INTRODUCTION
Shared governance defines the relationship of students to the university. At its core it’s about the students’ voice being heard by campus decision makers. To this end student representatives sit on a variety of campus committees.
This year the Senate prepared a report that summarizes the main issues being addressed by these various committees. It’s included here:
Associated Students of UC Santa Barbara Shared Governance Report: Fall 2014 Compiled: December 2014 by the Senate University Affairs Committee University Affairs Committee
Membership
Cassie Mancini, Chair – Hiro Bower, Vice Chair – Paul Austin – Colton Bentz – Niki Elyasi – Kevin Koo – Jennifer Liem – Jonathan Rothschild – Liam Stanton
Table of Contents
‣ Introduction 3
‣ Advisory Committee to Campus Access 4
‣ Arts & Lectures Advisory Committee 5
‣ Campus Childcare Advisory Committee 6
‣ Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on the Status of Women 7
‣ Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Student Housing 8
‣ Faculty Executive Committee 9 ‣ Faculty Issues and Awards Committee 10
‣ Faculty Legislature 11
‣ Gaucho Health Insurance Advisory Committee 12
‣ Student Health Advisory Committee 13
‣ Student Resource Building Governance Board 14
Introduction
Shared governance is an often overlooked structure in the University of California system. Billed as a “dual-track system of authority and responsibility”1 between faculty and administrators, shared governance has come to infiltrate all levels of the UC system and include students in University governance and policymaking. As the beneficiaries of a UC education and financial stakeholders in the UC system, students ought to be active participants in the making of their University. At the most rudimentary level, this means sitting on Academic Senate Standing Committees, the Chancellor’s Administrative Advisory Committees, and campus building Governance Boards alongside UCSB faculty, staff, and administrators. These committees may not always directly relate to students or even require substantial student input. Regardless, it is crucial that students continue to claim their seat at the table in conversations related to the operation of their University. Students refocus the discussion; students disseminate knowledge; students are the core of the University of California. The Associated Students representatives appointed to sit on UC Santa Barbara’s Academic Senate Standing Committees, Administrative Advisory Committees, and Governance Boards were directed to serve as a student voice in spaces largely comprised of non-student members. After their respective committee meetings, the student representatives were asked to fill out a questionnaire, the responses to which are recorded in this report. The recorded responses cover a range of details on the topics discussed at committee meetings without breaching confidentiality. Contact information for each student representative is listed to facilitate communication between the committee reps and the general student body. This report is intended to be an informative and transparent document. Its contents highlight both what is happening on campus and what is upcoming. I hope it serves as a material reminder of the necessity of a sustained collaboration between the University and its students. Cassie Mancini Chair, Senate University Affairs Committee 1 https://senate.ucsb.edu/about/
Advisory Committee to Campus Access November 21st, 2014
What significant issues did the committee discuss?
‣ truncated dome repair (already identified near Storke Tower)
‣ gender inclusive bathroom signage (single stall bathrooms)
‣ incorporate signage into future renovations
‣ service/emotional support animal policy
‣ shuttle service (already have funds)
What would you like to communicate to the student body about the meeting?
‣ For any student to be eligible for an emotional support animal, he/she must be registered as a disabled student and must register their animal with both UCSB and Santa Barbara County Animal Services (if applicable).
Committee Contact Information – Administered by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services – Student Representative: – Garrison Schlauch – gschlauch@umail.ucsb.edu
Arts & Lectures Advisory Committee November 4th, 2014
What significant issues did the committee discuss?
‣ how to get the word out about these unique and exciting events to students
‣ how to more effectively advertise and market the events and the seasons to students on campus and in IV
‣ which events are students more willing to see: comedians, actors/actresses, plays/musicals, bestselling fiction authors 2. What would you like to communicate to the student body about the meeting?
‣ Numerous A&L events are held each week: they are fun, cultural extracurricular experiences that help us to grow and to learn outside of the classroom.
‣ We subsidize them largely with our fees and are thus, given a hefty discount that is typically around 80%. Also many are free. ‣ A&L staff are also very receptive to what students want to see and if there are any performers/lecturers that you would like to see on campus, go talk to them… or me.
Committee Contact Information – Student Representative: – Andrew Neiman – andrewn@live.com
Campus Childcare Advisory Committee December 11th, 2014
What significant issues did the committee discuss?
‣ The Boys & Girls Club are being asked to move their summer program off campus which will be troubling for both students and parents. They presented and asked if we can communicate with the University to let them stay on site.
What would you like to communicate to the student body about the meeting?
‣ The Boys & Girls Club are looking for interns!
Committee Contact Information – Student Representative: – Daisy Fernandez – dfernandez@senate.as.ucsb.edu
Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on the Status of Women November 13th, 2014
What significant issues did the committee discuss?
‣ Listed areas of concern in the following categories that we will research and devise solutions to present to the Chancellor:
‣ Women Faculty Representation, Recruitment & Retention
‣ Implementation of family friendly policies (was of top priority to the committee)
‣ Faculty leadership development opportunities
‣ The Grad Students suggested a self-defense program and better dissemination of information regarding family policies
What would you like to communicate to the student body about the meeting?
‣ There will be a new campus climate survey that includes IV, which will allow for a better gage of how female students feel on and off campus, especially with regards to safety.
‣ For students specifically, the committee plans to look into diversifying faculty, creating mentorship programs, and increasing the recruitment and retention of undergraduate women in STEM. This will be a two year process and more goals will be added.
Committee Contact Information – Student Representative: – Danielle Maldonado – dmaldonado@umail.ucsb.edu
Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on the Student Housing November 20th, 2014
What significant issues did the committee discuss?
