CSSA Minutes: November 3, 2001

California State University, Fullerton,
Titan Student Union, Legislative Chambers
CSSA Board of Directors Meeting
November 3, 2001, 9:00 am - Noon

1. CALL TO ORDER 9:17 am, Chair Robert Garcia.
   
   
2. ROLL CALL Present: Bakersfield, Chico, Dominguez Hills, Fresno, Fullerton, Humboldt, Long Beach (no vote), Los Angeles, Monterey Bay (no vote), Pomona, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, San Luis Obispo (no vote), San Marcos (no vote), Sonoma, Stanislaus. Hayward and Northridge late arrivals (times not noted).
   
   
3. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA Changes: 1) Move action item VII, "Position on CSU/CFA," to Sunday after item V, "Executive Reports"; 2) on Sunday, make all items under IV, "Committee Reports," action items; 3) add closed session, personnel matters, as last item Saturday, after XII, "Officer Reports." Motion to approve, Los Angeles; second, Pomona. PASSED.
   
   
4. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM OCTOBER 2001, Los Angeles; second, Pomona. PASSED.
   
   
5. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS:
   Welcome by Dr. Milton Gordon, President, CSU Fullerton. Dr. Gordon stated that September 11th will have a huge impact, with the Fullerton campus especially effected as the fastest growing of the CSU campuses. He hoped CSSA is at work on a proactive, pro-student, collaborative agenda.
   
   State Assemblymember Lynn Daucher welcomed CSSA to her district. She recounted how students made a difference in securing funding for Fullerton's performing arts center by sending a delegation to Sacramento and said in tough budgetary years students can benefit from early involvement in the process. She regretted that last year Cal Grants were turned back and hoped that wouldn't happen again. She said legislators are concerned about the one-year remediation limit, skeptical that requirements can be fulfilled in just one year. She said accountability in the form of exit exams for both CSU and UC is being discussed in the legislature. She stated year-round operations are seen as a way of maximizing existing facilities to service growing enrollments and urged students to support a bond measure that will be on the ballot [one year from now?], which will also fund increased enrollment.
   
   
6. PUBLIC FORUM
   At Mary Lee McGough's (Fresno), request, Emily Foster reviewed CSSA's $61,000 debt: $40,000 is over-spending from last year, with another $20,000 over-spending from the year before that. CSSA has $30,000 in unallocated funds for the next two years, so the debt will be paid off half this year, half next. Mary Lee also distributed a survey for input/statistics to help guide decisions re Fresno's AS budget. Yulil Alonso-Garza, Imperial Valley, said she hoped for an opportunity to share her experience of the Puerto Rico conference with the board. John Charter, Monterey Bay, expressed concern that his campus has no vote; he brought a packet documenting that Monterey Bay sent its check.
   
   
7. REPORT OF OFFICE OF THE CHANCELLOR LIAISONS
   1. Alan Liebrecht, CSU Liaison to CSSA. Alan discussed 3 items 1) enrollment, 2) the budget crisis, 3) legislative bills. He said for the 7th straight year, enrollment has increased-this year to 388,734, a 20,265 increase over fall of 2000. The impact of the increase is that the CSU anticipates it will be over the budgeted FTE by about 10,000 and 8.2% more FTE than 2000-2001. Meanwhile 3, 5, 10 and 15 % state budget cut scenarios are being discussed. By September the state was running billions of dollars in deficit and state law requires a balanced budget. Thus the state will be looking at cuts and some will be for CSU. Alan advised students to become involved in the budget process before cuts are decided and said we're still in beginning stages. In response to a question from Jerl Laws, San Francisco, about student fee increases, Alan said all options may be on the table. There are many choices to consider when cutting the budget, including limiting enrollment and increasing fees. The Governor is on record as opposing student fee increases. Alan also reported on passage of AB540, which exempts undocumented resident students from nonresident tuition. Robert thanked CSSA reps who worked on the bill's passage, especially San Diego. Alan mentioned an Assembly bill on meningitis that could affect incoming students.
      
      
   2. Christy Zamani, Student Relations. Christy attended a meeting of Vice Presidents of Student Services, which she said was very informative for CSSA. The group meets once a month or once every other month. Everything discussed there is also being discussed here, so the Vice Presidents' meeting is a good resource. Christy said the most important student-related budget areas are advising, parking, health centers, student fees. She advised involvement before cuts are made.
      
      
8. REPORT OF STUDENT TRUSTEE
   Dan Cartwright. In discussing shortfalls at their last board meeting, the Trustees said they didn't want this recession to play out as had that of the early 90s: this time they want all constituents involved, whether through committees, town-hall style meetings, other ways. They would like the CSU to speak with a unified voice that includes students. Last year Dan and Robert Garcia met with their UC and CCC counterparts. Another such meeting is in the offing, and that coalition offers the format for a common strategy for the budget. 85% of the budget has a lock on it, by statute; only 15% is negotiable-and that's the part, unfortunately, that funds CSU.
   Robert said CSSA has begged and pleaded the Governor to pick up his pen and appoint the 2nd Student Trustee, who has been selected. Three names were presented to the Governor last May. At this point taking the matter to the press is an option. With budget cuts in the offing, this is the worst time for the students' second voice to be mute.
   
