SOUTH COLLEGE

United Student Association

M E M O R A N D U M TO: Board of Trustees Seattle Colleges FROM: Jacky Tran President, United Student Association South Seattle College DATE: February 9th, 2017 SUBJECT: United Student Association (USA) Report – INFORMATION ONLY

USA SENATE MEETING - December 6th On December 6, College President, Gary Oertli, and the Vice-President of Student Services, Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap, attended the United Student Association weekly meeting. The officers were able to better acquaint themselves as well as create the opportunity for more communication to improve the student experience.

WELLNESS CENTER UPDATE - December 8th The latest Wellness Center meeting focused on security as well as telecommunications. The year concluded with most of the center planned out with finer logistics that the college does not necessarily need to be involved in for decisions to be reached. An informational session will be held in February to alert the student body of the current progress.

LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY DAY AT STATE CAPITAL- JANUARY 26th On January 26th, the United Student Association plans to meet with state legislators to advance the issues presented in the WACTCSA agenda. The students will also get a tour of the Rotunda, Supreme Court and other buildings. USA VP and Legislative Liaison Christina Calimlim is coordinating South’s team.

WASHINGTON HIGHER EDUCATION SUSTAINBILITY CONFERENCE FEB 15-17 at United Student Association Community Service Officer Zari Akkuly and a South student at-large will be joining other students from Central and North for this annual conference in Spokane. The goal is to share best practices and hear presentations on creative solutions to common sustainability challenges. The conference theme is "Caring for our Common Home.” Just as Pope Francis called "every living person on the planet" to be mindful of consumption and assert an ethic of care for our planet, WAHESC also invites students, faculty, and staff at institutions from across the region to gather around this theme. As we are working together to advance SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE

sustainability at our institutions, we look forward to unpacking how we define and practice "care" and what is our responsibility to the earth, our common home. Adam Maurer, district-wide Sustainability Coordinator and North’s Sustainability Coordinator Tim Albertson have been working with Christa Colouzis, Manager of South’s Environment/Health and Safety, and Monica Lundberg, South’s Student Life Program Manager, to support the students in attendance.

FOOD PANTRY UPDATE The United Student Association has partnered with Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society to support a Food Pantry in Student Life. Hunger is a reality for many of our students at South as we have a large population who live at or near poverty level. Not having reliable access to sufficient, nutritious food makes it stressful to study and challenging to be academically successful. This problem has prompted many other schools to establish food pantries to help college students in need (University of , , Spokane, etc). In December 2016, an initial student survey was conducted at South in which 90% strongly agreed or agreed “that a Food Pantry is needed on campus.” Funds are currently being allocated and the plan is to open during winter quarter. The pantry will also be supported by community partnerships and food drives.

SMOKING ON CAMPUS UPDATE The United Student Association is currently looking into getting signage approved in areas on campus that are considered to have higher traffic and a higher rate of smoking. The hope is to reduce the amount of student complaints.