[In these minutes: 1. Student Orientation, 2. Coordinate Campus Visits, 3. Bylaw Amendment for the AHC Student Consultative Committee, 4. 1999-00 Agenda Items]

STUDENT SENATE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE (SSCC) MINUTES

September 16, 1999

[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: Jason Reed (chair), Sabeen Altaf, YeeLeng Hang, Jed Ipsen, Reid LeBeau, Chaz Rice, Tiffany Stedman, Aaron Street, Kerstin Trimble, Mark Uszenski.

1. INTRODUCTIONS

Jason Reed convened the meeting and committee members took turns introducing themselves.

2. CHAIR'S REPORT

Jason Reed reported that this summer he met with the NCAA recertification team to discuss the University's self-study and its relation to students. No questions were asked in regards to the charges of academic misconduct. His other item was to start working on the student orientation.

3. STUDENT SENATE CHAIR'S REPORT

Reid LeBeau said that he already has had a few items to work on. The first was an issue regarding correspondence students who are required to attend classes on the Twin Cities campus in the summer, but who are not permitted access to student services. The second item involves the Student Academic Integrity Committee being chaired by Regents' Professor Tom Clayton. He has asked for Student Senate help in planning a forum on academic fraud to be held on the Twin Cities campus. Reid said that he would bring more details to the committee once they were decided.

4. STUDENT ORIENTATION

Jason Reed pointed to the orientation agenda that was distributed and asked if committee members had any changes or suggestions. Hearing none, he continued that the orientation was scheduled for Thursday, October 7 from 11 - 1, with the SSCC meeting following. The committee then approved the agenda.

Becky Hippert then asked what other groups, besides those listed, should be invited.

Members asked that the first year council president at Morris and the Council of College Presidents also be included.

In conclusion, Becky Hippert said that SSCC members would have their travel paid for because of the SSCC meeting the same day. She would also ask the other coordinate campus members if they would be connecting by telephone or traveling to the orientation.

5. COORDINATE CAMPUS VISITS

Jason Reed explained that two years ago, SSCC traveled to each of the coordinate campuses. Last spring, the coordinate campus members were invited to the Twin Cities. This year, it is time for SSCC to travel again. Therefore, he asked if the coordinate campus members knew when their assemblies would be meeting, since SSCC attends those meetings when traveling.

Mark Uszenski responded that Duluth's meetings are scheduled for Wednesdays, but this might be changing. He would know by next Wednesday, and then could e-mail that information to Becky.

Kerstin Trimble replied that Crookston meets every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

Chaz Rice stated that Morris meets at 6 p.m. on October 4 and 18, November 1 and 15, and December 6. These are all Mondays.

Since Crookston is the farthest trip, this was scheduled first for October 12 - 13. The car will leave at noon on Tuesday, October 12 and return by 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 13. Any member who cannot go along should contact Becky so that the right number of rooms are reserved.

The committee then turned to the Morris trip. Because of many members with Monday night classes, Jason Reed asked if Morris could change the night of one of its meetings to a Tuesday. Reid LeBeau said that he would check and report back to Becky.

6. BYLAW AMENDMENT FOR THE AHC STUDENT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE

Jason Reed said that the change to the Assembly Bylaws was to remove the Arts, Sciences and Engineering and Professional Studies Provostal Consultative Committees since they have never functioned, while retaining the Academic Health Center Student Consultative Committee (AHC SCC) since it is a key committee in the current structure. He stated that the change was distributed for information at this meeting. It will next be brought to the AHC SCC for their comments before returning to the SSCC, Student Senate, and University Senate for approval.

7. 1999-00 AGENDA ITEMS

Jason Reed asked the committee members if they had any agenda items for this year.

Reid LeBeau responded that safety is an issue that Morris would like to see discussed. Recently, there have been two sexual assaults on campus, with one suspect being caught. Lighting is a key issue, but the administration states that there are a lack of funds for additional lighting and call boxes on campus.

The committee discussed using campus security escorts and reviewing the University security policy to help this situation. The Student Affairs Committee might also be involved.

Reid again mentioned the forum on academic fraud and asked the Twin Cities members for their help in planning efforts.

Sabeen Altaf, from GAPSA, reported that GAPSA's Open House will be held on Wednesday, October 6 at 6 p.m. in the Mississippi Room of Coffman Union. SSCC members are invited. She also said that GAPSA has questions in regards to the late registration fees being charged and problems with PeopleSoft.

Jason Reed that the late registration fee policy had come to his attention over the summer, when it was first implemented and he worked with other students to have it suspended for Fall Semester because students were not warned in advance.

Becky Hippert stated that the Student Affairs Committee has discussed fees with the Registrar the day before and she had stated that the reason for the policy was to reduce the 88,000 drop/adds that occur during the first two weeks of classes. The fee will be imposed on students who change recitation sections or drop class seats for friends. It will not be imposed on students forced to change registration because of cancelled or day/time changes to classes.

Jason Reed then reported that he selected the undergraduate student appointed to the Student Academic Integrity Committee, Michael Sweeney. Other students appointed include Reid LeBeau and Barbara Van Drasek.

A last item was student wages. Jason stated that when he started at the University, starting wage was $6.57/hour. This amount is now $6.50/hour. He would like to know why it has decreased when everything else has risen in price.

Work-study eligibility will also need to be considered since there are many jobs at Morris that cannot be filled because they are for work-study students. It might be useful to talk to someone from Financial Aid.

8. OTHER BUSINESS

Jason Reed reported that several things had happened in the last few weeks to limit student involvement in the Senate process. First, the Senate meeting was switched from October 21 to September 30. This is too early in the year to allow any student business to happen. Now, students have to wait until December 2 to hold their first meeting.

Second was the scheduling of the Business and Rules Committee, which reviews the Senate/Assembly dockets and make changes. The meeting was originally set for Wednesday, September 15 from 3:15 - 4:15, which would have allowed himself to attend, but no other SSCC members. Then, on Tuesday, it was switched to 1:15 - 2:15 because a faculty member had a class conflict. This new time falls on two class periods for the Twin Cities campus and did not permit any student to attend the meeting.

Jason said that he then wrote a letter to the Business and Rules Committee to explain the importance of student input and that this committee should meet directly before or after SCC meetings in the future. He would pass along any comments that he received back.

The committee then closed its meeting to discuss the Reps to Regents process.

Rebecca Hippert
University Senate