2008-09
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
OCTOBER
2, 2008
STUDENT
SENATE MINUTES: No. 1
The first meeting of the Student Senate for 2008-09 was convened in Studio C, Rarig Center, Minneapolis campus, on Thursday, October 2, 2008, at 11:33 a.m. Coordinate campuses were linked by telephone. Checking or signing the roll as present were 19 student members. Vice Chair Kris Schwebler presided.
1. STUDENT SENATE
CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE
Approval of March 6,
2008 Minutes
Information for the
Student Senate
The Student Senate Consultative Committee,
in its charge, has the authority Ò...to act on behalf of the Student Senate
when a decision is required prior to the next scheduled meeting of the Student
Senate and when a decision is required when it would not be possible to convene
a special meeting of the Student Senate in a timely fashion; such actions will
be reported to the Student Senate at its next meeting and the Student Senate
may then overrule the Student Senate Consultative Committee.Ó
Pursuant to that grant of authority, the
Student Senate Consultative Committee approved the March 6, 2008, Student
Senate minutes on May 8, 2008.
2. STUDENT SENATE
CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE
Approval of Student
Senate Stipends
Information for the
Student Senate
The Student Senate Consultative Committee,
in its charge, has the authority Ò...to act on behalf of the Student Senate
when a decision is required prior to the next scheduled meeting of the Student
Senate and when a decision is required when it would not be possible to convene
a special meeting of the Student Senate in a timely fashion; such actions will
be reported to the Student Senate at its next meeting and the Student Senate
may then overrule the Student Senate Consultative Committee.Ó
Pursuant to that grant of authority, the
Student Senate Consultative Committee approved the spring semester allocations
of stipends for the Student Senate/Student Senate Consultative Committee Chair
($500) and the Student Senate/Student Senate Consultative Committee Vice Chair
($250) on May 8, 2008.
3. STUDENT SENATE
CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE
Approval of Bylaw
Amendment
Information for the
Student Senate
The Student Senate Consultative Committee,
in its charge, has the authority Ò...to act on behalf of the Student Senate
when a decision is required prior to the next scheduled meeting of the Student
Senate and when a decision is required when it would not be possible to convene
a special meeting of the Student Senate in a timely fashion; such actions will
be reported to the Student Senate at its next meeting and the Student Senate
may then overrule the Student Senate Consultative Committee.Ó
Pursuant to that grant of authority, the
Student Senate Consultative Committee approved the following bylaw amendment on
May 8, 2008 (language added is underlined; language deleted is struck-out).
ARTICLE V. STUDENT SENATE MEMBERSHIP, ELECTIONS, AND OFFICERS (Changes
to this article are subject to vote only by the Student Senate)
1. Membership
For the purpose of electing representatives and alternate representatives,
if any, to the Student Senate, qualified students shall vote within each of the
following units of the University:
TWIN CITIES: Biological Sciences; Continuing Education; Dentistry;
Design; Education and Human Development; Food, Agricultural, and Natural
Resource Sciences; Graduate School; Law; Liberal Arts; Management; Medical
School; Nursing; Pharmacy; Public Health; Technology; Veterinary Medicine
CROOKSTON
DULUTH: Business and Economics; Education and Human Service
Professions; Fine Arts; Liberal Arts; Science and Engineering;
MORRIS
The elected members of the Student Senate shall be members of the
University Senate.
2. Election of Members
a. Eligibility
a. Only students carrying at least two-thirds the number of credits
required for full-time student status as defined by the Office of the Registrar
for their college of enrollment shall be eligible to vote. Each institute, college, or school
shall establish its own procedures to determine qualification of those students
eligible to vote.
b. To be eligible for election to the Student Senate, a student must
have earned the required number of credits in residence at the University, as
described below:
(1) Graduate School students carrying one credit ABD (all but
dissertation) at the time of voting or who are certified as the equivalent of
full-time students by the Graduate School shall be eligible for election.
