GAFIS

Graduate Association of French and Italian Students

The Graduate Association of French and Italian Students at the University of Wisconsin - Madison represents the graduate students in departmental committees, on the UW-Madison campus, and in the greater academic community. The primary mission of GAFIS is to be a resource for graduate students as they progress through their degree requirements. In addition, GAFIS has developed a national reputation through the annual GAFIS Symposium; a two-day conference each spring that welcomes fellow graduate students from across the US. The organization meets regularly to propose improvements in the graduate program, discuss the implications of departmental policy decisions, plan and promote the Symposium, and organize social events throughout the year.

For more information about GAFIS, please contact...

Officers of the Graduate Association of French and Italian Students

GAFIS Co-presidents
French - Preea Leelah
Italian - Renée Anne Poulin

Co-Chairs of the Graduate Student Symposium

French - Theresa Pesavanto    Italian -Tina Petraglia

GAFIS Secretaries for Meeting Minutes

French - Rachel Tapley

Department Committee Representatives
Italian  - Giusy DiFillipo
French- Kaitlin King

Italian Instructional Committee Reps. (IIC)
Italian Ph.D. Student - Maria Giulia Carone
Italian Ph.D. Student - Nicole Lindenstein (Fall), Paola Villa (Spring).

Social Events Organizers

French - Rachel Tapley
Italian - Daniela Busciglio

GAFIS Lectures Series/Workshop Coordinators
French - Mary Claypool
Italian - Katy Prantil

Prospective Student Liaisons
French - Denis Dépinoy
Italian - Monica Seger

*TAA Stewards
(* not a GAFIS position )
French/Italian - Loren Eadie

TA Review Committee Reps.
French - Elise Kruideneier
Italian- Chad Shorter

Department Lectures Committee Reps.
French - Walter Scott
Italian - Elena Bender

French Instructional committee (encompasses both undergraduate and graduate studies)

Grad Studies - Jenny Meyer, Stephanie Spadaro.

Undergrad Studies- Denis Dépinoy.

Italian Majors' liaisons
Italian - Chad Shorter
Italian - Daniela Busciglio

External Resources Committee

Italian: Daniele Fioretti

French: Linda Brindeau

GAFIS representative to the Graduate Student Leadership Caucus

French or Italian: Linda Brindeau

GAFIS Co-presidents:
Organize GAFIS meeting agenda, coordinate the activities of officials and meet regularly with the Department Chair. Address any problems or suggestions of the membership. The Co-presidents are the contact people for all graduate students for any concern regarding GAFIS activities or those of the Department.

GAFIS Secretaries for Meeting Minutes:
One of the two secretaries must attend all GAFIS meetings, record the minutes and send them to the GAFIS membership. They are also in charge of collecting minutes from other representatives (IIC, DEPT, FGSC, TAA) and e-mailing them to the membership. (There are two in the event that one person cannot attend.)

Department Committee Representatives:
Represent the GAFIS membership in departmental meetings. Record Department meeting minutes and submit them to GAFIS Secretaries for Meeting Minutes.

Italian Instructional Committee Representatives (IIC):
Represent the GAFIS membership in Italian Instructional Committee meetings and report to GAFIS membership. Meet regularly with Associate Chair for Italian. Solicit questions from Italian graduate students and present them to the Italian faculty in IIC meetings. Work to maintain an official communication channel between the Italian graduate students and Italian faculty. Record IIC meeting minutes and submit them to the GAFIS Secretaries for Meeting Minutes.

French Graduate Studies Committee Representatives (FGSC):
Work as liaison between French graduate students and the French Faculty. Particiate in French Graduate Studies Committee meetings. After each meeting, they write minutes to be communicated to French Graduate Students and submit them to the Secretaries for Meeting Minutes.

Social Events Organizers:
By planning informal activities, the Social Events Organizers seek to foster a sense of community among French and Italian graduate students. Annual events include a social hour at the opening of each semester (to which faculty are invited) and at the closing of semesters. In addition, the organizers work with the Co-chairs of the GAFIS symposium to schedule a post-symposium event.

GAFIS Lectures Series/Workshop Coordinators:
Plan and organize a GAFIS Lecture Series by contacting speakers, reserving rooms, etc. They also plan and organize professional development workshops. They solicit ideas for speakers and workshops from the GAFIS membership.

Prospective Student Liaisons:
Assist the graduate coordinator in organizing visits for prospective students. Help prospective students get in touch with other students from the Department who share their interests.

*TAA Stewards:
The TAA Stewards attend all TAA General Membership Meetings as well as Stewards' Meetings. They keep the GAFIS membership informed of contract negotiations and answer questons regarding contract terms. If any graduate student has a question regarding healthcare, working conditions, hours or dues, see the Stewards!

TA Review Committee Representatives:
If any problems or complaints should arise regarding TA performance, this representative participates in the departmental committee that reviews the issue.

Departments Lectures Committee Representatives:
Participate in the Department's Lecture Committee meetings that select outside speakers to give talks in the department or at the French House. Solicits suggestions for speakers from the GAFIS membership.

International Relations and Study Abroad Representatives:
Attends all committee meetings and reports any proceedings related to the graduate program to the GAFIS Secretaries for Meeting Minutes.

French Undergraduate Studies Committee Representative:
Participates in French Faculty meetings concerning the undergraduate program and the undergraduate students.

Italian Majors' liaisons:
The goal of the Italian Majors' liaison is to know who the undergraduate students majoring in Italian are, to make them feel part of our Department an dkeep in touch with them. The duties of the Italian Majors' liaison is to gather names, info and emails, and keep Italian majors updated with the activities organized by the Italian Department and the Italian Club. Activities overseen by the Italian Majors' liaison include: dinner every first Tuesday or Thursday of the month after the Cineteca at Piazza Italia (in order to improve the participation in both), assigning specific role/s at the annual Cena Italiana (for example, serving or entertainment), a party at the end of the Academic Year to which Faculty is invited. Other ideas are welvome and solicited by the Italian Majors' liaison.

Coffee Czarina:
It is the Czar's responsibility to take orders and collect money from students, staff and professors. He/She places an order for coffee about once a month and makes sure the coffee station is stocked and in good condition.

Co-chairs of the Graduate Student Symposium:
Co-chairs organize the annual French and Italian Graduate Student Symposium. Responsibilities include applying for funding, defining the theme, inviting a keynote speaker, and coordinating volunteers.