The fifth meeting of the Student Senate for 2006-07 was convened in Studio C, Rarig Center, on Thursday, May 3, 2007, at 11:33 a.m. Coordinate campuses were linked by ITV. Checking or signing the roll as present were 20 student members. Chair Daniel Moore presided.

As they progress toward their degree, University of Minnesota undergraduates will develop and demonstrate the following characteristics:

COMMENT:

The Senate Committee on Educational Policy (SCEP) has discussed these outcomes at several meetings over the last year and recommends to the University Senate that it adopt them as policy for the Twin Cities campus.

The Senate Consultative Committee reviewed the outcomes as well and concurs in the recommendation from SCEP.

DISCUSSION:

Jerry Rinehart, Vice Provost for Student Affairs, joined the meeting to discuss the Student Development Outcomes (SDOs) being proposed by his office and for action at this afternoon's University Senate meeting. This is a Twin Cities items, but the SDOs have been shared with the vice chancellors on the coordinate campuses.

He said that the SDOs are meant to compliment the Student Learning Outcomes, and deal with the personal characteristics that students, employers, and the University value. The terms come from a variety of sources and are meant to cover the different areas of human development.

Through both outcomes, the University is trying to capture the undergraduate experience on the curricular and extra-curricular sides. This is a move for the University to designate for itself what are its standards for accountability. The SDOs will be approved as guiding principles for planning and reflecting on experiences outside the classroom and provide common language for students and advisors to use when talking about experiences.

A common question from students is if the SDOs will be required. The response is no. Students can see that they have fulfilled these principles through self-reflection prior to job interviews or graduate school. It provides language that students can use when talking to outside sources about experiential opportunities.

There was no report.

The following written report was provided by Peg Wolff, Chair, Civil Service Committee (CSC):

--The Search committee has forwarded their recommendations for new Civil Service Committee members to President Bruininks. He will make his appointments and inform new members within the next couple of weeks.

--Civil Service Senate elections are currently underway.

--CSC is following, and attending meetings, regarding the Minnesota State Retirement System of which civil service staff at the university are a part.

--Work is in progress on shoring up language to clarify the job evaluation appeals process for civil service staff.

--CSC continues to work on a variety of staff advocacy issues.

--CSC is working with the Office of Human Resources to finalize changes to the Civil Service Rules book so that the changes can be presented to the Regents for final approval.

Daniel Moore, Student Senate/Student Senate Consultative Committee (SSCC) Chair, said that the Student Advisory Committee (SAC) for the Higher Education Services Office met at 10:30 this morning, but due to this meeting, he was not able to attend. The agenda focused on the final language for the textbook legislation, which did not set any requirements for the University. That group was satisfied with the language.

A second topic for that group is a coalition to focus on increased priority funding for pre-K to 16 education. They were asking institutions to sign on as a member of the this coalition. Daniel Moore was not sure what this would mean in terms of representation, responsibility, or goals, but thought that it was a group to lobby the Governor and legislators. Daniel Moore was asked to join on behalf of the Student Senate, but he did not feel prepared to make that decision based on the little information that he received. The coalition has also contacted Martin Sampson, the Faculty Legislative Liaison, and Donna Peterson, from Government Relations, about joining as well. He will be forwarding this information to the Student Legislative Coalition (SLC) and let them make the decision about joining.

In regards to other Senate business, he is waiting for a response from the Educational Policy Committee on the TA preparation resolution; the Project Check-It Resolution was pulled from the University Senate agenda to allow a broader discussion before approval; and SSCC has a final meeting next week at which time the vice chair position will be elected.

In closing he thanked everyone for participating this year and wished senators good luck next year.

Crookston – no report.

Duluth – Jeni Kiewatt said that UMDSA elections were completed two weeks ago and it is working on its Top 10 items for next year.

Morris – Adam Yust stated that MCSA approved bylaw revisions and elected a new president and three vice presidents. The campus assembly met yesterday and the program review meeting is tonight.