(2) All other students shall be eligible for election if they have
earned within the past semester and are currently carrying at least two-thirds
the number of credits required for full-time student status as defined by the
Office of the Registrar for their college of enrollment.
c. To continue to serve in the Student Senate, a student
representative must continue to meet the requirements for eligibility
identified under "b" hereof.
b. Elections
1. Coordinate Campuses
a. Between February 1 and April 30 of each year, each unit Crookston,
Duluth, and Morris as listed in Section 1 of this Article shall conduct an
election for Student Senate members and alternate members, if any. Each unit
shall establish its own procedures, in accordance with the constitution, for
conducting its elections. The
results of the elections shall be mailed to the Clerk of the Senate not later
than May 5.
b. Eligible students elect from their ranks 50 Student Senate members,
who shall be distributed among the colleges and campuses in proportion to the
number of students in those units.
Each college shall be guaranteed one student senator. Morris and Crookston will be guaranteed
a minimum of two student senators.
c. The elected representatives of the students to the Student Senate
shall be chosen by secret ballot by the student constituency enrolled in the
institutes, colleges, or schools as specified in the Bylaws. Only full-time students in each
institute, college, or school shall be eligible to vote. Each institute, college, or school
shall establish its own procedures to determine qualifications of those
students eligible to vote.
d. The student board of each institute, college, school, or other
representative unit shall determine if a pool of alternate senators shall be
elected or define the pool to be all eligible students in the institute,
college, or school. If the
alternates are to be elected, then the constitution of the institute, college,
school or other unit shall specify the number to be elected and their term in
office, and they shall be elected at the same time and in the same manner as
senators.
e. A senator may designate anyone from the appropriate unit pool to
serve as an alternate in the senator's absence by providing notice to the Clerk
of the Senate prior to the commencement of any meeting of the University or
Student Senate.
f. All members elected to the Student Senate shall begin service on
July 1 and shall serve for one year.
Elected members of the Student Senate shall not serve more than four
one-year terms, or any part thereof, in any six year period.
2. Twin Cities
a. Between February 1 and August 10 of each year, Twin Cities units
as listed in Section 1 of this Article shall conduct an election for Student
Senate members and alternate members, if any, for the following year. Each unit
shall establish its own procedures, in accordance with the constitution, for
conducting its elections. The
results of the elections shall be mailed to the Clerk of the Senate not later
than August 15.
b. Between February 1 and August 10 of each year, the elected
representatives of the students to the Student Senate for the following year
shall be chosen by secret ballot by the student constituency enrolled in the
institutes, colleges, or schools as specified in the Bylaws. Only full-time students in each
institute, college, or school shall be eligible to vote. Each institute, college, or school
shall establish its own procedures to determine qualifications of those
students eligible to vote.
c. Between February 1 and August 10 of each year, the student board
of each institute, college, school, or other representative unit shall determine
if for the following year a pool of alternate senators shall be elected or
define the pool to be all eligible students in the institute, college, or
school. If the alternates are to
be elected, then the constitution of the institute, college, school or other
unit shall specify the number to be elected and their term in office, and they
shall be elected at the same time and in the same manner as senators.
d. After August 15 of each year and for the current year, any open
Student Senate members and alternate members from Twin Cities units as listed
in Section 1 of this Article shall be filled by the Student Senate Consultative
Committee with approval of the Student Senate. The Student Senate Consultative Committee shall establish
its own procedures, in accordance with the constitution, for conducting
elections.
e. Eligible students elect from their ranks 50 Student Senate
members, who shall be distributed among the colleges and campuses in
proportion to the number of students in those units. Each college shall be guaranteed one student senator.
f. A senator may designate anyone from the appropriate unit pool to
serve as an alternate in the senator's absence by providing notice to the Clerk
of the Senate prior to the commencement of any meeting of the University or
Student Senate.
g. All members elected to the Student Senate shall begin service on
July 1 and shall serve for one year.
Elected members of the Student Senate shall not serve more than four
one-year terms, or any part thereof, in any six year period.
...
COMMENT:
This amendment is meant to help the Twin Cities fill Student Senate
seats that are filled through spring elections. The responsibility currently rests with college boards, but
many seats remain vacant throughout the year either because there is not a
functioning college board or the college board does not choose to fill these
seats. The amendment would allow
the Student Senate to fill vacant seats itself.
