SGA Senate Meeting- March 14^th

This week’s senate meeting was very productive! With much debate and discussion, various topics were brought to the attention of the Senate this week. The first topic that was discussed was the upcoming budgets for SGA, SEB, and The Retriever Weekly. After finishing a run-through of the budget, President Yasmin Karimian introduced the alterations that are to be made for the upcoming year. The next senate meeting will involve all three organizations coming together to discuss and approve the revised budgets.

Moving onto the next topic, the Senate then discussed and revised legislation for the Retriever Learning Center. For those of you who may not know, the RLC will be a new 24/7 study area in the library for UMBC students to utilize throughout the year. With SGA supporting the RLC, student feedback will be considered while making the decision as to how the RLC will be furnished once it is up and running for some time. The Senate will be voting on exactly how SGA will be supporting the RLC monetarily by the next senate meeting.

Before the meeting came to a close, the senators discussed some of their current initiatives. The UMBC application was discussed, due to one of the senator’s initiative to alter the Common Application’s supplement. Another announcement was that the Senate is currently working to keep some of the Commons dining facilities open for more hours during the week, as well as specific places holding hours during the weekend. As for last week’s outreach hour discussion, there was a significant amount of positive responses. The proposed issues with registration seem to be dwindling and opinions on advising seem to be more positive. This week’s outreach hour discussion will be questions about Stress Free Zone. For one, do you know what Stress Free Zone is? If so, what plans would you like to see in action during Stress Free Zone? Come out and speak to the senators about your recommendations for this SGA event!

SGA Senate Meeting

March 7, 2011

This week’s meeting started off with an introduction to a new member of the SGA Senate, Chatura Nagaradona. Chatura’s position as a senate member was confirmed officially at today’s meeting. Following the introduction of Chatura, the Senate members voted for an increase allocation in the Student Organizations Fund. This will allow the Finance Board to maintain their position of providing funds for multiple Student Organizations’ events.

The next topic of discussion during this meeting was the funding by SGA for the Retriever Learning Center. For those of you who are not aware of what exactly this is, the Retriever Learning Center will be a new 24/7 study area in the library for UMBC students to utilize throughout the year. The Senate is currently working towards deciding the commitment SGA will make to support the Retriever Learning Center. Following the RLC discussion, an introduction and confirmation was made for the new Director and Assistant Director of Department of Service, Voluntarism and Awareness. Yasmin and Liz are currently working on an assortment of projects through this organization. They have many ideas and plans for the remainder of the semester.

Next, the Senate discussed this past week’s outreach hour topic. The topic of this past week was the idea of the removal of free hour. After much feedback from a variety of UMBC students, there was a general consensus that students opposed the idea of eliminating free hour. Students stated that free hour was the time for their organizations to meet collectively, for them to eat their lunch, and to meet up with friends. Commuters find that free hour is beneficial to their schedule, in order to get a break while being on campus all day. The next outreach hour, members of SGA plan to discuss registration and advising with students. Do you have any ideas on how to improve advising? Do you have any specific questions concerning registration?  Come out and talk with members of SGA during outreach hours to get your answers! Stay tuned for updates from next week’s senate meeting!

December 6, 2010

PARKING

At this evening’s Senate meeting, Chief Mark Sparks (Chief of UMBC Police) and Terry Cook (Associate Vice President for Administration and Finance) came to discuss parking with the Senate. 

Some points Sparks and Cook said were:

• There are about 500 spots daily vacant (according to a study on 3 different days in October 2010 between the hours of 11-1). He said that there are usually a lot of empty spots in lots 23 and 25. 

• Goal: Have uniform and easily identifiable parking signs across campus. 

- Next year: They are going to build a new lot between lots 1 and 2. 

- They are trying to find cost-effective ways to please as many people as possible. 

Parking Map:

http://www.umbc.edu/aboutumbc/campusmap/pdf/2010Map_Parking.pdf

^These are PURELY the facts that Sparks and Cook stated, In no way, do these points reflect the ideas of the SGA or the SGA Senate. 

Did you know that the Wave ‘n ride also exists?

Check out the following site for information about it:  

   http://www.umbc.edu/transit/Wave.html

Some Other Topics

1. Everyone is working hard on their initiatives.
2. Did you know that a close to a thousand students are currently Undeclared and that this proportion is actually larger than any other proportion? One of the Senators is thinking about creating a Undecided Major Organization.
3. Next semester, hopefully if everything goes well: There will be a swipe access, 24/7 arts lab for arts majors in the Fine Arts Building. There will be a two to three week trial period. 
4. Thinking about creating a blog on myumbc where students who are interested in an initiative can post their initiative on the blog. Other students who are interested in those initiatives can tag them selves in those posts so they can work with the students on these aspects. There will also be a counselor to help these students work on their initiative(s). 

We need your input! 

1. If anyone has ideas or feedback regarding parking or any  of the other topics addressed above,  please state your comments below. 

2. Some other questions for you (please answer honestly): What do you think about and know about SGA? 

November 29, 2010

Senate had a very productive meeting today. Below are some of the topics that were discussed at the Senate meeting this evening. 

1. 

