I received this from greg tanaka this morning.
Dear All:
I had promised to let you know on Monday mornings what transpired the previous week and what is forthcoming. Let me state the forthcoming part first, as it is critical and one of the very things you have all asked for. This coming Tuesday, July 31st, the New College Board of Trustees will be having a board meeting from 5 to 8pm somewhere to be announced (and most likely the biggest room available). The board has specifically set aside the first 30 minutes of this meeting for students to come and tell them whatever they would like and to ask questions. So this is an important step in opening up communications and at least one of you might tell them "thanks" so that this kind of thing will keep happening.
At this meeting, the Board will inform you personally of the outcome of a meeting of a contingent of New College representatives with the two top officers of WASC at the WASC headquarters in Alameda, CA on Friday last week. This was a superb, direct, face-to-face meeting and all parties learned a lot. Great clarity was achieved in understanding exactly what is expected of New College as it takes significant steps to restructure itself to retain full accreditation. One way to characterize this is to say that as one of the individuals attending this meeting, it seemed like a good sign that WASC was willing to take so much time (2 1/2 hours) to state each and every step the college and board must take to retain accreditation. A second positive sign was that one of the top officers offered to come to the New College campus later in August to meet face-to-face with students, faculty and staff. So everyone who is interested in saving the accreditation for New College will want to come and show support and participate in that August event.
One of the most important things WASC said was that all courses that students will take at New College this 2007-2008 academic year will be accredited and transferable. The rule is that courses are accredited up until such time that an accreditation is formally revoked, should it be revoked, and that a major decision like a revocation would not happen for an institution like New College until June, 2008 at the earliest. So all courses this year remain valid and accredited.
In addition, WASC extended the first deadline for data gathering by New College from August 6th to August 10th. This is very helpful to all faculty and staff working on those documents, and we are very grateful to WASC for that.
The rest of what occurred at this meeting will be addressed by the Board at its meeting tomorrow (Tuesday) at 5pm (at a place to be announced), so please come and bring others who are interested.
Respectfully reported,
Greg Tanaka (for the New College WASC Response Team of Dr. Martina Ayala, Dr. Francisco Leite, Professor Adam Cornford and Professor Stephanie Adraktas)
Monday, July 30, 2007
Friday, July 27, 2007
minutes from 7/25 meeting
thanks to abigail for this -
these were her personal notes which i didn't edit...
she took these on the spot
and she sent this message...
"Next Wednesday, I will use a formal,
public-ready format to transcribe our discussion."
from abigail wick - interim secretary
In attendance were:
Janet Ector,
Karen C,
Pamela Tate-Roger,
Sarah Zesmer,
Jeremy Zimmer,
Nicole Henares,
Judith Davisdon,
Tara Leigh Wagner,
Elaine Brotherton,
Animal Prufrock,
Kirsten Brydum,
Alexander Friend,
Abigail Wick
Interim Independent Student Government Meeting:
• WASC looking for a student government
o Must create/implement a charter
o Call for open bookkeeping; financial oversight committee
• No WASC penalization will occur this fall.
o We are simply on probation right now—their next step is show-cause.
o The school won’t lose accredidation.
• Everybody enrolled right now will have a degree conferred upon them. We have a semester to get things rolling, while there is no change in status.
• Between WASC and the school, there is a requirement that current students are being served.
• If we are forced to transfer our credits, many won’t be accepted by other universities.
• Appoint a student representative to the Adjunct Council.
• Appoint a media representative:
o Jeremy Zimmer has agreed to take on this role.
• Form a charter sub-committee.
o All student councils have a charter, full of bylaws, statement of purpose, necessary for an official student government. WASC wants to see that we have a functioning student government. Rather than hierarchical roles, we develop organic functional roles. A council with duties, rather than titles. We should first confirm what the WASC requirements are for the council: must we have an official president. We can use semantics, calling somebody the president, but these are only reflective of our duties. Who assumes responsibility for what?
• UC Santa Cruz Council might be a model that dovetails with the NC spirit and ethos. Can we find a copy of their charter?
• Regular meetings at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays.
o Next Wednesday will be the charter meeting.
o We should review the charter, come next week with annotation and suggestions.
• Communication Networks:
o newcollegestudentcouncil.blogspot.com
o groups.yahoo.com/group/nc-students
o lists.riseup.next/takenewcollegeback (archives of past postings)
o stopsilence.net (includes WASC findings)
• What does WASC want? Can we get a copy of their findings? Why will they axe accredidation?
o Administration must be replaced in order for us to survive—these five just shuffle themselves around. There is a certain amount of money that the school is supposed to have—unauthorized purchase of hotel, $200,000 software and Roxy—depleted our account.
o Student council must have a seat on the Board of Trustees.
• The five core administrators have lovers and relatives on the Board of Trustees.
• There is also no student representative on this Board.
• None of this could have happened if this were a transparent environment.
• Why buy new buildings or new software without consent from others? This takes the money from our school.
• Job description issue
• What are WASC’s key points?
o Arbitrary grading
o Lack of student oversight and representation
o Suspect allocation of funding
• Student Council
o Long-term student voice, representation
o Student reps from each department should be appointed
o We need to reach out to heads of department:
o Nominate a representative from each cohort, a fully representational body
• Let WASC know what our recommendations are as a student body.
• Send this to them. WASC wants instant communication.
• Let faculty know that we have a media rep, that we’re willing to use our media rep, that we have a fully-functioning student government.
