Farewell week 1, greetings week 2
Well, here I am at the end of week one of the new academic year. I must say I was quite nervous walking through the Stables at the beginning of this week, I had clean forgotten just how busy UL is! So what, pray tell, have you been doing to occupy your time this week I hear you cry? Well settle in and all will be revealed ...
Monday - I went in to meet Declan and Ger in Mojos in the city centre to discuss possible postgrad nights there. I have to say that they were extremely obliging and if any postgrad classes wish to hold class parties I would ask that you come in to me and discuss it, and we can work a deal with Mojos. Monday evening, I attended my first meeting of SU exec. These meetings will run weekly throughout the academic year. As the PSA and the SU are separate entities in UL, I am a non-voting member of the SU exec. When the PSA exec gets elected, the SU will also have a representative on this and Frank Fogarty, Deputy President/Welfare Officer of the SU has agreed to be the SU rep on the PSA executive. I'm glad that Frank will be the representative as he is a postgraduate student and will be able to give pertinent advice to the PSA exec.
Tuesday - I attended Governing Authority and this is one of the meetings where I have to wear a suit. Governing Authority approves all policy matters relating to UL, approves all employees, and aims to advance and expand the aims and objectives of UL. It is made up of a variety of groups, the president of UL, senior officers of the University, staff, faculty, student reps (two from the Students' Union and one from PSA), the Mayor of Limerick, Chairperson of Limerick County Council and lots more besides! As you can imagine, with such a diverse group of people and interests, meetings tend to take a long time. The meeting started at 10 am and by the time lunch was over, it was 3pm!
Wednesday - I had no meetings! Just my regular work, and on Wednesday I got a chance to go through the Financial Aid applications for the hardship fund. The PSA is in the process of transferring it's accounts to the Ulster Bank and the transition period is confusing and messy.
Thursday - Most of my time on Thursday was spent preparing for the postgrad 'meet and greet' on Thursday night. I must thank Jenny, Denise and Shane for helping and facilitating me with lugging stuff to the PSA. Above all though, I must thank Liz for being fabulous on the night, for running around making sure everyone was topped up and helping me clean at the end of the night. She was just brilliant and I am very grateful. Thursday night went exceptionally well, and I think it was a complete success. The PSA was full to capacity and decorated with candles and fairy lights. A 2year old child called Sean provided the entertainment and thoroughly charmed everyone! It was nothing fancy, I provided some drinks, the Stables provided some food, people ate, drank and most importantly mingled! There was such a night atmosphere there and everyone was very relaxed and chatty. I thoroughly enjoyed the night and for many it continued afterwards in the Stables.
Friday - I met up with Frank Fogarty today to update the Financial Aid booklet and most of my day is spent sorting out the Financial Aid applications.
NEXT WEEK -
No rest for the wicked and I will be just as busy next week. Class Reps Council on Tuesday, Academic Council on Wednesday and other meetings that crop up during the week. I am aware that many of the postgrad events are not very family friendly and for this reason on Thursday I am organising a tea party for postgrad parents. There will be tea, coffee and most importantly cake! This will run from 5.30 until 7 and is an informal forum for postgrad parents. Any questions, email them to the usual address.
Monday - I went in to meet Declan and Ger in Mojos in the city centre to discuss possible postgrad nights there. I have to say that they were extremely obliging and if any postgrad classes wish to hold class parties I would ask that you come in to me and discuss it, and we can work a deal with Mojos. Monday evening, I attended my first meeting of SU exec. These meetings will run weekly throughout the academic year. As the PSA and the SU are separate entities in UL, I am a non-voting member of the SU exec. When the PSA exec gets elected, the SU will also have a representative on this and Frank Fogarty, Deputy President/Welfare Officer of the SU has agreed to be the SU rep on the PSA executive. I'm glad that Frank will be the representative as he is a postgraduate student and will be able to give pertinent advice to the PSA exec.
Tuesday - I attended Governing Authority and this is one of the meetings where I have to wear a suit. Governing Authority approves all policy matters relating to UL, approves all employees, and aims to advance and expand the aims and objectives of UL. It is made up of a variety of groups, the president of UL, senior officers of the University, staff, faculty, student reps (two from the Students' Union and one from PSA), the Mayor of Limerick, Chairperson of Limerick County Council and lots more besides! As you can imagine, with such a diverse group of people and interests, meetings tend to take a long time. The meeting started at 10 am and by the time lunch was over, it was 3pm!
Wednesday - I had no meetings! Just my regular work, and on Wednesday I got a chance to go through the Financial Aid applications for the hardship fund. The PSA is in the process of transferring it's accounts to the Ulster Bank and the transition period is confusing and messy.
Thursday - Most of my time on Thursday was spent preparing for the postgrad 'meet and greet' on Thursday night. I must thank Jenny, Denise and Shane for helping and facilitating me with lugging stuff to the PSA. Above all though, I must thank Liz for being fabulous on the night, for running around making sure everyone was topped up and helping me clean at the end of the night. She was just brilliant and I am very grateful. Thursday night went exceptionally well, and I think it was a complete success. The PSA was full to capacity and decorated with candles and fairy lights. A 2year old child called Sean provided the entertainment and thoroughly charmed everyone! It was nothing fancy, I provided some drinks, the Stables provided some food, people ate, drank and most importantly mingled! There was such a night atmosphere there and everyone was very relaxed and chatty. I thoroughly enjoyed the night and for many it continued afterwards in the Stables.
Friday - I met up with Frank Fogarty today to update the Financial Aid booklet and most of my day is spent sorting out the Financial Aid applications.
NEXT WEEK -
No rest for the wicked and I will be just as busy next week. Class Reps Council on Tuesday, Academic Council on Wednesday and other meetings that crop up during the week. I am aware that many of the postgrad events are not very family friendly and for this reason on Thursday I am organising a tea party for postgrad parents. There will be tea, coffee and most importantly cake! This will run from 5.30 until 7 and is an informal forum for postgrad parents. Any questions, email them to the usual address.
posted by Maria McHale at 2:00 p.m.
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