Fee Transparency Project

Zoom: https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/95622314123?pwd=5VWcllvoBuwmAnafdwInowPaBQ1LWB.1

Present: Marshall, Lucy, Lisa, Mel, Lauren, Trey, Wahaj, Manel, Tanisha, Katie, Aiden

Welcome and Introductions
1. Members introductions: Name, Pronouns, Year, Major, and Space.
2. Order: Cowell, Stevenson, Crown, Merrill, Kresge, Porter, Oakes, RCC, C9, JRL, GSA, GSC, SAB, Provost, SUA, Lisa, Lucy
Approval of Agenda & 11/04/24 Minutes
1. Trey motions to approve the agenda and last meeting’s minutes. Marshall seconds the motion. No objections - motion carries.
Announcements & Updates
1. Membership updates
  1. Welcome back Tanisha Agarawal, Rachel Carson College Representative
2. Budget Presentation (presentation given my Lisa)
3. SlugWorks: Invitation to visit the SlugWorks space @ Baskin Engineering Basement - see email from Nicolas K.
  1. During Week 10 there will be a tour of the maker space. SlugWorks came to the fund call workshop last week; they plan to apply for funding. Nicolas from SlugWorks invited members to come and visit the space. Do we accept the invitation from the author of a potential proposal and/or could this be a conflict of interest?
  2. Wahaj says that there are enough of us here, that if bias showed up about a group, it would reveal itself and we would address it. Visiting the space would be helpful to understand what the group does. Wahaj acknowledges that not every organization gets the opportunity to engage with SFAC in this way; SlugWorks took the initiative to invite us. Wahaj trusts the group to make an unbiased decision.
  3. Manel works with SlugWorks all the time and is familiar. If there is a discussion, Manel can provide more context. Manel points out that they are a community organization.
  4. The idea: they want to extend the maker space, and make a second space that doesn’t require certification to use the equipment. This could be a partnership with Baskin Engineering.
  5. Lucy suggests that if folks are interested in going, they can do so, informally but not make it an official SFAC engagement.
  6. Lisa suggests that if the group goes, we should offer other groups the same opportunity. Mel likes this idea but fears that it could be overwhelming to offer this to every proposal author - to visit spaces for example.
  7. Marshall asks about whether we should open up a process to invite all groups to meet with SFAC. Trey is open to this idea, but is open either way. There is no agreement on moving forward. Lucy suggests adding this to next year’s call, as not to change course this year since the call is already published.
4. Meeting updates
  1. December 2nd meeting canceled as some folks will be traveling following the Thanksgiving holiday
CSF Meeting Debrief
1. Meeting was November 16-17 at UCLA
2. Marshall and Trey went to UCLA for the meeting this weekend.
3. UC Regents recently approved an increase to out of state cohort tuition of $3,402. This will be applied to the next incoming class in Fall 2025. The group did not decide to put a statement out on the tuition increase.
  1. There was criticism among CSF for this topic because originally the idea of the rate increase came up in closed session. When it came to the Regents, the topic was somewhat buried with another topic on the agenda. There was a lack of transparency. The Regents voted on the item at the same meeting that it was introduced.
  2. Lisa explains that this applies only to undergraduate out of state students. No plans to increase fees for graduate students.
4. There was a discussion about adding a standing policy on audits.
5. CSF would like to hold a summit that would be for all members of SFAC.
6. The next meeting will be in Merced in late January.
7. They talked about UCLA’s Student Services Fee recapture program. They have carryforward limits of 10%, and anything above that comes back to central campus and then there is a funding call for those specific funds.
8. There were also workshops.
9. There was discussion about how to submit a request to speak at a Regent’s meeting; this would go to the Regent’s “pre-read” for the meeting. You can also sign up for a public comment period. Any Regent’s meeting with five or more members in attendance, must have a public comment period.
  1. Lisa suggests listening to the meetings to learn more about the Regents process.
  2. Link to UC Regents meeting website.
10. Trey mentions that he will be able to steward the campaign initiatives. Trey encourages folks to go to the Merced meeting to learn more.
11. Trey mentions that it was insightful to learn from other campuses, to see how different SFAC’s communicate with their student bodies, the relationships with Chancellors, etc.
2024-2025 Funding Call
1. Workshop
  1. The first workshop was conducted on November 13th. Six groups attended. See attendance tracker below for the list of groups who attended.
  2. Trey shares that the workshop was successful and the information was well received by participants. We were able to reinforce the importance of submitting the budget information using SFAC’s template.
  3. Marshall says that groups asked about a shared calendar for scheduling consultation appointments. What do folks think about this? There was a brief discussion but no action items.
  4. The next workshop is on Sunday. Lucy will send a reminder out.
2. Upcoming Workshops
  1. November 24th
  2. November 26th
  3. Slide Deck (updated following the first workshop based on feedback from Marshall and Mel)
  4. Attendance tracker
    1. If you meet individually with groups, please add the name of the group to the tracker.
2023-2024 Funding Call
1. Approve Google Form to request each funded unit from last year to submit a plan regarding if/how they will be moving their program forward this year. We want to learn about the impacts of budget reductions now, so we may determine if there are additional funds to put into this year’s funding call.
2. Draft Form
3. Lucy asks if this is an accountability measure or advisory? We would want to hear back from each group, or they lose the funding if they don’t respond? Lauren likes the idea of making this required. Trey agrees with Lauren. Sounds like we are leaning toward required.
4. Manel suggests that if we request this information, we should be ready to process, and capture the funds.
5. Add a section to upload a new budget sheet if there are changes to their expense budget - using the SFAC budget from last year.
6. Trey motions that the form be required, otherwise, a group forfeits their award. Marshall seconds. Not objections - motion carries. Lucy will send out the request this week.
SFAC Internal Budget Overview
1. Increase stipend for Trey
2. Marshall suggests that Trey receive an increased stipend for the additional duties associated with serving as the CSF Campaign Coordinator, from $2,500 annually to $3,150. Fall quarter would be prorated. The increase is $217 per quarter.
3. Wahaj is supportive of the action.
4. Mel has no other comments.
5. Mel motions to increase Trey’s stipend for new CSF role in supporting. Lauren seconds the motion. No objections. Motion carries.
Sub-Committee Work - tabled to next meeting
1. Outreach
  1. Helping Mel with Social Media
  2. Tabling
  3. Info events
  4. Others?
2. Auditing
  1. Looking at fees
  2. Meeting with responsible parties
  3. Others?
3. Other Subcommittees?
New Topics
1. Student Fee Summit
  1. Marshall suggests that SFAC could host an event for students to come and learn about student fees, to gain knowledge about the fees they pay, to help get students more informed about referendums, etc.
  2. Lucy suggests a partnership with Slugcast if SFAC wanted to produce a podcast about student fees.
  3. At our next meeting, we will have a focused discussion about this.
  4. Marshall asks Lisa if she can do a training on reading budgets at the next meeting, to help prepare for the review of funding proposals and budgets. The item will be added to the agenda.
Adjournment
1. Meeting adjourned at 1:39 pm.

Upcoming Guests/Topics:.

Guests
1. Acting Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Success John Bollard
By-Laws
1. [From 6/6/24 meeting minutes]: Marshall, Mel, and Lucy will draft some language and edits for the bylaws responsive to today’s conversation for review next year early in fall quarter.
Auditing:
1. Student Media Voice Fee
2. Student Life Facilities Fee