1. Policy and All That!

2.  What is policy?
 How does policy impact you as a
president?
 What policies do you need to know?
◦ Senate/By Laws
◦ Campus
◦ MnSCU
◦ MSCSA
 Upcoming issues for the year
 Resources
 The “sniff test”
Overview

3.  Policy is defined in a number of ways:
◦ “Prudence or wisdom in the management of
affairs.”
◦ “Management or procedure based primarily
on material interest.”
◦ “A definite course or method of action
selected from among alternatives and in
light of given conditions to guide and
determine present and future decisions.”
◦ “A high-level over all plan embracing the
general goals and acceptable procedures
especially of a government body.”
What is policy?

4.  As senate presidents, you will encounter and
deal with policy in numerous ways:
◦ Work with senators/exec board
 Senate by-laws
 Campus policies
◦ Work with advisor and other campus officials
 Campus policies
 MnSCU system policies
 MSCSA policies
◦ Work with your constituents
 Campus policies
 MnSCU policies
◦ Work with MSCSA
 Conferences
 Other interaction
How does policy impact you?

5.  Senate by-laws/constitution
◦ Internal affairs
 MSCSA Policies
◦ What is your role in MSCSA?
◦ How do we interact with your campus?
 Campus policies
◦ Each campus has similar, yet different policies
 Why are some similar?
 Why are they different?
 MnSCU Policy
◦ What does this mean for you and other students?
What do you need to know?

6.  All campus student associatons should
have governing documents:
◦ Constitution
◦ Bylaws
 What should they do?
◦ Structure
◦ Elections/removals
◦ Duties
◦ Operational activities
 Voting
Senate Governing Documents

7.  MSCSA has a serious of working
documents that guide our organization.
 Similar to your senate by-laws, but
likely more expansive.
 These policies guide all of our
decisions:
◦ Eligibility
◦ Conduct
◦ Voting
◦ Structure
◦ Roles/Requirements
MSCSA Policies/Gov Docs

8.  Campus policy will cover all aspects of
your educational experience:
◦ Student life
◦ Academics
◦ Registration
◦ Financial aid
 Campuses are given latitude in some
ways, but many policies are based off
of?
Campus Policy

9.  MnSCU system policy provides
campuses, students, and employees
with rights and responsibilities:
◦ Policy 2.1: establishes a student association
on each campus.
◦ Policy 2.3: student role in decision-making:
 States that students should be on all campus
and system committees (with three exceptions)
 States that the state-wide student association
or the campus student association shall
appoint all student representatives.
◦ Policy 2.8: student life
MnSCU Policy

10.  What kind of questions/interactions
might you deal with?:
◦ “There’s a committee being set up to give
the president feedback on some facility
changes, should there be a student on that?
◦ “I have a great idea for an event. Can we
spend on money it?”
◦ How many votes do we get at the Fall GA?
◦ “Can the president do that?”
◦ “Can my advisor do that?”
Upcoming Issues

11.  Charting the Future:
◦ If MSCSA remains active in the process each
campus will have a “team.”
 There must be at least one student
 Budget consultation:
◦ MnSCU policy dictates there be an annual
process.
Upcoming Issues

12.  Campus policies:
◦ Start with your handbook
 Electronic?
◦ Next go to the website
 Lots and lots of links!
◦ Advisors Rock!
 Your advisor is there to help. Let them!
◦ MSCSA is there to help, too!
 Becca is really smart. She can help!
Resources

13.  MSCSA Policies:
◦ Working documents:
 On the website
 “About MSCSA-Structure and Governance”
◦ Call the office!
 I’m not that smart, but I can probably help any
way 
 Cabinet and staff members can help clear up
questions
Resources

14.  MnSCU Policy:
◦ All MnSCU policies and procedures are
available at:
 http://www.mnscu.edu/board/policy/index.ht
ml
◦ This should be your first stop to see if you
can find what you need.
 Call the MSCSA Office
◦ Becca is really smart and she can help! 
Resources

15.  If it doesn’t sound right, it might not
be:
◦ Trust but verify
 Do your own research
 Use the resources you have available
 When In doubt, ask someone!
◦ We at MSCSA are here to help! Don’t be
afraid to ask!
“The Sniff Test”

16. Don’t be like Grumpy Cat