UCSC Graduate Student Association

New updates: Referendum requiring proof of insurance for for graduate students systemwide (here).

October 22nd, 2009

Dear UCSC graduate students:

On October 17, I and the other EVPs met with Joe Castro and Maria Blandizzi, the heads of the UC GSHIP committee. This meeting had two positive results:

1. The time course of the process of moving towards a UC-wide GSHIP was clarified. There are 3 timelines that we and the committee are working with:
   • Sept.-Nov. 17: Regents' item establishing a system-wide policy requiring proof of health insurance for graduate students.
   • Oct.-Jan.: Decision about the type of insurance plan(s) (e.g., self-funded/insured, all campuses/northern vs. southern campuses/small vs. large campuses) that the UC wishes to adopt is discussed and made.
   • Feb-Aug.: Insurance benefits and costs are negotiated.
   
   Practically speaking, what this means is that specific benefits will not be negotiated until Feb. at the earliest. However, the type of insurance plan(s) that the UC committee decides to recommend will affect those negotiations. Therefore, the sooner we (UCSC grads) get involved, the better. To that end, the UCSC GSHIP committee will be convening to make recommendations and provide a spokesperson on the UC GSHIP committee. If you are interested in joining the UCSC GSHIP committee, I encourage you to contact either myself gsaevp@gmail.com or Scott Medling gsaivp@yahoo.com.
2. UCSC has been afforded an opportunity to designate a grad student representative to the UC GSHIP committee. It is expected that this representation will continue not only during this year, but also in subsequent years, when further negotiation with the insurance provider(s) is needed. If you are interested in serving or electing the representative, please get in contact with Scott or myself as soon as possible.
   
   In order to garner support for the Regents' establishment of the system-wide policy requiring proof of insurance, I will be distributing postcards for grads to sign. Please note that all 10 UC campuses already require their grad students to provide proof of insurance, so making this a systemwide policy would not affect us. However, a systemwide policy is needed to ensure that campuses do not cut the provision of insurance, and make it possible that a system-wide GSHIP can be adopted.

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at gsaevp@gmail.com. I look forward to your feedback.

Sincerely,
Laura Morett
2009-2010 GSA External Vice President

October 1st, 2009

Dear Grads,

As many of you are aware, a student-based group occupied the graduate student commons on September 24, and as a result access to the facility has been limited. Since the occupation, the graduate student commons governance board, a governing body of graduate student volunteers, has been in constant dialog with the occupation. These discussions have been productive, and normal access to the graduate student commons is scheduled to resume the afternoon of Oct 1. GSA meetings have been scheduled at the facility for the evening of Oct 1st at 6pm.

Thank you all for you input and patience concerning this issue. We hope to see you at the commons.

Chelsey Juarez
Doctoral Candidate
Graduate student commons governance board president.