• Who will be our rep to the adjunct council (Animal ready and willing to fill this position)
• Core Faculty
• Adjunct Faculty
• Nascent independent alumni association
• Coalition: all the stakeholder groups enter into communication
• Animal Prufrock, elected temporary “Council Representative” of interim independent student council
• Jeremy Zimmer, elected temporary media representative
• Abigail Wick, elected temporary “secretary”
• Reported at coalition meeting:
• Interim independent student council has been formed
• Charter meeting will be radically inclusive, come next Wednesday
• Board of Trustees has hired three (who) as consultants. They are ticking off, one by one, all of the concerns by August 6. WASC insisted this be done by the faculty. Contract was signed yesterday. Greg Tanaka; Martin Ayala; Francisco Leite (former president of university in Brazil, total expert on financial matters; has no prior relationship with Martin or anybody else on board)
• They are student-centered. Ask that there be a student, faculty and staff member on Board of Trustees.
• Martin Hamilton will step down in a year. He wants to preside over the transition.
• Want there to be a full, professional, external search for president based on a committee comprised of students, faculty, staff. A job description will be formed by September or October, probably sent out to a professional search firm. This is what happens everywhere else, especially for top positions. We are hoping to guide the board to double their size, comprised of outside people.
• They will do development of operations, faculty governance, oversight.
• They are an objective, external board.
• Can student body appoint a liaison to this oversight group? Yes!
• The two academic vice presidents have stepped down.
• August 6; September 1; early December reports due to WASC.
• Faculty has been asked to nominate a few names to nominate two new vice-presidents; they will come from our own ranks. (Carolyn and Randall?)
• Coalition Meeting:
• We need a Human Resources person.
• We need job descriptions for the unoccupied vice presidential positions.
• There are no institutional channels for reporting grievances. (Illustrative of lack of organizational channels overall.)
• The current Board of Trustees (they don’t have a charter, but they have bylaws, which should be transparent)
• On Friday, when Greg sees WASC, he must tell them that the Board of Trustees is being replaced, should be filled with those who have financial expertise, so that the school can begin raising money to fill our depleted resources.
• Student, staff, faculty and alumni should be on Board of Trustees
• Why aren’t alumni giving to New College? Why isn’t there a formal alumni association, in which alumni have their own governance?
• External, professional search for a new president: this three-person team will set up this process.
• Faculty has huge task of creating reports for WASC. We can’t expect immediate results.
• Board of Trustees meeting last night: ten board members present out of twelve. Where are they listed?
• Lack of clear communication channels. Can Greg, Francisco, and Martin make a report every week about developments at the college that are accessible to everyone. The purpose of this document should be information sharing, it should have no stance, objective. “These are the latest developments,” without editorializing.
• Greg, Francisco, Martin—hired by Martin Hamilton—report directly to the Board of Trustees. They are setting up an operating committee. They will work with existing staff to implement better control mechanisms on spending.
• New College owns the buildings, presumably the trustees do, who have a fiduciary duty. Where are the Board of Trustees bylaws—where are they hidden?
• School operating at a loss because of all these unapproved expenses. Money for buildings sold should go to a reserve account. These three will make firm decisions to the Board.
• Greg has a six week contract. Martin has a three month contract. Hiring outside consultants has been a pattern when trouble with WASC crops up. Faculty, still, is skeptical of these outsiders. This is a healthy skepticism. Faculty have never been allowed to share power. This seems to them like another way to circumvent the possibility of power endowment to faculty. Such as asking faculty to be applicants for the vice-presidential positions—Adam Cornferd and Stephanie Vertail (of the law school). The three asked that the two current positions to be filled from within the faculty ranks. The faculty is waiting for a job description and they are going to name some names.
these were her personal notes which i didn't edit...
she took these on the spot
and she sent this message...
"Next Wednesday, I will use a formal,
public-ready format to transcribe our discussion."
from abigail wick - interim secretary
In attendance were:
Janet Ector,
Karen C,
Pamela Tate-Roger,
Sarah Zesmer,
Jeremy Zimmer,
Nicole Henares,
Judith Davisdon,
Tara Leigh Wagner,
Elaine Brotherton,
Animal Prufrock,
Kirsten Brydum,
Alexander Friend,
Abigail Wick
Interim Independent Student Government Meeting:
• WASC looking for a student government
o Must create/implement a charter
o Call for open bookkeeping; financial oversight committee
• No WASC penalization will occur this fall.
o We are simply on probation right now—their next step is show-cause.
o The school won’t lose accredidation.
• Everybody enrolled right now will have a degree conferred upon them. We have a semester to get things rolling, while there is no change in status.
• Between WASC and the school, there is a requirement that current students are being served.
• If we are forced to transfer our credits, many won’t be accepted by other universities.
• Appoint a student representative to the Adjunct Council.
• Appoint a media representative:
o Jeremy Zimmer has agreed to take on this role.
• Form a charter sub-committee.
o All student councils have a charter, full of bylaws, statement of purpose, necessary for an official student government. WASC wants to see that we have a functioning student government. Rather than hierarchical roles, we develop organic functional roles. A council with duties, rather than titles. We should first confirm what the WASC requirements are for the council: must we have an official president. We can use semantics, calling somebody the president, but these are only reflective of our duties. Who assumes responsibility for what?
• UC Santa Cruz Council might be a model that dovetails with the NC spirit and ethos. Can we find a copy of their charter?
• Regular meetings at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays.
o Next Wednesday will be the charter meeting.
o We should review the charter, come next week with annotation and suggestions.
• Communication Networks:
o newcollegestudentcouncil.blogspot.com
o groups.yahoo.com/group/nc-students
o lists.riseup.next/takenewcollegeback (archives of past postings)
o stopsilence.net (includes WASC findings)
• What does WASC want? Can we get a copy of their findings? Why will they axe accredidation?
o Administration must be replaced in order for us to survive—these five just shuffle themselves around. There is a certain amount of money that the school is supposed to have—unauthorized purchase of hotel, $200,000 software and Roxy—depleted our account.
o Student council must have a seat on the Board of Trustees.
• The five core administrators have lovers and relatives on the Board of Trustees.
