GHI Student Insurance Representative On Campus

Tuesday, September 23rd, GC Lobby: 2 – 6 p.m.
Questions on insurance plan enrollment will be answered and application forms provided. A “Student Health Insurance Guide” is available from the Student Affairs office (Room 7301), the Wellness Center (Room 6422), and the Office of International Students (Room 7200).

The Ombuds Office

The Ombuds Office is always here for you! – It offers a safe and neutral place for students, along with other members of the Graduate Center community, to voice concerns, evaluate situations, organize their thoughts, and explore options for handling problems that arise - all in strict confidence. The ombuds officer can gather information, serve as a “shuttle diplomat,” or mediate, as well as provide referrals to relevant authorities. The office has been established outside the existing administrative and academic structures and is completely independent. The most important job of the ombuds officer is to listen. Concerns that people bring to this office include feelings of stress, disagreements about grades, problems with tuition charges, interpersonal conflicts, professional misconduct, academic dishonesty, safety concerns, ethics and whistle-blowing, and intellectual property issues. Students should feel free to visit this office. Contact Dr. Rolf Meyersohn, Ombuds Officer, Room 7313; 212-817-7191, ombuds@gc.cuny.edu, http://web.gc.cuny.edu/ombuds/

Office of Educational Opportunity and Diversity Programs (OEODP) Grant Deadlines!

Applications for the MAGNET President's Fellowship, J. Bruce Lewellyn Two-Year Fellowship, and the William Randolph Hearst Award are due on February 1, 2009.

Human Subject Approval

Required before all research: Human Subject Approval
If you are planning to conduct research involving human subjects, whether funded or not, the CUNY assurance with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services requires the Graduate Center IRB (Institutional Review Board), also known as the Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects, to review your research design for compliance with human subjects regulations. This requirement is mandated by federal law and is given further impetus by the ethical standards set by professional societies and those of the Graduate Center. In addition, all GC students need to submit a “Dissertation Proposal Clearance: Human Participants” Form after dissertation proposal approval and before research.

IRB Meetings are generally scheduled on the last Monday of each month during the school semester. Upcoming meeting dates* and respective deadlines for submission of materials (in parentheses) are as follows: August 25 (August 11); September 22 (September 1); October 27 (October 6); November 17 (October 27); December 15 (November 24)

*Note: Not all applications need a full committee review. Expedited and exempt reviews do not require full committee review and may be submitted at any time, with an approximate three-week turnaround. The IRB chair determines the review category for all applications.
For information on submitting an IRB application or Dissertation Proposal Clearance please visit http://web.gc.cuny.edu/orup/ and select “Human Subjects.” For further information, contact: Kay Powell, IRB Administrator, 212-817-7525, kpowell@gc.cuny.edu.

Meeting your Language Requirement

Students who have yet to meet their language requirements may want to consider the offerings of the CUNY Graduate Center Language Reading Program. The Program offers language instruction each semester and during the summer geared specifically to meet the needs of graduate students who must fulfill their requirements. Courses designated “Level One” assume no previous knowledge of the language. French and German have “Level Two” for those who can read the language, but want to improve their reading ability. Reading courses in French, German, and Latin will be offered this Fall. Detailed information may be obtained by visiting the website at http://web.gc.cuny.edu/provost/lrp or by calling 212- 817-2081.

Improve Your IT Skills

Improve your IT skills as you pursue your doctoral degree! Learn how to use interactive digital technology to improve teaching and learning and gain an understanding of the growing use of interactive media in higher education. The Interactive Technology and Pedagogy Certificate Program is available to all GC doctoral students. See the ITP website and contact Rosa Rivera at 212-817-7290 to register for the program.

Avoiding Plagiarism

Do you know how to avoid plagiarism? Make sure you read the booklet Avoiding and Detecting Plagiarism, available from the Student Affairs Office, Room 7301 or online at http://web.gc.cuny.edu/provost/pdf/AvoidingPlagiarism.pdf.

The Child Development and Learning Center

The GC Child Development and Learning Center provides an excellent educational program for pre-school children. Licensed to serve 27 children ages two and a half through six, it offers on-site, affordable childcare to children of Graduate Center students. If you are interested in learning more about the program or placing your child on the center’s waiting list, please contact Director Linda Perrotta (212- 817-7032).

Disabilities and Access

The Graduate Center does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admission and retention of students. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, qualified persons with disabilities are entitled to reasonable accommodations to achieve non-discriminatory access to programs, services, and activities of the GC. A disability is any physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. A person is considered to be a person with a disability if he/she has the disability, has a record of the disability, or is regarded as having the disability. Among the covered disabilities are visual and hearing impairments, mobility impairments, impairment of hand function, and such “hidden” disabilities as AIDS/HIV, learning disabilities, heart conditions, chronic fatigue syndrome, and being in recovery from substance abuse. To ensure equal access for persons with disabilities to all academic and other programs, services, and activities of the GC, as required by law, appropriate accommodations will be made. These may include auxiliary aids and services for students with visual impairments (readers and such technology as adaptive computer software and hardware, etc.); qualified sign-language interpreters; scribes; extended or divided time on examinations for students with learning disabilities or reduced physical stamina; adjustments in course load when appropriate; use of a computer for exams; and taping classes. The Vice President for Student Affairs is the 504/ADA Coordinator (Room 7301; 817-7400). For more information (with confidentiality) contact Sharon Lerner or Elise Perram (212-817-7400 or disabilityservices@gc.cuny.edu) and consult the Graduate Center Student Handbook.

