Fee Transparency Project

Student Fee Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes March 3, 2018

Present: Suini Torres, Aaron Manzano, Gina Tu, Ashley John, Lucy Rojas, Lisa Bishop, John Steele, Cathy Thomas, Alan Christy, Ian Gregorio, Amanda Kazden, Juliana Ngonza

Approval of the Agenda and Minutes:

a. Motion by Gina to approve the agenda, second by Ashley, no objections b. Motion by Gina to approve the minutes, second by Aaron, no objections c. Announcements:

i. Lucy explains that GSA has withdrawn the referendum for this year’s elections cycle. Juliana adds that GSA thought that the fee increase wouldn’t pass and they will also be focusing on spending down carry forward balance.

ii. CSF is scheduled for April 6 and 7 at UCOP/Berkeley.

Funding Proposal Discussion

a. Grad Division/Grad Orientation

i. Cathy explains that she is comfortable covering the costs. There is a concern for GSA and GSC to

assume the full burden of paying for this event.

ii. Lucy confirms SSF and M7 can not be used for the purchase of alcohol. iii. Aaron says that this proposal is worth funding, but it is very expensive. Can we incentivize by

providing some funding that could help them secure other funding?

iv. Cathy shares this is the first event of the year for graduate students and it is important to make

a positive first impression.

v. Aaron motions to fund $14,500, with the caveat that no alcohol is to be funded. Cathy seconds

the motion. No objections, motion passes.

b. COUP

i. Cathy recused herself from the conversation ii. iii. Gina is not sure about the magazines being sold. Juliana says that it’s like an investment into

John clarifies the total, which is $1850 in one-time funding.

next year’s operations. Aaron confirms that this is stated in the proposal. John states that it’s not a lot of money for a good cause. John suggests partial funding that could help the group secure other fund sources that are outlined in the proposal. John motions to fund $1250. Aaron seconds the motion. There are no objections.

iv. v.

vi.

c. AAPIRC Grad Student Coordinator

i. Cathy is definitely in favor of any efforts to pay grad students. These kinds of jobs help alleviate burden of funding TAships. There are positive impacts to the entire university community. John reminds us that campus is trying to attract and retain more graduate students to complete PhDs.

ii.

iii. Cathy motions to fund $11,500, which is full funding. Juliana seconds the motion. There are no

objections, motion carries.

d. SOMeCA Peer Advising Program

John states that this is a well run organization and an umbrella organization for many services.

i. ii. The equipment will be used by the peer advisers to serve students. iii.

John explains that a few years ago he started a database for SOAR and they track utilization and support.

iv. The laptop would be used by the peer advisers.

v. Discussion regarding whether the permanent budget request is tied to any specific line item on

the budget. It’s not clear.

vi. Lisa suggests that we flag permanent budget requests and come back at the end to make

decisions since there is so little.

vii. Aaron motions to fund one-time $3,000. Gina seconds the motion. There are no objections;

motion carries. e. Resource Center Student Employees

i. Request is for $52,800. Budget and proposal are inconsistent. ii.

John suggests that we fund $33,000 for the work study positions, which equate to 20 positions. Gina motions to fund $33,000 for work study positions, Aaron seconds the motion. No objections, motion carries.

f. Resource Center Year End Ceremonies

John states that the year end ceremonies are meaningful and help to create a future community of alumni and potential donors.

ii. Aaron motions to fully fund at $16,000. Juliana seconds the motion. There are no objections,

motion carries.

g. Global Engagement

i. Aaron – says program’s goals are important ii. Gina: likes proposal; John says that it is well-delineated iii. $ 22,460 is proposed; amount requested minus 2 large days trips to Monterey bay and a 1300

day trip under International mentorship program

h. FRED

i. Gina motions to fund $22,950 for option 2 - 6 interns for one-year. Ashley seconds the motion.

No objections, motion carries.

Juliana recused herself from conversation

i. GRAF i. ii. Gina motions to revisit this proposal. Aaron seconds the motion. (Note: at the February 26, 2018 meeting, SFAC had voted to not fund this proposal). There are no objections to this motion.

iii. Cathy references the early discussion on impact to grad students; Cathy shares a story of a grad student needing to go to John Hopkins University to conduct research. Alan explains that the question about normative time to degree completion for grad students is vexing.

iv. Lisa reminds the group that the earlier objection to fund was related to the referendum. v. Aaron says that we probably don’t need to fully fund because of the carry forward. vi. Aaron motions to fund $40,000, with the specification that the funding must be spent during the 2018-2019 academic year. Cathy seconds the motion. There are no objections. Motion carries.

j. Men of Color

i. The request is for $40,000 for two years. ii. Suini suggests funding the seminar series and two mentors for one year. iii.