• There is also no student representative on this Board.
• None of this could have happened if this were a transparent environment.
• Why buy new buildings or new software without consent from others? This takes the money from our school.
• Job description issue
• What are WASC’s key points?
o Arbitrary grading
o Lack of student oversight and representation
o Suspect allocation of funding
• Student Council
o Long-term student voice, representation
o Student reps from each department should be appointed
o We need to reach out to heads of department:
o Nominate a representative from each cohort, a fully representational body
• Let WASC know what our recommendations are as a student body.
• Send this to them. WASC wants instant communication.
• Let faculty know that we have a media rep, that we’re willing to use our media rep, that we have a fully-functioning student government.
• Who will be our rep to the adjunct council (Animal ready and willing to fill this position)
• Core Faculty
• Adjunct Faculty
• Nascent independent alumni association
• Coalition: all the stakeholder groups enter into communication
• Animal Prufrock, elected temporary “Council Representative” of interim independent student council
• Jeremy Zimmer, elected temporary media representative
• Abigail Wick, elected temporary “secretary”
• Reported at coalition meeting:
• Interim independent student council has been formed
• Charter meeting will be radically inclusive, come next Wednesday
• Board of Trustees has hired three (who) as consultants. They are ticking off, one by one, all of the concerns by August 6. WASC insisted this be done by the faculty. Contract was signed yesterday. Greg Tanaka; Martin Ayala; Francisco Leite (former president of university in Brazil, total expert on financial matters; has no prior relationship with Martin or anybody else on board)
• They are student-centered. Ask that there be a student, faculty and staff member on Board of Trustees.
• Martin Hamilton will step down in a year. He wants to preside over the transition.
• Want there to be a full, professional, external search for president based on a committee comprised of students, faculty, staff. A job description will be formed by September or October, probably sent out to a professional search firm. This is what happens everywhere else, especially for top positions. We are hoping to guide the board to double their size, comprised of outside people.
• They will do development of operations, faculty governance, oversight.
• They are an objective, external board.
• Can student body appoint a liaison to this oversight group? Yes!
• The two academic vice presidents have stepped down.
• August 6; September 1; early December reports due to WASC.
• Faculty has been asked to nominate a few names to nominate two new vice-presidents; they will come from our own ranks. (Carolyn and Randall?)
• Coalition Meeting:
• We need a Human Resources person.
• We need job descriptions for the unoccupied vice presidential positions.
• There are no institutional channels for reporting grievances. (Illustrative of lack of organizational channels overall.)
• The current Board of Trustees (they don’t have a charter, but they have bylaws, which should be transparent)
• On Friday, when Greg sees WASC, he must tell them that the Board of Trustees is being replaced, should be filled with those who have financial expertise, so that the school can begin raising money to fill our depleted resources.
• Student, staff, faculty and alumni should be on Board of Trustees
• Why aren’t alumni giving to New College? Why isn’t there a formal alumni association, in which alumni have their own governance?
• External, professional search for a new president: this three-person team will set up this process.
• Faculty has huge task of creating reports for WASC. We can’t expect immediate results.
• Board of Trustees meeting last night: ten board members present out of twelve. Where are they listed?
• Lack of clear communication channels. Can Greg, Francisco, and Martin make a report every week about developments at the college that are accessible to everyone. The purpose of this document should be information sharing, it should have no stance, objective. “These are the latest developments,” without editorializing.
• Greg, Francisco, Martin—hired by Martin Hamilton—report directly to the Board of Trustees. They are setting up an operating committee. They will work with existing staff to implement better control mechanisms on spending.
• New College owns the buildings, presumably the trustees do, who have a fiduciary duty. Where are the Board of Trustees bylaws—where are they hidden?
• School operating at a loss because of all these unapproved expenses. Money for buildings sold should go to a reserve account. These three will make firm decisions to the Board.
• Greg has a six week contract. Martin has a three month contract. Hiring outside consultants has been a pattern when trouble with WASC crops up. Faculty, still, is skeptical of these outsiders. This is a healthy skepticism. Faculty have never been allowed to share power. This seems to them like another way to circumvent the possibility of power endowment to faculty. Such as asking faculty to be applicants for the vice-presidential positions—Adam Cornferd and Stephanie Vertail (of the law school). The three asked that the two current positions to be filled from within the faculty ranks. The faculty is waiting for a job description and they are going to name some names.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
this just in - from WASC response team
i just received this from the WASC response team
"Please find attached public announcement from the Board of Trustees at New College of California. Thank you for your input. We hope these steps are moving in a positive direction from your perspective.
Please, continue to give us your views and opinions.
Dr. Greg Tanaka
Dr. Martina Ayala
Dr. Francisco Leite
Prof. Adam Cornford
Prof. Stephanie Adraktas
WASC Response Team
Public Information, Board of Trustees – New College of California (July 26, 2007)
At a meeting of the board of trustees of New College of California,
eight motions carried that respond concerns raised by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges accrediting board (WASC). These actions reflect the continuing desire of the board and college to satisfy all required standards, work closely with WASC, and address the needs of students and employees.
1) The board of trustees voted to increase the number of board members to have enough for a minimum of four members on all the trustee standing committees necessary to provide full oversight of the college and be in full compliance with the four WASC standards ensuring quality education. This will mean a significant increase over time leading approximately to a doubling of the current size of participating members.
2) To initiate this expansion, two outside citizens were approved for immediate addition to the Development Committee and will be approved as soon as possible for full board of trustee membership under proper procedures, complement the strengths of existing board members and provide new perspectives that will further guarantee high academic quality.
