Resolutions

Please see Issue Resolution Decision Tree (prepared by the EA)  as well.

Please use the "Assembly Filter" options to narrow your search.

Archive Website (History and Records of the Assemblies from 2006-2016)*

*Prior years' history in bound printed volumes, available for review in the Office of the Assemblies, 109 Day Hall, during regular business hours.

Assembly Name: Graduate and Professional Student Assembly

Res. No. Resolution Status Abstract Last Updated Assembly Name Term
19 In Appreciation and Recognition of Dean Barbara Knuth's Tenure as Dean of the Graduate School Acknowledged by the President This resolution publicly recognizes and thanks Dean Barbara Knuth for her outstanding leadership and dedication to graduate education during her two five-year term as Dean of the Graduate School at Cornell University. 09/24/2020 5:00pm Graduate and Professional Student Assembly AY 2019-2020
18 Postponing Spring 2020 Executive Board Elections and Extending Expiring Seats Acknowledged by the President This resolution postpones 2020 Executive Board elections and also extends the expiring seats of the GPSA Executive Board. 09/24/2020 5:15pm Graduate and Professional Student Assembly AY 2019-2020
17 Demanding Cornell compensate students for fees paid for unfinished Physical Education courses Rejected by the Assembly Because of the coronavirus pandemic, students were unable to continue receiving instruction for physical education courses that, by their nature, are required to be taught in person. Despite this abrupt end to instruction, Cornell’s policy is that students will not be partially reimbursed or otherwise compensated for the fees they paid on top of their standard tuition to participate in those physical education courses. This policy is unfair since students are not being provided with the services for which they paid. Cornell must commit to reimbursing or otherwise compensating students for the fees associated with unfinished physical education courses. 05/08/2020 8:15am Graduate and Professional Student Assembly AY 2019-2020
16 Demanding Cornell fight for fair terms for the remote services its community is required to use Rejected by the President Because of the coronavirus pandemic, students and instructors are required to use tools like Zoom and CASHNet. Despite privacy and security risks, both services mandate that users waive their right to sue in court or as part of a class action. Cornell must contact third-party vendors and fight to ensure their terms do not strip these essential legal rights. If Cornell cannot negotiate the removal of unfair terms from a service, it must commit to provide legal support for anyone harmed by use of that service. 10/08/2020 8:45am Graduate and Professional Student Assembly AY 2019-2020
15 Requesting that First-Year Writing Seminar Instructors be Allowed to Hold Virtual Discussions in Whatever Way They Deem Appropriate Acknowledged by the President Some First-Year Writing Seminar (FWS) instructors have concerns about the privacy, equity, and logistical implications of recording live-video discussions which will then be viewed asynchronously by students who cannot attend. This is especially an issue for FWS instructors who have internet connectivity issues or who cover sensitive topic matter. This resolution asks that FWS instructors be given the freedom to hold discussions in whichever way they deem is most appropriate for their class. 05/20/2020 9:00am Graduate and Professional Student Assembly AY 2019-2020
14 In Support of the University Allowing International Graduate Students to TA Remotely During the Summer 2020 Session and the Fall 2020 Semester Acknowledged by the President Graduate students who are currently abroad and depend on assistantships for financial support do not know whether they will be able to return to the US in time for the start of the Summer 2020 session or the Fall 2020 semester. This resolution encourages the University to find legal ways to provide these students with, in effect, remote teaching positions during the Summer 2020 session and the Fall 2020 semester. 05/14/2020 9:45am Graduate and Professional Student Assembly AY 2019-2020
13 Additional Donation from the GPSA to the Access Fund to Support Graduate and Professional Students in Need Related to COVID-19 Pandemic Acknowledged by the President This resolution approves the transfer of funds from the Graduate and Professional Student Programming Board (GPSPB) to the Access Fund to support students’ urgent needs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This resolution also calls on the University to look for additional funds to support financial relief to professional students and guarantee graduate student funding. 05/14/2020 9:00am Graduate and Professional Student Assembly AY 2019-2020
12 An S20 Commitment to Academic Integrity, Equitable Instruction, Trust, and Respect Acknowledged by the President This resolution endorses the document “An S20 Commitment to Academic Integrity, Equitable Instruction, Trust and Respect” submitted on behalf of the University Faculty Senate Committee 04/13/2020 4:30pm Graduate and Professional Student Assembly AY 2019-2020
