Cadre of administrators and staff attend senate, discuss library

Senate members brought their ideas on the library renovations to a group of faculty and staff dealing with the plans for renovations at Monday’s meeting.

Members and faculty discussed the two main aspects of the renovation: coffee shop and tutoring center.

The coffee shop would be more used if bonus bucks or alternative forms of payment, such as debit cards, were used according to a majority student senator consensus. However, Tracy Shuck, senior director of dining services, said the coffee shop must increase revenue in order for bonus bucks to be accepted. The coffee shop would be another part of food services; therefore, the money he is allocated would have to include the coffee shop. An option to increase revenue is to accept debit cards at the new coffee shop.

“Dining services would like to add a successful coffee shop,” Shuck said.

Student senate asked Aaron Prestwich, director of TRiO, and Frances Gonzalez, coordinator of tutoring services, about their feelings on the practicality of the move of the tutoring center. Gonzalez said, as mandated by Human Resources, tutors must be supervised when working with students. Senate members asked if library staff could fulfill that role. No one present knew the answer and said they would look into it.

Prestwich said, “If we, or the tutoring center is asked to move, they’ll move.” Ultimately, the decision isn’t up to any of the staff employed at the Learning Center, but to the college administration.
In addition to the aforementioned attendees of the meeting, all three academic deans were in attendance, as well as the Vice President for Academic & Student Affairs.

Treasurer T.J. Thomson said there is $12,805 in un-allocated funds. Thomson also gave a report on the Finance Committee as President of the Finance Committee.
Thomson told members that the main item of business for the Finance Committee is finding an online application where clubs and committees can regularly check their balances. The mission statement for the committee is currently being written.

Jamie Wada, faculty adviser to Student Senate, and Cressey Yeutter, senator of E.H.P.C.P.S.W, talked about the survey Student Senate developed to gauge students’ thoughts about online classes. They said that the administration of the survey had been transferred to the Academic Review Committee, a sub-committee of the Faculty Senate.
Wada apologized that the reasons for the transfer were not announced sooner.

Deena Kennell, director of internships and career services, is leaving Friday for the Advocacy Action workshop in Lincoln. Anyone interested in attending can contact her in Crites 115. There is no cost for the workshop, but some meals will be at the expense of the student.

There will be no meeting next week due to Thanksgiving break.

The next meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m., Nov. 28.