1994-95 UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA No. 4
STUDENT SENATE MINUTES
May 18, 1995
The fourth meeting of the Student Senate for 1994-95 was convened in 25
Law Building, Minneapolis Campus, on Thursday, May 18, 1995, at 11:30 a.m.
Coordinate campuses were linked by telephone. Checking or signing the roll as
present were 20 voting student members. Mr. Joel Bergstrom, Student Senate
Chair, presided.
I. ELECTION OF 1995-96 STUDENT SENATE OFFICERS
Action by 1995-96 Student Senate Members
The duties and responsibilities of the Student Senate chair and vice
chair positions were reviewed, after which Mr. Joel Bergstrom from the Twin
Cities campus was elected Student Senate chair for 1995-96 and Mr. Malik
Shabazz from the Morris campus was elected vice chair.
[The remaining items of business were addressed by the 1994-95 Student Senate
membership.]
II. PROPOSED INTERNAL BUDGET CHANGES
Information
Mr. Rabun Taylor reported that the officers of the Student Senate
Consultative Committee, the Student Senate, and the Student Committee on
Committees met on May 17 to discuss budget issues and develop preliminary
budget proposals for next year. He then reviewed the proposals which, when
finalized, will be submitted to the Senate Office for consideration.
III. STUDENT SENATE HANDBOOK
Information and Discussion
Ms. Barbara Thompson informed senators that the Student Senate Handbook
is in the final stages of development and will be available to students no
later than the beginning of fall quarter. She also announced the Committee on
Committees orientation for 1995-96 senators and committee members scheduled
for Tuesday, May 23, 1995, from 3:00-6:00 p.m.
IV. UNIVERSITY BUDGET AND TUITION DISCUSSION
Mr. Cecil Smith reviewed some of the differences between the University's
Partnership Proposal and the House, Senate, and Governor's recommendations for
FY 1995-1997. It appears that the University will receive somewhere near the
$60 million mark, said Mr. Smith. He also reviewed several issues discussed
in the Conference Committee that related to the University, including the
continuation of the Duluth Medical School as a two-year program and the
establishment of performance indicators. Next, he reported that the Higher
Education Coordinating Board, as it currently exists, was officially
abolished. However, it will be reorganized to continue its administrative
role in such areas as the state grant program, financial aid, etc.
Mr. Rabun Taylor concluded this item by reviewing a handout prepared by
the Tuition Advisory Committee.
V. UPDATE ON PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH A SENATE TUITION COMMITTEE
Information
Senator Anne Sales reported on the proposal to establish a Senate Tuition
Committee. Approximately two years ago, she said, the Student Senate
Consultative Committee (SSCC) participated in efforts to establish Tuition
Advisory Committees (TAC) on each of the U of M campuses. On the Twin Cities
campus, the TAC's membership includes the MSA president, GAPSA president, SSCC
chair, and chair of the Student Reps to Regents. It has met sporadically with
the Vice President for Student Affairs. One of the problems with the current
arrangement, Ms. Sales said, is that there is no formal linkage between these
committees and the governance structure of the University. To try and remedy
this, a proposal has been brought to the Senate Finance and Planning Committee
to establish, under its jurisdiction, a permanent system-wide subcommittee on
tuition and fees. The membership could include individuals who have been
involved in the Tuition Advisory Committees on all campuses as well as members
of the Finance and Planning Committee. Establishing such a committee in the
governance structure would ensure regular discussion of tuition and fees
issues and provide a mechanism for consultation among faculty, students and
administrators. One issue, for example, that has not been addressed this year
is the fact that for the first time it is possible for colleges to impose fees
not included in tuition for certain courses. Some students are concerned that
this practice will become widespread and colleges will utilize it as a means
to gain additional revenue. Another issue that needs to be discussed is the
level at which decisions are made, particularly in view of the reorganization
of central administration. It appears that the administration plans to shift
more of the decision-making authority to the provosts and chancellors. If
this is the case in the area of tuition and fees, it would mean there needs to
be three advisory committees on the Twin Cities campus, one for each provost,
and one on each coordinate campus. The members of these committees would then
serve on a central committee, hopefully a subcommittee of the Finance and
Planning Committee.
Senator Taylor added that Vice President Infante believes the best level
to discuss tuition is at the campus level instead of the all-University level.
He suggested that if a committee were to be established it would be better to
make it a committee of the Assembly instead of the Senate. Ms. Sales
responded that until the reorganization of the Senate structure occurs there
needs to be a central coordinating mechanism.
"Has a charge for the committee(s) been discussed?" asked one senator.
Ms. Sales responded that no formal charge has been determined but one of its
primary roles will be to provide a mechanism for the administration to consult
with students and faculty before recommendations are forwarded to the Regents.
