The document provides information and guidance about the campus budget consultation process between campus administration and students. It outlines MnSCU policies requiring student representation and consultation on issues affecting students. The consultation process involves multiple meetings between administrators and students to discuss budget issues, proposed fee increases, and answer student questions. Students have the right to provide input but not determine outcomes. The document suggests questions students could ask during budget meetings and gives tips for effective consultation meetings.

1. Campus Budget Consultation
Yep, it’s awesome!

2.  Why is Peter Pan always flying?
 He “neverlands”
Joke #1

3.  MnSCU Policy 2.3, Student Involvement
in Decision-Making, says:
◦ “To promote appropriate levels of student
involvement in system, college, and university
decision-making and to assure that student
perspective is considered, students shall have the
opportuinty for representation on system, college,
and university committees involving or affecting
student interests and shall have the opportunity to
review or be consulted on issues that have a
significant impact on students.”
Why do we consult?

4.  Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
(MnSCU) Procedure 2.3.1, Part 3, Subpart A
states:
◦ “Means that administration seeks an opinion
from the campus student association and
considers that information in the decision-
making process.”
 The procedure goes on to say:
◦ “Consultation includes presentation of
materials, discussion, and an opportunity for
students to ask questions in a meeting.”
What is consultation?

5.  It means:
◦ MnSCU policy says student input is an
important part in decision-making.
◦ Students have a right to be heard, through
official channels, on issues that impact them.
◦ Students have the right to ask questions and
be provided with appropriate information on
these issues.
◦ Administrators should meet with students at
least twice a semester
◦ Students have the right to make appointments
to most campus committees
What does this all mean?

6.  What it doesn’t mean:
◦ That students get to be a part of every
campus committee. Exceptions are:
 Presidential cabinet meetings
 Committees that review personnel
 Committees established under collective
bargaining agreements.
◦ That students don’t have to actively engage.
◦ That students will always get their way.
◦ “You have a right to a say, not to your way.”
What it doesn’t mean!

7.  Why did the picture go to jail?
 Because it was framed!
Joke #2

8.  It’s group work time!
 Has your senate:
◦ Met with campus administration at least
once about budget and other issues?
 If you have, who attended and what happened
in those meetings? Did you ask questions? Did
you feel good about how it went?
 If you haven’t, have you reached out and asked
for a meeting?
Has it started yet?

9.  Friendly, open meeting that includes
members of the administration.
 Students are provided handouts on
whatever issue needs consulting.
 Students are given a chance to ask
questions, and questions are asked!
 Questions are answered or a pledge to
provide an answer is made.
 Administrators follow up with answers.
How it should look!

10.  How do snails fight?
 They SLUG it out!
Joke #3

11.  September/October:
◦ Administrators and students meet for the first time.
 Introductions and initial discussion
◦ November/December:
 Second meeting to discuss issues in more detail, allow
students to ask questions.
 Campus budget, fee levels, and other issues on the
docket.
◦ January/February: Third meeting:
 Updated information, more questions, students offer
initial opinions if well informed.
◦ March/April: Fourth meeting: Updates, more questions,
students give opinion on upcoming decisions.
◦ Late April: Student president writes letter to Board of
Trustees. The letter tells the Board how the process went.
The Consultation “Process”

12.  Campus Revenue:
◦ Tuition
 Enrollment
 Credits sold
◦ Fees
 What does your fee money pay for?
◦ State appropriation
◦ Other sources (what are they?)
 Campus Spending:
◦ Personnel
◦ Non-personnel
Campus Budget

13.  Questions you may want to ask:
◦ How have enrollment changes impacted our
budget?
 Headcount, credit sold, etc.
◦ How much of any projected shortfall is
because of enrollment changes?
 What changes are we making as a campus
because we have fewer students?
 Are we looking for other sources of revenue?
Campus Budget

14.  Questions Continued:
◦ What fees are likely to increase?
 What are students getting from these
increases? (Ie why do we need these increase?)
 What is the financial impact on a student?
◦ Are our campus reserves healthy?
 Is use of those part of the budget plan? Can it
be?
◦ What is our campus carry-forward?
Campus Budget

15.  It’s Letter Time:
◦ MnSCU policy requires a consultation letter
from the campus student government
president.
◦ The letter should make clear what the
consultation process looked like.
◦ The letter should make clear whether
students feel the process was sufficient.
◦ The letter can include student positions on
fee increases or other budget decisions.
At the end…

16.  In your consultation meetings you
should:
◦ Be professional
 Be on time
 Be prepared
 Assume the best of intentions
◦ Stay on topic
 Friendly chat is okay, but…
◦ Ask questions!
 There really isn’t a dumb question
Meeting Tips

17.  At your tables:
◦ One person acts as the president
◦ Three people act as the student leaders
◦ The rest are observers
 We will do three different role plays:
◦ Technology fee increase of 10 percent
◦ Adding a new fee
◦ General budget discussion
Let’s try it…

18.  The president is proposing to increase
the fee charged to students by 10%
 The Tech fee was just raised last year.
◦ Before you start talk through:
 Questions to ask
 What additional information do you need?
◦ Play it out and give feedback!
Scenario 1

19.  The president is looking to add a new
fee (pick whatever kind of fee you
want):
◦ What questions do you want to ask?
◦ Play it out!
Scenario 2

20.  It’s your first consultation session of
the year.
 The president lays out a small projected
shortfall in the campus budget.
◦ What questions do you want to ask?
◦ What information should you ask for?
Scenario 3