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ComCil Minutes
October 1, 2008
Members Present: Lincoln Alpern, James Russell, Nic Viox, Tim Noble, Carole Braun, Molly Thornton (Chair), Dennie Eagleson, Jonny No Estes, Chelsea Martens (Co-CM), Corri Frohlich (Co-CM)
Guests Present:
OPEN SESSION
Approval of Minutes
Brief: The September 10th minutes were not approved at last week’s meeting due to a discrepancy in the following recorded motion: ComCil moved to comprise Nonstop’s ComCil constituency with 4 student seats, 2 community seats, 1 faculty electing own rep liaison, CM, ex-officio voting and Student Life ex-officio non-voting.
(In Favor: 3 Abstentions: 3 Opposed: 0). While the minutes say that the faculty seat was to be voted on by only the faculty, CG held a community wide election for the faculty seat. After CG consulted with ComCil members who were present at that week’s meeting the minute’s accuracy was still inconclusive. Some thought that the faculty were electing their own seat and some thought that it was to be a community wide election. Corri and Chelsea recommended that they ask the faculty to endorse the community elected seat for this term and to revisit the faculty seat issue at a later ComCil meeting.
Formal Action: ComCil moved to accept the minutes from its September 24th meeting with the correct abstentions to the voting tallies added.
In favor:7/ Opposed:0/ Abstaintions:1
ComCil moved to approve the minutes from its Sept 10th meeting.
In favor:7/ Opposed: 0/Abstentions: 1
Committee Appointments
Brief: Last week Nic Viox was approved to sit on the Diversity Committee and the Community Funds Board, but was asked to choose only one of the committees to sit on, due to concerns about her time availability and commitment to several project/committees. Nic reported to ComCil that she chose to sit on the Diversity Committee.
Community Funds Board
Brief: Corri proposed using the old grant lines for Nonstop with the addition of a CFB Line for IG Funds and changing the title of the Henderson Grant to the Rahmanian Grant. Corri stated that last year ComCil motioned to move the IG’s budgets into a CFB Line as to give the very active IGs more access to money. This wouldn’t prohibit IG Coordinators from proposing money from other CFB lines. Corri asked ComCil if they thought IGs should have a maximum amount for how much they could request from the IG Line. Tim said that artificially restricting CFB is unneeded; since there are specific lines let those be the restrictions and give CFB members the latitude to make these decisions. Tim stated if CFB messed up egregiously ComCil could then take a larger role. Chelsea mentioned that Genderfuck should be turned into a line item as the
Leg. Code specifies that if the same event/item is proposed several times that it should be built into the CG Budget. Dennie suggested guaranteeing each IG a minimum of $75.00 a term, in the event that if most of the IG Line is distributed at the beginning of the term and an IG becomes active later in the term, that IG will not have the same access to funds.
Proposal:
1) $2,000 from the CFB budget be allocated for IG use for the year
2) CFB keep the old allocation guidelines:
Activities: 35%
Materials: 30%
Henderson: 35%
3) CFB lines for entire year: CFB Lines per semester:
IG: $2000 IG: $1000
Activities: $2800 Activities: $1400
Materials: $2400 Materials: $1200
Rahmanian: $2800 Rahmanian: $1400
CFB Total: $10,000 CFB Total: $5,000
Carole questioned whether it was relevant to have the group who received money for an off-campus activity give a presentation to the community. Carole suggested maybe rephrasing the sentence. Jonny No suggested striking “for off campus activities” and request that everyone who receives money from the Activities Grant give a presentation to the Community afterward. Jonny No also suggested that the CFB proposers make a short presentation in Community Meeting as to receive feedback from the Community on their proposals. Nic recommended that if a group or individual went to a very involved event that they set up a time for Community members to talk about the event outside of Community Meeting, so as to not take up too much time in Community Meeting. Corri suggested that CFB members report back at Community Meeting each week on who received and didn’t receive what funds from their last meeting. Chelsea stated that it is important to trust and empower community processes and that CFB is a community process and that instead of expanding the process for proposals for CFB that the community trust the Community Funds Board to make those decisions and the individual(s) making the proposal to gather community input beforehand.
