Graduate Student Government Senate Meeting
November 21, 2020
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Zoom Recording: https://bit.ly/GSGSM1121
AGENDA
- Guest Speakers from University Health and Counseling Services
- Vice President of Student Affairs
- Student Group Approval – Khoury Master’s Students Council
ITEMS DISCUSSED
1. Guest Speakers from University Health and Counseling Services
Kelly A. Moran, LMHC, director of Coordinated Care and Health Promotion, and Renee Smith, Student Health Plan Manager, of the University Health and Counseling Services (UHCS) spoke about the services offered and resources available to students.
During the pandemic, the office is serving the university community through Telehealth. No walk-in appointments are available at this time. Below are highlights of the presentation:
The University Health Report must be submitted by the graduate students one month before entering the university, Proof of Immunity is required by the Massachusetts state law. The governor of Massachusetts included a new mandate in August 2020 which requires every student under the age of 30 who attend even one day of class in person, need to show proof that they have received the Influenza immunization (flu vaccine) by December 31st, 2020.
UHCS offers medical services, including assessment for routine concerns; urgent care; women’s health, sports medicine, nutrition visits; and referrals to ongoing community and specialist care.
Well Connection – Is a program for students enrolled in the Northeastern University Student Health Plan (NUSHP). In the plan, students have access to the Telehealth services. The services allow for immediate consultation with a medical clinician on video(Zoom) for both physical and mental concerns for a $10 co-pay per visit.
Mental Health Support – Offers scheduled phone consultations with mental health clinicians who conduct a brief assessment and make recommendations for care. These recommendations might include a referral for ongoing therapy or psychopharmacology with a clinician off campus and/or follow up with a clinician at UHCS. Additional services are Find@Northeastern; medication assessment; student support groups; and sexual assault response and treatment.
Mental Health Services: Support Groups – Several support groups are offered each semester. Groups are confidential, safe, and nonjudgmental spaces where a student can offer and receive support from your peers, learn new skills, find connections, and explore ways of coping. Anyone interested in joining a group can contact UHCS at the contact information below.
Find @Northeastern – provides “Support when you need it, anytime, anywhere” for full-time degree seeking students. The program offers support and resources that helps one find oneself, can give one a peace of mind, and can provide one’s distinctive path; designed to offer students an immediate touchpoint for help and resources at anytime from anywhere.
Key Benefits are, expands immediate mental health clinician access to 24/7; makes Northeastern mental health response available to our students locally, nationally, and internationally; serves as an additional access point for students who may hesitate to reach out for in-person mental healthcare; enhances referral options, process, and capacity; and removes a cost barrier for Telehealth and face-to-face therapy.
24/7 Support Line – Provides support anytime and anywhere; the staff is master’s level, licensed mental health counselors; immediate safety and risk assessment and coordination with emergency protocols as appropriate; and non-emergent connection to next steps, resources, and treatment options.
UHCS and Find@Northeastern services are confidential. The office is connected with the NU Police Department (NUPD) regarding safety concerns. “When in doubt or concerned about a student – talk it out!” (and follow up with your supervisor and make them aware of the issue).
NUPD, UHCS and We Care are working together to provide services and connect students to resources. We Care focuses on intense issues and if a learner is considered “at risk” or is of concern, the student should be on We Care’s radar. Anyone of these organizations can direct students to the correct services for them.
Northeastern University Student Health Plan (NUSHP)
- Coverage – Available anywhere; comprehensive healthcare coverage at school, at home, while traveling, on co-op or study abroad
- Savings – Affordable coverage, low co-payments, caps on annual out-of-pocket costs, and access to reduced dental, vision and pharmacy
- Global protection – 24/7 emergency medical care and assistance anywhere in the world.
Steps to accessing NUSHP membership ID # are available on MyNortheastern account. The plan will be using the online services in lieu of a physical membership card. The virtual membership card is available for students to present at the doctor visit. NUSHP is in partnership with Gallagher/MyBlueApp.
Contact information:
Telephone number: (617) 373-2772
Email: UHCS@northeastern.edu
Facebook: Northeastern UHCS
Instagram and Twitter: @NU_UHCS
Office hours (for Telehealth appointments, No walk-in visits at this time): Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 8a.m.-5p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 8a.m.-8p.m.; Saturday, 12p.m.-4p.m. (Sept.-June); and Most Holidays, 10a.m.-3p.m.