3) The board passed a motion to specifically acknowledge the creation of a faculty council and pledged to work jointly with that council to immediately (a) strengthen the academic quality of the college and (b) enhance the structures of shared governance. The board voted to express its congratulations to the faculty council for quickly moving to name two representatives to the WASC response team and for building its future capacity for self-governance by pledging to nominate several members from its own ranks as final candidates for interim academic vice president.
4) The board voted to direct its Personnel Committee to make recommendations to the board concerning how and when to facilitate the addition of one member each to the board of trustees, as ex officio members, and come from the faculty, staff and student body.
5) The board voted to form a presidential search committee that will work in the coming year to conduct a thorough, careful search for a new president for New College. This committee shall reflect the values of New College, include faculty, staff and student representatives, and seek significant input from the entire New College community.
6) The board voted to invite WASC to work with president Martin Hamilton and the New College “WASC response team” and assist the college in planning the most ideal process for leadership transition in a way that preserves the values of the institution while ensuring full compliance with the WASC standards.
7) The board also voted to name Dr. Francisco Leite interim Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to help bring the college into full WASC compliance on financial matters and promote the long term sustainability of the College.
8) Finally, the board directed New College to take immediate action to assist in the investigation of a recently filed grievance concerning discrimination and harassment and to do so in a manner that protects both parties. Further the college shall take steps to strengthen its internal mechanisms for responding expeditiously to all complaints related to race, gender, sexual orientation, religion and other protected areas.
"Please find attached public announcement from the Board of Trustees at New College of California. Thank you for your input. We hope these steps are moving in a positive direction from your perspective.
Please, continue to give us your views and opinions.
Dr. Greg Tanaka
Dr. Martina Ayala
Dr. Francisco Leite
Prof. Adam Cornford
Prof. Stephanie Adraktas
WASC Response Team
Public Information, Board of Trustees – New College of California (July 26, 2007)
At a meeting of the board of trustees of New College of California,
eight motions carried that respond concerns raised by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges accrediting board (WASC). These actions reflect the continuing desire of the board and college to satisfy all required standards, work closely with WASC, and address the needs of students and employees.
1) The board of trustees voted to increase the number of board members to have enough for a minimum of four members on all the trustee standing committees necessary to provide full oversight of the college and be in full compliance with the four WASC standards ensuring quality education. This will mean a significant increase over time leading approximately to a doubling of the current size of participating members.
2) To initiate this expansion, two outside citizens were approved for immediate addition to the Development Committee and will be approved as soon as possible for full board of trustee membership under proper procedures, complement the strengths of existing board members and provide new perspectives that will further guarantee high academic quality.
3) The board passed a motion to specifically acknowledge the creation of a faculty council and pledged to work jointly with that council to immediately (a) strengthen the academic quality of the college and (b) enhance the structures of shared governance. The board voted to express its congratulations to the faculty council for quickly moving to name two representatives to the WASC response team and for building its future capacity for self-governance by pledging to nominate several members from its own ranks as final candidates for interim academic vice president.
4) The board voted to direct its Personnel Committee to make recommendations to the board concerning how and when to facilitate the addition of one member each to the board of trustees, as ex officio members, and come from the faculty, staff and student body.
5) The board voted to form a presidential search committee that will work in the coming year to conduct a thorough, careful search for a new president for New College. This committee shall reflect the values of New College, include faculty, staff and student representatives, and seek significant input from the entire New College community.
6) The board voted to invite WASC to work with president Martin Hamilton and the New College “WASC response team” and assist the college in planning the most ideal process for leadership transition in a way that preserves the values of the institution while ensuring full compliance with the WASC standards.
7) The board also voted to name Dr. Francisco Leite interim Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to help bring the college into full WASC compliance on financial matters and promote the long term sustainability of the College.
8) Finally, the board directed New College to take immediate action to assist in the investigation of a recently filed grievance concerning discrimination and harassment and to do so in a manner that protects both parties. Further the college shall take steps to strengthen its internal mechanisms for responding expeditiously to all complaints related to race, gender, sexual orientation, religion and other protected areas.
Students Organize Amidst Turmoil at Bay Area School
from jeremy zimmer - IISC Media Contact
San Francisco, CA, July 25, 2007:
In response to the WASC letter of
action, as well as ongoing structural
and policy issues, students at
New College of California have
organized an interim independent
student council to ensure that
the needs of students are properly
addressed in the changes which
are taking place at the school.
In addition, this council seeks
to create a more permanent
representative body to advocate on behalf of students.
In many colleges and universities,
a seat on the board of trustees is
reserved for a student representative.
The lack of formal student representation
at New College is symptomatic of the crisis in
leadership and governance articulated by the WASC report.
Creating fair and inclusive structures of representation
will be crucial in restoring students' trust in the school,
and establishing a safe and
positive learning environment
in the long term.
The Interim Independent Student Council
has issued a public statement, following
the Adjunct Council's call for new
administrative leadership, and the core
faculty's vote of no confidence in New College
of California President Martin Hamilton:
We the Interim Independent Student Council,
ask for the participation of our peers,
in the charter and formation of a student body
organization, which is inclusive of and responsive
to the needs of all New College students.
We ask for the support of faculty and
staff in this endeavor, and commit to working
with the Faculty Council and Adjunct Council
to achieve our mutual goals. We support
the public statement of the Adjunct Council,
and reiterate the call for new administrative leadership,
and the immediate replacement of the President,
Academic Vice Presidents, and the Board of Trustees.
Further, we call for the process of appointing
new administrative leadership to be inclusive of student,
staff and faculty voices, and that all meetings,
decisions and official correspondence in this
process to be made available, without delay,
to the entire New College community.
In our own organizing efforts, we aim to be
radically inclusive and completely transparent,
and we appreciate the patience and
understanding of our fellow students as we
overcome the difficulties in communication inherent
in a programmatically diverse, multi-campus
institution.
Lastly, we reiterate our call for the involvement
and participation of all New College students,
as we work to save our school.
