December Board of Governors Report

Board of Governors of the

Colorado State University System

Meeting Date: December 4^th, 2009

Report Item

 

Student Representative's Report

COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY - PUEBLO

ASG Tobacco Research and Recommendation Committee

            On October 26^th, 2009 the ASG Tobacco Research and Recommendation Committee presented its final findings to the ASG Senate for approval. The committee made several recommendations to improve the current policy. For example, enforcement of the tobacco policy, and extension of the distance away from buildings from 20 feet away of academic buildings and 40 feet away from residence halls.

Student Fee Governing Board Update

      The Student Fee Governing Board has begun its task of reviewing fee expenditure compliance for the previous fiscal year as well as beginning the process for accepting applications for fee increases for the next fiscal year. In a time when state monies are dismal, at best, it is the unfortunate truth that fees will naturally go up to help offset the burden of minimal tuition increases by the university. I will bring the board updates on how the process is evolving at the February meeting.

ASG Safety Committee

            In the beginning of October, the ASG Safety Committee took a "night tour" of campus. The purpose of the night walk was to test the effectiveness of call boxes, scout lighting around campus as well as to test the effectiveness of the motion sensors on the light poles around campus. The findings were ultimately good: The lighting around campus is very strategically placed and working great. Some lights were not functional and some of the motion sensors had problems but overall they were satisfactory. One major issue did come up during this walk: The issue of the call boxes. The first call box that the Safety Committee tested, the response time was well over unacceptable norms -- It took the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office 70 seconds to respond to the individual pressing the call button on the box. This instance was further investigated by the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office and they are still trying to determine what happened on that night. I am confident that this problem will soon be resolved.

 

 

Lincoln Bicentennial Conference: The Morrill Act and the Future of Higher Education

         I was honored to attend this conference in Urbana-Champagne, Illinois. At this conference some very discouraging statistics and issues for actions were presented that will are jeopardizing the future of Higher Education in America:

• In China 50% of "young people" hold post-secondary degrees. (Projected to be 55% in 2025.)
  
• United States 41% (Projected will be under 30% by 2025).
  
• The United States currently ranked 23^rd out of all industrialized countries for per capita number of college degrees.
  
• A 3 year old that is raised in poverty knows roughly 1,500 words. (1/10 will get college degree)
  
• That same 3 year old that was raised in a "middle class" family knows roughly 2,500 words. (4/5 will get college degree).
  
• Discussion of true need for better connection between 8à9 grade, 12àCollege
  
• 30% of students take remedial classes in college.
  
  • In Texas, a study shows, that if a student takes 2 remedial course, essentially NO CHANCE of graduating.
    
• Question becomes: "Does Higher Ed quit giving Merit Based Financial Aid"? Or at least a refocus? The cream of the crop will always go to college. But how about the lower income individuals?
  

Distinguished Speaker Series

             The Associated Students' Government and Student Fee Governing Board is proud to co-sponsor CSU-Pueblo's 1^st annual "Distinguished Speakers Series" Our series will feature actors Robins Givens (November 17^th, 2009) and Danny Glover (February 10^th, 2010) , the daughter of Desmond Tutu (February 17^th, 2010), social justice activist Dolores Huerta (January 20^th, 2010), renowned attorney and women's rights advocate Sarah Weddington (February 18^th, 2010), and conservative thinker Dinesh D'Souza (January 27^th, 2010).

 

 

ASG Constitution Revamp

    The Associated Students' Government Document Review Committee is currently finalizing a complete rewrite of our governing documents. This is mainly due to inadequate changing of rules and statues over the last several years that has resulted in several conflicts between the documents. We are hoping to have this done in time for the upcoming ASG Election in March.

Occhiato University Center: Name Change and Plans for Renovation

    Throughout my time attending CSU-Pueblo, I have always been curious why the name of the building doesn't refer to the name of the individuals that use the building the most, the students. For example we have the Lory Student Center, the University of Colorado-Boulder Student
Union, the Tivoli Student Union, Western State is in the final phases of building a brand new Student Center and we still have a University Center. The students want a place to feel at home and a place to hang out. Currently the University Center is not offering those services. We are hoping that the name change to the Occhiato Student Center will be the first step in changing the direction of the student engagement and student involvement in one of the most important buildings on campus. Reexamine the plans for remodeling the buildings is the next critical step. These plans are now three (3) years old and with the surge in student enrollment and n new campus life programs these plans may need to reviewed and updated.