The Brown & White

The Graduate Student Senate received an increased budget for the 2008-2009 fiscal year.

The budget increase of $16,000 was approved by the student affairs office early this year and will take effect in July.

The request was submitted in September 2007 and was approved in the university's annual budget process, said John Smeaton, vice provost of student affairs.

Hannah Dailey, Graduate Senate president, and Frederico Halpern, treasurer, initiated legislation for the increased budget.

"Halpern spearheaded the effort as the GSS treasurer," Daily said, "but we began preparing letters and memos explaining where our money went for the office of student affairs about a year ago."

Previously, the Graduate Senate petitioned the student affairs office for money as new events arose, Dailey said.

Graduate appeals had become more frequent, making it apparent an increased budget would be necessary to meet graduate student needs.

"Smeaton coached us through the process and was very helpful," Dailey said. "He took our information and made the allocations. We found out about a week ago that we were getting the additional funds."

Smeaton said an increased budget is vital to a successful graduate experience.

"The Graduate Student Senate gets involved in issues, such as health care, that affect graduate students personal life," he said, "which in turn affects their academic world."

Smeaton said the Graduate Senate also promotes a strong sense of community for students.

"It makes graduate students feel a part of the overall Lehigh community," he said.

Dailey said the Graduate Senate, which is comprised of an executive board committee and a representative from each academic department with a graduate program, divides its budget into thirds.

She said one third of the budget is designated for events during the year, like social events and lectures.

One third goes to support the 15 graduate student clubs on campus, she said.

The final third supports travel grants for graduate students to present their research at professional conferences, Dailey said.

"These travel grants that allow students to attend conferences is a really important part of building a resume," said Kathleen Hutnik, director of graduate student life.

Dailey said the increased funds will first help fulfill the current budgets.

"We were falling very short before on our support to the graduate students," she said. "There was a wait list to get travel grants. The jump in our funding is meeting the needs that are already in place."

The Graduate Senate has not yet decided how the additional funds will be spent.

"The graduate students will make the decision as to where the money goes," Hutnik said. "We will probably use the money toward everything."

The Graduate Senate recently began a Graduate Research Review, which compiles abstracts from students who received travel grants.

The abstracts, short statements used to describe a larger body of work, will be published in a journal.

"The Graduate Student Senate is sponsoring the publication of this as well as a launch party," Hutnik said. "It's something we're really excited about."