Sections

· Brad Baca-VP for Finance & Administration: Budget update: Talk a bit about statewide budget picture impact on Western State College of Colorado. Differences between public and private education, the cost to attend a private school $100,000 per year per student, room and board is $52,000. They have alumni and endowments that help pay for future students. Residents pay $4,000/year. Average costs to educate one student for one year is about $16,000/year. How does Western State College of Colorado get the extra funding? Public institutes get money from the state for the gap in costs, private schools get money from alumni. Increasing pressure for costs at the state level, which squeezes out higher education. Our situation is unique because we have a lot of constraints. It is creating a jam with what we can do. Taxes go to K-12 and corrections, medicare and human services, higher education gets 9% of general fund budget, when historically schools got 20%. Hickenlooper tried to fix state budget, which came with a lot of cuts. Revenues are not recovering as fast as they should be coming. Estimate a 500 million dollar structural deficit. Current appropriation is at 500 million dollars for operating budgets. 2009-10 budget has been reduced by 26%, Westerns funding mirrors the statewide cuts, just over 24%, or roughly 3 million dollars in budget reductions. If state continues to reduce the cost they subsidize education, then we need to make up the shortfall through tuition increases. Many instituions have taken advantage of this opportunity. We are the third lowest for tuition costs in the state. When you look at what other instituions did the average increase by student was over $650, non-resident average $688, 400$ at Western State College of Colorado and $640 for out of state. There has been strong commitment into need based aid and financial aid. Next fiscal year, the budget mark is being reconsidered now, and proposals to reduce costs are on the table. The state has tried not to touch financial aid, which is need-based, 100million across the state in financial aid, and proposed to cut that by 30 million, consider how we will backfill this money. This will necessitate discussions about tuition and what to do with the budget, which will be discussed in April and May. Try to mitigate against these cuts. Things that are being to discussed, are proposition 103, which proposed to increase income tax rates temporarily, 4.6%-5%, this should generate 3 billion dollars over the next five years and will all go toward public education. Board of Trustees support this measure. Elevate awareness of higher education in the state of Colorado, which is detrimental to economic and civil well-being. Better transparency of what public education does among the state. Capital development committee coming to campus next Tuesday, some at which they have supported and some the students have supported. Trying to get more. Higher education supports 98 million jobs, contributes 4.25 million in wages and salaries drive innovation, creates jobs, and does a lot that propels society.

o What kind of tuition increase should we be expecting?

§ About the same as this year about $500. Created a new budget model to see how to balance these costs

o Enrollment is a big issue here, how does tuition effect that?

§ Enrollment increases would help costs quite a bit. Western State College of Colorado has capacity to grow. The more students, the more revenue. A link between enrollment and tuition, yes.

§ 75% of financial aid goes to need-base, and formula helps decide who is eligable. 30 million will be a substantial cut for everyone to absorb.

§ Would more capital investments be good along with increasing tuition? Some perception of what you pay is what you get. Looked at financial aid process to see what we can do to get more students here, different dependant on type of student. Continuely refine instate students don’t come here because costs are cheap, and opposite for out-of-state.

§ Look at tution to see what revenue has been generate, proportion of what is used. Not a very complicated or logical approach, and becomes a contentious issue.

V. Action Items

VI. Discussion Items

· Wildlife Society Bill-Any questions

o How are you going to bring this back to the students? Attending workshops making connections with professionals, bring it back to clubs for more advanced methods. Access to all ppt at conference, can bring back to professors.

§ Would you be willing to present to the students what you presented to the students?

· Wildlife society does a lot to get students involved.

§ Is this the only conference that they are offering?

· Usually a Colorado State conference, but the big one is the national conference.

§ Is it crucial for all four to go?

· Well three are presenting on research so it is important for at least the 3 to go. The fourth person competes in a competition. Develop a culture and connection to figure out how to do more on campus.

· Tri beta, and wildlife society both biology clubs, at lease 40 people signed up and 15-20 people attend meetings.

· What have you done as a club?

o Resume workshop for biologists, liason comes in and helps with resume, teach a program, and a taxidermy workshop, hunter safety workshop, biology bonanza-teaching children about biology, volunteer oppurtunuties with many important organizations.