Sexual Harassment Notice

The Board of Trustees of The City University of New York prohibits sexual harassment of or by any member of the University community. The Graduate School and University Center will not tolerate sexual harassment. The CUNY Sexual Harassment Policy and Procedures as well as the listing of the members of the Graduate Center Sexual Harassment Awareness and Intake Committee, can be found in the GC Student Handbook or online under “Current Students” at http://www.gc.cuny.edu. Any member of the university community may file a complaint of sexual harassment with, or report allegations of sexual harassment or direct an inquiry to, Sexual Harassment Coordinator, Prof. Michelle Fine, Ph.D. Program in Psychology (Rm. 6304.17 / 212-817-8710), the Sexual Harassment Deputy Coordinators, Prof. Glenn Burger, Ph.D. Program in Theatre (Room 3112 / 212-817-8871) and Edith Rivera, Affirmative Action Officer (Rm. 7301 / 212 817-8012); or any other member of the Sexual Harassment Awareness and Intake Committee: Ms. Anick Boyd, Student, Ph.D. Program in Comparative Literature (aboyd@gc.cuny.edu); Mr. Chris Grove, Student, Ph.D. Program in Anthropology (cgrove@gc.cuny.edu); Sharon Lerner, Director of Student Affairs (Rm. 7301 / 212-817-7413); Rhonda Palant, Assistant Program Officer, Ph.D. Program in Educational Psychology (Rm. 212-817-8295); Tawana Spellen, Assistant Director for Administration, Information Resources office (212-817-7353), and Rosa Valentin, CUNY Administrative Assistant, Office of Human Resources (Rm. 8403 / 212-817-7713).

Statement of Nondiscrimination

Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Regulations
The Graduate School and University Center is an equal opportunity and affirmative action institution and, as a constituent unit of The City University of New York, adheres to the policy of the University to recruit, employ, retain, promote, and provide benefits to employees and to admit and provide services for students without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, legally registered domestic partnership status, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, prior record of arrest or conviction, alienage, citizenship, military or veteran status, or status as a victim of domestic abuse, sex offenses, or stalking. Sexual harassment, a form of sex discrimination, is prohibited under the Graduate Center/CUNY Policy Against Sexual Harassment.
The City University of New York, as a public university system and the Graduate School and University Center as a constituent part, adhere to federal, state, and city laws and regulations regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action including among others, Executive Order 11246, as amended, the Civil Rights Law of 1866, Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 402 of the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, as amended, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the New York State Human Rights Law, the New York State Civil Rights Law, and the New York City Human Rights Law. The ‘protected classes,’ as delineated in Executive Order 11246 (Black, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, American Indian/Alaskan native and Women), were expanded on December 9, 1976, by the Chancellor of The City University of New York to include Italian-Americans. Should any federal, state, or city law or regulation be adopted that prohibits discrimination based on grounds or characteristics not included in this policy, this policy shall be read to prohibit discrimination based on those grounds or characteristics, as well.
Retaliation against any member of the Graduate Center or University community who has made a complaint of discrimination is prohibited.

Affirmative Action Officer:
Edith Rivera, Rm 7301; 212-817-7405
504/ADA Coordinator:
VP Matthew Schoengood, Rm 7301; 212-817-7400
Title IX Coordinator:
VP Matthew Schoengood, Rm 7301; 212-817-7400
Sexual Harassment Coordinator:
Professor Michelle Fine, Rm 6304.17; 212-817-8710
Ombuds Officer:
Prof. Rolf Meyersohn, Rm 7313; call for appointments 212-817-7191. The Ombuds Officer offers complete confidentiality to all students, staff and faculty.
Assistant VP for Faculty and Staff Relations:
Yosette Jones-Johnson, Room 8403; 212-817-7700.

Actions that involve discrimination or bias of any sort will be subject to disciplinary sanctions in accordance with the Rules and Regulations for the Maintenance of Public Order Pursuant to Article 129A of the Education Law, a copy of which will be found in the Bulletin of The Graduate Center. Students who believe they have been discriminated against in violation of this policy should bring their complaints to the Vice President for Student Affairs for investigation.

Doctoral Students’ Council (DSC)

Main Office: Room 5495 / Tel.: 212-817-7888
http://www.cunydsc.org/

The Doctoral Students’ Council (DSC) serves all students enrolled in Graduate Center doctoral and master’s programs or courses who pay a Graduate Center student activity fee. The DSC is the sole policymaking body representing students in doctoral or master’s programs at the Graduate Center and administers the money collected from the Student Activity Fee.

Each program has elected representatives to the council who are elected on a proportional basis according to the number of students enrolled in the particular program. In addition, at-large representatives are elected from the student body as a whole. A listing of DSC representatives and student organizations is available from the DSC office and on the website, http://www.cunydsc.org.

The DSC provides funding for both cultural affairs and professional development for activities at all campuses where doctoral students are located. Specifics about each grant can be found on the DSC website at www.cunydsc.org.