up to $2,000 to assist GC students who are currently facing current short-term financial emergencies. Click here for more information about this grant, eligible expenses, and instructions for applying.

 

COVID-19 Support and Funding Opportunities

We have compiled a list from a variety of sources to assist you with finding academic and emotional support, and opportunities for funding. We plan to update this list ongoing, so please let us know if there is anything we can add to this list that might benefit others. You can find this list of resources on our website.

 

Elections Ballot Open From April 1 to May 15

The elections ballot for 2020-2021 Doctoral and Graduate Students’ Council leadership positions opened today (April 1) and will remain open through May 15, 2020. The polls will close promptly at 11:59 PM on May 15th, so please be sure to submit your votes before then. Click here for more information about the Elections and instructions for voting.

 

Student Activity Fee Reduction

Earlier this week the CUNY Board of Trustees approved a 25% reduction in Student Activity Fee for the Spring 2020 Semester for students enrolled on a fifteen (15) week calendar; and a fifty percent (50%) reduction for students enrolled in those University schools and colleges on twelve (12) or six (6) week calendars. This means that GC students should expect to see a small refund reflected in their financial records. This also means that the DSC’s 2020-21 budget has been effectively cut by 25%.

 

Credit/No Credit Grading

The board also approved a policy which provides all students with the option to convert any or all of the (A-F) letter grades they earn in their classes during the Spring 2020 semester, to Credit/No Credit grading. The details and provisions of this policy, as well as other Guidance on Academic Continuity to Campuses can be found on CUNY’s website [cuny.edu].

 

The Advocate – Job Announcement

The Advocate, the students’ newspaper of the Graduate Center, currently seeks a new Managing Editor to join the Editorial Committee. To apply please send a resume, along with a letter of interest, and a brief writing sample to Rafael Munia at rmunia@gradcenter.cuny.edu by April 15th, 2020.

Click here for details about this job announcement including responsibilities and renumeration.

 

The Advocate – Call for Submissions

The Advocate is also inviting contributions for its next issue, which will focus on the COVID-19 pandemic. The Advocate pays $100-$120 for articles that are around 1,500-2,000 words, and $150-$200 for longer essays that entail more research and labor. Other contributions like reviews and photo essays will be compensated at competitive rates. Editorial support is available. You can view the current issue of the Advocate online here. Contact Editor-in-Chief, Rafael Munia, at rmunia@gradcenter.cuny.edu for more information about the call for submissions.

 

I hope you find this information helpful. Feel free email me at ccc@cunydsc.org with any queries or student-related concerns you may have. Please continue to be as safe and careful as you can. Remember, your well-being, and the safety of your family, community, and the wider society is of utmost importance. May we all emerge from this with greater empathy, understanding, and motivation; stronger and wiser; willing and able to successfully pursue our academic and life goals.

 

Best wishes and thanks,

Rod

 

Roderick Hurley
Co-Chair for Communications
Doctoral and Graduate Students’ Council (DSC)
The Graduate Center, CUNY
Rm 5491 | x7847 | Office hours
cunydsc.org | Twitter | Facebook