CSSA Minutes: September 9, 2001

San Diego State University, Cox Arena, Mezzanine Suite
CSSA Board of Directors Meeting
September 9, 2001, 9:00 am - Noon

1. CALL TO ORDER 9:15 am, Chair Robert Garcia.
   
   
2. ROLL CALL Present: Bakersfield, Chico, Dominguez Hills, Fullerton, Humboldt, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Monterey Bay, Pomona, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San José, San Luis Obispo, San Marcos, Sonoma, Stanislaus (Hayward, 9:30; San Diego IV 9:30; San Francisco, 10).
   
   REMARKS
   
   Dr. David Spence reported on two initiatives in their critical year after three years of work:
   
   
   1. Articulation (how students transfer). Effective transfer is more important for CSU than any other system because CSU is transfer-dependent, each year getting two transfers for every freshman. Community college screw-ups can cost students years, and CSU has not been good at transfers. Two big improvements are in the offing: first, faculty for high-demand majors at all 22 campuses have developed common lower division preparatory courses; and CSU is pushing community colleges to develop dedicated transfer degrees.
      
      
   2. Remedial education. This year's budget includes language to track students (by race, gender) who don't make the one-year remedial target. Students have to take State Board of Education tests as high school juniors: CSU advocates those tests as entrance exams to the CSU. Parents/students would then have one set of standards. If a student passes, they're admitted with no other test. If not, they still have the senior year to pass another exam. Remedial education would remain at the high school level. Money will be allocated for partnership to provide help in the senior year (CAPI). The placement test would make the SAT irrelevant for some students, though most students would still take it for other reasons. Dr. Spence concluded by saying that CSU placement standards are high, 550 math/English, with the national average 470.
      
      
3. COMMITTEE REPORTS
   
   
   1. University Affairs
      1. Approve Preliminary Policy Agenda for 2001-2001. Subgroups developed a plan on four issues:
         1. Remediation/Retention/Outreach;
         2. Housing/Parking;
         3. Campus Pride/Alumni Relations;
         4. Sustainability. Motion to approve the concept, Chico; second, Los Angeles. Passed.
            
            
   2. Legislative Affairs.
      1. Report identifies five areas of focus, of which the top three are housing and facilities; parking; and financial aid. Motion to approve, San Luis Obispo; second, San Marcos. Passed.
      2. Motion to establish subcommittees, Los Angeles; second, Sonoma. Passed.
      3. Discussed AB 16, general obligation bond in conference committee that will be on the March or November ballot: K-University General Facilities Bond Act. Will include money for higher education. Motion to approve CSSA positions on current legislation, Pomona; second, San Bernardino. Passed.
         
         
   3. Multi Cultural Caucus. Great conversations yesterday on issues hard for this body to address (diversity).
      1. Motion to approve policy agenda for 2001-2002 (educational doctorate; multi cultural center; cultural representation in higher education; international education; and EO 665/retention), Sacramento; second, Dominguez Hills. Passed.
      2. Motion to add ex officio Student Trustee to membership, San Diego; second, Stanislaus. Passed.
         
         
   4. Administrative Affairs Committee.
      1. Changes to Financial Code (Tab 4): added as last two words under "II. Purpose," "Executive Director"; also changes to "XII. General Fiscal Procedures, D. Purchases," to require dual signatures to expend funds without approval by the full board when the cost of a good or service projected in the budget falls between $1000 and $4999. Motion to approve Financial Code, Stanislaus; second, Sacramento. Passed.
      2. Motion to amend constitution (Tab 5), Stanislaus; second, Sacramento. Passed.
      3. Motion to approve standing rules (Tab 6), Stanislaus; second, Sacramento. Passed.
      4. Personnel policy (Tab 7). Strike word "Immigration" in first heading on page 2. Emily to add a performance evaluation sheet. Motion to approve with changes, Stanislaus; second, San José. Passed.
      5. Motion to approve travel policy (Tab 8), Stanislaus; second Sonoma. Passed.
      6. Motion to approve concept of foundation action plan (Tab 9), Stanislaus; second, Sacramento. Passed.
         
         
4. EXECUTIVE REPORTS:
   Robert Garcia, Chair. Thanked SDSU?especially Ron Williams and Priscilla Ocen?for a great conference. Membership urged to bring issues to Robert to put before administration. A communications committee is being established; within its purview are plans to publish agendas on-line, perhaps on the website, which will be more student-friendly and do a better job getting our message to AS organizations. CSSA has challenges and opportunities. Foundation it has lacked is now being put in place to set the stage for growth.
   
   Emily Foster, Internal Vice Chair. Let her know if you are not getting her emails. Invoices for dues are out; dues must be received by September 30th to qualify to vote at the October conference. Budget should be presented in October. Staff has been hired, and the executive director position will be posted shortly. Staff assistants are being hired in Long Beach and Sacramento. Emily will distribute bylaws at a later time, as well as guidelines on hosting conferences and information on fees. As the Fullerton conference is set for the same dates as the Student Leadership Conference in Portland (November 9, 10, 11), move the Fullerton conference to November 3rd and 4th.
   
   No External Vice Chair report, as Chair Christine Svendsen had family emergency.
   
   Brandon Kline, Legislative Affairs Chair. Brandon asked CSSA to distribute on the campuses the last page of his green-covered handout, which is a statement of principles of California Youthvote. Lobby day on AB 16 is September 12th. Brandon commended Veronica Shippy's excellent work.
   Haleemon Anderson, University Affairs. Strong push next month to work on the policy agenda. Each subgroup has a facilitator, a recordkeeper and two worksheets. Haleemon thanked Vice Chair LaLisha Norton for her work.
   
   
5. AD-HOC COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
   Motion to establish ad-hoc Communications Committee, Dominguez Hills; second, Long Beach. Passed.
   
   
6. OPEN DISCUSSION ABOUT CSSA
   CSSA pressured from both sides on the CSU/CFA impasse. CSU wants CSSA neutral; CFA wants it to take a position. The question was posed: would CFA fight student battles? Laura Kerr voiced a preference for CSSA to remain neutral, seeing little benefit to the organization either way. CSSA neutral for last year's reopeners. CFA would be willing to trade salary increases for student enrollment. Dan Cartwright suggested either CSSA demand the impasse be resolved as standing in the way of progress on crucial issues or a "no position" statement. There will be CFA teach-ins at the campuses around October 16th; CFA is hiring student government participants. Ron Williams and Ronda Newt-Scott said CSSA isn't here to be neutral and can't be bought. Emily said CSSA should remain neutral until both sides present at the October conference. Each AS is autonomous and can take its own position, which poses a possibility of different AS positions and a conflict with any future CSSA position.
   
   Suggestions for improving CSSA functions: having a parliamentarian and an historian; videotaping and photographing conferences (referred to the Communications Committee); inviting UC and community college representatives to CSSA conferences; publishing agendas earlier, so that representatives can arrive at conferences better informed; arranging for instruction on how to analyze and research issues; having all CSSA policy documents in one place; better defining the Presidents' Council; improving CSSA Reference Manual; focusing on issues that really make a difference for students; obtaining permanent name plaques. On the positive side, Robert Garcia commended the progress of the Multi Cultural Caucus.
   
   
7. OTHER COMMENTS
   The Hispanic American Student Conference will be held in Puerto Rico October 27-30, 2001. Sacramento State AS is hiring an executive director and will seek CSSA advice. Humboldt (Elexis Mayer) sited the dither over CFA/CSU as an example how CSSA tends to be reactive rather than proactive. San Marcos requested models of AS operating agreements and mission statements.
   
   
8. ADJOURNMENT.