Samaritans Crisis Hotline – (877) 870-HOPE (4673), samaritanshope.org
Crisis Text Line – Text 741741 (Provides free 24-hour emotional support by text)
Northeastern University Police Department – (617) 373-3333
Northeastern University Student Health Plan (NUSHP) – https://www.northeastern.edu/nushp/
UHCS – https://www.northeastern.edu/uhcs/
Summary of benefits- https://www.northeastern.edu/nushp/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/NUSHP-Summary-of-Benefits-20-21.pdf
Highlighted benefits – https://www.northeastern.edu/nushp/highlighted-benefits/
Support Groups – https://www.northeastern.edu/uhcs/counseling-services/group-counseling/
Find@Northeastern – https://www.northeastern.edu/uhcs/find-at-northeastern/
24/7 Support Line – Inside the U.S., (877) 233-9477 and Outside the U.S., (781) 457-7777
Questions:
- What is the exact deadline to get the flu vaccine?
Answer: Kelly said that we are encouraging the students to get the vaccine earlier, before the winter break to ensure to get the vaccine into your system 14 days before it will actually work. CDC recommends getting it by October before the flu season begins but the state requires you to get it by 31st December. Sooner is better to accommodate requests without them piling up during holidays.
- Jared asked if there are any programs to support students to help with school stress (with the finals coming up)?
Answer: Kelly said that the Mental health team is coming up workshops to help with that as finals will be different than before and how to manage travel, studies etc. It will be updated on the website.
2. Vice President of Student Affairs
Vice President of Student Affairs Deependra Singh spoke about the student group recognition process and the gift card policy:
- Student Group recognition process involves the following steps: Student Group application, Application review, Constitution – Tentative recognition, Trial period (5-6 months), Presentation (before the Graduate Senate Government), Senate approval, and Official recognition
- Gift card policy has maximum value for recognized organizations, including Research/competition based: $400 (face value <$150), and Meet and Greet events: $150 (face value <$20)
3. Student Group Approval – Khoury Master’s Students Council (KMSC)
- Vice President of Student Affairs Deependra Singh introduced ‘Khoury Master’s Students Council’, President Dhaval Dedhia and Vice President Vijay Sivasekar. Vice President Vijah Sivasekar said the organization was founded in 2017. The group had five events during the year: Orientation, Welcome Event, Tech Day, Course Registration and Co-op Panel. Additional events conducted include Whiteboard Sessions, Games and Networking Night, Student Scoop Series, and Industry Tech Talks. President Dhaval Dedhia highlighted Tech Day, Course Registration and CO-OP Panel, AppDynamics Tech Talk (Nov. 2018) and past events. Future plans for the group are alumni takeovers, mentorship and development program, and domain specific ambassadors (for Data Science, Computer Science, Cyber Security, and Artificial Intelligence). The organization’s social media account on Instagram @kms_council. The email id is khorymastercouncil@gmail.com
- Voting by the Senate
- Result: Approved (93% senators voted yes)
President Gagan Prabhu addressed the recent announcement about the resignation of the VP of Financial Affairs and asked everyone to email him about the financial concerns and said that funding applications will be reviewed and approved soon.
The next senate meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 2, 2020 from 2:00pm – 3:30pm.
ADJOURNMENT
The Senate meeting was adjourned at 3:27pm by President Gagan Prabhu.
