Fee Transparency Project

Present: Brynna, Alvin, Liz, Maryann, Stephanie, Andy, Charlene, Lucy, Lydia

Welcome and Introductions
1. SFAC Community Agreements
Approval of Agenda, 5/6/2022 Minutes
1. Maryann motions to approve the agenda, Alvin seconds. Motion passes.
2. Maryann motions to approve the minutes, Alvin seconds. Motion passes.
Announcements & Updates
1. 2022-2023 Chair interest?
  1. Duties (pages 4 & 5), nominations
  2. Brynna will keep advertising the chair opportunity over the next few weeks!
2. Professional development next week – bring your CVs/resumes
  1. Alvin asks if the group can discuss how to describe SFAC and other experiences.
  2. General advice about resumes, cover letters.
3. Hybrid meetings?
  1. Brynna asks how the group would feel about attending future meetings in-person. Lisa, Andy might be interested.
  2. Lucy says we could use Kerr or a Bay Tree conference room as a meeting location.
4. Other announcements
SFAC’s Summer Fee Involvement – Lisa Bishop
1. Lisa shares that this is a note from Kimberly to remove SFAC’s yearly approval. Other options would be every other year, set the levels as the same every year, etc.
2. Alvin says every two years would make sense, with the exception of extreme circumstances.
  1. Lisa says that fees will adjust based on elections and sunset dates. The percentage charged would be consistent.
3. Lucy says that this could be helpful for students and families to plan financially.
4. Lisa says that this could be planned into the future and include the Budget office every two years.
5. Brynna asks the group if anyone is opposed to shift the review to every two years instead of every year? Alvin, Liz, Stephanie, Andy, Maryann all support this.
Funding Call Reflection
1. Graphs and finalized allocations
  1. Brynna shares data from this year’s allocations compared to the previous two years.
  2. Brynna notes that student fees should not be expected to be the sole funder of a program. This is not specific to any single unit. Soft funding is not sustainable for units and departments.
  3. Lucy says that iVC Baszile approved the allocations earlier today. Notification letters will be sent out in the next few weeks to unit heads.
  4. Lisa shares that three years ago SFAC was guaranteed 250,000 for three years, this is the third year. With decreased enrollment and increasing salaries and benefits, SSF may be adjusted. Lisa is asking for another set, yearly commitment from SSF for the committee.
  5. Many FTEs are tied to SSF funds. Every UC campus is seeing larger portions of the budget going to staff benefits and raises. This isn’t a problem, but it is connected to future allocations.
  6. With enrollments decreasing, the overall student fee funding pools will be decreasing.
2. Reporting back to spaces
3. Individual letters to units (x4)
  1. Brynna reviews the drafts. The groups read the letters.
  2. Liz says the letters look good. Liz notes that some of the letters acknowledge frustration, is this inviting the group to meet with other departments on campus? Many applicants may want to fully go through with all available resources.
    1. Brynna says the group always welcomes units to come in to speak with the space.
4. Improvements for next year
  1. The committee goes into breakout rooms to discuss the funding process.
  2. Future clarity about whether budget document should be the provided one.
Adjournment

Upcoming Guests/Topics:

Lisa Bishop – Campus Budget (5/20)
Lucy Rojas – Professional Development (5/20)
SUGB - (5/27)
Bylaw updates (e.g., conflict of interest) - TBD
2022-2023 Chair elections - TBD