----
IISC Media Contact
Jeremy Zimmer
San Francisco, CA, July 25, 2007:
In response to the WASC letter of
action, as well as ongoing structural
and policy issues, students at
New College of California have
organized an interim independent
student council to ensure that
the needs of students are properly
addressed in the changes which
are taking place at the school.
In addition, this council seeks
to create a more permanent
representative body to advocate on behalf of students.
In many colleges and universities,
a seat on the board of trustees is
reserved for a student representative.
The lack of formal student representation
at New College is symptomatic of the crisis in
leadership and governance articulated by the WASC report.
Creating fair and inclusive structures of representation
will be crucial in restoring students' trust in the school,
and establishing a safe and
positive learning environment
in the long term.
The Interim Independent Student Council
has issued a public statement, following
the Adjunct Council's call for new
administrative leadership, and the core
faculty's vote of no confidence in New College
of California President Martin Hamilton:
We the Interim Independent Student Council,
ask for the participation of our peers,
in the charter and formation of a student body
organization, which is inclusive of and responsive
to the needs of all New College students.
We ask for the support of faculty and
staff in this endeavor, and commit to working
with the Faculty Council and Adjunct Council
to achieve our mutual goals. We support
the public statement of the Adjunct Council,
and reiterate the call for new administrative leadership,
and the immediate replacement of the President,
Academic Vice Presidents, and the Board of Trustees.
Further, we call for the process of appointing
new administrative leadership to be inclusive of student,
staff and faculty voices, and that all meetings,
decisions and official correspondence in this
process to be made available, without delay,
to the entire New College community.
In our own organizing efforts, we aim to be
radically inclusive and completely transparent,
and we appreciate the patience and
understanding of our fellow students as we
overcome the difficulties in communication inherent
in a programmatically diverse, multi-campus
institution.
Lastly, we reiterate our call for the involvement
and participation of all New College students,
as we work to save our school.
----
IISC Media Contact
Jeremy Zimmer
CHARTER SKELETON
i am posting this charter example only as a PLACE TO START...
please feel free to deconstruct it entirely
as discussed in the meeting, and in alignment
with the intention of our school...
it would be wonderful to come up
with a way of laying out duties
with non-hierarchal leadership
this charter example was pulled
from two different charters i found on the
internet...the only thing ive changed
so far was filling in our school's name
the comments are open -
please write suggestions so that by the meeting next week
we have a solid foundation to start from...
here is the charter example...
NEW COLLEGE Student Council Charter
New College of California
Article I: Our Purpose
The NEW COLLEGE Student Council (NCSC) of the New College of California advocates on behalf of students to represent the interests and concerns of students to the New College and New College community. The NCSC is a group of elected and appointed students that represents the student body to the faculty and administration, and provides a conduit between the student body, faculty, and administration. Through the NCSC, students address with faculty and
administration issues that include, but are not limited to, academic programs and curricula, courses, professional development, and long-range goals of the school. Through the service of its officers and representatives, NCSC aims to improve the quality of student life at the NEW COLLEGE
The main purposes of NSSC are:
1) To facilitate communication between New College students, faculty, and administration.
2) To represent the interests and concerns of New College students to the New College community.
3) To improve the quality of student life at the New College
4) To facilitate and develop a student activities program.
Article II: Membership
All elected or appointed students in the New College shall be
members of the NCSC.
All students in the New College shall have the right to attend all
general assembly meetings of the NCSC.
Article III: Executive Committee
The NCSC is led by five executive officers:
A. Executive commitee is comprised of:
1. President
2. Vice President
3. Parliamentarian
4. Treasurer
5. Secretary
Their purposes are as follows:
1. PRESIDENT
A. Preside over meetings of the SC, except during times when he/she are unable to attend
i. In times of absence or when he/she is incapable or presiding over meetings the duties will fall to the members of the SC Executive Board as follows: Vice President, Parliamentarian, Treasurer, and Secretary.
B. Preside over meetings of the E-Board.
C. May vote in those cases when his/her vote would affect the outcome of the decision, or in a secret ballot.
D. Prepare the Agenda for all SC meetings in consultation with the E-Board.
E. Prepare and report to the SC and the University Community via the SC official website, before the first meeting of the Fall semester a “State of the Student Council Address”, outlining the objectives and progress made by the SC to date, as well as the directions to be taken for the remainder of the year. Prepare and report to the SC and the University Community, at the year’s last meeting a final report outlining the accomplishments of the SC during the year.
F. Report at each SC and E-Board meeting concerning his/her activities as President.
G. Act as formal spokesperson for the Student Council whenever deemed necessary.
H. Employ whatever office staff he/she feels is necessary to conduct business, subject to the approval of the Executive Board. The President may discharge an employee in accordance with University Student Employment Guidelines.
I. Have the power to appoint any special committee deemed necessary.
J. Perform any other duties as are prescribed by the SC, as long as they are not in conflict with these Bylaws.
VICE PRESIDENT
A. Assist the President in the performance of his/her duties.
B. Be an ex-officio member of all Executive Committees.
C. Nominate the student representatives to all Executive Committees, University
Committees, and Academic Senate Committees, in consultation with the
Executive Board, subject to the approval of the SC, and remove same for just cause, subject to appeal to the SC,
i. Exception is granted to the Student Council Program Board, where
The Program Board Chairperson will appoint members to that
committee.
ii. Exception is granted to the Governmental Affairs Committee, where the Governmental Affairs Director will appoint members to that committee.
iii. Exception is granted to the Community Affairs Committee, where
The Community Affairs Director will appoint members to that committee.
iv. Exception is granted to the Budget Committee, where the Treasurer shall appoint members to that committee.
