Working during a reno

Well, I never really believed the office part of the reno would be done exactly on time. Looks like it will take two weeks, rather than just the one week we all took off and closed the office.
As such, the staff are camped out amongst our haphazardly boxed office supplies and records.

Here's Juliet valiantly checking her email at the one internet-connected computer!

It's all for the good, however, as the result will be a better workspace for the staff.

We are adding two private office spaces, which will mean (for me) I can talk to students in private when they come for advice or support, and for our bookkeeper, she can have some quiet and order in a room also used for Executive and staff meetings.

Here's a peek at the main GSS office thus far:

This is the view in from the door. Directly ahead students will see the person to talk to, and there will now be a waiting area for students to sit down if there is a line.

Perhaps we should get a video game terminal in the waiting room like my son's dentist?

One thing about this renovation, you can really see how dirty our office carpet is. Yech!

Office Space Campaign Launched!

CUPE 4163 and the GSS have launched a joint petition campaign, and the petition is here in PDF format.

This was circulated at the Grad Council meeting and folks are circulating them in their department and returning them to the GSS or CUPE 4163 offices.  We are also asking grad reps in departments that are moving office to take inventory (count the offices) before and after their move so we can assess the actual net change due to renovations effectively.
If you don't have access to copying or printing, we are also printing copies at the GSS for you to pick up.

Grad Student Boogie Challenge 2007

Amy (on our front desk) introduced me to her friend Katherine's Grad Office Boogie on youtube and I think UVIC grad students can do better. We dare you to post a grad office boogie and send it to us so we can post the links and make you famous. (Actual talent is verboten!). We will find a prize (depending on how good you are) for the BEST/WORST (or the person who manages to be both!) submission!! Send submissions to gsscomm [ at ] uvic.ca.

Has there ever been a better argument for grad students needing their own office? Check out that guy trying to get work done!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=hxv6AP6Frp0

You can also fine Katherines marvelous failed audition for Canadian Idol, which achieved her goal of making it to the "Worst Auditions" show!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJHMF_PMrFg

Deans presentation on expanding grad enrolment

Recent funding from the BC government will mean a rapid expansion in graduate student enrollment, starting in September 2007 and continuing to 2010. This link is to Dean Aaron Devor's presentation at a recent Town Hall meeting to explain the new funding and possible impacts at UVic.
While pleased to finally have a BC graduate scholarship, the GSS is concerned about the impact of resources such as office space and supervisory time with this jump in enrollment.