· What fundraising have you done?

o Coffee sales, $15-$20 a week. How did you get an invite?

§ All members of honors society can go?

o Did you go last year?

§ That was the first one

o How beneficial was the conference in Utah?

§ I would go if it was in Colorado, and present the research.

§ Last year it intice more students to join club and come to this conference and network with other biologists.

o If not allocated full amount how will you fund the trip

§ Out of pocket, and fundraising. Through working or loans this money will be found. When will you know about your grant?

§ Did not get the funding.

§ One more grant to apply to by the 11^th of October.

o Come to a budget meeting and vote on it next week. Email you details next week.

· Adventure Film Festival Bill-Sponser, Adam

o What were you going to charge community members?

§ Minimal fee, like $1. Goal is to pack the theatre.

§ Pursueing WRAP, PC and Student government

o How would ticket give-away works?

§ We would do a raffle by discipline, in each department.

o Have you approached WP for money?

§ We are trying to give this back to the community as well. Want to take in as many companies willing, to give free advertising since they provide a lot of sponserships. There are some classes that have to get sponsorships, so we are going to Smith and some larger non-local businesses.

o How many staff members will there be?

§ 5, different headlining sponsor each night, 5 different tshirts and hats all nights, these are full-retail estimates.

o With all other sponsors, is that for prizes and not for financial support?

§ Yes, they are giving us deals on the cost of the videos, but rare to give money. We’re working with WRAP, even though we missed the deadline since it is a positive program for students and campus. The movie theatre has more draw for students than the ballroom. We have permission to use theatre those nights.

§ What is the capacity?

· 200

§ No student organizations have been able to run a student event, it would be fun for a students to have something that is their own in the theatre, and to sample it for free.

§ We expect it to sell out every time

§ Chase: Is this just the amount you are asking from us?

· PC you can only ask for $300, and 50 posters. Student government just under $2000, WRAP $200.

§ Erika: Real Rock is so expensive because it is near the release date.

· Real Rock has a good history here. Selling out would be 600 students, and the buzz would be good. Hopefully full attendance would get the event to grow in the future. Before thanksgiving and finals, if we had it later, costs would be less, but it is more exciting to hold event during the season. This is the only film charging viewing rights, where four are being donated, which is great!

§ Travis: Conflicting event on same night?

· WRAP still have events planned on Friday, which is a dance thing, and they could bounce between events. Speed dating too. Help lift up students after speed dating.

· Honors Bill-Walker Sponsor: Christopher Philips: The 6 Questions of Socrates, honors would like a campus-wide lecture hosting this author, around the issues raised in Philips’ work. This will better aid the community in fostering intellectual growth.

o Honors is trying to get guest speaker to promote his ideas and honors as an organizations, this is an integral part to get incoming students. Honors program is what Western State College of Colorado uses to to attract good students. Secured 5 dept. donations. $500 from SGA, cheapest cost in a while, secured well over ½. Support honors as an outreaching mechanism. Staff it ourselves, looks good for sga, good for honors, good for community.

o Sarah: If there were more community members there then students we would need justification a supplement.

§ We will follow through on this question. Depends on funding, whether or not conference will cost.

o Nick: When?

§ Christopher Philips won’t give a date without having funding, which is normal. We have to get funding, before we get dates.

o Nick: In what ways can SGA capstone the event and help sponsor the event?

§ What I mean by ‘capstone’ is that Philips would be the cap to the program that is already in existence. SGA along with other sponsors will get credit as a sponsor. This is a way to spend a little money that will go a long way. A good recruiting tool for the honors department and ultimately the college.

o Kayla: During convocation time? More students will come if it is in the evening.

§ There may be restrictions with the funding, so dependant on what they say will go.

o Shana: We did not allocate the whole amount from convocations. We allocated you all $300.

VII. Advisor Report

· Homecoming was fabulous, alumni loved it! I will be on vacation next week, and next week is mid-fall break, be careful please.

VIII. Senator Reports

· Erika: Tomorrow night Native American student council is doing dinner and movie, at 6:30pm called “Skins”.

· Nicole: Hiring a new librarian, looking for volunteers to look over interviews and candidates.