D. Activate all Executive Committees when a need to convene arises.
E. Nominate members to the Student Center Advisory Board and the Student Newspaper Publications Board, in consultation with the Executive Board, subject to the approval of the SC.
F. Nominate student representative and alternates to the Board of Governors Committees, in consultation with the Executive Board, subject to the approval of SC, and remove same for just cause, subject to appeal to the SC.
G. Seat all representatives within two SC meetings of request made by Committee Chair.
H. Report four (4) times a semester to the SC on the activities of those University Committees on which the SC has representatives.
I. Perform any other duties as prescribed by the SC, so long as they are not in conflict with these Bylaws.
PARLIMENTARIAN
A. Act as the official SC Parliamentarian during all meetings, serving as a resource for proper procedures and conduct.
B. Preside over meetings during removal from office, or reinstatement
proceedings unless he/she is being removed or reinstated
B. And in such case as a tie results, he/she shall cast the deciding vote when
presiding.
D. Shall be responsible for maintaining records of all petitions brought to SC regarding anything involving the Bylaws and Charter.
E. Shall provide a written decision or interpretation based on the Bylaws and
Charter from any petition brought forth.
F. Preside over a Parliamentary/Judicial committee that is responsible for overseeing and revising the Bylaws and Charter.
G. Must make any necessary revisions to the Bylaws and Charter by the first meeting in September.
H. Maintain up-to-date records in which the Charter, Bylaws, special rules of
Order, standing rules, with any amendments to these properly recorded and to
Have the current records on hand at each meeting.
I. Must be able to provide an updated copy of the Bylaws on the SC official website.
Section 7
TREASURER
A. Keep accurate records of all moneys received and distributed in regards to the SC Budget.
B. Make expenditures as authorized in ARTICLE VI, Section 7.
C. Submit reports as requested. However, in all cases, he/she shall submit a written Bi-weekly report on the status of the SC budget to the SC.
D. Serve as an ex-officio member of the Budget Committee, but is required to attend all meetings.
E. Represent the SC on the Presidential Advisory Budget Committee and appoint an alternate representative to the Presidential Advisory Budget Committee.
F. Perform any other duties as prescribed by the SC, so long as those duties are not in conflict with these Bylaws.
G. Have the sole responsibility of preparing the SC Budget, in coordination with the committee chairs.
Section 8
SECRETARY
A. Be responsible for the minutes of all SC and Executive Board meetings.
B. Maintain a file of all reports, committees, officers, and College Boards.
C. Maintain the official Membership Roll, and call the roll when it is required.
D. Enforce and maintain office hours as outlined and maintain records of
member’s event participation as outlined in Article V, Section 5.
E. Provide any minutes, records and reports to members upon request.
F. Have on hand at each meeting, a list of all existing committees and their membership.
G. Transmit certified copies of the corrected Minutes to the SC official website and any persons who require or request them.
H. In the absence of the President, Vice President, Parliamentarian, and Treasurer, call meetings to order and immediately preside over an election of a Chair Pro Tempore.
I. Utilize the office staff to assist his/her duties, subject to the approval of the Executive Board.
J. Perform any other duties as prescribed by the SC, so long as those duties are not in conflict with these Bylaws.
Article IV: Service Officers
In addition to the executive committee, there are additional service officers who are appointed or elected
to serve specific purposes. Their purposes are as follows:
The Alumni Representative is responsible for coordinating efforts with Alumni Affairs, representing
NSSC on alumni-related issues, and attending alumni events. The Alumni Representative may also
coordinate Alumni/Student events. If the Alumni Representative is unable to attend new college School sponsored
alumni events, the Representative should choose a proxy to fulfill these duties.
The Technology Advisory Representative is responsible for representing student views on technological issues as related to the New College
Article V: Program Area Representatives
Program Area Representatives are responsible for gathering
feedback on issues and concerns from students in their respective academic program area and
representing those views to NCSC. Program Area Representatives should actively solicit input from or meet with students in their program at least once a semester, and should inform students regularly of their availability as Representatives.
Article VI: Meetings
There shall be at least two general assembly meetings during each semester of the academic school year.
All Executive, Service, and Program Area Representatives are required to attend, nominate a proxy to attend, or give notice to their governing executive officer. Notice of such meetings shall be given to the
entire student body at least three days before the meeting. Meetings are open to all members of the NEW COLLEGE of Califronia
There shall be twice-a-month meetings of the Executive and Service Officers during the academic school year. Notice of such meetings shall be given at least three days before the meeting.
Article VII: Elections
Election committee. An election committee composed of the Treasurer/Secretary, Representative Coordinator, and another officer appointed by the Treasurer/Secretary shall conduct elections, according to procedures set up in the charter: 1) Elections will be by secret ballot; 2) all NEW COLLEGE students will each have one vote; 3) elections will take place during the month of November of each year, or as necessary in the case of vacant positions.
Voting procedures. The elections committee shall conduct all voting procedures. It is the duty of this
committee to: 1) request nominations for each elected office; 2) create and disseminate a list of
nominated members running for an election position; 3) conduct the election and announce the newly
elected officers.
Term of Office. Officers shall be elected for a term of two semesters to serve from the spring following
the elections through the subsequent fall semester.
Transition of Administration. There shall be a meeting of the Executive Committees following the
election, at the end of the fall semester. It should include the outgoing and incoming officers and any
other persons deemed necessary. All new business and files are turned over to the newly installed
Executive Director who then becomes the presiding officer.
Article VIII: Amendments
The Executive Committee may amend this Charter from time to time. It may be amended or revised by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of all the officers and representatives present at a meeting.
Article IX: NCSC and NEW COLLEGE
The New College Student Council shall adhere to the Student Guide and other laws, rules, and
regulations governing the New College and its students.
please feel free to deconstruct it entirely
as discussed in the meeting, and in alignment
with the intention of our school...
it would be wonderful to come up
with a way of laying out duties
with non-hierarchal leadership
this charter example was pulled
from two different charters i found on the
internet...the only thing ive changed
so far was filling in our school's name
the comments are open -
please write suggestions so that by the meeting next week
we have a solid foundation to start from...
here is the charter example...
