USM STUDENT COUNCIL
UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF MARYLAND
FEBRUARY 9, 2003
COUNCIL'S MINUTES

Present: Joan Marionni (Chancellor's Liaison), Tyler C. Patton (Chair), J. Andrew Canter (Student Regent), Travis Dettman (SU), Keyana C. Ellis (UMES), Jamie Grove (FSU), Rachel Jablon (UMCP), Julius Jones (SU), Mukubi Katowa (UMES), Obsetee Korme (TU), Raj Mahanti (UB), Kimberly McGrain (FSU), Bobbie O'Connell (TU), Ja'Nice Wisdom (UMUC),

Dan Purcell (UMCP), Amrish Ramsundar (CSC)

        I.      Call to Order

Tyler called the meeting to order at approximately 12:20 p.m.

     II.      Report of Officers

A.                 Andrew Canter, Student Regent
The last Board of Regents Meeting was cancelled due to snow.  The Regents would have discussed legislative strategy; the retirement of CSC President Burnett (his replacement begins on either 2/1/03 or 3/1/03); new programs that were approved at UMCP, FSU, TU, and UB; teacher training programs; tuition increase and budget cut implementation plans from each USM institution.
Bobbie (TU) asked what the new program is at TU.
Andrew answered a B.S. in Forensic Chemistry.

B.                 Tyler Patton, Chair
The Chancellor's Council meeting was held last Monday.  They discussed a bill calling for a moratorium on all new programs at USM institutions until every pharmacist, teacher, etc. who practices in the state of Maryland graduates from a USM institution; community colleges' rights to give bachelor's degrees, especially in the face of teacher shortages; and the USM reception for Speaker of the House of Delegates Michael Busch.
Andrew offered that giving the right to community colleges to give bachelor's degrees would improve the number of teachers, but then funds would be needed to provide the community colleges with resources that are comparable to four-year USM institutions.
Tyler encouraged the members of the USMSC to meet with their institution's lobbyists.

     III.             Committee Reports

A.                 Andrew, Tuition Task Force

Andrew reported that balancing the budget from now until the end of the fiscal year (6/03) would be difficult, and he discussed the letter that went to students and parents about the then-potential tuition increases.  It turns out, though, that a lot of the funds that had to be cut or returned to the state are reserve funds for such things as buildings.  Therefore, most of the budget cuts' effects won't be felt in the near future, but rather in several years, when the normal wear-and-tear on facilities comes to pass and there are no funds to replace, fix, or otherwise keep these facilities up to par.

Andrew told us that two institutions—CSC and UMUC—did not raise tuition, and that all institutions that did raise tuition should have given students extended deadlines and exemptions for certain kinds of financial aid.

Keyana asked why UMUC and CSC did not raise tuition.; Andrew and Tyler answered that that is their prerogative.

Obsetee reported that TU is withholding refund checks for financial aid and student loans.

Bobbie reported that TU faculty and staff may be subject to a 10% salary cut, across the board.

Rachel asked about the implications of "lay-off:" will it include live people or positions?

Tyler reported that SU students have two weeks to pay tuition, and Kim reported that FSU students have until 3/31/03.

Tyler reported that UMDLaw students intend to sue the USM because they already started the semester when the tuition increases were instated.  Joan and Tyler urged that they have no case, due to the USM's policy that tuition increases may occur at any time of year.

Andrew laid out the schedule for the Tuition Task Force public hearings.  There are three left: FSU, UMES, and UMCP.

B.                 Andrew, Funeral Procession

Andrew reported on the initiative of the UMCP SGA to reenact a funeral procession to protest the tuition increases and budget cuts: "Higher education is dead in the state of Maryland."  The benefits for undertaking such a program include increased visibility, press coverage, and making a statement.  Andrew and Dan gave out Brandon DeFrehn's e-mail address (<sgapresident@sga.umd.edu>), and told us that Brandon is the contact person.  A date has not been established, but mid-March seems to the ideal.

C.                 Ja'Nice Wisdom, Diversity Resolution

Ja'Nice presented her resolution and commented on the suggestions she received. 

CSC is concerned with the number of officers who will serve as Diversity Officer and suggested that at least 2 members of the USMSC serve this position.  CSC is also concerned with the selection process of the Diversity Officer, to which Ja'Nice answered that the USMSC committees usually function under volunteerism.  CSC also wanted to know about the structure of the Diversity Network; Ja'Nice passed around a brochure.

UB requested a reference to "opportunity," although not "equal opportunity," because the resolution is not meant to be an Equal Opportunity and Employment statement.

Several USMSC members discussed the confusion surrounding the issue of "economics" in the resolution.

Keyana asked for a more specific definition of "diversity."

After the USMSC determined that the goals of the resolution are to reaffirm the USM's dedication to diversity and diversity initiatives, to establish a new position within the USMSC to monitor student involvement in USM institutions' diversity programming, and to better USMSC involvement in the Diversity Network and Minority Achievements Council, Tyler appointed a working group to focus on the issue.  The working group will be chaired by Rachel and will include Julius and Obsetee as members, all while consulting with Ja'Nice.

Ja'Nice requested that awareness activities such as the essay contest be included as parts of the resolution.

D.                 Tyler thanks the USMSC for the reception for state legislators.

E.         Keyana asked about the cheating "scandal" at UMCP.

Rachel reported that the administration has been involved with the case, and Andrew specified the circumstances surrounding the case, particularly that this situation in no way constitutes a "scandal."
Keyana offered that a resolution on academic integrity might be good for the USMSC.

F.         Keyana asked what the application process is like for the other USM institutions.  She is concerned that standards are not being met at UMES.

Joan said that there are minimum requirements established by the Board of Regents to which every institution must adhere but that individual institutions may have higher admissions standards than those articulated in BOR policy. 

VI.       Adjournment

            Tyler adjourned the meeting at 2:05 p.m.

Respectfully submitted:

Rachel Jablon (UMCP)