Skip to content
Fee Transparency Project
Companion to the official sfac.ucsc.edu (opens in new tab) · About this site

February 8th, 2021

AgendaMinutes

Present: Brynna Downey, Alvin Ho, Andy Huynh, Charlene Proo, Gloria Qiu, Isaac Karth, Vivian Pham, Lisa Bishop, Lydia Jenkins-Sleczkowski, Anahi Mendoza

  1. Welcome and Introductions
    1. Brynna leads the group in introductions.
    2. Anahi will be sitting in on SFAC meetings to learn more about how university budgets work.
  2. Approval of Agenda and February 3 minutes
    1. Isaac motions to approve the agenda, Alvin seconds. No objections, motion passes.
    2. Alvin motions to approve the agenda, Andy seconds. No objections, motion passes.
  3. Summer Fees presentation by Lisa Bishop
    1. Lisa comes to SFAC every year to discuss summer campus-based fees. Summer fees are different from fall/winter/spring, charges are detailed in the referenda language. Summer fees are usually charged at a lower rate, usually dependent on the amount of services provided during summer. SFAC reviews and can approve fees to go forward to the chancellor.
    2. Prior to 2018, ⅔ of all fee amounts were charged in summer. Return to aid was calculated and taken out, the total amount was then prorated to all fees. Some fees got 100% of normal, some half, some got two thirds of the original amount.
    3. Now, each fee is given a specific amount to be charged over summer. SFAC has generally given approval based on this methodology.
    4. This year, the sustainability office’s fee is a little different.
    5. May asks if Summer 2021 will be remote? Lisa is unsure, but it is likely to be remote.
    6. Brynna notes that Planning and Budget is doing a fee review. Will those results affect summer 2021 fees? Lisa clarifies that they are reviewing last spring’s fees first.
    7. TAPS fee language is the only one specific to say that the full amount is charged in summer.
    8. Debt service to buildings also needs to be charged regardless of in-person. The only ones that no longer pay debt services are student government and student life fees.
    9. Lisa will send the spreadsheet and slides to the committee.
    10. Isaac will share with GSA. He expects that units on campus may not have too many different operations since last year. Lisa agrees, and notes that some fees do have significant carryforwards.
      1. Isaac asks what the timeline is? Lisa says she can probably stretch the timeline out until March. Chancellor Larive does a thorough review as well.
      2. Isaac likes the idea of asking units for a summary of budgets for summer units. He suggests asking units how they plan to spend student fee money, especially the units with a high carryforward.
      3. Lisa says that Lucy can help identify the appropriate contacts.
    11. Brynna shares that other UCs do regular reviews of every fee. Brynna suggests asking all units that receive more than 0% to share their summer plans.
      1. Isaac motions, Charlene seconds. No objections, motion passes.
    12. Lisa reminds the group that SFAC can recommend fee changes. This is only the case for summer quarter fees, academic year fees can only be modified by a referenda or the chancellor’s recommendation. Formal procedures should be in place for reducing a fee. Brynna notes that this could be a good spring quarter project.
  4. Funding Proposal Discussion
    1. Google folder
    2. Ranked Evaluation spreadsheet
      1. Brynna summarizes the strategy developed at the last meeting.
    3. Running document of thoughts on proposals
    4. Proposals - Bottom 5
      1. #16, Real Estate and Contract Services Interim Program - $42,500
        1. May notes that only a few students get this students.
        2. Isaac feels that the ratio of funding to student impact is fewer than other proposals. This year in particular, he prioritized funding requests with more urgency or critical nature.
        3. Isaac motions not to fund #16, Andy seconds. No objections, motion passes.
        4. #16 is not funded.
      2. #27, Providing Research Experience to Undergraduate Students: The LEEPS Laboratory internship - $57,052
        1. Isaac asks if the committee will be funding anything for two years? Brynna says that discussion hasn’t happened yet. Isaac adds that he assumed one year of funding for most proposals.
        2. Lisa shares that in previous years, the committee generally provided only one year of funding.
        3. Brynna notes this as a possible discussion for next year’s call.
        4. Charlene says that it seems like a good program with a diversity focus. She suggests tabling or funding clinics for one year.
        5. Charlene motions to table, Isaac seconds. No objections, motion passes.
      3. #15, iGEM Undergraduate Competition Funds - $25,000
        1. May notes that this is a small student impact. With COVID safety, only three students can be in a lab at a time. She wonders how accessible this program is for students.
        2. Vivian says that their proposal prioritized stipends.
        3. VIvian motions to table to a later discussion and see how many funds are left. Charlene seconds. No objections, motion passes.
      4. #38, Car Seat Installation and Inspection Community Event - $12,810
        1. Isaac is not sure this is necessarily something to spend student fees on. It is not clear how it will benefit students.
        2. Vivian agrees that this is not the most effective use of student fees. Lodging, transportation, and food don’t seem to directly affect students.
        3. Isaac adds that they did not provide the unit budget, so it is hard to tell how significant this proposal is for the department’s funding.
        4. Isaac motions to not fund #38. Vivian seconds. No objections, motion passes.
        5. #38 is not funded.
      5. #9, Neurotechnology Hardware to Further Student Involvement and Development of a Synthetic Telepathy Project - $1,250
        1. Tabled to next meeting.
  5. Announcements & Updates
    1. Measure 68 message (drafted by Brynna) - tabled until Wednesday
      1. Email from Aaron Jones about Measure 68 Funds
    2. CSF Meeting 2/7 - tabled
    3. Lydia shares that UCSC Slugcast is live!! Check it out on Spotify and Apple podcasts.
  6. Adjournment
    1. Isaac motions to adjourn, May seconds. No objections, motion passes.

Upcoming Guests/Topics:

  • Director of Budget and Resource Management Kimberly Register
  • Review of 2021 proposed referenda - February 24th
  • TAPS Annual Budget Review
  • Funding Modifications to Right Livelihood College from 2019-2020