UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS Amherst

UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS Amherst Commonwealth College Student Advisory Board Meeting Minutes Present: Tim, Marissa, Kari, Kelly, Danielle D., Igor, Danielle A., Nicole, Eli, Julie, Alex, Zach, Daniel, Maggie, Vidya, Charlotte, Aaron, Robin, Dean Clarkson, Katie Date: Thursday, February 5, 2009 Time: 6:30 PM Place: 406A Goodell TOPIC PERSON DISCUSSION ACTION RESPONSIBLE Opening Tim Welcome Back Everyone! We will have name tags next week. Announcements: Next meeting will be Thursday, February 19 at 6:30 pm. Please RSVP! Welcome Back! Winter Update: Dean Clarkson Budget: ComCol does not have enough money to support the 3700 students enrolled; had Budget $3.63M exclusive for ComCol, and $550k from Univ., now no longer have $3.63M line item in Honors Change Governor’s budget, and suffering 20% cut of $550k; FY10=BIG CUTS!; Legislative Advocacy College Committee now supports ComCol. Reorganization Honors: Chancellor thought that by changing reqs for latin honors, students would drop out of ComCol; only about 30 people have dropped; no real immediate effect of students dropping like Chancellor had hoped; Freshmen might drop, but Soph/Jun/Sen probably not b/c they’ve already completed many of the reqs; Will students stop taking honors classes and not formally withdraw from comcol? Don’t really know yet College Reorganization: Academic colleges restructuring to reduce costs; ComCol changes: cutting # of transfers not cutting # of incoming freshman; Univ doesn’t appreciate ComCol: neglected to mention Zack Simmons being a ComCol student in soccer article, Univ did not buy Globe articles feat. ComCol; ComCol exists to show others that students can work as hard as ivy students; ComCol needs to ‘sell itself’; What can we do? Tell faculty about ComCol, Priority housing proposal, need better communications (no comm. Person because cannot afford one); What place has the University put us in? Committee Jimmy & Kari Legislative: letters to legislators signed by students still going strong; phoneathon: parents Updates Robin & happy their students are in ComCol, willing to call legislators; lobby day? During spring break, Charlotte talk to legislators; invite legislators to UMass/ComCol? Ellen Story: local and supportive; Tim & Marissa luncheon/tours for legislators? Send out a bookmark with # of students in their district Programming: Survey was not as successful, 896 people responded ~20%; students not attending Film series/PizProf/W3, maybe 1-2x per semester, events geared towards narrower audience; Event times 6-8pm, interest in ComCol intermurals, Majority feel a part of ComCol community; Alternates to BBQ? Dance: ComCol semi-formal, students recognized for high merit, buy tix, advocacy table @ dance? ComCol apparel give-a-ways; Prog. Com. Is reshaping to work with Leg. Adv. Alumni: Will have updates at the next meeting ComCol Proposals Tim Proposals will be available via email now and hard copy at the next meeting. Recorder: K. Gustamachio