Fee Transparency Project

Zoom: https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/93456796050?pwd=Wjg3M0lIMXF4eXFrYm1BQ3BrVnA0dz09

Welcome and Introductions
1. Members introductions: Name, Pronouns, Year, Major, and Space.
2. Present: Andy, Marshall, Trey, Gabrielle, Manel, Diana, Jhertau, Katie, Lauren, Lisa, Mel, Lucy, Lydia
3. Guest: Maddie
  1. Lucy shares that Maddie is an intern in the DSAS office. She has asked Maddie to do an analysis of SFAC’s funding decisions over several years to better understand trends and funding decisions on a macro level. Maddie will be observing today to learn more about how the committee works.
Approval of Agenda and Minutes (1/25/24)
1. Gabrielle motions to approve, Marshall seconds. Motion passes.
Announcements & Updates
1. New elected Oakes representative, Shirley Gomez-Mendez
  1. Introduction
  2. Goal with the committee
  3. Full committee since 2020
    1. 🥳👏
    2. Thank you SCOC!
  4. Helpful resources
2. TAPS will visit with SFAC in Winter Quarter regarding referendum
  1. Scheduled for February 8th, 2024 at 1:30pm
  2. Additional Questions?
    1. Please put questions in this Document
3. Subcommittee updates
  1. Weekly meeting on Tuesday at 10:30am - 11:30am over Zoom.
  2. Future plans for tabling and information sessions.
4. Updates on the Bay Tree Bookstore Renovating Project.
  1. Letter regarding use of reserves for Bay Tree renovation project
    1. Lucy shares that the full budget has been pieced together, this was important for the project to start. Documents will route for signing off on the project.
    2. The project manager will begin a bidding process for an architect, then a contractor.
    3. Building could possibly be online in Fall 2027.
    4. Please make suggestions or comments on the letter, with a goal to send by Monday.
5. Other announcements
Funding call
1. Proposal reading and discussion (time - 4 minutes per proposal):
  1. (18) Graduate-Undergraduate STEM Research and Mentorship Program - $23,870
    1. Suggested 22,000. Good program, would like to fund grad mentors and undergrad mentees stipends.
    2. Need both mentors and mentees to function. Can’t just fund one or the other, symbiotic relationship. Funded both.
    3. Hard to find support for STEM students for the majors they are in.
    4. Marshall motions to fund 22,000, Trey seconds. No objections.
  2. (19) Black Grad 2025 - $18,035
    1. Suggested $14,360, cover performers, venues, programs, and stoles. Would like to support ASL interpreters if funding is available.
    2. First four priority items.
    3. Mel motions to fund 14,360, Gabrielle seconds. No objections. Motion passes.
  3. (20) Queer Ecologies Seminar Series - $4,850
    1. 2 unit class. No funding.
    2. Have previously funded peer to peer program, not a seminar.
    3. Gabrielle motions to not fund, Mel seconds. No objections, motion passes.
  4. (21) El Centro’s 30th Year Anniversary - $31,895
    1. Thought it was a well-written proposal, included things throughout the year.
    2. Mel says this laid out the events El Centro would like to do throughout a whole year. Great resource center, brings opportunity for students on campus. Funded in past, 2 other proposals in funding call.
    3. Don’t want to be a permanent funding source, this is a one-time thing. Explicitly said this in their proposal.
    4. Lauren motions to fund 24,800, Marshall seconds. No objections, motion passes.
  5. (22) Expanding the LSS Tutor Mentor Program - $24,910
    1. Question about eligibility under CSF’s guidance to not fund “learning support centers”. Andy will reach out to the CSF chair to ask. The document was last updated in 2012.
      1. Lucy notes that LSS is not “majority funded” through SSF already, they operate through their own referenda.
    2. Lauren thought this is a good program, good proposal, fully fund if possible.
    3. Andy suggests to table until he gets clarification.
    4. Lisa notes they have carryforward from their regular referenda.
    5. Not sure how much they would be using if permanent funding is already used for salaries?
      1. Discussion about how their carryforward might be used for other expenses.
    6. Jhertau suggest to table.
    7. Trey motions to table, Marshall seconds. Motion passes, no objections.
  6. (23) Peer Success Coaching Program - $112,397