Meeting Attendance
| S.No | Name | Northeastern Email | College | Committee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abhay Kurian | Kurian.a@northeastern.edu | College of Engineering | None, I don't want to sign up for committees! |
| 2 | Abhishek | thakuria.a@northeastern.edu | College of Engineering | Programs and Operations Committee |
| 3 | Aditi Jain | jain.adit@northeastern.edu | College of Engineering | None, I don't want to sign up for Committees! |
| 4 | Alfred Navato | navato.a@northeastern.edu | College of Engineering | Programs and Operations Committee |
| 5 | Chirag Patel | patel.chir@northeastern.edu | College of Engineering | None, I don't want to sign up for Committees! |
| 6 | Danzel Jones | jones.danz@northeastern.edu | Graduate Student Organization- GSCC | None, I don't want to sign up for Committees! |
| 7 | David Samuel Nallapu | nallapu.d@northeastern.edu | College of Engineering | Student Affairs Committee |
| 8 | Deependra Singh | singh.de@northeastern.edu | COE | - |
| 9 | Dhaval Dedhia | dedhia.d@northeastern.edu | Khoury College of Computer Sciences | Student Affairs Committee |
| 10 | Dhiren Pagrani | pagrani.d@northeastern.edu | College of Professional Studies | Involved in Strategic Planning Committee |
| 11 | Divya Subbaian | subbaian.d@northeastern.edu | COE | - |
| 12 | Gagan Dep Prabhu | prabhu.g@northeastern.edu | COE | - |
| 13 | Grania Machado | machado.g@northeastern.edu | Khoury College of Computer Sciences | Marketing and Outreach Committee |
| 14 | Harsh Maheshwari | maheshwari.h@northeastern.edu | College of Engineering | Student Affairs Committee |
| 15 | Jared Beaulieu | beaulieu.ja@northeastern.edu | D'Amore-McKim School of Business | Programs and Operations Committee |
| 16 | Jayachandra Srinivas Chimakurthi | Chimakurthi.j@northeastern.edu | College of Engineering | Academic Affairs Committee |
| 17 | Jayesh Lalwani | lalwani.j@northeastern.edu | Khoury College of Computer Sciences | None, I don't want to sign up for committees! |
| 18 | Jerry Goodwin | goodwin.j@northeastern.edu | College of Professional Studies | Marketing and Outreach Committee |
| 19 | K Akhilendra Kashyap | koti.a@northeastern.edu | College of Professional Studies | Student Affairs Committee |
| 20 | Kamalesh Kore | kore.k@northeastern.edu | College of Engineering | Programs and Operations Committee |
| 21 | Kushal PanchL | kushalpanchal24091997@gmail.com | College of Engineering | Student Affairs Committee |
| 22 | Mohit Venkata Rama Swamy Korai | korai.m@northeastern.edu | College of Engineering | None, I don't want to sign up for committees! |
| 23 | Nikunj Doshi | doshi.nik@northeastern.edu | College of Engineering | Marketing and Outreach Committee |
| 24 | Niranjan Vaidya | vaidya.nir@northeastern.edu | College of Professional Studies | Involved in Strategic Planning Committee |
| 25 | Omkar Tiware | tiware.o@gmail.com | College of Professional Studies | None, I don't want to sign up for Committees! |
| 26 | Orhun Kok | kok.o@northeastern.edu | College of Science | None, I don't want to sign up for Committees! |
| 27 | Pallak Singh | Singh.pal@northeastern.edu | Graduate Student Organization -GWiSE | None, I don't want to sign up for Committees! |
| 28 | Prajakta Deshpande | deshpande.pr@northeastern.edu | COE | - |
| 29 | Prem Mulchandani | Mulchandani.p@northeastern.edu | College of Engineering | Programs and Operations Committee |
| 30 | Reema Yadav | yadav.ree@northeastern.edu | College of Engineering | - |
| 31 | Renee Smith | Rn.smith@northeastern.edu | Graduate Student Organization - NUHCS | None, I don't want to sign up for committees! |
| 32 | Rushi Chaudhari | chaudhari.r@northeastern.edu | College of Engineering | Student Affairs Committee |
| 33 | Sakshi Basavanth Patil | basavanthpatil.s@northeastern.edu | College of Engineering | Programs and Operations Committee |
| 34 | Samuel Chuan | Chuan.s@northeastern.edu | College of Arts, Media and Design | Marketing and Outreach Committee |
| 35 | Sandeep Karapa Srivatsav | karapasrivatsav.s@northeastern.edu | College of Professional Studies | Marketing and Outreach Committee |
| 36 | Santhoshi Bathina | bathina.s@northeastern.edu | COE | - |
| 37 | Shamika Shirish Gogate | gogate.s@northeastern.edu | College of Engineering | Programs and Operations Committee |
| 38 | Shubham Metha | shubham.metha007@gmail.com | College of Engineering | None, I don't want to sign up for committees! |
| 39 | Sriram Ravindran | ravindran.s@northeastern.edu | College of Engineering | Student Affairs Committee |
| 40 | Sumantra Bhattacharya | bhattacharya.su@northeastern.edu | D'Amore-McKim School of Business | Programs and Operations Committee |
| 41 | Terance Barretto | barretto.t@northeastern.edu | College of Engineering | Student Affairs Committee |
| 42 | Venkata Phani Devulapally | devulapally.v@northeastern.edu | College of Engineering | None, I don't want to sign up for Committees! |