John motions to fund $9000. Ashley seconds the motion.

Cathy says that it is important to fund the orientation. She proposes a friendly

amendment to the motion, to add $755 to the $9000 to fund early move in expenses.

There are no objections to the amendment.
Aaron calls the question. Vote: 10-Yes. 0-No. 0-Abstentions.

k. Chicano Latino Graduate Program Coordinator

i. Gina motions to fund $15,000. Cathy seconds the motion. No objections.

Career Center Pre-Health Programs

i. Cathy motions to fund $7800 for one year. Aaron seconds the motion. There are no objections.

m. Grad Lab

Juliana motions to fund $2500. Cathy seconds the motion. There are no objections.

i. ii. Requirement: No alcohol to be purchased with these funds. Come back next year with data on

the outcomes. n. Global Program: Global Engagement

i. Aaron says that programs like this are important. ii. Gina likes the proposal and John adds that it is well-delineated. iii. $22,600 is proposed, amount requested minus 2 large day trips to Monterey Bay and a $1300

trip under International Mentorship program. Motion carries.

o. FRED

i. Gina motions to fund $22,950, option 2 of 6 interns for one-year. Ashley seconds the motion.

Motion carries.

p. Pathways to Research

i. Request is $152,000 for three years, $50,000 per year. ii. Cathy proposed: to put it at $0 because other UC resources should cover this. But, If there was money she would suggest funding for one year minus Grad student fee remission because these funds can't be used for that...right? Lisa said correct. Grad student remission can’t be covered.

iii. Suini proposed 20K; Gina proposed 10K iv. Gina motioned to table: John was second — the ask was too large.

q. West Fest

i. Gina wants to abstain from voting on it; they met with her and she says that the budget looks different

from what they came to her with it.

ii. Juliana: TAPS and WestFest came to GSA with this last year because TAPS was considering using East Remote for WestFest; grads unhappy with that because it would limit parking for this and other campus events/concerts.

iii. Suini says that she has been in the past when it was bigger and had less funding. She sounds

uncertain. Does not feel comfortable funding the full $2000

iv. Aaron says what SFAC would fund in the bare bones; he is in favor of funding v. Juliana and John unclear about the last line: "We have budgeted for an amount of funding that’s over $2,000 less than the total we requested in the event that we do not receive the amount of funding requested.”

vi. Motion from John to fund $1000; second from Aaron

. Motion carries.

r. Baskin School of Engineering

i. Group has question about the cost of speakers ii. Juliana suggests amending the honorarium costs to include local or campus speakers to defray cost iii. Motion from Gina to fund $3,000 for honorariums and Ashley was second. Motion carries.

s. OPERS Experiential Learning

John motions to fund $6,000 for leadership workshop and marketing. Aaron seconds the motion. Motion carries.

t. Grad Ventilation Hood

i. Aaron mentioned that no one else at Iveta talks about hood but Rachel; but inspector came and said their may be a concern; if Iveta shuts down it will put out about 20 student workers and will affect campus.

ii. Motion from Gina to fund RSA

TAB

Survey $4,860.00; Juliana seconded. Motion carries.

u. Mock Trial

i. Motion to not fund made by Gina. Ian seconded the motion. Motion carries.

v. WOCC

i. We would like to amend the submission to be on behalf of the newly formed Feminist Collective of

Sisters in the Borderlands.

ii. Motion to fund $10,591.24 for half of retreat and speaker series; Second by Juliana. Motion carries.

iii. Juliana suggested that they take up the rest of the money with GSA

w. Volunteers Around the World

i. Motion to fund $936.45 - no ice cream social expenses by Juliana. Aaron seconds the motion.

Motion carries.

x. Pathways to Research

i. Gina motions to fund $15,716. Aaron seconds the motion. Motion carries.

y. Permanent Fund Requests

i. SOMeCA, Grad Orientation, Grad Lab asked for permanent funds. ii. John mentioned that Grad groups have gotten quite a bit in various ways and that SOMeCA may be

able to use permanent funds in effective way.

iii. Gina unclear at the SOMeCA’s permanent fund ask of $1019. Did they superimpose the last two

numbers?

iv. Aaron suggests holding on to the permanent funds; Cathy agreed. Group agrees it may be good to

keep something in the reserve

v. Motion to not allocate any of the permanent funds this year by Suini; second by Aaron. Motion carries.

Meeting Adjourned.