Spring 2019 – DSC Services
Welcome (and welcome back!) to a new semester and year. We would like to remind each of you about services offered to students of the Graduate Center community.
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1. Introduction to the DSC
The mission of the DSC is to foster a sense of community among graduate students; reflect and encourage the expression of their diversity; develop reciprocal channels of communication among graduate students, undergraduates, faculty, staff, and the administration of the Graduate Center (GC); generate a space of discussion on GC issues; project the students’ voice in GC affairs; and provide students with valuable resources for advancing their professional careers and enjoying their personal time. The DSC is especially proud of sharing CUNY’s historic mission of providing access to higher education to low-income communities and communities of color in New York City and the nation.
The DSC believes in advocating for student power through shared and transparent governance. As the sole elected policy-making body of Masters and Ph.D. students of the GC responsible for allocating and distributing student activity fee monies, the DSC aims to represent students’ concerns to the administration. We are here essentially to provide students with space for community and opportunities to organize. To become acquainted with this year’s Program Representatives and At-Large Representatives on the DSC, go to cunydsc.org/people. If your program is not represented and you would like to learn how to establish representation, email membership@cunydsc.org.
The DSC leadership, known as the Steering Committee, is elected by and from the Program and At-Large Representatives, at the annual May Plenary-Elect meeting.
2. Getting in touch with the DSC
You can find us during our office hours in room 5495 and nearby rooms. The office hours are posted on cunydsc.org, along with information about upcoming meetings, governance documents, meeting minutes, and information on services available to students.
You may also want to get acquainted with the DSC and the services it provides by contacting yourprogram representative, who serves as a liaison between the concerns of you and your fellow students in your program and the DSC as a governing body. Please be on the look-out for forthcoming information about DSC nominations and elections this spring 2019 semester, particularly if you are interested in serving as a representative.
The DSC has a listserv, DSC-L, which any GC student can join and post to. Subscribe to DSC-L via gc.listserv.cuny.edu or by emailing ccc@cunydsc.org with a request to be added.
3. Services
To receive many of the services the DSC offers, students are strongly encouraged to set up a DSC Works account. Creating an account is simple and can be done by completing the online form here:cunydsc.org/works/user/register.
Discount Fitness Classes
Fitness classes are offered at the GC facilitated by the DSC and the Office of Student Affairs. Registration for the first half of the fall semester began on Tuesday, August 26th, but remains open until filled. Students must register in person at the Office of Student Affairs located in room 7301. Be sure to bring your student ID and a form of payment in order to register. The schedule of fitness classes and instructions for payment can be found on the DSC website here.
Discount Movie Tickets
Discount movie tickets valid at any AMC/Loews ($10.25) or Regal theaters ($8.50 plus possible surcharges), as well as the Angelika Film Center ($8.50) are available for sale to GC students. Up to 10 tickets can be purchased at a time and tickets must be purchased with a check or money order or through an online payment system in the office (PayPal or debit/credit card, which includes a handling fee of 2.9% plus $.30 per transaction). Buyers must have their valid GC ID at the time of purchase. The tickets can be purchased in the DSC Office (Room 5495/5497). Please check our office hours prior to buying tickets.
Grants
DSC Grants are available to support cultural events, conferences, performances, professional development activities, publications, seminars, and other projects organized by students. Go tocunydsc.org/grants for more information.
Legal Consultations
The DSC provides a limited number of free legal consultations to GC students. Consultations are for informational purposes only, and may cover such issues as lease agreements, divorce, domestic partnerships, child custody, and debt. To schedule an appointment email ccb@cunydsc.org. (All issues regarding CUNY employment should be pursued through the Professional Staff Congress (PSC), Human Resources, and/or The Adjunct Project.)
Lockers
Lockers are available for student use in rooms 5409 and 5414 through a lottery system. This year’s lottery is open until September 14th. If you are interested in using a locker this year, please complete an online locker request here: cunydsc.org/works/node/add/lockerrequest. Completing a request does not guarantee you a locker assignment for the year but you will be placed on a waiting list if you are not assigned a locker and may be assigned one at a later time. Contact ccb@cunydsc.org with any questions.
Room Reservations
Two large lounge rooms (5414 and 5409) and a smaller conference room (5489), as well as a small lounge (room 5396) are available for student use. An additional smaller lounge room on the fifth floor will become available in the near future for students to reserve as well. These rooms are for the exclusive use of students and DSC Chartered Organizations, and are intended to provide a space where activities organized by and for students can take place. To reserve one of these rooms, submit a room request online: cunydsc.org/works/node/add/roomreservation. Please be sure to check the reservation calendar before making the request, and review the reservation submission and room usage policies.
Social Media Outreach
The DSC also has two social media correspondents who can assist in sharing your event widely through social media. For assistance advertising, please fill out the form here or send or send an email to socialmedia@cunydsc.org.
Coffee, Tea, Snacks, etc.
The DSC main office, 5495, is kept stocked with coffee, tea, various snacks, aromatherapy oils, and SADD lamps that are available to sign out. Free safer-sex supplies are also available. All students are always welcome to use this space and these services.
4. Committees
Students who are elected to serve on the DSC may be nominated to various committees including theConstitution & Bylaws Committee; Grants Committee; Health and Wellness Committee; Outreach Committee; Student Services Committee; University Student Senate Advisory Committee; and theGovernance Task Force.
5. Chartered Organizations and Program Student Associations
The DSC continues to support and fund about 40 Chartered Organizations (cunydsc.org/chartered-organizations). If you would like to join a Chartered Organization, the current list of organizations and their contact information is available on the DSC website. If you would like to start a new student group, information on how to charter an organization is also on the website. Contactccsa@cunydsc.org with any questions.
In addition, the DSC recognizes several Program Student Associations (PSA) that exist to amplify student voices in individual programs and strengthen the process of shared governance at the GC (cunydsc.org/program-student-associations). Students who would like to organize a PSA can consult the resources on the website, or contact ccsa@cunydsc.org with any questions.
6. DSC Affiliates: The Adjunct Project, The Advocate, and OpenCUNY
The DSC also charters and funds three affiliates:
The Adjunct Project (cunyadjunctproject.org) exists to improve the employment opportunities, situation, and status of CUNY graduate assistants, doctoral student adjuncts, and adjunct equivalents.
The Advocate (opencuny.org/gcadvocate) is the student newspaper of the GC community.
OpenCUNY (opencuny.org) offers free web space for students, and advocates for students’ access to free and open source digital media. Currently, OpenCUNY runs an installation of WordPressMU.
7. Upcoming Plenary Meetings
DSC Plenary meetings are open to members of the GC and the public to attend. They will generally take place on the third Friday of the month starting at 4:30 PM in 5414. For the most current schedule of meetings, please check the DSC website. Guest speakers from throughout the GC and CUNY administrative offices are scheduled to present at the start of each meeting. All students are welcome to attend and ask questions during these presentations.
In short, please feel free to come visit us on the 5th floor (rooms 5495 and nearby).
We hope your year is off to a good start and wish you the best of luck in the semester and 2019 year ahead!
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