The
following procedures were approved by the SSCC April 17, 2008:
SSCC
Procedures for electing Twin Cities Student Senators
According to the Student Senate Bylaws, Article V, Section 2(b)(2),
"d. After August 15 of each year and for the current year, any open
Student Senate members and alternate members from Twin Cities units as listed
in Section 1 of this Article shall be filled by the Student Senate Consultative
Committee with approval of the Student Senate. The Student Senate Consultative Committee shall establish
its own procedures, in accordance with the constitution, for conducting
elections."
Student Senate Nominating Subcommittee
The SSCC shall establish a Student Senate Nominating Subcommittee to
review nominees/applicants for vacant seats and make recommendations to the
Student Senate for approval. The
Student Senate Nominating Subcommittee shall be composed of:
The Student Senate/SSCC Vice Chair shall serve as chair of the Student
Senate Nominating Subcommittee.
Procedures:
1.
If a Twin Cities unit has named alternate member(s), preference
will be provided to these alternates members to fill any vacant seat(s). The Senate Office will contact the
alternate members(s) to ask if he or she would like to be considered for the
Student Senate member(s). If one
alternate member agrees, this name can be forwarded to the Student Senate for
approval. If more than one member
agrees, the Student Senate Nominating Subcommittee shall make a recommendation
to the Student Senate for approval.
2.
If a Twin Cities unit has not named alternate member(s) or no alternate
member(s) are interested in serving as a Student Senate members(s), then an
email will be sent to all students in the Twin Cities unit of the vacant seat
asking interested students to apply for service.
3.
The Student Senate Nominating Subcommittee will review the
applications and make recommendations to the Student Senate for their approval.
4.
If future vacancies arise in the same Twin Cities units, the
Student Senate Nominating Subcommittee can choose to either send another
request for applicants, or draw from the pool that was already solicited.
RONALD
MILLER, CHAIR
STUDENT SENATE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE
4.
COUNCIL OF ACADEMIC PROFESSIONALS AND ADMINISTRATORS UPDATE
Pamela
Stenhjem, Chair of the Council of Academic Professionals and Administrators
(CAPA), said that her group represents the professional class of 5200
non-unionized employees at the University. This class was started in 1980 and CAPA was formed as an
advisory committee to the President.
Academic professionals (P&A) have skills between civil service
employees and faculty in jobs such as teachers, researchers, advisors,
counselors, and extension service workers. Most people stay in this classification or move to a faculty
position. P&A employee have
some of the same benefits as faculty, but work on annually renewable contracts.
CAPA
meets from 9:00 am-12:00 pm the third Friday of each month in 101 Walter
Library and meetings are open to the public. CAPA consists of 40 representatives from campus units and
colleges and has four committees: Benefits and Compensation, Representation and
Governance, Professional Development and Recognition, and Communications.
CAPAÕs
agenda this year consists of a P&A womenÕs council kickoff today, a
University-wide womenÕs award, a University division for helping P&A
employees outside central human resources, and a leadership development series
with Human Resources.
Q:
Why are P&A temporary employees?
A:
The need at the time the class was created was for temporary employees, and
this has remained.
Q:
What is the faculty to P&A ratio?
A:
It depends on how each class is being defined.
5.
CIVIL SERVICE COMMITTEE UPDATE
There
was no report
6.
STUDENT SENATE/ STUDENT SENATE
CONSULTATIVE
COMMITTEE VICE CHAIR REPORT
Kris
Schwebler, Student Senate/Student Senate Consultative Committee (SSCC) Vice
Chair, said that the SSCC will continue to work on the student release
questions. There will be a speaker
at the November SSCC meeting and work will take place with One-Stop to make the
results easier to find. New Twin
Cities senators will also be in place by the next meeting.
He
then provided some words of advice to senators by reminding them to attend all
Student Senate and University Senate meetings, bring items they are interested
in to meetings for discussion, and read the agendas prior to each meeting.
7.
ASSEMBLY/ASSOCIATION UPDATES
Crookston
– There was no report.
Duluth
– Katie Best said that UMDSA is
working on academic advisement improvements and the Bulldog Taxi Program has
already enrolled 1900 students.
Morris
– Kathryn Barron said that campus
has started a bus service from Morris to the Maple Grove Transit Center each
weekend. The cost is $30-50 round
trip. A constitutional review
committee has also been established.