Formal Action(s):
ComCil moved to change the wording in the Activities Grant criteria to read: “A community wide presentation may be required for events outside of Yellow Springs.” The decision to request a community wide presentation shall be left up to the Community Funds Board.
In favor: 7/ Opposed: 0/ Abstentions: 1
ComCil moved to approve the CFB Lines as proposed by Corri Frohlich.
In favor: 7/ Opposed: 0/ Abstentions: 1
Needs Assessment Surveys
Brief: Chelsea presented ComCil three needs assessment surveys; one for each community constituency. Chelsea explained that CG created these assessments because the entire community is under a huge amount of stress this term and this instrument could be used to access and possibly ameliorate the current needs and conditions of the community members. Molly stated that ComCil members should offer suggestions for the survey and determine what ComCil’s role should be in accessing, administering and analyzing these surveys. Chelsea stated as the steward of community life on campus, this would be an appropriate venture in which ComCil can partake.
Chelsea also asked ComCil to think about CG’s relationship with part time students. Currently, there is not a high involvement with part time students and most part time students are not able to make Nonstop’s community events. Jonny wanted to know what the timeline and process was for this survey. Chelsea said realistically CG could get back to ComCil in 2 weeks with the surveys.
ComCil members then read over the surveys and gave CG feedback. See attached surveys.
Survey Suggestions:
– Carole suggested adding “What needs do you have that aren’t being met and/or support not receiving and what are suggestions for how Nonstop can meet those needs?
– Molly suggested specifying either academic or general workload in question 4 of the student surveys.
– Dennie said the questions are a little global and that seeking input from the Executive Collective and Curriculum Committee would be wise.
– Chelsea explained that the surveys cover more than the community’s relationship with CG Officers
– Molly said the 2nd question for the faculty should use the language from the student’s question.
– Tim said as a ComCil member he would like to hear the results from the surveys but ComCil might spoil the process from diffusing it too much.
– Dennie said it would help if there was more of a focus on the survey, and it’s a bit nebulous–there isn’t a guiding issue or problem. Dennie suggested showing this to Hassan and Beverly as people who have worked with these instruments before.
– Jonny said he has a decade worth of experience in working with surveys and that he could volunteer his time to help.
– Nic said as a student there are a lot of issues that are occurring that are addressed by this survey, and that this general survey may be comfortable for students.
– Dennie suggested organizing these questions into categories.
Student Advising
Brief: Molly brought up the concern about academic advising. Molly explained that given students’ current living situation and lack of campus that the traditional role of the academic advisor is also like that of a co-op advisor. Carole said Louise Smith is providing general academic support, along with counseling and that Susan is the faculty member to go to about Co-op. Dennie said she would take this concern back to the Curriculum Committee. Carole said that her and Joyce were resources to go to also.
Dennie said a Survival Guide would be a great document to have to help with this problem. James suggested having a mental health day.
Corri suggested a ComCil member, CG Rep, and ComCil Chair meet with Carole and Joyce to go over these issues and then report back to ComCil about their discussion. Carole suggested the problem might be approachability and said that students could bring CG as student advocates to meetings. Tim asked what was the basic concern for students. Chelsea went over a host of student concerns with the underlying issue being that Nonstop is asking students to perform like a regular student at a normal college, when in reality they don’t have any of the benefits, resources and stability of a normal college.
Molly reported to ComCil that Jonny, Rose, Jeanne and herself met with the Executive Collective to specifically talk about students concern about tuition. Molly said a main concern was that actions are taking place regarding tuition as if consensus has been reached in the appropriate bodies. Molly said that two key paranoias were identified in that conversation. There is paranoia that students don’t want to pay and are taking advantage of Nonstop’s situation and there is paranoia that students are going to get kicked out if they don’t pay the tuition.