    1. Tabled until clarification from CSF chair.
    2. Trey motions to table, Marshall seconds. Motion passes, no objections.
  7. (24) Graduate Student Diversity, Wellness, and Retention: Resource Center Graduate Internship - $313,097
    1. Largest proposal Andy has seen in awhile.
    2. Gabrielle liked it.
    3. One of the items in the ”other” categories was requesting tuition and fees since they’re employing grad students. SFAC cannot provide this.
      1. Lucy says that if a part of a grad student package includes a payroll or hourly rate, we can use that.
      2. Andy says they have a payroll section with the same amount as a level one TA.
    4. Group OK with funding one or two. Two would be better to sustain the program this year.
    5. Lucy met with the group, they used the term “bridge funding” to provide support until more permanent sources next year.
    6. Question about how they’re administering the payment.
    7. Question about how students are receiving the benefit of this position. Lucy will reach out to them.
    8. Gabrielle motions to table, Trey seconds. No objections, motion passes.
  8. (25) Sci-X Peer Success Team - $23,000
    1. Group confused about the peer advising, is that not more helpful than for the specific major?
    2. Showed they were doing independent expansion of existing program and adding more networking.
    3. Trey motions to fund funding for 4 peers, Andy seconds. Motion passes, no objections.
  9. (26) Slug Support Emergency Fund - $100,000
    1. This program offers basic needs funding for students in emergency situations.
    2. Lucy explains that the state and OP have made permanent basic needs funding available for certain programs. Non food and housing emergencies are not covered by this, ie technology, emergency travel, medical payments, etc. Permanent funding through the state covers housing and food.
      1. Incredible growth from the state in the past two years.
    3. Members had allocated between 50-60,000.
    4. Funds go directly toward students. General funding for everything basic needs.
    5. Andy suggests 55,000.
    6. Marshall motions to fund 55,000, Mel seconds. No objections, motion passes.
  10. (27) Stipends for KZSC Governing Board - $23,250
    1. Andy says that they are trying to support KZSC after they have had a failed referendum several times.
      1. Not enough turnout since 2019.
    2. Lisa says that the student media voice fee has a 400% carryforward and it is supposed to cover salaries, not facilities. Media council is supposed to distribute this fee to student media.
      1. Marshall says that this is being held for facility improvement. Student orgs within the SMC use them as a last source of funding after other routes. Trying to be a second SUGB.
      2. Trey suggests inviting a representative from them.
      3. Manel says that KZSC has split from Student MEdia and cannot access this funding. Lucy confirms that organizationally, they did split over a decade ago. In the referenda, KZSC is listed as an eligible department.
    3. Manel adds that they have a new station manager and are revamping in collab with Crown. A version of the class will be offered in the summer that will have podcasting, not just broadcasting.
    4. Andy suggests inviting a rep from SMC for more conversations on why the money is not being used for student programs.
    5. Lucy suggests following a practice of reaching out to KZSC first with questions — have they requested funding from SMC, eligibility, decide on following up after that.
    6. Andy suggests to table for further discussion.
    7. Gabrielle motions to table, Trey seconds. No objections, motion passes.
2. Discussion: 2023-2024 Rating Worksheet
Other Business
1. Request from students to attend SFAC meetings and possibly make comments - should we add a public comment to our meetings?
2. Meeting Timeline (captures our goals for each meeting and prospective topics for meetings)
3. Member Notes (any members who will be absent from a meeting may add topics for discussion, questions, feedback for items on the agenda, etc. in this running document).
Adjournment
1. Andy motions to adjourn, Mel seconds. Motion passes.

Upcoming Guests/Topics:

TAPS Director Dan Henderson Annual SFAC Meeting on February 8th, 2024.
Student representation for Misc Fee Committee in Feb/March.