[In these minutes: Campus updates, student evaluation update, spring
semester agenda items]
STUDENT SENATE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE (SSCC)
MINUTES
DECEMBER 15, 2005
[These minutes reflect
discussion and debate at a committee of the University of Minnesota Senate; none
of the comments, conclusions, or actions reported in these minutes represent the
views of, nor are they binding on, the Senate the Administration, or the Board
of Regents.]
PRESENT: Josh Breyfogle (chair), Nicolas Allyn, Blake
Hogan, William Kusch, Rick Orr, Timothy Tangen, Dion Turgeon, Jared
Warren.
ABSENT: Brian Edstrom, Anthony Kouba.
1.
CHAIR’S REPORT
Josh Breyfogle reported that he is still working
on the student housing issue.
2. CAMPUS UPDATES
Dion
Turgeon reported that Crookston is enjoying the new student center and is
working on plans for a new dormitory on campus. CSA is planning a student
government retreat for spring semester. He noted that it has been hard for CSA
officers to attend Senate meetings this semester, but that alternates have been
used when possible.
Jared Warren said that Morris had a Toys for Tots
drive that raised over $600. MCSA is prepping for elections in February and
seeking applications for hired positions. One change will be a new SSCC
representative for spring semester since he is graduating. MCSA is also working
on technology fee allocations and creating a workshop to teach units how to
prepare technology request proposals.
Rick Orr noted that MSA passed a
resolution to look into Coca-Cola business practices in India, approved
all-campus election rules, and tabled a vote on using cage-free eggs on
campus.
Timothy Tangen noted that the UMDSA executive board met this
morning with Chancellor Martin to discuss student issues. She asked UMDSA to
take a stance on the overuse of alcohol on campus, which is ironic since the
assembly just endorsed a pub crawl next semester. Library hours on campus have
been extended during finals, until 2 am, with a light snack and beverage served
at midnight.
3. UPDATE ON STUDENT EVALUATION QUESTIONS
Rick
Orr reported that he was contacted by Professor McCormick, Educational Policy
Committee Chair, to see if he knew what was happening. Rick Orr said that he
would contact Professor Rodriguez about the pilot so that the questions are
usable for spring semester.
Members then asked if the current questions
could be forwarded to each of the coordinate campuses.
4. DISCUSSION
OF SPRING SEMESTER AGENDA ITEMS
Members discussed the list of
possible agenda items generated by the Student Senate at its last meeting and
made the following comments:
- Civic engagement should be looked at
- Student senators should be asked to help with items
- Lists needs to be ordered or prioritized
- University should consider replacing traffic lights with light-emitting
diodes to save funds [Street lights are city property and not paid for by the
University]
- SLC should be invited to SSCC meetings and SSCC members should go to SLC
meetings
- More communication is needed between student governments
- SLC should be brought back to the Senate-level instead of being left to
campus governments
- Student Senate could create its own lobbying group, but this would compete
with SLC
- Campus SLCs working separate is a problem since the organization should
represent the entire student body
- Better connection is needed with the Regents
- Better partnership is needed with Faculty Senate and Faculty Consultative
Committee (FCC)
- SSCC members should consider forming a relationship with individual FCC
members, as was done between the two chairs last year
- Items could be referred to other committees
Members then
decided to group the list of topics into three categories:
Student
Affairs
- Partnership with Student Legislative Coalition
- Involvement in steering capital planning ideas
- Use of collapsible goal posts that conform with NCAA safety standards
- Discussion of Student Conduct Code being applied to off-campus
incidents
- Change in excused absence policy from class to attend funerals
- Implementation of new student evaluation questions
- Improve process for internal student transfers
- Look into civic engagement and take a
position
Housing
- Safety for commuter students, including help with landlords and housing that
is up to code
- Housing for international students
- University-wide housing policy to deal with international students and
non-traditional students
Internal
- Increased participation in administrative searches
- Communication with administrators
- Watching business being brought to the Faculty Senate
- More communication with the Council of Academic Professionals and
Administrators and the Civil Service Committee
- Work with the student representatives on the Senate committees on better
communication with them
- Discuss restructuring the University Senate to have more committee issues
dealt with in that body
It was decided that SSCC would handle
the list of internal items, and that senators would be asked to sign up for one
of the other two groups and then pick a topic that they would like to work on.
A special Student Senate meeting would be added in February to get groups
working on items for final presentation at the later spring semester meetings,
with updates on researchat the March meeting. An email would be sent to
senators announcing the special meeting and asking them to sign up for one of
the two groups.
5. OTHER BUSINESS
Committee members
discussed the removal of a committee member for non-attendance and voted in
favor of this removal.
With no further business, Josh Breyfogle thanked
all members for attending and adjourned the meeting.
Becky
Hippert
University Senate