NEW COLLEGE Student Council Charter
New College of California
Article I: Our Purpose
The NEW COLLEGE Student Council (NCSC) of the New College of California advocates on behalf of students to represent the interests and concerns of students to the New College and New College community. The NCSC is a group of elected and appointed students that represents the student body to the faculty and administration, and provides a conduit between the student body, faculty, and administration. Through the NCSC, students address with faculty and
administration issues that include, but are not limited to, academic programs and curricula, courses, professional development, and long-range goals of the school. Through the service of its officers and representatives, NCSC aims to improve the quality of student life at the NEW COLLEGE
The main purposes of NSSC are:
1) To facilitate communication between New College students, faculty, and administration.
2) To represent the interests and concerns of New College students to the New College community.
3) To improve the quality of student life at the New College
4) To facilitate and develop a student activities program.
Article II: Membership
All elected or appointed students in the New College shall be
members of the NCSC.
All students in the New College shall have the right to attend all
general assembly meetings of the NCSC.
Article III: Executive Committee
The NCSC is led by five executive officers:
A. Executive commitee is comprised of:
1. President
2. Vice President
3. Parliamentarian
4. Treasurer
5. Secretary
Their purposes are as follows:
1. PRESIDENT
A. Preside over meetings of the SC, except during times when he/she are unable to attend
i. In times of absence or when he/she is incapable or presiding over meetings the duties will fall to the members of the SC Executive Board as follows: Vice President, Parliamentarian, Treasurer, and Secretary.
B. Preside over meetings of the E-Board.
C. May vote in those cases when his/her vote would affect the outcome of the decision, or in a secret ballot.
D. Prepare the Agenda for all SC meetings in consultation with the E-Board.
E. Prepare and report to the SC and the University Community via the SC official website, before the first meeting of the Fall semester a “State of the Student Council Address”, outlining the objectives and progress made by the SC to date, as well as the directions to be taken for the remainder of the year. Prepare and report to the SC and the University Community, at the year’s last meeting a final report outlining the accomplishments of the SC during the year.
F. Report at each SC and E-Board meeting concerning his/her activities as President.
G. Act as formal spokesperson for the Student Council whenever deemed necessary.
H. Employ whatever office staff he/she feels is necessary to conduct business, subject to the approval of the Executive Board. The President may discharge an employee in accordance with University Student Employment Guidelines.
I. Have the power to appoint any special committee deemed necessary.
J. Perform any other duties as are prescribed by the SC, as long as they are not in conflict with these Bylaws.
VICE PRESIDENT
A. Assist the President in the performance of his/her duties.
B. Be an ex-officio member of all Executive Committees.
C. Nominate the student representatives to all Executive Committees, University
Committees, and Academic Senate Committees, in consultation with the
Executive Board, subject to the approval of the SC, and remove same for just cause, subject to appeal to the SC,
i. Exception is granted to the Student Council Program Board, where
The Program Board Chairperson will appoint members to that
committee.
ii. Exception is granted to the Governmental Affairs Committee, where the Governmental Affairs Director will appoint members to that committee.
iii. Exception is granted to the Community Affairs Committee, where
The Community Affairs Director will appoint members to that committee.
iv. Exception is granted to the Budget Committee, where the Treasurer shall appoint members to that committee.
D. Activate all Executive Committees when a need to convene arises.
E. Nominate members to the Student Center Advisory Board and the Student Newspaper Publications Board, in consultation with the Executive Board, subject to the approval of the SC.
F. Nominate student representative and alternates to the Board of Governors Committees, in consultation with the Executive Board, subject to the approval of SC, and remove same for just cause, subject to appeal to the SC.
G. Seat all representatives within two SC meetings of request made by Committee Chair.
H. Report four (4) times a semester to the SC on the activities of those University Committees on which the SC has representatives.
I. Perform any other duties as prescribed by the SC, so long as they are not in conflict with these Bylaws.
PARLIMENTARIAN
A. Act as the official SC Parliamentarian during all meetings, serving as a resource for proper procedures and conduct.
B. Preside over meetings during removal from office, or reinstatement
proceedings unless he/she is being removed or reinstated
B. And in such case as a tie results, he/she shall cast the deciding vote when
presiding.
D. Shall be responsible for maintaining records of all petitions brought to SC regarding anything involving the Bylaws and Charter.
E. Shall provide a written decision or interpretation based on the Bylaws and
Charter from any petition brought forth.
F. Preside over a Parliamentary/Judicial committee that is responsible for overseeing and revising the Bylaws and Charter.
G. Must make any necessary revisions to the Bylaws and Charter by the first meeting in September.
H. Maintain up-to-date records in which the Charter, Bylaws, special rules of
Order, standing rules, with any amendments to these properly recorded and to
Have the current records on hand at each meeting.
I. Must be able to provide an updated copy of the Bylaws on the SC official website.
Section 7
TREASURER
A. Keep accurate records of all moneys received and distributed in regards to the SC Budget.
B. Make expenditures as authorized in ARTICLE VI, Section 7.
C. Submit reports as requested. However, in all cases, he/she shall submit a written Bi-weekly report on the status of the SC budget to the SC.
D. Serve as an ex-officio member of the Budget Committee, but is required to attend all meetings.
E. Represent the SC on the Presidential Advisory Budget Committee and appoint an alternate representative to the Presidential Advisory Budget Committee.
