Advocacy Efforts

Apply for MSCSA Endorsement to be a Student Trustee

Friday, 13 January 2012 16:41

How to Apply for MSCSA Endorsement:

MSCSA is now accepting applications for students to be officially endorsed candidates to the MnSCU Board of Trustees. The Minnesota State College Student Association (MSCSA) can officially endorse 2-4 trustee candidates per vacancy.

Interested applicants should submit the Secretary of State's one-page application (attached) along with a letter of intent, resume, and two letters of recommendation to Jessica Medearis, or by mail to:

MSCSA
Attn: Jessica Medearis
505 Como Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55103.

Applications are due by Monday, February 13, 2012 by 5:00 p.m. Final candidates for each position will be interviewed by an appointed ad-hoc committee by phone in late February. The ad hoc committee will provide recommendations for endorsed candidates to the Governing Council for ratification at the March Governing Council meeting.

Background:

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system is governed by a Board of Trustees. The Board is comprised of 15 members – 3 members at-large, a labor representative, 8 members from Congressional districts, and three students. The students represent community colleges, technical colleges, and state universities. Non-student trustees serve six-year terms, and student trustees serve two-year terms. This shorter term of service for students helps to ensure that student trustees will either be enrolled in classes or new graduates, and can effectively articulate current student concerns.

As of June 30, 2012, the Board of Trustees will have two vacancies for student trustees- one for a community college student and one for a technical college student. Appointments begin on July 1, 2012.

Student trustee candidates follow a process distinct from that of other candidates. Students must fill out the attached application. Additionally, students can apply to MSCSA to be officially endorsed by the student association to the Governor's office. The governor makes the final appointment decision on student trustees, and can choose from outside MSCSA's endorsements.

While there is no definite deadline for the applications, MSCSA has a deadline for students that wish to be officially-endorsed. The following is a tentative timeline of the student trustee appointment process:

January 2012- applications are sought and reviewed
February 2012- MSCSA ad hoc committee meets to screen applicants
March 2012- Governing Council ratifies endorsements, MSCSA sends official endorsements to the Governor
Late Spring-Early Summer 2012- Select applicants interviewed by the Governor's office
June 2012 (or later)- appointments announced

Last Updated on Friday, 13 January 2012 16:51

2011-2012 Student Leadership Certificate Program Tracker

Friday, 04 November 2011 15:14

Greetings! A focal point of our association is to prepare student leaders like you to excel in your professional life, in MSCSA's advocacy work and in your efforts on campus. This year, we are debuting an award for students who show proficiency in all of these areas. This "general education" is sure to empower you with important skills and knowledge that will assist you in your work as a student leader and beyond.

To receive recognition, simply attend five workshops from each of three topic areas – Advocacy, Professional Development, and Campus Leadership – throughout the course of MSCSA events this year. Topics are designated on the itinerary for each conference.

Turn your completed booklet in to me at the March Student Leadership Conference or send to the MSCSA office by March 30, 2011 to receive your award.

See you in the workshops!

Geoff Dittberner President, MSCSA

pdf MSCSA Student Leadership Certifcate Tracker

Last Updated on Tuesday, 08 November 2011 09:22

Have you submitted you Legislative Story yet?

Monday, 07 February 2011 11:09

To make our work at the Capitol lobbying on behalf of students effective, we need a database of stories that gives examples of the real life struggles that students are going through to attend school. We have good data on rising tuition and rising student loan debt, but we also need your stories to put a human face with the numbers.

Please take the time to tell us your story. It will only take you a few moments to fill out our legislative story form and those few moments will help out our work at the capitol immensely. We are looking for stories that answer the questions:

Why are you going to school?
What type of program are you in?
What obstacles have you faced?
What motivates you to continue?

To encourage more students to submit their stories, the MSCSA Cabinet has submitted their legislative stories. Click to read about what motivated each of them to go to school and what challenges they face in attending college:

Don't worry, your story won't be published on our website-we have just posted the Cabinet's stories for illustrative purposes. Your submission can be even more brief and informal.

Submit your story now!

Thank you for your help.

The MSCSA Staff and Cabinet

Last Updated on Monday, 07 February 2011 11:28

Tuition Consultation Toolkit 2011-12

Monday, 12 December 2011 12:51

Student senates have the power and responsibility to consult with administration every year on a college budget proposal, including any changes to tuition and fees. The importance of a complete and transparent consultation process cannot be overstated, but in tough economic times, campus budget discussions can be complex. The tuition consultation toolkit dissects the tuition and fee consultation process and includes best practices, questions to ask, and how to write an effective consultation letter.

Download the entire tuition consultation toolkit

Tuition consultation presentation from the Student Leadership Conference-December 2012

Elements of the tuition consultation toolkit:

Last Updated on Monday, 12 December 2011 13:17

2010-11 MSCSA Platform Document

Thursday, 04 November 2010 10:11

The 2010-11 MSCSA platform document was approved at the Fall 2010 General Assembly. The platform document guides our staff and cabinet in their advocacy work on behalf of students at the State, Federal and MnSCU system levels.

pdf 2010-2011-platform-document.pdf