1995-96                   UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA                        No. 3
                          STUDENT SENATE MINUTES

                              MAY 16, 1996

      The third meeting of the Student Senate for 1995-96 was convened in 25 
Law Building, Minneapolis Campus, on Thursday, May 16, 1996, at 11:30 a.m.  
Coordinate campuses were linked by telephone.  Checking or signing the roll as 
present were 24 voting student members.  Mr. Joel Bergstrom, Student Senate 
Chair, presided.


                         I. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
                                 Action

                                                                      APPROVED


    II. ELECTIONS OF STUDENT SENATE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR FOR 1996-97
                   Action by 1996-97 Student Senators

      Mr. Donald Ness (UMD) was elected chair of the Student Senate for 1996-
97 and Ms. Mary Jane Sommerville (UMTC) was elected vice chair.


                  III. STUDENT SENATE CHAIR'S REPORT

      Chair Bergstrom reported that the University will be assessing course 
fees for certain classes beginning next year (e.g. computer and technology 
courses).  Student leaders, he said, voiced their frustration to the Senior 
Vice President for Academic Affairs and the provosts that students were not 
appropriately consulted before a decision was made in this matter and have now 
been assured that in the future the following guidelines will be followed:

-     Fees will be determined on a provostal level after consultation with  
      students; 
-     A mechanism will be established to ensure such consultation takes place 
      in each provostry and on each campus;
-     Both undergraduate and graduate students will be included in the 
      process. 

      Next, Chair Bergstrom announced that students were needed to serve on 
the University Grievance Board and asked interested students to contact him. 

      The Student Senate Consultative Committee (SSCC) is working with the 
Educational Policy Committee to develop a statement or resolution concerning 
University decisions to close programs/colleges/campuses.  

      Finally, Mr. Bergstrom said the SSCC recently sent a letter to the Board 
of Regents concerning student involvement in senior administrative searches 
asking for their support in bringing the matter to the attention of the 
Administration.  Of the 13 dean searches conducted since 1994, said Mr. 
Bergstrom, only one committee had two student positions, two searches were 
conducted with no student involvement, and the remainder of the committees 
included one student representative.  Committee size ranged from 8 to 17 
members.  The SSCC found that to be unacceptable and has asked the 
administration to include a line on the University's Form 16 that identifies 
the number of student positions on the search committee.  If the number is 
zero, an explanation would be requested.


          IV. REPORT OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON STUDENT GOVERNANCE

      Mr. Bergstrom reported that the Ad Hoc Committee on Student Governance 
recently completed its work and has forwarded its report to the Student Senate 
Consultative Committee (SSCC).  The SSCC is expected to consider the report 
and provide a response by Fall Quarter.  


                            V.  OLD BUSINESS

                                  NONE


                           VI.  NEW BUSINESS

      Mr. Bergstrom expressed appreciation to members of the Student Senate 
Consultative Committee, student senators and committee members for their 
outstanding efforts and hard work during 1995-96.  He said he would be leaving 
the University for graduate school in the fall but was confident the incoming 
student senators and leaders would carry on the tradition of strong student 
government at the University.



                            VII.  ADJOURNMENT

      The meeting was adjourned at 12:30 p.m.

                                                               Martha Kvanbeck
                                                                    Abstractor