PGSA at GSU

04/11/2023

Hi Everyone,
Now that PGSA has been reestablished we would like to know how your semester went. Since PGSA is here to serve you all here as graduate students of the Physics and Astronomy Department, we would like to hear your opinions as to what you believe PGSA should direct its focus to help improve Physics and Astronomy graduate student life here at GSU as well as share some of the ideas we've come up with in this endeavor.

We are going to hold a general meeting virtually on April 13th @ 3:30 PM to have an open dialogue and discussion. Dr. Sarsour has kindly agreed to be there at least for the beginning of the meeting as well to answer any questions you may have for him. The link to the meeting can be found in your Panther Mail. We hope to see you there!

07/30/2020

Dear all,

Some students at Georgia State University purchased ISO insurance as usual and were unable to get the waiver. They asked ISO to refund their money and cancel the insurance that they bought so that they can buy the coverage from the university. But ISO is saying they are still waiting to hear from GSU and did not give any refund yet. Some students' wives are also in the same situation.

We communicated with Dean, Graduate School office, and the Student Health Insurance office at GSU.

Following, please consider the response of Dr. Lisa Armistead, Dean of Graduate School at GSU.

"We have learned that ISO and several other health insurance providers (PSI, Seven Corners, and ISI ) are describing their insurance is ACA compatible, which is not the same as ACA, compliant. Georgia State is trying to work with ISO to get students' money returned. However, unfortunately, we don't have control over what this company, or others, decide to do. If health insurance is the only outstanding balance on a student's account, their classes are not likely to be dropped on 7/31 drop."

We are working on the next step: Ask the university to pay most of the mandatory insurance or find a more reliable insurance plan.

I would appreciate it if you'd keep me updated about any change in your non-GSU insurance responses.

Best regards,
President of PGSA
Amin

07/14/2020

Dear all,
We cannot wait to see you in our first PGSA meeting.

07/06/2020

Please contact to ISSS office of your universities for more information. It is so important.
"Nonimmigrant F-1 and M-1 students attending schools operating entirely online may not take a full online course load and remain in the United States. The U.S. Department of State will not issue visas to students enrolled in schools and/or programs that are fully online for the fall semester nor will U.S. Customs and Border Protection permit these students to enter the United States. Active students currently in the United States enrolled in such programs must depart the country or take other measures, such as transferring to a school with in-person instruction to remain in lawful status. If not, they may face immigration consequences including, but not limited to, the initiation of removal proceedings."

Due to COVID-19, SEVP instituted a temporary exemption regarding online courses for the spring and summer semesters. This policy permitted nonimmigrant students to take more online courses than normally permitted by federal regulation to maintain their nonimmigrant status during the COVID-19 emergen...

07/06/2020

It is a recommendation from Texas Medical Association for knowing your risk during Covid-19.

06/24/2020

Dear all,
The petition asks for amendments to the current USG guidelines for Fall 2020 that will help ensure the safety of the students, staff, and faculty on campuses across the state. Please consider signing the petition and forwarding the link to other members
of the USG community.

Safer and More Equitable Higher Education in Fall

05/31/2019