The third meeting of the Student Senate for 1997-98 was convened in 25 Law Building, Minneapolis campus, on Thursday, April 16, 1998, at 11:42 a.m. Coordinate campuses were linked by telephone. Checking or signing the roll as present were 33 voting student members and 2 non-members. Mr. Jesse Berglund, Student Senate Chair, presided.

Mr. Berglund thanked the Morris senators for traveling to the Twin Cities to attend the meeting. He reminded students that the University Senate meeting begins at approximately 2:15 p.m., following the Faculty Senate meeting, and encouraged all senators to attend. A Twin Cities Campus Assembly meeting will follow at approximately 3:45 p.m. Senate elections are currently underway on each campus and the newly-elected senators will be eligible to run for Student Senate office positions at the May 14 Student Senate meeting. Interested students should talk with Heather Aagesen, Kevin Nicholson, members of the Student Senate Consultative Committee (SSCC), or Rebecca Hippert.

To endorse the following change to the Regents' Policy on Student Services Fees:

Currently, the Student Services Fees Policy states that:

Proposed new language:

The University of Minnesota is soon adopting a new single registration system. Under this new system student services fees will no longer be assessed by colleges, which will eliminate the exemption from paying the student services fee for University College students. The Board of Regents is scheduled to review the student services fees policy during Spring Quarter.

Recently, a system-wide work group consisting of students and staff was charged to examine the Regents’ Policy on Student Services Fees. The work group’s final report and original charge will be distributed at the April 16 Student Senate meeting and are available in the University Senate Office.

Ms. June Nobbe, Director of the Campus Involvement Center, explained that Vice President McKinley Boston asked her to chair a working group to look at mandatory fees within a single registration system. The new system will no longer allow students to be exempted by college. In the past, University College students have not been assessed these fees. A recommendation, as outlined in the motion above, came forth from a committee within the Student 2000 project. The committee consisted of Matt Anderson, president of the University College Student Board; University College administrators; MSA members; coordinate campus representatives; and Fees Committee members.

At first, the committee discussed assessing fees based on half-time status as defined by colleges, but voted against that idea because of the variance by college. Moreover, it felt the policy should be consistent with the financial aid definition of half-time status. The proposal, Ms. Nobbe said, has not been formalized yet pending approval by the financial aid office. Student service fees for graduate students will be assessed on half-time status as defined by each academic program. The proposal would also pertain to coordinate campus students, based on recommendations from the financial aid offices on each campus.

The University College Student Board and the University College administration are not in opposition to the proposal. They are concerned, however, that services and programs that are delivered to day school students be available to evening students as well.

One senator inquired about the timeline for implementation and Ms. Nobbe said that the Student 2000 project needs an answer by Fall. If approved by the Regents, the policy would then go into effect in Fall 1999.

With no further questions, the motion was approved by a majority of senators present and voting.

To adopt the following as a standing rule of the Student Senate:

The rationale behind this amendment is that even if all the coordinate campus senators vote against a motion in the Student Senate, the number of votes on the Twin Cities outweighs the votes from the coordinate campuses. If the Student Senate is going to represent the views of all students, then the voices from the coordinate campuses should be able to make a difference in voting.

This amendment does not attempt to veto a motion on the floor. As it reads, it simply asks that the motion be postponed for one meeting so that revisions, proposed by the coordinate campuses, can be considered.

There should not be the need for a sunset clause to this amendment. If there is a strong feeling for one, it should be 2-3 years since this amendment might not be used within one year.

HEATHER AAGESEN, Vice Chair
STUDENT SENATE AND
STUDENT SENATE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE

Senator Heather Aagesen introduced the proposed motion to adopt a standing rule for the Student Senate which would allow coordinate campus senators to postpone action on a motion under specified conditions. An ongoing concern of students on the coordinate campuses, she said, has been their lack of power in influencing decision-making because the Twin Cities campus carries the majority vote in the Student Senate. Approval of this proposal would allow coordinate campus senators an opportunity to propose alternative language to motions that they are unanimously opposed to.

A senator inquired what the coordinate campus vote would be based on. Is it based on the total number of student positions, those positions filled, or those present at any given meeting? Ms. Aagesen replied that it should be based on the total positions. For example, if there are 15 coordinate campus Senate positions, and all are filled, then 13 would have to be present at the meeting and vote in opposition to the motion. If only 12 of the 15 positions were filled, then this rule would not be applicable.

For clarification, Ms. Kvanbeck stated that the language in the motion refers to "voting membership" which is defined by Robert’s Rules of Order as seats filled.

Ms. Aagesen said that she believes the rule should only apply if all the coordinate campus seats are filled. The senators from Crookston and Duluth agreed.

Several Twin Cities senators spoke in support of the rule and suggested senators think about whether it should be based on "total seats" or "seats filled."

A straw vote was then taken on the motion as presented. The vote was 27 in favor, 4 opposed, 2 abstentions.

To amend the University Senate Constitution, Article III, Section 4b, as follows: (language to be deleted is struck out; new language is underlined.

. . . .

b. The elected representatives of the students to the University Senate shall be chosen by secret ballot by the student constituency enrolled in the several institutes, colleges, or schools as specified in the bylaws. There shall be one student member for each initial 1,000 full-time students or fraction thereof in each student constituency plus one additional student senator for each additional 1,000 full-time students or major fraction thereof in such constituency. At Morris and Crookston there shall be two student senators for each initial 1,000 full-time students or fraction thereof in each student constituency plus one additional student senator for each additional 1,000 full-time students or major fraction thereof in such constituency.

To be eligible for election to the University Senate, a student must have earned the required number of credits in residence at the University, as described below, within the past year.