GAPSA – Bree Richards said that Kristen Denzer was elected the new GAPSA president in the first all-campus election. Executive board members were also elected. There is a Twins baseball event next week for graduate students. Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week was April 16-22 and there were many successful events. Six GAPSA members also traveled to Washington D.C. to meet with legislators who deal with higher education policy. Lastly, Duluth Medical School and Pharmacy have renewed their contracts with GAPSA in perpetuity.

MSA – Mark Lewandowski said that MSA held their 'Lend a Hand, Hear the Band' concert last month and it was successful. The new executive positions were elected and start their service July 1.

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/070405stu.html

DISCUSSION:

Approval of the minutes was withdrawn.

MOTION:

To amend Article VI, Section 2 of the Student Senate Rules as follows (language to be added is underlined). As an amendment to the Student Senate Rules, the motion requires a simple majority for approval.

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

...

2. Terms of Membership, Chairing of Committees, and Removal of Members for Absences

...

c. Terms of committee service begin July 1 and terminate June 30. No non-student member is eligible to serve more than two consecutive full three-year terms on any one committee, and shall be eligible for reappointment only after a one-year interval of nonmembership on that committee. No student member is eligible to serve more than two consecutive two-year terms on any one committee. No committee member is eligible to serve on more than two committees of the University Senate, the Faculty Senate, or the Student Senate at a time. These rotation procedures and limitations do not apply to ex officio representatives.

d. Notwithstanding Rule 2(c), the Student Committee on Committees shall have authority to waive the term limit for faculty, academic professionals, civil service staff, and students from the coordinate campuses.

...

COMMENT:

The Faculty Committee on Committees received a request to exempt Morris faculty from committee term limits in cases where the faculty member currently serving wishes to continue, but has served the maximum of six years and there are no other faculty who wish to fill this vacancy. The Committee proposes this amendment to allow the Committee to waive term limits for all coordinate campus committee members on an individual basis.

DISCUSSION:

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

MOTION:

The Student Senate Stipend Review Committee has reviewed the performance of the following stipend-receiving students: Maria McRae, Student Affairs Committee Chair; Daniel Moore, SSCC/Student Senate Chair; and, Bree Richards, SSCC/Student Senate Vice Chair. The recommendation from the committee is that:

COMMENT:

The Review Committee felt that all three students fulfilled the duties associated with their positions and therefore should receive the full spring semester portion of their respective stipends.

DISCUSSION:

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

Quorum was not present for this election. It will be held at the May 10 SSCC meeting.

Quorum was not present for this election. It will be held at the May 10 SSCC meeting.

Kristen Denzer, a student member of the lightrail advisory committee, said that this topic is on the agenda because of issues raised with the location of the West Bank station – either on campus by Blegen Hall or off-campus by Cedar Avenue. There are students that support both sides, so she would like input from this group so that action can be taken in early fall semester before a final decision is made.

She then explained the arguments for both sides. Those who want the station off-campus feel that it will help the business development on Cedar Avenue by Washington Avenue. Those who want it on campus feel that Cedar Avenue is too far from campus, there are safety concerns with walking to campus from the station, and 25 percent of the projected ridership on this line will be students.

A senator requested that the station be on campus due to the large student ridership. She also noted that people who want to visit Cedar Avenue businesses will not be deterred by the station placement.

A senator noted that an on-campus station will be safer for student commuters, but might also bring more crime activity to the West Bank of campus.

Q: For which station are campus police advocating?

A: They have not taken a position.

Q: What are the actual locations of the stations?

A: These will not be determined until preliminary engineering is completed.

Q: Blegen is a major transfer point for buses. Is the same true of the Cedar Avenue location?

A: No.

Q: Are their other students on the advisory committee?

A: Yes, there are three student seats out of the 40 members, but there are no students on the final decision-making body.

Bree Richards noted that the issue of publishing attendance for Senate meetings was discussed at the April Senate Consultative Committee meeting and a decision was made to include attendance information, in a format to be determined, on the web along with the minutes.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:15 p.m.