Remember that list of issues I told you the Senate will be working to improve? Well they have. Here is a gist of some of the plans discussed at this evening’s meeting:

The Senate prepared for a meeting with Cheif Sparks (The Chief Police) and Terry Cook (Associate Vice President for Administrative Services)

who will provide the Senate with updates regarding parking. They also discussed how to find out more information regarding parking and how to get more student input regarding parking.  After learning and finding out more students’ thoughts regarding parking, the Senate plans to use those issues in order to attempt to improve parking. The issue of  the lack of visitor spots was also presented by residents. 

Senate plans to get student input regarding what will keep them on campus and then use that input to make the commons more lively on weekends.

Senate plans to get more sanitary napkins in bathrooms.

Senate plans to get more furniture for the Retriever Learning Center (the 24/7 portion of the library.) After getting an estimate they will discuss the issue with Finance Board.

Is in correspondence with other organizations such as Black and Gold Council and Office of Student Life for how to increase and improve UMBCSpirit. Some ideas: a rock for organizations to express their spirit, statues with dogs, jackets, school drink, and a wall to spray paint on. 

2.

Naimoi from Student Organization Support gave an update on the works of the Student Support Organization Support Staff:

The SOS is currently:

• Working on creating  club tutorials (mini youtube videos which outlines basic steps describing to start events and clubs
• Creating constitutions for new clubs
• Are in contact with presidents of clubs to see if they need assistance
• Are planning on doing for dinners for representatives of different clubs
• Creating a Wall of Fame
• Creating a template for clubs wishing to get money
• Creating a Catering Policy

and MORE!

GOOD WORK SENATE! 

If you have any ideas, questions, concerns, or comments regarding any of the above issues or other aspects of community (ex. parking, school spirit, library furniture, school safety, sanitariness..etc.), feel free to comment below.

See you next week.

Stay tuned for more information regarding strives made to improve our campus.....

, Anisha Khandelwal

Monday, October 25, 2010

5:30 pm - 8 pm

            The meeting began with the senators discussing ideas for how to better improve the UMBC undergraduate experience. The senators created a list of 17 ideas. Each senate member then chose a flaw of UMBC they wanted to improve, pursue, and take initiative on. 8 flaws were chosen to be pursued, which include: lack of school spirit and social events, lack of liveliness of the Commons on weekends (a.k.a. “Death of the Commons”), the purell dispensers in the RAC are empty, there are not enough parking lots and the price of parking tickets is too high, meal plans should be improved, perhaps there should be rollover meal plans from week to week, inadequate security, more shuttle transportation to Baltimore/BWI, and there should be free printing in the library. Over the next few weeks, the senators will further investigate these flaws and will ponder about solutions to these flaws.

            After that, Samy Rabb, FYA of Student Organization Support Staff (SOS) told the senators about this year’s SOS. To find out more information about SOS and/or to find out EXACTLY what Sammy discussed, check out the followings sheets he handed out, attached below.

            After Samy left, one of the Senate members presented a proposal to revise the Undergraduate Academic Conduct Policy, representing Academic Conduct Committee (ACC). The Senate then discussed their views of the proposal and the proposed academic conduct policies, and came up with questions to ask the faculty advisor of the ACC when she visits the Senate next Monday.

Stay tuned for next week’s blog to find out about the conversation with the ACC advisor, what the Senate members discovered about their initial research regarding the flaws of UMBC they wish to improve, and more!

Or even better, come to a senate meeting! They are on Mondays at 5:30 pm in Commons 318.  

                Take Care,

              Anisha Khandelwal

 p.s.

. 

 Dr. Antonio R. Moreira, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, visited the Senate. He discussed the Retriever Learning Center, the 24/7 learning center which should be ready by August 2011. The Retriever Learning Center will be located inside the library. In order to maintain a safe and secure area, there will be video camera surveillance and a swipe key access in order to enter the room. In order to make the room interactive and fun, he is also considering the idea of walls you can write on. He aims to make the study room very cozy and comfortable, just like if one was to study at home. The idea of security for students walking from dorms or from parking lots at night to this learning center was also discussed. Construction of the place is planned to begin in December. Please state your idea(s) regarding the design of the room or what you hope the room to be like, in the comment box below. He is really trying to get student input and feedback in the design of this room, as this room is for students. His goal is to make a cozy, safe, secure, and active learning place where students will actually go in order to study.

This evening between the hours of 5:30 pm to 8:53 pm, the senate convened. The meeting began with the senators discussing their one month progress, the shape of senate, and the strengths and weaknesses of senate. The senators were intent on becoming a more efficient, responsive and proactive governing body. (If you have any feedback on as to how the senate can further improve, please share your insights below). 

The next issue of the day was smoking. It was refreshing to see the senators excited to share the opinions gleaned from the general student about the Smoking Policy. They were excited to continue this topic into the next week. The senate also prepared to host their first guest of the year, Dr. Moreira (Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Professor of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, here at UMBC). The most exciting news of the meeting was: the senate decided to create a 24/7 study area for our use in the library!   Today's meeting consisted of several humorous moments, and not to mention the CAKE! Happy belated birthday Senator Damani Lewis! Overall, senate had a fantastic and productive meeting this evening. I look forward towards covering this fine assembly for the duration of the semester. Stay tuned for updates regarding future senate meetings!

Hello UMBC students, welcome back!

SGA is currently accepting applications to fill a vacant Senate seat.  This is an excellent opportunity to represent your peers at UMBC.  Please consider applying!

A description of all the duties of a senator and the application can be found here.