· Shayna: We did not allocate full $1500 to art department. We gave the class nothing. Zoomba $100, Honors $300.

· Walker: Tomorrow in CB they are talking about sustainability and business. Ski advisor from Aspen resort and New Belgium $10 if you buy in advance resourceefficiency.org at old opera house.

IX. Committee Reports

· Homecoming Debrief-Thank you all it turned out great and got a lot of compliments. We want to do homecoming checklists to get done next week. Send checklists via email.

· Special thanks to bowl committee, through a great tail-gate party. Decorations were nice!

X. Advisory Reports

· Nick: Going through the budget at the city. Nov. 1^st is the date of the election, email ballots. Register to vote at the city, or online gunny.dems.org with a Colorado DL. Skate rink is opening this weekend, freshman ditches are off. New informational kiosks at Hartmen’s. Friday night is the HS home football game, they have been having a great season.

o Grace: field vandalism $4000 sod damage not including labor. Donuts of fields.

· Haleigh: Sign up for office hours. Take a look at new name-change forum, there will only be four. Times are listed and we have the rooms 30 minutes before the meeting. Gary should be in attendance. North Ballrom on October 19^th. South ballroom the following one. Meeting structure, any input?

o We should go through a full bill before making a decision.

§ Can’t we just always have two weeks to discuss a bill rather than allocating certain meetings to certain tasks. It is nice to have two weeks to discuss a bill.

o Should we vote on two bills next week?

§ I thought that was the point. The senator should have a small understanding of bill to answer preliminary questions people may have. Everything should be presented on discussion and voted on action. Next week there shouldn’t be any bills presented, only a vote.

o Not giving senators 2 full weeks.

o I thought they presented on action and discussed and have another week to speak with constituents.

o What if we have them come in present, then don’t come back discuss, third week they vote.

o Would we need to come back and discuss with SGA?

§ I agree

o No point of second week because bill writers wont be able to ask questions

o Present on discussion week, and vote on action week. Every other week would be budget, and presenters would come in both weeks.

o When we only had a week, we are just making a judgment call because we didn’t have time to speak with constituents.

§ If there are more questions then you always have the answer to say you are not ready to vote, and table the bill.

§ We could always table more complicated bills, so senators know when bills can be brought in.

§ Whenever we get the bill then maybe email contacts would be nice so we can get short questions answered quickly.

· We have the contact sheet, and sometimes email can be unreliable

§ We shouldn’t need more than a week for these three bills we have.

o Present bill on discussion week’s. Vote on action weeks.

o NO BILLS NEXT WEEK, unless it is a special case, guest speakers can always show up…

· Grace: Bridging the gap health this weekend, free presentation at 4:30pm-6p. This is the Patch Adams that the movie was based off. Giving a college wide tour, will be coming this year and next year. 9a-1p for a workshop, email Grace to get on the list since its limited space. Sex positive free pizza before next 5-7p Wednesday’s meeting in LEED office.

· Meg: October 20^th a lot of things going on, I will email the list

· Blake: Football not home, XC off

· Travis: Started every thing this week, going well, MTWTH nights.

· Hayden: Cycling in GJ, Baseball Denver, Mens Rugby at Regis

· PC: 75 people at concert on Saturday, homecoming weekend.

· Aurora: Monday at 7pm sociology club is putting on a movie to watch “A Bugs Life”. Renters rights advocacy group, if a formal group in Gunnison then you can consult with the group about any rental disputes, currently they are educating themselves on the rights of tenants, have a FB page.

· Noah: This weekend there is intermediate MTN biking trip

· Maddy: Implementing larger outdoor recycling, a new whole unit like the one near Taylor. Paint them blue, with students, with a general Colorado theme with recycling guidelines.

XI. Special Topics

XII. Remarks for the Good of the Order

· Aurora “Thank You” Card

· Write down office hours

· 13 thank you cards to sign in SGA office.

· SGA Photograph

· Attach emails to bills that helps us contact presenters.

· Doing a Halloween event, pumpkin carving contest between offices in College Center promote school spirit and festivity.

XIII. Late Roll Call

XIV. Adjournment