A. Contract Administration
Special conferences for important matters of mutual interest may be arranged between the Grievance Committee Chairperson and the designee (as listed in Article XVI) of the provost. Such conferences will not be used to circumvent the grievance procedure.  

Arrangement for such special conferences shall be made in advance by the submission of a written agenda setting forth the nature of the matters to be discussed. The meeting shall be scheduled within fourteen (14) calendar days of the submission of a written agenda unless the parties mutually agree to delay the meeting. Attendance at such meetings shall be limited to five (5) representatives of each party.  

It is understood that any matter discussed or any action taken pursuant to such conferences under this section shall in no way establish any obligation to negotiate over any item discussed or that is the subject of any action taken under this section.  Further, no such matter or action shall alter any of the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement, or the rights of either the University or the Union under the terms of the Agreement unless reduced to writing and signed by both parties.

B. Equity and Access Conferences
The University and the GEO recognize that effective communication during the life of the Agreement on matters of interest and concern to graduate students as Employees outside of negotiations is an important part of their ongoing relationship. Therefore, the University and the GEO agree to meet at the request of either party to discuss the following areas of mutual interest:  

• Institutional Equity
• International Students
• Health Care Benefits
• Childcare

The parties shall mutually agree to the agendas and attendees for such meetings in advance.

Upon notification by the GEO, and with the concurrence of the University, an Equity and Access conference will be open to a specified number of members of the Union. The parties may mutually agree to open the conferences to any other people. The University will appoint one GSSA at a fraction level between .25 and .50 for one or more terms to complete a specific project or assignment.  The GSSA will be appointed and employed by the Office of Academic Human Resources. The GEO will collaborate in writing the job description of the GSSA, will be notified when this positions is posted, and will, upon its request, participate directly in the selection process.  

Both the University and the GEO understand and agree that nothing in this section, including any work product that results from these provisions, establishes any obligation to negotiate, nor will it in any way change or alter any of the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement, or the rights of either the University or the Union under the terms of the Agreement unless reduced to writing and signed by both parties.