platform committee roles and expectations: policy oversight 101
TRANSCRIPT
Welcome to the Platform CommitteeHere’s your crash course guide to what you signed yourself up for.
What's a MSCSA?
The Minnesota State College Student Association (MSCSA) is an association of Minnesota’s public two-year college students, which works to ensure accessible, quality, and affordable public higher education while providing students with representation, leadership development, and communication across the state.
Purpose and Drive Advocate Empower Provide Facilitate Establish Ensure Promote
Cool Story Bro. Now What Is My Job?
The Platform Committee recommends what stances the MSCSA should take towards various policies relating to higher education in Minnesota and at the federal level.
We are the “think tank” that researches topics important to students and get all the facts so we can make informed decisions.
We are the platform and legislative experts for our regions, providing legislation updates to our regions and assisting advocacy events, .
We craft yearly agenda of “goals” we want to push for this year, whether it is Textbook Affordability, The Achievement Gap, Transferability of Credits, or the State Grant Program (financial aid).
What’s on your calendar?
Platform Committee meeting dates Conference Dates Regional meeting dates Platform report due dates; yes I WILL
be keeping track of who turns in reports and if their late ;)
Topic issues research timelines
Questions,Inquiries,
Clarifications?
Federal Legislative Issues (Article II)
Supports:◦ Financial Aid
Expanding the Pell Grant Lowering loan interest rates Streamlining the Federal
Application for Student Financial Aid (FASFA)
◦ Student Benefits Reauthroization of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 Expanding work-study
opportunities Increasing child care
opportunities on or around composes.
Expanding tax credits and deductions for students
Opposes:◦ Reducing or limiting financial
aid programs ◦ Use of Social Security Numbers
as identification numbers◦ Repeal of the “90/10” rule
State Legislative Issues (Article III)
Supports:◦ Cost of Higher Education
Increased state funding/investments to public colleges/universities
Legislation which reduces tuition
Changes to the state grant formula which benefit students
◦ Student Rights and Benefits Student’s rights to organize
on a state and campus level Increasing child care
opportunities on or around campus
Opposes:◦ The sale or provision of
student’s personal information
◦ Making student life or student association fees optional
◦ Cuts to public bus services to any educational institutions
◦ High-tuition/high financial aid models of funding
◦ Instructors receiving “gifts” from publishers for using their textbooks
Local and Campus Issues (Article IV)
Supports:◦ Student Empowerment
Student right to be a part or the decision making process (especially in regards to tuition and fees)
Students being in control of how student life finds are used
◦ Access Credit-weighed registration
for classes Disability services and
facilities Voting information, forms,
and polls Digital and financial literacy
training
Opposes:◦ Any fee or restriction to the
access or use of a student’s financial aid, state grant, student payroll, or stipend funds
◦ Restrictions to a students ability to vote
◦ Discrimination of any group or class
◦ Use of tech fees not in the benefit of all students
International (Article V)Supports:
◦ Students obtaining temporary Social Security Numbers
◦ Campuses utilizing their discretionary authority to granting “in-state” tuition to international students
◦ International students paying “in-state” tuition after 12 months of residency
◦ Campus-level advising services to international students
Opposes:◦ The collection of the
SEVIS fee from international Students
Minnesota State College and Universities “MnSCU”
(Article VI)
Supports:◦ Two Year College Student
Representation On committees which
affect students On Chancellor and Vice-
Chancellor Search Committees
On the Board of Trustees In the decision-making
processes.◦ Uniformity in the System
Instructor evaluation process
Academic Credit Transfer Quality Standards for
Hybrid/Online
Opposes:◦ Campus mandate of payment
of fees/tuition before the course start date
◦ Construction of revenue projects without local student support
◦ Use of third party product/services which hinder student’s access to education
Questions,Inquiries,
Clarifications?
Time to Brainstorm!
Legislator Randevú
Three Steps to meeting with your Legislators
1. Who is My Legislator2. Making Contact3. Show Up in Style!
Sept 1: Who is My Legislator?
To find out who is your legislator, simply google “Who Represents Me MN” and click the link
Click on the “district finder” link
Enter in your personal address and hit enter
You now have found your Legislators!
Step 2: Making Contact
Make a call or send a email to your Legislator’s Legislative Assistant and let them know your looking to set up a meeting with your legislator
IMPORTANT!!!
BE POLITE! Staff are the ones who decide if you get on the legislators calendar. If you are rude, do you think they’ll want to put you on the legislators busy calendar?
Step 3: Show up in Style!
Do your research! You should know your Legislators:
Name
Party
Committees
District
Legislative Assistant
Biography
Know the Agenda Items Your Advocating For!
Dress for Success
Business Professional is the dress code. Pro-tip if you wouldn’t wear it to a interview, don’t wear it to a Legislator meeting!
5 minutes Early is Late
Meet up with your group at least 10-15 minutes before your meeting near the meeting location, but don’t hover in front of the door.