From: Tim Gibson <[log in to unmask]>
Dear AAUP members + friends,
Here's a quick chance to help GMU-AAUP's graduate student committee!
We are trying to collect stories from Mason's graduate students regarding the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the barriers that prevent students from asking advisors and program directors for help. This information will be crucial for our campaign to win a two year time-to-degree clock extension for all graduate students at Mason. So if you know any GMU graduate students, or if you have access to a listserv of graduate students in your Department,please help us out by distributing this survey link:
https://forms.gle/CSsVAb1uF3t1mp5Y8
The past year has made it very difficult for both faculty and graduate students to make progress on their research. Social distancing rules have eliminated whole methods of research (e.g., ethnography) and countless other resources (such as archives, laboratories, libraries, fellowship programs, etc.) have been shut down for over a year. In response to these disruptions, the administration has extended tenure clocks for faculty. It's time for the Graduate Council to do the same for graduate students.
Please help us distribute this survey to any graduate students you know. We believe the stories we collect from this survey will convince the Graduate Council to support our graduate students with an automatic two-year extension.
Thanks again for your help!
Best,
Tim Gibson, Interim President, GMU-AAUP
Bethany Letiecq, President, GMU-AAUP
