[In these minutes: vice chair election, updates, discussion of attendance issues and policy, discussion of December 4 action items on a tuition cap and a faculty textbook pledge, amendment to the Student Senate Nominating Committee membership, election of TC undergrad to SCC]

 

STUDENT SENATE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE (SSCC) MINUTES

 

OCTOBER 23, 2008

 

[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: Ryan Kennedy (chair), Jeffrey Anderson, Katie Best, Missy Gettel, Mariam Maiga, Kris Schwebler, Alicia Smith, Jeffrey Wencl.

 

ABSENT: Jason Einertson.

 

GUESTS: Megan Hulst, Marshall Johnson.

 

1. ELECTION OF 2008-09 STUDENT SENATE/SSCC VICE CHAIR

 

Marshall Johnson was elected vice chair.

 

2. STUDENT ASSOCIATION/ASSEMBLY UPDATES

 

Mariam Maiga stated that convocation was held October 22 and groundbreaking for a new LEED-certified residence hall took place on October 15.

 

Katie Best reported that the Regents meeting took place in Duluth last week and provided an opportunity for the UMDSA executives to meet with the Regents and the President.

 

Jeffrey Wencl stated that there is nothing new to report since MCSA forum meetings now take place every other Monday instead of every week, and the campus just had a fall break.

 

Alicia Smith and Missy Gettel reported that MSA's Legislative Affairs is sponsoring a get out the vote event involving a shuttle to take students to the polls, a dorm storm, and a legislative certification program to train students to lobby at the capital.  They will then focus on increasing attendance at Support the U Day at the capital.  The Campus Relations Committee is arranging for a tailgating party in the Superblock during the next away football game, a free tax service for students, and a shuttle from St. Paul to Minneapolis for Homecoming.

 

Jeffrey Anderson said that GAPSA had a family bowling night a few weeks ago, is hosting an election forum on campus, and is holding an event election night.  The national association for graduate and professional students will be holding its annual conference at the University next week Wednesday through Sunday.

 

3. UPDATE ON STUDENTS APPLYING FOR SENATE SEATS

 

Becky Hippert reported that over 60 applications were received for seven Student Senate seats; of which six individuals have accepted the appointment.  An email will be sent next week to schools to fill the remaining 12 open seats prior to the December 4 Student Senate meeting.

 

4. DISCUSSION OF STUDENT SENATE ATTENDANCE/PARTICIPATION

 

Ryan Kennedy said that a topic brought up at the October 2 Student Senate meeting was attendance by senators at student association and assembly meetings.  Since senators are members of all associations except for GAPSA, their non-attendance at associations meetings hinders the effectiveness of these other organizations.

 

Members from Crookston, Duluth, and Morris stated that since their senators are elected by their association, the association has the right to remove senators for non-attendance.

 

Ryan Kennedy then said that this appears to be an issue for Twin Cities undergraduate senators.  A discussion should be held with MSA to determine if a Bylaw amendment can be created to provide senator removal authority to MSA.  This could then be added to the December 4 Student Senate agenda.

 

5. DISCUSSION OF TUITION AND TEXTBOOK COSTS

 

Ryan Kennedy introduced a resolution on a tuition cap and a faculty pledge on textbook costs.

 

Q: Why was six percent chosen for the tuition cap?

 

A: The University is already proposing 4.5 percent, so this would provide some leeway if the University's full request is not received.

 

Q: Have the coordinate campuses done anything to control textbook costs?

 

A: Duluth has talked about textbooks for 2-3 years to determine how books are brought into campus and determined for classes.  UMDSA has talked with faculty about something similar to a pledge, but without using those words since faculty are unionized.  Faculty are trying to use textbooks for two years and letting the bookstores know to buy them back.  UMDSA is trying to get the bookstore to provide fifty percent of the purchase price back to the students each time a book is reused.

 

Crookston has not made any changes.  Morris has worked to make the booklists available sooner so students can look for books from on-line sources.  It is harder for the campus bookstore to buyback some books since classes might only be offered once every three years instead of once at year at the Twin Cities.

 

Members made the following comments:

 

Members then agreed that these items should return at the November 20 SSCC meeting for placement on the December 4 agenda.

 

6. APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO THE MEMBERSHIP FOR THE STUDENT SENATE NOMINATING SUBCOMMITTEE

 

Ryan Kennedy said that when the Student Senate Nominating Subcommittee met for the first time this year, it realized that two of the five positions on the subcommittee could be filled by coordinate campus members.  Since the subcommittee only makes appointments for Twin Cities senators, it was decided that the membership should be amended to replace coordinate campus members if they hold these positions.  The amendment was then approved by the committee.

 

6. Other Business

 

Ryan Kennedy said that since he was elected Chair, there is now an open seat for a Twin Cities undergraduate on SCC.  Kris Schwebler was then elected to the position.

 

Ryan Kennedy then asked members to review the policy guideline document that will be presented at SCC today.  Since the document does not have any references to students, he will ask that approval be postponed until those changes can be made.

 

With no further business, Ryan Kennedy thanked all members for attending and adjourned the meeting.

 

Becky Hippert

University Senate