Curtis Nomination

Candidate Name	Office Sought
Reed Curtis	President
Program
Education - Higher Education and Student Affairs - Med
Platform
A few of my priorities for 2008-2009: 1. Effectively recognize and address graduate student concerns across all facets of the university. 2. Create a Graduate Student orientation that is comprehensive, informative, and addresses the confusion students feel both before and after their arrival to USC. 3. Explore both the financial and healthcare concerns of graduate students and report on the current situation to all proper authorities including university officials, and to political figures at state and national levels. 4. Fundamentally reorganize the association to allow for a more productive body of governance. This will include the establishment of an appointed set of officers that form a presidential cabinet, similar to the one that exists in the current USC Student Government. In addition, these officials will chair committees that will address specific areas of concern. 5. Increase the communication between the student government and our organization by having a liaison present at all SGA cabinet meetings. 6. Increase the amount of participation amongst graduate students in local, state, and national professional organizations. Professional organization fairs, professional development opportunities, and increased publication of resources will help increase participation. 7. Increase civic engagement amongst graduate students by holding outreach events, service projects, and supplying additional support to existing university efforts to better the community. 8. Increase and improve efforts to recognize and assist graduate students who excel in academics/research, extracurricular activities, community service, etc. 9. Take steps to improve the status and treatment of graduate and or teaching assistants across the board at the university level. Produce a document of expectations reflecting the need for similar employment benefits that other state employees receive. 10. Establish a "Graduate Student Network" that improves the campus community for graduate students, establishes mentoring opportunities, and allows for greater research collaboration amongst fellow students.