11 In Support of Our Graduate Student Colleagues Participating in the "Wildcat Strike" Rejected by the Assembly This resolution states support by the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly for our graduate colleagues striking at the University of California Santa Cruz, some of whom have been fired by their administration for participating in the strike, and for our graduate colleagues at other institutions in the UC system who are also on strike for a cost of living adjustment. 05/08/2020 8:15am Graduate and Professional Student Assembly AY 2019-2020
10 Donation from the GPSA in Support of the Access Fund to Support Graduate and Professional Students in Need Related to COVID-19 Pandemic Accepted by the President This resolution approves the transfer of funds from the GPSA reserve account as well as the GPSA Finance Commission to the Student Access Fund to support graduate and professional students’ urgent needs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 04/22/2020 1:30pm Graduate and Professional Student Assembly AY 2019-2020
8 A Resolution to Adopt the Graduate and Professional Community Initiative Accepted by the President Adoption of a strategic plan for the graduate and professional student community that is developed collaboratively and comprehensively addresses issues to help the GPSA better advocate for the needs of that community. 09/24/2020 5:15pm Graduate and Professional Student Assembly AY 2019-2020
7 Condemnation of the dangerously late closure of Ithaca campus on 7 February 2020 Rejected by the Assembly On 6 and 7 February an anticipated winter storm hit Ithaca. Despite dangerous conditions before the start of classes and the suspension of all bus service soon after classes began, classes on Ithaca campus were held until 10:02 AM and campus remained open until 12:02 PM, at which time students, instructors and staff who had or were already required to travel to campus were advised to not travel. This late closure needlessly endangered the community and was especially callous toward those with mobility barriers. 05/08/2020 8:15am Graduate and Professional Student Assembly AY 2019-2020
6 Support of the Divestment from Fossil Fuels Acknowledged by the President Given the global climate emergency and our desire for Cornell to remain a leader in promoting a sustainable future, we request that Cornell divest from all investments in coal, oil, and natural gas in an orderly fashion. 04/08/2020 2:15pm Graduate and Professional Student Assembly AY 2019-2020
5 Support of the development and implementation of a Cornell Campus Circulator System Acknowledged by the President For the past eleven years, a Cornell Campus Circulator System of transportation has been under discussion as a way to improve access to many university functions and to address the continual challenges related to transportation and parking that Cornellians face every day. We propose that this project become a priority for Cornell and be realized within the period of the next five years. 09/29/2020 12:30pm Graduate and Professional Student Assembly AY 2019-2020
4 Recommendation for the Graduate and Professional Student Activity Fee for 2020-2022 Accepted by the President The GPSA, during the fall semester of odd-numbered years, through the authority delegated by the President of the University and the Board of Trustees, shall be charged with recommending the amount and the allocation of the Graduate and Professional Student Activity Fee, subject to the approval of the President of the University. 01/10/2020 10:30am Graduate and Professional Student Assembly AY 2019-2020
3 Demanding mandatory arbitration and class action bans be removed from CASHNet and other community agreements Acknowledged by the President Cornell’s CASHNet payment system mandates arbitration to resolve disputes and bans class actions, practices condemned by our own Law and ILR faculty. These terms should not appear in any agreement Cornell presents its community. 01/08/2020 9:15am Graduate and Professional Student Assembly AY 2019-2020
2 Condemning the Dismissal of Julia Feliz from the Cornell Alliance for Science's Global Leadership Fellowship In Discussion On October 15th, Julia Feliz was dismissed from the Cornell Alliance for Science Program for “utiliz[ing] the classroom environment to discuss [their] dissatisfaction with the program”. Many details of the case are still unknown; however, given the published information, we feel that the Alliance for Science’s administrative team mishandled the situation. It is extremely concerning that the stated reason for Feliz’s dismissal is their activism. 11/18/2019 6:30pm Graduate and Professional Student Assembly AY 2019-2020
1 Resolution Approving the GPSA Internal Budget for the 2019-2020 Term Acknowledged by the President 2019-2020 Budget 11/15/2019 4:00pm Graduate and Professional Student Assembly AY 2019-2020