The first meeting of the Student Senate for 2005-06 was convened in 165 Peik Hall, Minneapolis campus, on Thursday, September 29, 2005, at 11:32 a.m. Coordinate campuses were linked by ITV. Checking or signing the roll as present were 26 voting student members. Chair Josh Breyfogle presided.

Josh Breyfogle, Student Senate/Student Senate Consultative Committee (SSCC) Chair, said that the committee met last week and made a list of possible items for this year. They include student evaluations of teaching, housing policies, student involvement on campus and in strategic positioning, and getting more student senators to attend University Senate meetings.

Crookston – DeAnn Roers said that campus has a new chancellor, Charles Casey, and CSA is trying to get him connected with students, through events such as a meet and greet. CSA elected its remaining campus senators and campus had homecoming this last weekend.

Duluth – Timothy Tangen noted that homecoming is next weekend. UMDSA is working on a student taxi program, which would offer students a discounted fare when buses are not running.

Morris – Nathan Hilfiker stated that campus is starting the process for a chancellor search since the current chancellor, Samuel Schuman, will be retiring at the end of the year. The campus is also working with the city on a hurricane benefit program in October. MCSA is also involved in strategic planning and co-hosted a student organizational leaders dinner. MCSA is also trying to get President Bruininks to deliver his State of the University Address from Morris this year.

GAPSA – Tony Kouba noted that GAPSA approved a resolution on the stadium and is looking at housing for married and graduate students. There was a great turnout for the President’s Reception.

MSA – Rick Orr said that MSA will elect the remaining two SSCC members in the next few weeks. The main focus has been on strategic planning; MSA and GAPSA will be meeting with the President to discuss student involvement on this campus. MSA is also re-addressing stadium support.

Agenda Items 4. and 5. are considered to be non-controversial or “housekeeping” in nature and are offered as a “Consent Agenda” to be taken up as a single item with one vote. Any item will be taken up separately at the request of a senator. (A simple majority is required for approval.)

MOTION:

To approve the Student Senate minutes, which are available on the Web at the following URLs. A simple majority is required for approval.

http://www1.umn.edu/usenate/ssen/050407stu.html
http://www1.umn.edu/usenate/ssen/050505stu.html

Student Senate committee memberships for 2005-06:

STUDENT AFFAIRS - Students: Matt Painschab (chair), Jenn Funke, Maria McRae, 6 to be named. Faculty/PA: Iraj Bashiri, Jean-Marie Del-Santo, Carolyn Nayematsu, Kathleen Roufs, Janet Schottel, 1 to be named. Alumni: I to be named. Civil Service: 1 to be named. Ex Officio: Kendre Turonie, Amelious Whyte.

FOR INFORMATION:

ACADEMIC HEALTH CENTER STUDENT CONSULTATIVE - Students: To be named (chair), Geoff Archibald, Larissa Denker, Autumn Erwin, Laura Hubbard, Alexis Joye, Jeremy Olsen, Shawn Peterka, Katherine Peterson, Jeff Pinnow, Alex Rydell, Joseph Steingraeber, 5 to be named. Ex Officio: Barbara Brandt.

STUDENT COMMITTEE ON COMMITTEES - Students: To be named (chair), Joshua Beiningen, Garret Groves, Rick Orr, Timothy Tangen, 3 to be named.

DISCUSSION:

With no discussion, a vote was taken and the motion was approved.

MOTION:

To amend Article VI, Section 1 of the Student Senate Rules as follows (language to be added is underlined; language to be deleted is struck-out). As an amendment to the Student Senate Rules, the motion requires a simple majority vote.

ARTICLE VI. RULES FOR COMMITTEES OF THE STUDENT SENATE (Changes to this article are subject to vote only by the Student Senate)

1. Ex Officio Members of Student Senate Committees

Ex officio representation is accorded because of, or by virtue of, a specified office. An ex officio member has rights of full participation except voting privileges unless otherwise indicated. Ex officio administrative members shall be appointed from each of the offices as specified in the following provisions and shall have the authority to designate someone to attend meetings in their place. Committee chairs or members who serve ex officio on other committees may designate another representative from their committees to attend in their place.

- Student Affairs--Office of Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost (two representatives, including one from the Office of Student Affairs and the Coordinator for Student and Community Relations); Office of the Vice President for University Relations

...

COMMENT:

This amendment reflects a department realignment.

DISCUSSION:

With no discussion, a vote was taken and the motion was approved.

Josh Breyfogle noted that this was an opportunity for each campus to discuss issues they would like the Student Senate to address this year. The following suggestions were made:

Crookston – Student involvement in strategic planning since there is none at this time.

Duluth – Housing options for married students and students with children; if not possible on-campus, then develop options off-campus.

Morris – Coordinate campus recognition when policies and decisions are made.

GAPSA – Housing for non-traditional students, the integration of Duluth graduate students into the decision-making process, and student representatives on all the strategic planning task forces.

MSA – Student evaluation question revision and possibly making them mandatory without faculty release, improving the process for internal transfer students, and making sure that disability services’ concerns are remembered throughout the strategic planning process.

Blake Hogan was elected as a 2005-06 Twin Cities undergraduate Committee on Committees member.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:50 a.m.