‣ The cost of attendance at UCSB (specifically housing costs)
‣ Housing in Isla Vista ‣ Rate plan for four years
‣ The delay in opening of San Joaquin apartment projects
What would you like to communicate to the student body about the meeting?
‣ Roane Akchurin from the Community Housing Office is a great resource for students.
Committee Contact Information – Student Representative: – Paola Dela Cruz – pdelacruz@senate.as.ucsb.edu
Faculty Executive Committee November 13th, 2014
What significant issues did the committee discuss?
‣ Reviewed proposals and self assessments of each department on campus.
What would you like to communicate to the student body about the meeting?
‣ Please take your surveys at the end of each quarter seriously! Faculty and administration really do look at these and make decisions based off these survey statistics.
Committee Contact Information – Student Representative: – Nikka Kurland – nkurland@senate.as.ucsb.edu
Faculty Issues and Awards Committee November 12th, 2014
What significant issues did the committee discuss?
‣ UC Venture Program
‣ Faculty Welfare Committee issues such as salary and retirement
‣ Health Insurance with UC Care; spoke with Richard Watts, the faculty advisor to the Chancellor on the matter Looked over revisions in the Academic Personnel Manual about:
-rewarding faculty contributing to the emphasis of diversity
-revision on stopping the clock on the 8-year service limitation in cases of childbearing and illness
‣-revision regarding medical separation in cases where the faculty is unfit to continue their job
‣-revision which more narrowly defines the job title of “specialist”
‣ Discussed revisions to the Red Binder: added comments to make certain words more defined and discussed the issues of job evaluations for executives
‣ Plan on bringing up the issue of childcare services for the next meeting
What would you like to communicate to the student body about the meeting?
‣ We are tackling the issue of UCSB being the most expensive UC due to health insurance costs. We are dealing with the ever-increasing health insurance costs.
‣ UC is working on becoming the top institution and keeping up with the standard on faculty compensation and benefits.
‣ We are rewarding faculty that contribute to diversity as well.
Faculty Issues and Awards Committee December 10th, 2014
What significant issues did the committee discuss?
‣ Childcare was the main topic of discussion this meeting and most likely will be the main topic of discussion for the next meeting in January as well.
‣ Other topics discussed were the open access policy for published work of faculty and Academic Freedom.
‣ Health Insurance issues were also discussed.
What would you like to communicate to the student body about the meeting?
‣ Nothing significant was addressed during the meeting in regards to students.
‣ Childcare issues are being addressed.
‣ Healthcare will be an issue discussed next meeting, where Stobo, the Senior Vice President of Health Services, will most likely speak.
Committee Contact Information – Student Representative: !10 – Jacob Johnson – jacobcjohnson@umail.ucsb.edu
Faculty Legislature October 23rd, 2014
What significant issues did the committee discuss?
‣ Representatives from all the different Academic committees (Committee on Admissions, Enrollment, & Relations with Schools, Committee on Courses & General Education, etc.) gave their 2013-2014 annual reports and talked about plans for the future.
‣ Touched on people buying notes for their classes.
‣ Discussed some of the problems in IV.
What would you like to communicate to the student body about the meeting?
‣ The faculty cares about the students and are worried about our general well-being.
Committee Contact Information – Student Representative: – Jimmy Villarreal – jvillarreal@senate.as.ucsb.edu
Gaucho Health Insurance Advisory Committee November 20th, 2014
What significant issues did the committee discuss?
‣ Changes in criteria for Gaucho Health Insurance ‣ Premium changes
‣ Price of Insurance 2. What would you like to communicate to the student body about the meeting?
‣ Change in Criteria
Committee Contact Information – Student Representative: – Jennifer Liem – jenniferliem19@gmail.com
Student Health Advisory Committee November 10th, 2014
What significant issues did the committee discuss?
– New Meningitis Vaccine
-Serogroup B requires three shots
-Last year 50% of the student body got both shots
-Students are not recommended to receive both last year’s vaccination and this year’s vaccination; therefore, this would primarily be targeted towards first year and transfer students.
-No special procedures in terms of consent are required
-This vaccine will be available at Student Health at all times
-Students must pay cash (it is not free); we don’t know if insurance will approve until next year.
‣ Flu Shots
-Cost increased from $20 to $30 for non-GHI
‣ Cost of GHI – Dr. Farris
-$856/quarter, $2568/year
-Waiver criteria is now being released
-Distance criteria will be extended next year (to approximately 50 miles) to include Kaiser students
-MediCal students would still be denied, but we would recommend that they switch to Santa Barbara County
-Considered cost cutting options to GHI: could decrease benefits, increase co-pay, etc.
‣ Halloween
‣ Ebola
-no concern, Student Health has informational webpage
‣ Other Topics
-considered an electric car service for disabled or students who are “too sick”
-SBCC student health has an alternative transport system
What would you like to communicate to the student body about the meeting?
‣ GHI waiver will be extended next year to include Kaiser patients (50 miles).
‣ The requirement/waiver form for GHI will be simplified this year to be in one paragraph/ chunk that you simply click yes to agree to.
‣ Please get a flu shot.
‣ Take care of yourself.
Committee Contact Information – Student Representative: – Cassie Mancini – cmancini@seante.as.ucsb.edu
Student Resource Building Governance Board November 7th, 2014
What significant issues did the committee discuss?
‣ Renaming the SRB to Honor Michael D. Young
‣ SRB Finance Report
‣ Voting on Co-Chairs and Secretary of the Board
What would you like to communicate to the student body about the meeting?
‣ Student Resource Building Governance Board supports the honoring of Vice-Chancellor Michael D. Young through renaming the SRB. Further discussion to be had.
Committee Contact Information – Student Representative: – Louis A. Mariano – louismariano@umail.ucsb.edu !14