MSCSA Director of Communications Jonathan Miller MSCSA Treasurer Matt Rubel MSCSA's working documents are over 60 pages long. But what do you really need to know? During this session, we will play some games to highlight what we consider to be the most important

1. MSCSA Policy Game
Matt Rubel, MSCSA Treasurer
Jonathan Miller, MSCSA Director of Communications

2. MSCSA Policy Pu Pu Platter

3. 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.
Mission Statement

4. What do you know about the
Working Documents?

5.  Committees in general
 Fiscal Committee
 Financial Procedures
 Steering Committee
 Working documents items up for
review
 Diversity Committee
 Report Writing
Our focus today

6. Committees

7.  On pages 17-19
 All MSCSA committees and MnSCU
System-Wide representatives are
appointed by the President, unless
specified in the Bylaws.
 The GA or GC ratifies presidential
appointments by a simple majority
vote.
 Committee terms end on June 30
Committees

8.  Standing committees include Steering,
Fiscal and Diversity Committees
 Diversity Committee has different
requirements
 Nominations come from floor of GA or
GC
 Voted on by secret ballot by GA or GC
Standing Committee
Election Process

9. Fiscal Committee & Financial
Procedures

10.  Approves association spending
between $500-$5,000.
 Membership-President, Treasurer and
two elected Governing Council
Members (Not Alternates).
 GC Members are elected at the
September Conference by the GC.
 Decisions of the Fiscal Committee can
be brought to the GC for appeal.
MSCSA Fiscal Committee

11.  Page 24 to 28 of the Working
Documents.
 Includes:
◦ Travel Reimbursements,
◦ Stipend Payments
◦ Cabinet & Staff Salaries
◦ Expenditures
◦ Cash Receipts and Receivables
◦ Fee, Budget and Roles of the Treasurer &
Executive Director
Financial Procedures

12.  Must receive authorization from the
Treasurer or Executive Director PRIOR
to traveling.
 Association’s Mileage Reimbursement
rate is 7 cents less than the IRS Rate
(56-7=49).
 May be claimed by Staff, Cabinet, GC
and Platform Members.
Travel Reimbursements

13.  Platform and GC Rep’s receive an $80
stipend on the last business day of
the month.
 Assuming they submit reports, attend
meetings, and perform other assigned
duties.
 If an Alternate serves in place of their
Rep., the Alt. receives $40 and the
Rep. receives $40.
Board Payments (Stipends)

14.  Campus Presidents, GC Reps and
Platform Members are reimbursed by
the Association at quad rate if there is
a meeting that they are required to
attend.
Rooming Rates for Events

15.  If a member chooses to register at
double rate that member (or campus)
will be responsible for the difference
between the double and quad rate
 General Assemblies are different.
 The reimbursed delegates for GA’s are
by campus (See the handout).
Rooming Rates for Events
Cont.

16. Steering Committee
& Items up for Review

17.  5 members elected by the GA or GC.
 Election typically held at the
September Conference.
 GC members vote in this election.
Steering Committee

18.  Review the MSCSA Working Documents
according to the Steering Committee
Strategic Plan (page 65) or as directed by
President, GC or GA.
 Present recommendations during at least
2 GC meetings prior to Spring GA.
 Determines eligibility of cabinet & SAL
prior to Spring GA.
 Administers the elections at Spring GA.
Steering Committee Duties

19. Policies up for review

20.  Page 47 of the Working Documents.
 The Association may withdraw $200
for special events or while selling
promotional items.
 All cash withdrawals must be signed
and authorized by two members of
the Association.
 The president and treasurer are the
primary signers for the association.
Cash Management Policy

21.  Page 58 of the Working Documents.
 The Association may pay for a student
that is eligible for reimbursement.
 Usually brought forth for a medical
need.
 Typically a physician’s letter is
provided if a need exists.
 The Association may fill the room with
another student as it sees fit.
Double Occupancy Policy

22.  Begins on page 22
 Reviewed in 2013-14
 Election Policy
 Election Procedure
 Special Elections
 Candidate Meet-n-Greet
Election Policy & Procedures

23.  Page 60 of the Working Documents.
 If a student is registered for an event
and they cannot attend, that student
must cancel at least 3 business days
prior to the start of the event.
 OR they must find a student to attend
in their place.
Event Cancellation Policy

24.  The student (or campus) will be
responsible for any costs charged to
MSCSA by the hotel.
 Can be withheld from the stipend of
GC or Platform.
 The MSCSA President may waive any
penalties a student incurs if
extenuating circumstances are met.
Event Cancellation Cont.

25.  Privacy policy
◦ Relates to information requests from
external parties
◦ Written by legal council hired by the
Association
◦ Updated with the help of our lawyer
 Promotional Policy
◦ Related to the selling and giving of
promotional items
Privacy Policy
& Promotional Policies

26. Diversity Committee

27.  New Mission Statement:
◦ The Diversity Committee mission is to
serve the student body and greater
campus community of all public two year
community and technical colleges in
Minnesota through researching, educating
and connecting by providing information
on issues of diversity, as it pertains to
higher education to include but not be
limited to: International, minority, under-
served, underrepresented individuals or
groups and people with disabilities.
Diversity Committee

28.  Chaired by SAL Platform Rep.
 Vice Chaired by SAL GC Rep.
 At least 3 At-Large members
appointed by president.
 Open attendance by anyone else.
Diversity Committee Cont.

29. Report Writing

30.  Reports should identify both the
region and author.
 At least a paragraph in length, ideally
two or three.
 All campus names should be spelled
out at first usage.
 Reports should illustrate a basic grasp
of sentence structure and mechanics.
Report Writing Format

31.  Reports should focus on:
◦ MSCSA campaigns/work/discussion
◦ Regional work/action/meetings
◦ Updates from regional meetings
◦ Research items
 Not a place for “trash talk”
 “Nothing is going on” is not good
enough
 Not an activity report
Report Writing Content

32. Questions?