The Sept. 27 meeting of the Associated Student Government was centered upon a presentation regarding an upcoming visit by the Higher Learning Commission to Colorado Mesa University.
Morgan Bridge, a business professor, presented the information about the visit, which will occur on Nov. 6-7. The HLC is one of six bodies that accredits universities. The commission spans 19 states, principally in the Midwest, and is the body which accredited CMU.
The HLC establishes CMU’s eligibility as a public university to offer federal financial aid and transfer credits. It also provides quality control through visits, which occur every four years and every ten. During the upcoming visit in November, representatives from the HLC want to speak specifically with students, either in a group setting or public forum. A schedule of any public meeting times will be published the week before the group arrives.
The last time the HLC visited CMU in 2014, the university was asked to focus on assessment, which could explain an increase in testing in some classes.
In the remaining days leading up to the visit, faculty has been receiving a series of daily emails titled “CMU assurance argument,” which includes an article containing information about events at the university.
Bridge asked if ASG representatives wanted to receive the emails themselves, or if they believed these emails should be sent out to the entire student body in preparation for the HLC visit. Senators decided these emails should be sent to every CMU student, following an introductory email explaining the purpose of the email series.
The other main topic of discussion at the meeting was examining the current committee structure of ASG. President Ben Linzey wanted to add permanent committees to the senate list so that the impact of such committees is continuous and will help students in upcoming years, as well as the current academic year.
Some of the proposed permanent committees were a campus transit committee, a campus health committee and an off-campus committee.
Linzey also suggested that the recently formed DACA committee be expanded and transformed into a minority committee that will work with Minority Senator Shelby Cerise and Cultural Diversity Board representatives.
Currently, the DACA committee is working to see if dreamers can still receive in-state tuition if the act is terminated and not replaced. The committee also spoke with counselors at the Student Wellness Center and Bob Lang, the director of the division of health and advocacy, who said the five dollar co-pay for counseling sessions would be waived for DACA students who are facing financial hardship.
Linzey also spoke of the importance of creating a judiciary advisory committee, modeled after those in state and federal governments. This committee would work directly with the justices, and perhaps begin to tackle questions regarding the role of justices and if they should have a presence at general assembly meetings.
Currently, justices attend these meetings, and a change would be unprecedented in ASG history. The committee’s main function, however, would be to further develop checks and balances between the Senate and the judiciary branch.
The vacant justice position was also filled during this meeting by candidate Taylor Jackson, a junior political science and sociology major, planning to study law. Jackson’s appointment was approved almost unanimously, with only one vote against.