• Undergraduate students shall be eligible for election if they have previously earned and are who has twenty-four credits in residence at the University and at the time of voting is carrying at least nine eight credits in his or her institute, college, or school at the time of voting. shall be eligible for election as a student representative to the University Senate.
• Graduate School students shall be eligible for election if they have nine credits in residence at the University and are full-time students have previously earned and are carrying at least seven credits or one credit ABD (all but dissertation) at the time of voting or are certified as the equivalent of full-time students by the Graduate School.
• Professional students shall be eligible for election if they have previously earned and are carrying at least twelve credits at the time of voting.

Continuing Education and Extension University College students shall be eligible for election if they have earned at least twelve credits in residence during the previous five years and are carrying at least three credits at the time of voting.

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 qualification as a full-time student.

The Student Senate Consultative Committee feels that distinct credit limits should be established for each group represented in the University Senate. Furthermore, by reducing the total number of credits required to begin serving in the University Senate, it allows students in their second term at the University to be elected as a senator from their respective collegiate unit.

KEVIN NICHOLSON, Chair
STUDENT SENATE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE

Mr. Jesse Berglund introduced the above motion and explained that it was on the agenda for discussion with action scheduled for May. The discussion of Senate eligibility arose in the Student Senate Consultative Committee (SSCC) out of a concern about the large number of unfilled student Senate seats. The motion lowers the number of credits a student must have earned and be carrying in order to be eligible for election to the Senate, and distinguishes between graduate and professional students. Under the current language, all first and second quarter freshmen are ineligible to serve. The proposed language would allow freshmen to serve after earning 8 credits in residence. This would include credits earned at any of the four campuses.

One senator questioned whether the proposal should be postponed until the beginning of the semester system. Mr. Berglund did not believe conversion to semesters would greatly effect the motion. If necessary, modifying language required to conform to the semester system could readily be made at the appropriate time.

Senators discussed the variance in requirements for the undergraduate and graduate students and agreed that eligibility requirements should be consistent for all colleges. For example, if eligibility for undergraduates is set at 8 credits, then graduate students should need 5 credits or 1 ABD, and professionals students 8 credits. It was pointed out that Public Health may be a special situation and SSCC agreed to look into the matter before the May meeting.

The Student Senate further debated whether a student should be a full-time student sometime during his/her tenure at the University before being eligible to serve in the Senate. Some felt this was important because it gives students an important perspective on University issues and allows them to fully represent their units. Credit limits should not be lowered just to fill Senate seats some argued. Other students felt that each student has unique experiences they can bring to the Senate and the sooner they are permitted to serve the better. The point was also made that not all students can afford to be full-time students.

A suggestion was made that students be eligible to serve if they are carrying credits equivalent to at least two-thirds of what is considered full-time status by their college.

Because the time for discussion had elapsed, a motion to extend the time was made but failed to receive a majority vote.

Ms. Cheryl Jorgensen, the Student Legislative Coalition (SLC) president, reported that the legislative session had ended and the University received $206 million of the $249 million in capital funds requested. The only projects not funded were half of the new molecular and cellular biology building and some digital technology improvements. Construction on most projects will start in July.

This was a good year and a sign that the Legislature is devoting more attention to the University and the upkeep of its buildings and programs. Ms. Jorgenson expressed appreciation to all the students who helped in the biennial request process, lobbyist Suzanne Pearl, Donna Peterson from State Relations, and Jane Canney from the Office of Student Development and Athletics.

Ms. Jorgenson also reported that the higher education bill that was approved lowers the student share in state grants from 50% to 47%. It is a sign, she said, that there is an increasing awareness of the rising cost of education.

In turn, the Student Senate thanked Ms. Jorgenson for her strong leadership this year and gave her a warm round of applause.

Jason Mattson, the Student Senate Consultative Committee (SSCC) representative at Crookston, reported that students at UMC are in the process of holding elections for next year, have an awards banquet scheduled in late April, will be hosting the SSCC on May 5-6, and have organized a "Spring Fling," a student involvement fair, for May 5.

Abby Flottemesch, the Duluth Student Body President, said that elections are also taking place at UMD. As are students on other campuses, UMD students are very pleased with the outcome of the legislative session. Unresolved this year is the issue of student evaluations of teaching, and students are still working with the unions on this matter. A possible boycott is being considered.

Deanne Nordberg, the SSCC representative from Morris, reported that a new dance club, the Oracle, has opened in the Student Center. The Student Forum is currently listening to proposals concerning the distribution of the student technology fees for 1998-99. The search for a new chancellor is coming to a close and students are anxiously awaiting the announcement of their new chancellor. In closing, Ms. Nordberg thanked the SSCC for visiting their campus earlier in the week.

Martin O’Hely, the SSCC representative, said that GAPSA is also in the process of finding new officers for the coming year since many graduate students are graduating.

Shenoa Simpson, a representative from MSA, reported on the recent debate involving candidates in the Governor’s race. In general, she said, students were very pleased with the forum. Undergraduate student elections are scheduled for late April and a MSA day is being planned for May.

Mr. Berglund, Student Senate chair, said he was very pleased with how well the Student Senate has functioned this year. In part, this is due to operational changes students and the Senate Office have made. Student leaders, he believes, have established a good precedent with President Yudof in terms of consultation and communication with students. President Yudof is the first president in recent history to have met with the Student Senate as a whole and he will be invited to do so again in the future. The Student Senate Consultative Committee (SSCC) has focused on improving relationships and communication with the coordinate campuses and recently visited the Duluth and Morris campuses. A trip to Crookston is planned for May.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:43 p.m.