GPSO E-Newsletter: August 30, 2013

In this Issue:

From the President's Desk:

Upcoming GPSO Events: Assembly, "First Friday" Social Hour

Service Opportunity: IU Campus Committees

Call for Applications: GPSO Diversity Council

Aetna Student Insurance Tips: Five things you should know about your plan

Work Available: IU Institute for European Studies

GPSO plans your weekend!

From the President's Desk

Brady Harman, GPSO President

Welcome (back) fellow Hoosiers!  

"Advocating for an inclusive and empowered graduate and professional student community."  The GPSO Executive Committee has created this vision statement to guide our initiatives and action items for the year.

The GPSO is your student government.  Please contact your department representative or one of our officers if you have concerns about part of your graduate experience or just want to be more involved in campus life. 

This weekly GPSO newsletter and our website is your key to the graduate and professional student community and the wider campus and Bloomington communities as well.  Please take advantage of the opportunities found within to broaden your horizons and meet fellows grad students from beyond your department.

Do not hesitate to contact me directly at gpsopres@indiana.edu or come to my office hours.  I am here to serve you.  I will be doing a regular "From the Desk of the President" blurb here to keep you updated on important issues affecting graduate students.

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Upcoming GPSO Events

Assembly Meeting

All are welcome to the first Assembly meeting of the 2013–14 academic year - voting representatives and any interested students alike! We will confirm appointed officers, elect our Vice President and Treasurer, meet the Deans of the University Graduate School and hear directly from the President of the Bloomington Faculty Council.

The meeting will be held from 3–5pm on Friday, September 6 in Woodburn 100.  If you have the time, please join us afterwards for a brief behind-the-scenes tour of the new Graduate Commons in the Wells Library.

"First Friday" Social Hour

Join us for the first social hour of the school year. On Friday, September 6 from 7-9pm, we will be rocking out _______________ with free _________ provided by __________!

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Serve on a Campus Committee!

Are there certain issues you are passionate about?  You cannot commit a large amount of time, but still want to serve your campus?  Do you like networking and learning about issues affecting campus?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you will likely want to serve on a campus committee.  GPSO is charged with appointing graduate students to various committees to represent all graduate.  These positions typically do not require a large time commitment but are essential to ensuring that the graduate student voice is heard by administration and faculty.  You also typically learn quite a bit, network with some great faculty and staff, and have the chance to make significant changes on campus.

These positions are limited and fill fast.  Follow this link (http://www.indiana.edu/~gpso/advocacy/committees/) to see a list of the committee seats that need to be filled still.  Email gpsopres@indiana.edu if you are interested in any of these positions; they will be filled on a rolling basis.. 

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Call for Applications: GPSO Diversity Council

The IU Graduate and Professional Student Organization is seeking five students for the 2013-2014 Diversity Council.

The Diversity Council will propose legislation to improve the inclusivity of graduate student life, and support traditionally underrepresented students and organizations.  The Diversity Council will plan and co-sponsor events that celebrate the diverse experiences of students at IU.  A position on the Diversity Council will require attendance of the monthly GPSO assembly meetings, a monthly Diversity Council meeting, and the organization of a few events during the 2013-2014 academic year.  Members of the Diversity Council will gain experience proposing and passing legislation through a student government, working as part of a team to address issues faced by students at IU, and planning and developing initiatives addressing the needs of diverse student communities. 

Interested graduate students should direct questions to the GPSO Liaison, Olivia Rios, at gpsolink@indiana.edu. To apply for a Diversity Council position, please submit a Curriculum Vita or Resume and a cover letter stating 1) the program and degree you are in, 2) your interest in the position, and 3) what contributions you wish to make to the Diversity Council.  Please submit materials to gpsolink@indiana.edu.

Materials will be accepted until Sunday, September 15, 2013, or until all of the positions are filled.  Applicants are encouraged to submit their materials early

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Aetna Student Insurance Tips

Top 5 Things You Should Know About the Aetna Student Health Insurance Plans

1. Haven't received your insurance card in the mail yet? Don't worry! The annual enrollment coverage period began August 15, 2013, so you're insured.  You can print a temporary ID here. 

2. Still need to enroll in the voluntary plan?  There's still time!  The enrollment deadline for annual and fall semester only coverage is September 15, 2013.

3. Don't want to pay a co-pay for preventative care? With Aetna's Student Insurance you do not pay a co-pay at IU Student Health Center.  Check out the health center for their available services.

4. Need more specific information now about a claim?  Aetna Navigator is a secure members-only website where you can view your personalized claims and health information.  First-time users should have their member ID ready to register. Log on now!

5. Have a question you need answered?  No problem!  A Student Health Insurance Coordinator is here to help.  Contact them by email at studenhc@iu.edu or phone at (812) 856 - 4650. 

What you need to know about vision coverage and your IU student health insurance:

• First, the bad news: there is no vision coverage.

• But....discounts are available.  Aetna Vision Savings Summary for discounts available through Aetna from participating providers.

For more information about coverage, please visit the University Human Resource Services webpage at hr.iu.edu/benefits/student.html or contact our GPSO Benefits Officer, Katherine Wheatle, at gpsobene@indiana.edu. 

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Work Available: IU Institute for European Studies

Additional work opportunities posted at www.indiana.edu/~gpso.

The IU Institute for European Studies is looking for an individual experienced with Microsoft Access to create a database for their media library. This would be a flexible, temporary/part-time position beginning as soon as possible until the database is completed and their graduate assistants have been trained to take over maintenance of the database. Pay is set at $15 per hour.

Please contact Assistant Director Kallan Picha at kpicha@indiana.edu if you are interested or would like more information.

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GPSO plans your weekend!

August 30-September 2

• August 30, 8:45pm: University tWits Sketch Comedy (IU Fine Arts 015, free)

• August 31, 10am-7pm: Bloomington Community Art Fair and Garlic Festival (Third Street Park, free)

• September 1, 2pm: IU Men's Soccer vs. UCLA (Bill Armstrong Stadium, $5)

• September 2 (Happy Labor Day!), 8pm: Songwriter Showcase (Player's Pub, free with donations)

Nothing look good to you?

Check out the ongoing exhibits featured in the sidebar or visit www.bloomingtonscene.com and www.visitbloomington.com for the full on- and off-campus scoop.

Have an event to promote?

Email me at gpso@indiana.edu, and I can help you spread the e-word to our fellow grad students.

Go have some fun!

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