VI. INFORMATION ON PARTICIPATION ON SENATE COMMITTEES
Senator Barbara Thompson said students should refer to the Senate and
Assembly Constitution, Bylaws, and Rules for committee descriptions and
procedures until the Student Senate Handbook is available. She reminded
senators that Senate membership is not a prerequisite for committee service,
but strongly encouraged their participation.
VII. OLD BUSINESS
NONE
VIII. NEW BUSINESS
At this time a motion to suspend the rules to consider an item of new
business was approved. The following motion was then approved by a majority
of members present and voting:
That the the recently elected Student Senate chair and vice
chair shall also serve as the Student Senate Consultative
Committee chair and vice chair until the pending
constitutional amendments relating to the Student Senate
officer positions are approved by the University Senate.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 12:50 p.m.
Martha Kvanbeck
Abstractor
APPENDIX A
ATTENDANCE OF STUDENT MEMBERS, 1994-95
[FACULTY ATTENDANCE APPEARS IN THE JUNE 8 MINUTES]
The Student Senate met 4 times during 1994-95.
(fm=forfeiture of membership for nonattendance)
Notified Clerk of
Nonattendance or
Attended Alternate Attended
STUDENTS
Allen, Kristine 1 0
Bauer, Jeffrey (resigned 4/95) 2 0
Beer, Michael (fm 5/95) 1 0
Bergstrom, Joel 4 0
Biel, Tony 4 0
Billy, Gary (fm 5/95) 0 1
Boese, Mike (apptd. 1/95) 1 0
Brand, Rachel (resigned 1/95) 1 0
Burchinal, Debbie 3 1
Burdash, Nathan (fm 5/95) 1 0
Cunningham, Sarah 1 2
Czachor, Pete (apptd. 4/95) 2 0
Erickson, Carl (resigned 11/94) 0 0
Fuller, Ryan 1 1
Furst, Corey (apptd. 1/95) 1 0
Giovengo, Susan 1 0
Grady, George 1 1
Guitierrez, Jeff (apptd. 1/95 fm 5/95) 1 0
Hall, Kelly (apptd. 11/94) 2 0
Han, Alison (apptd. 1/95) 3 1
Hiykel, Edward (resigned 11/94) 0 0
Holm, Phil (resigned 1/95) 0 1
Hornstra, Sara (resigned 3/95) 2 0
Jaafara, Timothy 0 2
James, Kathy 4 0
Kaehler, Heather (resigned 2/95) 2 0
Khan, Mustafa (apptd. 1/95) 0 3
Klevin, Tom 1 1
Kopacek, Cory (apptd. 1//95 resigned 3/95) 1 1
Lander, Timothy 2 1
Lopez, Cisco (fm 5/95) 0 0
Maciejewski, Matt 2 1
McDonald, Rhonda 2 0
Meister, Steven 2 1
Michaelson, Lisa 0 2
Mielke, Brian (apptd. 1/95) 0 1
Mlekodaj, Bobbi 3 0
Nilsen, Ryan (fm 5/95) 1 0
Patterson, James 0 1
Pawlicki, Michael 2 0
Pon, Jennifer (apptd. 1/95) 2 0
Powers, Ben (apptd. 4/95) 4 0
Reuss, Scott 2 0
Sales, Anne 3 1
Sandmeier, Melissa 1 1
Sanford, Dena (resigned 1/95) 0 0
Schonhardt, Stacy 2 0
Schramm, Andreas 1 2
Schumacher, Carlton (apptd. 4/95) 1 0
Siqveland, Amy (resigned 1/95) 0 0
Skally, Matt (apptd. 1/95 resigned 4/95) 1 0
Smith, Cecil 3 1
Smith, Paul 0 4
Stone, John 1 0
Strauss, Eric (resigned 1/95) 1 0
Sullivan, Linda 1 3
Taggart, Jason (apptd. 1/95) 0 0
Tvedt, Chad (apptd. 2/95) 0 1
Wilson, Molly 3 1
Van Drasek, Barbara 4 0
Vatthauer, Dale (apptd. 1/95) 1 1
Whitmore, Brent 3 0
Ziermann, Phil (resigned 2/95) 0 0
STUDENT SENATE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE
Kopacek, Cory (apptd. 3/95) 0 0
Lujan, Brandon 4 0
Mork, Jason (resigned 2/95) 2 0
Ness, Don 3 0
Pham, Linda (resigned 1/95) 1 0
Rabaey, Rachel (apptd. 3/95) 2 0
Reichwald, Chad 2 1
Skally, Matt (apptd. 4/95) 2 0
Stanislawski, Tim 2 0
Taylor, Rabun 4 0
Thompson, Barbara 4 0
Zierman, Phil (apptd. 2/95 resigned 3/95) 1 0