Graduate
and Professional Student Assembly –
Jeffrey Anderson reported that campus is hosting a national graduate and
professional student conference later this month. GAPSA is also discussing the closure of Washington Avenue
for light rail construction.
Minnesota
Student Association - Mark Lewandowski noted that MSA is
focused on voting efforts with scheduled events on campus, the MSA Express van
service has moved to Boynton Health Service, and a special student concern
forum will be held spring semester.
8.
2008-09 COMMITTEES OF THE STUDENT SENATE
Action
Student
Senate committee memberships for 2008-09:
STUDENT
AFFAIRS - Students: Jeffrey Wencl (chair),
Curt Baker, Eric Brown, Megan Hayes, Maureen Kunkler, Hilary Ploeckelmann,
Claire Wolters, Caroline Younts, Olga Zakharenko. Faculty/PA: Christiane
Bartels, Jennifer Engler, Andy Howe, Thomas Reynolds, Kathleen Roufs, Catherine
Solheim. Alumni: Nathan
Pelzer. Civil Service: Thomas Bilder. Ex Officio: Kendre Turonie, Amelious Whyte.
FOR
INFORMATION:
ACADEMIC
HEALTH CENTER STUDENT CONSULTATIVE - Students: To be named (chair), Ayesha Alvi, Ganesh Babulal, Elizabeth Bassett,
Jared Buechle, Robb Garni, Jennifer Landwehr, Karen Myren, David Nelsen, Arinze
Okere, Michelle, Rivera, Julie Ann Schmitz, Kimberly Weber, Megan Witucki, 2 to
be named.
STUDENT
COMMITTEE ON COMMITTEES - Students: To be
named (chair), Jermaine Elliott, Emily Haugen, Mikael Moseley, 4 to be named.
STUDENT
SENATE CONSULTATIVE - Students: To be
named (chair), Jeffrey Anderson, Katie Best, Jason Einertson, Missy Gettel,
Ryan Kennedy, Mariam Maiga, Kristopher Schwebler, Alicia Smith, Jeffrey Wencl.
ELAINE
CHALLACOMBE, CHAIR
COMMITTEE
ON COMMITTEES
DISCUSSION:
With no discussion a vote was taken and the motion was approved.
APPROVED
9.
ELECTION OF 2008-09 STUDENT SENATE/
STUDENT
SENATE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE CHAIR
Ryan
Kennedy was elected as the 2008-09 Student Senate/Student Senate Consultative
Committee Chair.
10.
ELECTION OF 2008-09 TWIN CITIES MEMBER OF THE
STUDENT
SENATE NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Election
by 2008-09 Twin Cities Graduate/Professional Senators Only
One
Twin Cities graduate/professional senator
Matthew
Kaplan was elected to the 2008-09 Student Senate Nominating Subcommittee.
11.
STUDENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE UPDATE
Jeffrey
Wencl, Chair of the Student Affairs Committee (SCSA), said that the committee
will be discussing annual issues, such as transportation and housing. At the November meeting the committee
will hear from the Office of the General Counsel regarding students rights and
recourse under FERPA. Other issues
are safety at the new stadium and alumni relations with recently graduate
students. Being that he is a
student from a coordinate campus, he is asking Twin Cities students to let him
know if there are other concerns for the committee to address. He would also like to forward more
action items from the committee to the Student Senate.
12.
TUITION OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
Action
MOTION:
To
approve the following resolution.
Concerning: The University of Minnesota system does
not currently have a way for students to offer formal input into the tuition
process in the form of a collective recommendation.
Whereas, tuition at the University of Minnesota
– Twin Cities has increased 119% in the last 8 years and 223% in the last
15 years; and
Whereas, the net cost of higher education in the state
of Minnesota is nearly twice the national average; and
Whereas, there is no formal process for students to
make recommendations on tuition increases; and
Whereas, the tuitions at all of the University of
Minnesota system schools, undergraduate and graduate, are inextricably linked
and must be handled collectively to ensure that tuition decreases for one
school do not mean tuition increases at other schools; and
Whereas, campuses in Morris, Crookston, Duluth, and
Rochester bring critical constituencies when lobbying both at the University
and at the legislature due to their traditionally underrepresented status;
therefore,
Be it resolved, that the University of Minnesota
Student Senate endorses the proposed system-wide Committee on Tuition Oversight
and urges the University of Minnesota President and administration to adopt
this committee to allow formal student input in the tuition process.