Molly stated that from the meeting it was resolved to value student participation that can be credited as community service. The Executive Collective was asked to send out a letter to explain the status. Tim said that he hoped the goal is not to relieve all stress, as part of the Antioch student experience is working through stress, but it does seem very clear the situation is untenable as it is. Nic clarified that no one is asking for a “walk in the park,” but that this isn’t a college and that needs to be addressed. Chelsea and Tim said the only way we are going to solve this problem is with student involvement and that students are part of the solution.
Corri stated that CG will do a better job of explaining where to bring these issues.
Molly suggested having a meeting with Student Life Coordinators, with the ComCil Chair, ComCil member and CG to address and come to a resolution on these issues.
Chelsea suggested bringing a member of the scholarship committee to these meetings.
Other News & Announcements
Brief: Tim stated that Foster resigned from the Record.
COMMUNITY FUNDS BOARD LINE PROPOSAL
– Page 28 of Leg. Code reads: “?ComCil shall establish guidelines for the percentage of CFB funds that will be allocated to each category.”
– For the past three years the allocations of Community Funds have been as such:
Activities: 35% Materials: 30% Rahmanian: 35%
– On February 21st of 2008, ComCil made the following motion regarding IG Budgets:
ComCil moves that money currently designated to IG’s be moved into a separate line in the CG budget to be applied for through CFB.
In Favor: 7/Opposed: 0/ Abstention: 1
– For Your Reference:
2007-2008 CFB Budget Lines
$13,000
Community Funds Board (CFB)
$4,500
Activities 35% of CFB
$3,900
Materials 30% of CFB
$4,500
Henderson Scholar 35% of CFB
2007-2008 IG Funds Line
$2,400
Independent Groups
– Amount budgeted for CFB for this YEAR: $10,000
CG is proposing the following:
1) $2,000 from the CFB budget be allocated for IG use for the year
2) CFB keep the old allocation guidelines:
Activities: 35%
Materials: 30%
Henderson: 35%
3) CFB lines for entire year:
IG: $2000
Activities: $2800
Materials: $2400
Rahmanian: $2800
CFB Total: $10,000
CFB Lines per semester:
IG: $1000
Activities: $1400
Materials: $1200
Rahmanian: $1400
CFB Total: $5,000
COMMUNITY FUNDS BOARD LINES
Activities Grants: To sponsor events that support the social, cultural or political life of Nonstop community members. Activities that further the diversity of the community will be given funding priority. Some examples might include guest lecturers, bands, artistic performances, legal political demonstrations, group conferences, or food for discussion forums. CFB may fund activities held off campus such as conferences, as long as they enrich the cultural, political and academic life for the community at large. For off-campus activities, a community-wide presentation is required and must be announced at the weekly Community Meeting.
Materials Grants: To acquire or improve shared resources. Some examples might include supplies for a public art project, equipment for community centers independent groups, or other equipment that will be made widely available.
Rahmanian Scholar Grants: Named after Nonstop’s Educational Offerings Coordinator, these grants promote scholarly efforts on issues of shared governance and community, as well as promoting a sense of community and collegiality through shared scholarship. Rahmanian Grants shall be awarded to support conference attendance or scholarly projects. Projects shall be funded according to the following priorities and criteria:
Priorities:
1.) Top priority will be given to scholarship that is both conducted through collaboration of multiple people or groups (such as a joint faculty-staff research project) AND that focuses on shared governance or community.
2.) Secondary priority will be given to scholarship that is conducted through collaboration of multiple people or groups OR that focuses on issues of shared governance or community, but that does not meet both of these criteria.
3.) Within the framework of the stated priorities, the Board may consider additional criteria that is deems relevant (such as quality of proposed project, availability of funds from other sources, or previous receipt of funds).
Exclusions:
1.) Proposals that do not fit the priorities will not be funded.
2.) Scholarship mandated as a part of graduation requirements or required professional training will not be funded, although scholarship that builds upon prior required work may be considered if relevant to the funding priorities.
Independent Group Grants: Money available for events, materials and activities sponsored by and affiliated with IGs.
– Please be aware if your grant proposal is accepted your check will not be ready until one week later.
– You will be notified Friday morning of the outcome of your proposal.
– CFB meets Thursday @ 3:00pm in the back office of 113 Davis Street.
