Student Council discussed the lack of student involvement in the grant proposal process for the Strategic Investment Fund at its Tuesday meeting.
University Vice President for Finance Melody Bianchetto gave a presentation about the fund and answered members’ questions.
Bianchetto passed out handouts to each member of the council with several slides detailing the purpose of the fund, a timeline showing its development and background information on the sources of the money.
The handout stated that the purpose of the Strategic Investment Fund was to “fund exceptional opportunities,” potentially improve the University’s affordability and excellence, expand research, improve the student experience and further economic development.
Also included in the handout — and of particular concern to many members of Student Council — was a diagram demonstrating the process by which a proposal for investment is made.
A University community member develops the proposal, which must be endorsed and reviewed by a member of the administration, an evaluation committee and an advisory committee before finally being approved by the Board of Visitors.
Brett Curtis, third-year Curry student and representative body chair, read prepared questions from council members. Many of the questions expressed concerns about students being underrepresented and unable to propose investment opportunities, or voice their opinions on proposed investments.
Bianchetto assured the group that students would have plenty of options for having their voices heard.
“Students can reach out to me, the Office of Student Affairs, the Dean of Students or other University staff to propose opportunities,” she said.
She added that the fund will not only have financial benefits for the University itself, but also for students.
“Ultimately, this plan will help keep tuition lower,” Bianchetto said, explaining that the fund will cover some expenses that might have otherwise come out of tuition.
After Bianchetto’s presentation, Student Council continued to discuss their thoughts on the fund.
Student Council President Emily Lodge, a fourth-year Batten student, questioned why students are being given little to no involvement in the future investment decisions, citing the University’s tradition of promoting student self-governance and involvement.
Curtis agreed that students should be given a better avenue to express their opinions.
“Perhaps an option where students could bring their proposals if they are able to get 1,000 signatures,” he suggested.
Second-year College Representative Eddie Lin added that in addition to student involvement, transparency and informing the student body is important on a major issue like this one.
“Whatever they’re doing now is not enough,” Lin said in reference to the University’s outreach efforts.
Zaakir Tameez, a second-year College student and member of the Legislative Affairs Committee, emphasized the importance of pushing for student involvement immediately, before the plans for the fund move forward.
Curtis closed the discussion by reaffirming the council’s commitment to pushing for student involvement in the fund’s decision-making in the coming days.
“We need to make sure we’re doing something to get student involvement relatively quickly, before we lose our opportunity,” Curtis said, eliciting broad agreement from the group.
Along with the discussion of the Strategic Investment Fund, two votes were held on proposed bills. A vote to appoint second-year College student Andrew Lee as chair of the Rules and Ethics Board passed unanimously, as did a vote to allow the council to make proclamations in order to recognize important University events.
“My immediate thought was to use this ability to appreciate individuals in the University community who have gone unrecognized,” Curtis said of the proclamations bill.
Correction: A previous version of this article stated this was the first Student Council meeting of the year.
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