Yeah, found out about this too late to attend-- some of us work off-campus, which seems not to be a concern of those who are drafting this proposal-- but I would love to know the logic behind this.

It strikes me as very similar to the push recently announced at CUNY, this new mantra of time-to-completion. But that's really shuffing the responsibility off and back onto the student, isn't it? Shouldn't an organization advocating for the grad students of Mason be working for more FUNDING and other resources that would make a desire for quicker time-to-completion an achievable goal for more students, rather than drafting measures that don't ensure any greater support for students to reach completion that instead simply tries to motivate students through a threat?

In the debate between carrots and sticks, shouldn't we be advocating for more carrots, rather than quicker use of the stick?

I feel like this would most harm the students who are working at other jobs-- and we have people in our department already working as professional historians! Why would we want to discourage people working in government historical jobs and for local museums (DC has some of the best in the nation) from seeking professional development in the form of a PhD from GMU?

—Tad

On Tue, Apr 2, 2013 at 2:21 PM, Mary Linhart <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Why are you reducing the time limits? I see no advantage at all to this. Am I missing something?

Thanks.

----- Original Message -----

From: sscott4 <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Tuesday, April 2, 2013 2:03 pm
Subject: Re: voting in GAPSA Elections and an OPEN FORUM on "Revised Time Limits for Ph.D. Programs" TODAY at 3pm!!!

> Hi everyone, forgot to attach the draft proposal for the Revised
> Time Limits for PhD Programs so here that is.
>
> Steve
>
> Steven A. Harris Scott
>
>
> ________________________________________
> From: HISTPHD-L [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of sscott4
> [[log in to unmask]]Sent: Tuesday, April 02, 2013 1:42 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: voting in GAPSA Elections and an OPEN FORUM on "Revised
> Time Limits for Ph.D. Programs" TODAY at 3pm!!!
>
> Hi everyone,
>
> Many many thanks to Spencer Roberts for volunteering to be written
> in for Director of Communications for GAPSA to keep a History grad
> student in GAPSA's governing structure! Please vote today or
> tomorrow at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Z6SVPJ5 for the
> following candidates that I am endorsing:
>
> President - Katy Seipel
> VP of Fairfax - Josh St. Louis
> Director of Communications - Spencer Roberts
>
> If you don't know Spencer, here is his bio:
>
> Spencer Roberts is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in History; he also
> has an MA in History, and a BA in History and English Literature
> with a minor in Writing and Rhetoric. Spencer has written for
> school newspapers, trained in video and audio engineering, worked
> in radio as a manager and host, and served as an editor for
> numerous organizations. Spencer hopes to bring his experience and
> skills into GAPSA in order to facilitate high-quality, effective
> communications and also to explore new opportunities for increased
> awareness and participation among graduate students at GMU.
>
>
> Also of interest to some of you:
>
> **OPEN FORUM: Revised Time Limits for Ph.D. Programs: Tuesday 4/2
> at 3pm, Mason Hall D5 (sorry for the lateness of this
> announcement, I was just made aware of this event)
>
> A subcommittee of the Mason Graduate Council was recently formed
> to examine the current rules about maximum duration of PhD studies
> at Mason. The committee prepared a draft proposal which was
> discussed at the Graduate Council last month.
>
> We would like to invite you all to an open forum to discuss this
> proposed draft and hear your comments before the proposal moves
> forward. A draft of the proposal is attached, with changes
> underlined.
> The forum is scheduled for Tue. April 2 at 3:00 pm. It will take
> place in Mason Hall, room D0005.
>
>
> **Also, please attend one or more events for Graduate and
> Professional Student Appreciation Week! See the poster here:
> http://gradlife.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/Grad-App-Week2013-
> Final.pdf - today, there will be ice cream in the Grad Student Center!
>
> All the best,
> Steve
>
>
> Steven A. Harris Scott
>
>
> ________________________________________
> From: sscott4
> Sent: Tuesday, April 02, 2013 10:25 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: particpating in GAPSA
>
> Hi everyone,
>
> After the wonderful response I got for the Library Advisory
> committee (although I know that was personal for many of you), I
> figured I would attempt another call for service - this time for
> my current organization, GAPSA. I will (finally) be ending my time
> there this week - although I will continue as an ex-Officio member
> of the Board - and would love to continue the tradition of having
> a History PhD involved. We are in need of a Director of
> Communications and the best news about that: fewer meeting (one a
> month at most) AND more importantly, I've decided to make it a
> mission of my time as a GAPSA ex-President to argue for a stipend
> to be paid to Exec Board members. So, if you're interested in
> making a newsletter every couple of months, sending some emails
> and taking only a few notes very possibly for some extra cash and
> a lot of free food, let me know asap. We'll have to write you in
> since the ballot comes out at noon today but if we get our fellow
> History PhDs to help, I t!
> hink you'll have no problem getting enough write-in votes to win
> (there is currently no candidate).
>
> Many thanks,
> Steve
>
>
> Steven A. Harris Scott
>
>