F. Perform any other duties as prescribed by the SC, so long as those duties are not in conflict with these Bylaws.
G. Have the sole responsibility of preparing the SC Budget, in coordination with the committee chairs.
Section 8
SECRETARY
A. Be responsible for the minutes of all SC and Executive Board meetings.
B. Maintain a file of all reports, committees, officers, and College Boards.
C. Maintain the official Membership Roll, and call the roll when it is required.
D. Enforce and maintain office hours as outlined and maintain records of
member’s event participation as outlined in Article V, Section 5.
E. Provide any minutes, records and reports to members upon request.
F. Have on hand at each meeting, a list of all existing committees and their membership.
G. Transmit certified copies of the corrected Minutes to the SC official website and any persons who require or request them.
H. In the absence of the President, Vice President, Parliamentarian, and Treasurer, call meetings to order and immediately preside over an election of a Chair Pro Tempore.
I. Utilize the office staff to assist his/her duties, subject to the approval of the Executive Board.
J. Perform any other duties as prescribed by the SC, so long as those duties are not in conflict with these Bylaws.
Article IV: Service Officers
In addition to the executive committee, there are additional service officers who are appointed or elected
to serve specific purposes. Their purposes are as follows:
The Alumni Representative is responsible for coordinating efforts with Alumni Affairs, representing
NSSC on alumni-related issues, and attending alumni events. The Alumni Representative may also
coordinate Alumni/Student events. If the Alumni Representative is unable to attend new college School sponsored
alumni events, the Representative should choose a proxy to fulfill these duties.
The Technology Advisory Representative is responsible for representing student views on technological issues as related to the New College
Article V: Program Area Representatives
Program Area Representatives are responsible for gathering
feedback on issues and concerns from students in their respective academic program area and
representing those views to NCSC. Program Area Representatives should actively solicit input from or meet with students in their program at least once a semester, and should inform students regularly of their availability as Representatives.
Article VI: Meetings
There shall be at least two general assembly meetings during each semester of the academic school year.
All Executive, Service, and Program Area Representatives are required to attend, nominate a proxy to attend, or give notice to their governing executive officer. Notice of such meetings shall be given to the
entire student body at least three days before the meeting. Meetings are open to all members of the NEW COLLEGE of Califronia
There shall be twice-a-month meetings of the Executive and Service Officers during the academic school year. Notice of such meetings shall be given at least three days before the meeting.
Article VII: Elections
Election committee. An election committee composed of the Treasurer/Secretary, Representative Coordinator, and another officer appointed by the Treasurer/Secretary shall conduct elections, according to procedures set up in the charter: 1) Elections will be by secret ballot; 2) all NEW COLLEGE students will each have one vote; 3) elections will take place during the month of November of each year, or as necessary in the case of vacant positions.
Voting procedures. The elections committee shall conduct all voting procedures. It is the duty of this
committee to: 1) request nominations for each elected office; 2) create and disseminate a list of
nominated members running for an election position; 3) conduct the election and announce the newly
elected officers.
Term of Office. Officers shall be elected for a term of two semesters to serve from the spring following
the elections through the subsequent fall semester.
Transition of Administration. There shall be a meeting of the Executive Committees following the
election, at the end of the fall semester. It should include the outgoing and incoming officers and any
other persons deemed necessary. All new business and files are turned over to the newly installed
Executive Director who then becomes the presiding officer.
Article VIII: Amendments
The Executive Committee may amend this Charter from time to time. It may be amended or revised by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of all the officers and representatives present at a meeting.
Article IX: NCSC and NEW COLLEGE
The New College Student Council shall adhere to the Student Guide and other laws, rules, and
regulations governing the New College and its students.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
welcome to the offical blog of...
"the independent; interim, student council
of the new college of california"
(referred to below as: NC-II-SC)
we had a very productive meeting this morning
i will post the minutes as soon as i receive them
from our interim secretary
an independent interim student council now exists.
*** the meeting to draft the charter of the
NC-II-SC is WEDNESDAY AUGUST 1st
@10 AM room 6 ***
this is huge step towards the creation
of a long term student governance at the new college
which is a critical step in retaining our accreditation with WASC.
again - next week - student council will meet -
wednesday august 1st 10AM - room 6
ALL those who identify as STUDENTS
of the new college (past or present)
welcome to attend.
this meeting
is for the specific purpose
of creating a charter for the student council
i feel really hopeful after our meeting this morning
and the subsequent meeting of the "coalition" - there is another
coalition meeting - this "coalition" is staff, faculty, students, alumni, etc.
to keep the channels of communication flowing
and information sharing between the adjunct council ,the faculty council,the student council, the staff and alumni...
***the NEXT meeting of the coalition is WEDNESDAY AUGUST 1st at 12pm in room 6***
of the new college of california"
(referred to below as: NC-II-SC)
we had a very productive meeting this morning
i will post the minutes as soon as i receive them
from our interim secretary
an independent interim student council now exists.
*** the meeting to draft the charter of the
NC-II-SC is WEDNESDAY AUGUST 1st
@10 AM room 6 ***
this is huge step towards the creation
of a long term student governance at the new college
which is a critical step in retaining our accreditation with WASC.
again - next week - student council will meet -
wednesday august 1st 10AM - room 6
ALL those who identify as STUDENTS
of the new college (past or present)
welcome to attend.
this meeting
is for the specific purpose
of creating a charter for the student council
i feel really hopeful after our meeting this morning
and the subsequent meeting of the "coalition" - there is another
coalition meeting - this "coalition" is staff, faculty, students, alumni, etc.
to keep the channels of communication flowing
and information sharing between the adjunct council ,the faculty council,the student council, the staff and alumni...
***the NEXT meeting of the coalition is WEDNESDAY AUGUST 1st at 12pm in room 6***
meeting #1 - student council forming
new college student council
july 25th 2007
10AM rm 6 777 valencia
july 25th 2007
10AM rm 6 777 valencia
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