[Poscgrad] POSC GSA: December 2024 Updates

Thu Dec 5 08:00:00 PST 2024

Hi Everyone,

Happy Week 10, we’re almost there! I know many of you are wrapping up your
teaching for the quarter and finishing any remaining seminar work, so I
appreciate those of you who are able to read this newsletter. Before diving
into updates, I’d like to take a moment to congratulate our first-year
cohort on completing their first quarter. From my own experience, I
remember how challenging that transition can be, and you should all be
incredibly proud of the work you’ve accomplished this term. I also want to
give a shout out to those who are defending their prospectus this quarter,
and to those that are wrapping up their dissertations. You should all take
a moment to recognize and be proud of the achievements that you have made.

As we head into the holiday season, I hope you had a chance to relax and
reflect during the Thanksgiving break. Taking time for reflection is so
important, and I trust you found moments to rest and recharge. For those
interested, I’ve shared my own thoughts in a Thanksgiving reflection, which
you can read here: Anchored by Community: My Thanksgiving Reflection
<https://gregbhutchins.substack.com/p/anchored-by-community-my-thanksgiving>
.

I have a few updates to share with you regarding a department event, campus
happenings, the Chancellor search, and some important UAW news. You’ll find
those updates outlined below.

As always, don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or
concerns.
*Department Holiday Party*
As a reminder the department is hosting a holiday party to celebrate the
end of fall quarter. The event details are as follows:

*🗓 Date:* Friday, December 13th
*⏰ Time:* 5:30 PM
*📍 Location:* At Kevin Esterling’s Home (Address will be shared with those
who RSVP; it’s near UCR campus)

If you wish to attend please RSVP by *Monday December 9th*.

RSVP Form <https://forms.gle/2zS1KdF5MTWTUisR9>

*Chancellor Search*
Chancellor Wilcox announced his retirement
<https://news.ucr.edu/articles/2024/09/19/chancellor-wilcox-announces-plans-retire-2025>
as
UCR's 11th Chancellor effective summer of 2025 after 12 years of service.
(Fun fact, the only Chancellor that served longer was Ivan Hinderaker
himself who served from 1964 to 1979.) I have been selected to chair the
graduate student committee tasked with presenting graduate student
priorities for the search committee that will be selecting the new
chancellor. I will be meeting with the Regents committee along with
President Drake early in the new year. You all will receive this from GSA
generally, but I did want to ask you to please consider filling out the
following survey to express what you all would like to be the priorities I
present to the search committee at the start of next quarter. Please use
the following link to fill out the survey: Graduate Student Feedback:
Chancellor Search <https://forms.gle/xrwbzTh2HedNx52J7>.

*UAW Contract Extension*
The union that represents graduate students workers is currently in the
process of ratifying a tentative agreement which would extend our contract
by seven months from its current expiration on May 31st, 2025 to December
31st, 2025. The start of bargaining would also be delayed from the start of
January to the start of July. In addition to the extension, the agreement
would provide for a 4% raise starting in October and start a pilot program
for transition funding.

To read the full Tentative Agreement please use the link here
<https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ML3offMMd7LRSC0J6-Gkv0D00jctwi1E/view>.

I will note that the bargaining committee was not unanimous in its
recommendation to adopt the tentative agreement. The majority is
recommending adoption of the agreement, and you can read their reasoning
here
<https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TdDwrDVbfIKAGnCgwFOobcjhq5Payeru/view>.
The minority recommending against adoption has also submitted their
reasoning which you can read here
<https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ozV9YBr3Z234dWNCbwNjn4EJcHEiy8rl/view>.

Many of you have asked my opinion on the agreement. In the interest of not
turning these monthly updates into my own personal "op-ed", *I will only
briefly state that I am in support of the agreement. *If you wish to know
my reasoning please feel free to reach out to me separately or stop me in
the halls and I will happily have a conversation about it.

To vote on the agreement please use the link provided to your email (it
would have come from vote at simplyvoting.com with the subject line "UAW 4811
ASE Contract Extension Ratification Vote 2024") and do so prior to 5PM
tomorrow (December 6th). If you *DID NOT *receive a ballot please fill out
this form <https://uc-uaw.jotform.com/243245728411959> by 2PM tomorrow.

*Conference Travel*
I know many of you have been accepted to present at MPSA, WPSA, or both,
which are scheduled for around the end of next quarter. For those of you
planning to travel and use a GSA travel grant, please make sure to stay on
top of the deadlines and complete the required forms. You can find all the
relevant materials here: https://gsa.ucr.edu/ctg.

As a member of the Travel Grant Committee, I’m also working to get the
coordinator to come out for info session next quarter to help guide you
through the process.

Additionally, if you are attending WPSA and/or MPSA, please take a moment
to fill out the following survey. This will help me see who is attending
each conference and facilitate connections: Attendance of 2025 WPSA and/or
MPSA <https://forms.gle/j7TmVFXGbimU7GK38>
*Grad Bash*
As many of you know, every quarter GSA puts on a "Grad Bash" with food,
drink, and raffles to provide Graduate Students across the University an
opportunity to come together. We were supposed to have this a few weeks
ago, but it was rescheduled so that graduate students would not have to
cross a picket line during the AFSCME strike. So, Grad Bash will happen
tonight (December 5th) from 5PM to 7:30PM at The Barn. Please remember to
bring your Student ID for admittance. Hope to see some of you there.

*Grad Success*
As always, please view the GradSuccess Padlet for upcoming event and/or
topics of interest: Padlet Link <https://padlet.com/ucrgradsuccess>

*Happy Holidays *
Once again, congratulations on completing another quarter and on all the
incredible achievements you all have made. Whether it was presenting
research, defending your prospectus, or taking strides toward finishing
your dissertation, your hard work and progress are worthy of positive
reflection.

As we approach the holiday season, I hope you find time to relax and enjoy
the festivities. If you’re looking for something special after Grad Bash,
tonight is a great chance to explore downtown Riverside, where you can
experience both the Festival of Lights <https://riversideca.gov/fol/> and
the monthly Art Walk <https://www.riversideca.gov/museum/artswalk.asp>.
It’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy two events with smaller crowds than
you’d encounter on the weekend.

Wishing you all a wonderful end to the quarter and a joyous holiday season.
Have a great break, and I look forward to seeing you in the new year!
Respectfully,
-- 
Gregory Blake Hutchins, M.A.
Graduate Student Chair & PhD Candidate | Department of Political Science
Senior Advisor and Lead GSR | Inland Empire Labor and Community Center
UC Advocacy Officer | UCR Graduate Student Association
Budget Engagement Commissioner | City of Riverside
University of California, Riverside

www.gregbhutchins.com
Phone: 951-827-0592
Twitter: @GregBHutchins
Instagram: GregBHutchins
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