   
9. STAFF REPORTS
   Laura Kerr, Director, Governmental Relations. Laura thanked those who submitted registrations for the Lobby Corps Clinic on time. Target was for 50-75, and it looks like there will be 60. Those still interested in registering should contact Michael B, who will be marrying and leaving CSSA employ shortly. Laura asked CSSA reps to solicit input on the budget from their campus decisionmakers and let her know. Student fees appears to be the #1 issue. Laura spent time over the last month developing relationships with legislative staffers.
   
   Joan Hemphill, University Relations. Joan noted continued cleaning out/organizing of the Long Beach office, much aided by student assistant Shenequa Johnson, whom Robert introduced.
   
   
10. OFFICER REPORTS
    1. Diversity - Ronda Newt-Scott. Ronda reported on two committees she served on, on honorary degrees and human relations. She reported elitism and racism, saying that where you went to school ranked high in importance?and no one had gone to CSU. Deanships are not being bestowed on those younger than 50, 60. Only one man of color was on the panel.
       
       
    2. Financial Aid - Yulil Alonso-Garza. Yulil will give her 1st report in November, as she did not attend the Financial Aid Advisory Committee's 1st meeting.
       
       
    3. Technology - Dan Bardenhagen. Dan yielded to Remy, Sonoma, who reported that the Academic Technology Advisory Committee has completed its mission statement. Remy was the only student among 60 attendees. The committee broke into small groups to discuss the system's role vis-à-vis technology. They discussed virtual language labs, initiatives, vision and planning (campus by campus) for the next 5 years. Still committed to [the $20M more earmarked for technology?] Next meeting will be early next Spring.
       
       
    4. Lobby Corps - Katie Beebe. Every campus should send someone to the clinic. Chico is sending 19 students. A survey is being sent everyone on Lobby Corps.
       
       
    5. Environmental Affairs - Emilia Patrick. Research continues on CSU sustainability. Please return the surveys sent by email. Working on a sustainability resolution, perhaps to be presented to the board next month.
       
       
    6. Academic Senate Liaison - LaLisha Norton. Attended last Academic Senate meeting, November 1st and 2nd, and will attend San Diego conference, the theme of which is diversity. CSSA invited to host a workshop at the conference. At last week's Academic Senate meeting, faculty teaching performance standards for temporary faculty and Executive Order 365. Faculty propose increasing their own office space despite budget crisis and the need for more classroom, library space; the issue will be revisited after this 1st reading. LaLisha will research advisement requirements and report back.
       
       
    7. Alumni Council Liaison - José Solache. Alumni Council meeting of September 11th cancelled; the representative who attended the next meeting for José is not here today, so report will be given next meeting.
       
       
11. CLOSED SESSION - PERSONNEL MATTERS
    When open session resumed, Robert said the board had decided to discuss matters relating to External Vice Chair Christine Svendsen, discussed in closed session, in open session. Moved by Stanislaus; second, Pomona. PASSED. The issue is separate from Monterey Bay's participation in this body. Robert read a letter dated 10/18/01, Robert, Emily, Brandon and Haleemon to Christine, into the record. (The letter is attached to these minutes.) Emily had requested a written response from Christine by November 2. The executives received an email stating Christine had been involved in a motorcycle accident that precluded her participation in this meeting. John Charter stated he had opened the letter on November 1st; there was not sufficient time for a response by November 2nd. Emily clarified she had sent the letter twice: by firstclass mail on October 18th; and again by certified, return-receipt requested mail on October 24th (the 2nd , certified mailing was to be opened only by the addressee-but this is apparently mailing that John opened). Robert added that this situation points up the frustrating nature of other executives' relationship with Christine: she doesn't communicate, meaning read emails or return phone calls. John stated he'd talked to Christine November 2nd, when she said she'd never seen the letter. LaLisha stated Christine is supposed to be the hub for external communications and she's incommunicado, with the result that students suffer. Robert stated that while he is uncomfortable discussing these matters in Christine's absence, everything stated in the letter had previously been discussed with her. Ron Williams, San Diego, said that review of the External Vice Chair should be on the agenda of the next meeting, and the board should be prepared to elect a new officer at that meeting. This course adopted by consensus. Luis Portillo, San Bernardino, pointed out that CSSA bylaws include procedures re removing officers. Robert stated the intent of the letter to Christine was to document the other executives' concerns, inform the board and elicit a response from Christine. Cindi Newbold, Hayward, stated that if the letter has no information new to Christine, it doesn't matter when she received it. Cindi asked if Christine's work is being done, adding she is not willing to wait until December for a defense, though she would be willing to wait until then if it meant all work of the External Vice Chair were being caught up. Emily stated that a recall requires 10-day notice; thus, a course of action must be set here and now. Ron said the slack in External Vice Chair's output should be taken up by other executives, and making sure that happens is up to the chair. John, Monterey Bay, observed communication is a 2-way street and that Christine could improve in that regard. She has the newsletter organized but the content is collaborative. Emily clarified that the board governs each executive; the executives do not police each other. Luis and Veronica observed (re one of the charges made in the 10/18/01 letter) that it's not stated in the binder that executives have to attend CSU Board of Trustee meetings. Both recalls and resignations require 10-day notice, and recall must be by a 2/3 vote. Robert stated that procedures would be followed, including 10-day notice.

Adjournment 11:33 am, San Diego; second, Los Angeles. PASSED.