Committee Applications
If you are a non-senator, please complete this application and submit it via e-mail by Wednesday, April 25, 2007 to kdunne2@uiuc.edu. Name: _______________________________________________________________ Major: ___________________ Year (Freshman, Sophomore, etc) ________________ E-mail address: _______________________________________ Rank your top 3 choices _____ Academic Affairs _____ Budget _____ GPAC _____ Student Rights Questions 1. Why are you interested in serving on an Illinois Student Senate committee? _____ Appointments _____ Cultural _____ Outreach _____ Appropriations _____ GAC _____ Student Life
_____ Support the Troops _____ Residential Housing
2. What past experiences or special qualifications do you have that would make you qualified for this committee?
3. What new ideas could you bring to the committees you have indicated as your top choices?
Committee Descriptions
Academic Affairs (10 members)
The Academic Affairs Committee is centered on serving the needs of the student body in every aspect of their academic career. The goal of the committee is to maintain highquality instructors who understand the importance of teaching, ensure that the student body has accurate knowledge of instructors before they register for classes, lower the staggering prices of textbooks by working with both the university and state government, create more study abroad opportunities, and protect the free exchange of ideas within the classroom. Recently, the committee has worked on establishing a Pre-Health minor, which will allow students in various colleges (e.g. LAS and AHS) to take required premed courses. The committee is also co-sponsoring a speaker with Graduate & Professional Affairs, which will focus on personal financial management education.
Appointments (10 members)
The Committee on Appointment's primary task is to interview and appoint students to fill all of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs' Campus Committees.
Appropriations (10 members)
The committee on Appropriations is tasked with receiving and reviewing all requests to appropriate money for student senate business.
University Budget (10 members)
Designed as the student voice on issues pertaining to the University budget, the University Budget Committee works to inform students about funding problems, changes in tuition policy, and other issues directly affecting the quality and accessibility of education. In 2005, we were the first university to launch an electronic version of our budget letter and have delivered 3,900 letters to various state legislators. In 2006 and 2007, the committee has focused on more personal interaction with legislators. In addition to our annual lobbying, personalized letters and a legislative reception were introduced this year
Cultural & Minority Affairs Committee (14 members)
The Cultural & Minority Affairs Committee facilitates the integration of a variety of cultural RSOs in order to expand cultural awareness throughout the U of I campus along with ensuring that we voice and aide any concerns of minority student organization, which also include the gay/lesbian community, as well as to make certain that the rights
of any minority students are not being infringed upon, and if they are to make certain to try and resolve such issues. In 2005, an affirmative action and gay marriage debate were held. One major accomplishment for ISS and the committee was the creation of the Multicultural Council in 2006, which provides for an umbrella organization for U of I’s many cultural groups.
Governmental Affairs Committee (GAC) (12 members)
The Governmental Affairs Committee serves as a liaison between the student body and governmental entities at the federal, state, and municipal levels. We lobby these governments to ensure that they effectively represent the interests of the U of I student body. Past and current projects include federal student financial aid, legislation to combat rising college textbook prices, lobbying state legislators for increases in the university budget, and lobbying the Champaign/Urbana city councils for new laws to improve pedestrian safety on campus. In 2006, GAC & Outreach co-sponsored a candidate ice cream social, which allowed students an opportunity to interact with candidates running for state and federal offices.
Graduate and Professional Affairs Committee (GPAC) (12 members)
The Graduate & Professional Affairs Committee is centered on serving the needs of the graduate & professional track students in situations where GEO is ineffective or nonaccommodating. The goal of the committee is to create a community of said individuals that increases the profile and stature of graduate and professional programs & students at the university.
Housing (10-14 members)
The Committee on Housing is designed to address student housing concerns, including residence hall meals and housing cost concerns, maintaining a comfortable and integrated living environment, and searching for ways to improve the living environment of students in the university housing system. In 2007, University Housing recognized the committee as a valuable source of student opinion and its Director of Student Life has agreed to meet with its chair on a monthly basis.
Outreach (12 members)
The Outreach Committee reaches out to the general students to make them aware of student senate and its issues, as well as fostering beneficial relationships with the many other student organizations on campus. In addition, the Outreach Committee is charged with seeking out issues and complaints that students may have that the student senate is not yet aware of. Along with the Vice President External, Outreach coordinates ISS’ Quad Day participation.
Student Life (12 members)
The goal of Student Life Committee is to assess student opinion and gauge concerns of relevance according to the Student Body. The information gathered by the work of this committee will be essential in advising student senators and shaping the direction of ISS policy and program. The committee also works in collaboration with the appropriate University of Illinois outlets in asserting the interests of the student body and university community. In the past, Student Life has held a sexual health awareness campaign and held a “meet and greet” with university administrators in the residence halls.
Student Rights (10 members)
The Committee on Student Rights researches and executes strategies that help protect student rights and address the roots of their concerns, addresses the concerns of students who have had their rights violated, and act on behalf of the student body on such issues to come up with plausible solutions. The committee has worked on several “Know Your Rights Campaigns,” which include the distribution of cards and hangers in the residence halls and campaigns. Recently, the committee, in consultation with the Student Legal Office, has worked on a presentation to give to various campus organizations.
Support the Troops (10 members)
The Committee to Support the Troops fundraises and develops programs on campus that will send support to our U of I students who have loved ones abroad or are serving abroad themselves. In the past, the committee has organized a letter-writing campaign, a food and clothing drive, and a Valentine day card campaign.