COMMENT:
I would like to formally propose to the Student Senate
a Committee on Tuition Oversight. This committee will be charged with
discussing any proposed increases in tuition and their effects on various
aspects of the University, as well as developing and advocating public policy
centered on affordable higher education. One-half of the members of the
committee will be students, one-fourth will be faculty members, and one-fourth
will be administrators.
The idea driving the creation of this advising group
on tuition is to increase student input on tuition increases, as they directly
affect students and their families. The administrative and faculty membership
is designed to provide additional input and a variety of perspectives on the
situation, allowing for a balanced and productive discussion. When crafting the
UniversityÕs budget, the President and Chief Financial Officer will be asked to
propose different plans of action for various tuition increases. They will be
asked to present which parts of the budget would be the first cut if tuition
increases were lower than recommended. They would also be asked to present what
would be added to the budget if tuition increases were higher than recommended.
This committee would then discuss the budget
presentations and make a tuition recommendation to the President and the Board
of Regents. The committee will set its own rules and officers, with at least
one person serving as Committee Chair. This committee will meet as needed,
determined by the Chair. The structure of the proposed committee is as follows:
Seven Administrators, One from each of the
following offices:
Office of the Chancellor, Morris
Office of the Chancellor, Duluth
Office of the Chancellor, Crookston
Office of the Chancellor, Rochester
Office of the President
Office of Student Affairs
Office of Budget and Finance
Seven Faculty, comprised as follows:
Three Faculty Members from the Twin Cities Campus as
selected by the Faculty Senate
Four
Faculty Members from the coordinate campuses, with at least three campuses
having representation at all times
Fourteen Students, comprised as follows:
Four students selected by the Minnesota Student Association
Two students selected by the Student Senate
Three students selected by the Minnesota Public Interest Research Group
Two students selected by the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly
One student selected by the Morris Campus Student Association
One student selected by the University of Minnesota Duluth Student Association
One student selected by the Crookston Student Association
This is a great opportunity for the students at all five of the
campuses in the University of Minnesota system to work together on lowering
tuition. I would like to ask the
University of Minnesota Student Senate to approve this proposal and establish
an initial meeting to determine the next steps in forming this committee and
its responsibilities.
RYAN
KENNEDY, MEMBER
STUDENT
SENATE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE
DISCUSSION:
Ryan Kennedy, a member of the Student Senate Consultative Committee (SSCC), said that he proposed this motion as a way to have students, faculty, and administrators at the table together to discuss tuition and so that students can be informed as to why decisions are made. However, when the motion was presented to the Minnesota Student Association (MSA) it stalled. He is therefore withdrawing this as an action item and instead proposing that the allocated time be used for a discussion of tuition and a two to three percent tuition cap which could put pressure on the administration.
A senator said that he supported the idea of a committee as a way to have more oversight into the process.
Another senator said that tuition is a regular topic of discussion at Finance and Planning Committee (SCFP) meetings, and members know that it is an issue, both here and nationally. If tuition is not increased, then institutions look for other ways to raise funds, such as through fees. There have been discussions about rolling together tuition and fees so students are aware exactly what they are paying. As for student input into the process, there are already processes in place, such as SCFP and the Student Representatives to the Regents, so the proposed structure seemed to be a duplication of effort.
Q; Are fees capped at Morris?
A: Yes. There is a total fee amount and then all groups must submit a proposal for a portion of those fees.
Q: How often are groups not funded through the Morris process?
A: Groups seldom receive no funds, but are usually just partially funded through the fees process. The groups learn to work within a strict budget, or raise funds through other sources.
Q: Does the process discourage new groups or encourage groups to merge?
A: No.
A
senator then said that student involvement in many areas is low, so it would
not be helpful to propose a new committee which could not find students to
serve on it.
13.
2008-09 SENATE AGENDA ITEMS
Discussion
Senators
were then asked if they had any items for the Student Senate to discuss and
address this year. The following
ideas were mentioned:
14.
OLD BUSINESS
NONE
15.
NEW BUSINESS
NONE
16. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 12:51 pm.
Rebecca
Hippert
Abstractor