[In these minutes: Meeting with Governor Pawlenty’s Office, Resolution on Program Closings, Student Evaluations]

STUDENT SENATE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE (SSCC) MINUTES

JANUARY 27, 2005

[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: Nathan Wanderman (chair), Josh Breyfogle, James Kanten, Jamie Larson, Seyon Nyanwleh, Colin Schwensohn.

ABSENT: Rubens Feroz, Taqee Khaled, Cati Popp.

1. MEETING WITH GOVERNOR PAWLENTY’S OFFICE

Nathan Wanderman said that a meeting has been scheduled at 10 am tomorrow with a member of the Governor’s staff, as he was not available. Since the Governor’s budget proposal has already been released, the meeting will not entirely focus on finances. Nathan Wanderman will also raise the issue of student release questions and the Minnesota Data Privacy Act, secrecy in presidential searches, and funding for increased enrollment. He asked other members to attend this meeting; Jamie Larson and Colin Schwensohn volunteered.

He reminded members of the University’s Legislative Briefing tonight and encouraged all members to attend.

2. APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION ON PROGRAM CLOSINGS

James Larson presented a resolution on program closings, noting that GAPSA has recently approved it, and it would be presented to COGS shortly for approval. After SSCC, she would like backing from the Student Senate and the University Senate.

With no discussion the resolution was approved and placed on the March Student Senate agenda.

3. UPDATE ON STUDENT EVALUATION ISSUE

Nathan Wanderman said that he has a meeting tomorrow with Mary Koskan to discuss changes to the one-stop site stemming from the resolution approved by the Student Senate in December.

He then noted that the Educational Policy and Faculty Affairs Committee sent a letter to the Provost regarding the revised student evaluations. It does not appear that there was any student input before the letter was sent and it was not mentioned at the committee chairs’ meeting earlier this week.

He disagrees with one statement in the letter that course evaluations should focus on the course and not the instructor. It is the instructor who can make a course great or sub-par, and this should be reflected in the questions. He therefore is composing a new set of student release questions.

Members proposed having a meeting with the Provost to discuss this letter and also writing a response to the two committees.

4. INTRA-UNIVERSITY STUDENT LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Nathan Wanderman said that someone is needed to help plan this conference since there is not a vice chair in place at this time. He asked SSCC members to volunteer to help.

5.. OTHER BUSINESS

With no further business, Nathan Wanderman thanked all members for attending and adjourned the meeting.

Becky Hippert
University Senate