SSCC

[In these minutes: Orientation, Agenda Items for 2003-04, Ex officio members, SSCC members on subcommittees, Coordinate campus visits, October 2 Student Senate Agenda, Review of proposed Senate constitution and bylaw changes]

STUDENT SENATE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE (SSCC) MINUTES

SEPTEMBER 11, 2003

[These minutes reflect discussion and debate at a committee of the University of Minnesota Senate or Twin Cities Campus Assembly; none of the comments, conclusions, or actions reported in these minutes represent the views of, nor are they binding on, the Senate or Assembly, the Administration, or the Board of Regents.]

PRESENT: Scott LeBlanc, (chair), Sean Bell, Derek Brunsberg, Joshua Colburn, James Kanten, Levi Kary, Charles Stech, Adam VanWagner, Dan Weiske.

REGRETS: Ryan Osero.

1. ORIENTATION

Scott LeBlanc began the orientation by noting that SSCC members are seen as some of the leaders on each campus. Therefore, members need to relate to senators and the broader constituency on each campus by opening a two-way dialog for feedback and concerns.

He then turned to the structure of the University Senate, noting that there are 59 student senators and 186 faculty senators that meet 6 times per year for University Senate meetings. Any items passed by this body are forwarded to the President and Regents for implementation. Most work, though, starts with the committees.

The Senate Consultative Committee (SCC) is the steering committee for the University Senate. There are nine voting positions for students on SCC, which are filled by the eight campus representatives and the SSCC vice chair. The Student Senate Chair is an ex officio non-voting member of SCC.

Dan Weiske then gave a brief description of some of the committees. He then asked Adam VanWagner to talk about his committee.

Adam VanWagner said that the Student Affairs committee deals with broad student concerns that are mainly non-academic, such as health services and international students. Last year the committee discussed the proposed stadium and the Minnesota Private College Council proposal for financial aid funding. He said that the committee still has vacancies this year and encouraged students to apply.

Scott LeBlanc noted that each committee chair decides the agenda for their committee. He asked members to forward ideas to him, or to other committee chairs if that is where their item best fit. He then noted that SSCC approves the Student Senate agenda for each meeting.

Dan Weiske then referred members to guidelines on email usage. While some of this information might seem remedial, he felt it important to remind everyone of good practices, such as not forwarding messages to other people, keeping issues within the committee, and including all members on information being distributed.

The members then took time for introductions.

2. AGENDA ITEMS FOR 2003-04

Members generated the following list of possible agenda items:
- Instructor Evaluations
- Tuition – where are funds going, where were cuts, what percentage is funding education?
- Student lobbying structure
- Junior year/Transfer student experience
- Support service accountability
- PeopleSoft, new services and impact from Oracle
- Procedure regarding administrative decisions made during the summer
- Recruiting high quality undergraduates and retention
- Student Conduct Code, anti-riot policy, and residence hall regulations
- Student Bill of Rights
- Education about MnSCU
- Role of SSCC
- University donors and where donations are spent
- Stadium
- Alcohol policies across campuses
- Building renovations
- University event security
- Undergraduate and graduate housing
- Attacks on campus-area bars and student behavior
- Chancellor selection at Crookston
- Effect of 2 am bar close on campus life
- Student service fees audit

Scott LeBlanc stated that the compiled list would be sent to all members, asking that everyone pick their top five items.

3. EX OFFICIO MEMBERS ON SSCC

Scott LeBlanc noted that there are ex officio seats on SSCC for one student member each from Student Affairs, Finance and Planning, and Educational Policy. The list of possible candidates was distributed. Members asked that possible candidates be emailed to inquire if they would be interesting in serving and why.

Another member then made a motion to hold ex officio appointments for Finance and Planning and Educational Policy, but to appoint Adam VanWagner to the ex officio Student Affairs position as he chairs the committee. With no objection, the motion was approved.

4. STUDENT MEMBER TO THE BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE AND BUSINESS & RULES COMMITTEE

Derek Brunsberg was selected to represent SSCC on the Budget Subcommittee and Charles Stech was selected for service on the Business & Rules Committee.

5. DISCUSSION OF COORDINATE CAMPUS VISITS

Derek Brunsberg stated that MCSA meets every Monday at 6 pm. Charles Stech noted that UMDSA meets every Monday also, but at 5 pm. James Kanten said that CSA meets every other Wednesday, starting September 15, at 6:30 pm. Becky Hippert will put together a list of possible travel dates and circulate it to the members for their availability.

6. APPROVAL OF THE OCTOBER 2 STUDENT SENATE AGENDA

With no objection the agenda was approved as presented.

7. REVIEW OF PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE SENATE CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS

Scott LeBlanc noted that the biggest changes take place in the number of Student Senate seats and student seats on SCC. There has been a collaborative tone between all groups so far. The final plan will need to be acceptable to the University Senate for approval. He asked members for their comments.

Members made the following remarks: