Waivable Fee and NMPIRG Funding

THIS RESOLUTION REQUESTS THAT UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO BOARD OF REGENTS, BOTH IN COMMITTEE AND IN THE FULL BOARD, SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF A UNIVERSITY POLICY THAT PROVIDES FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF WAIVEABLE STUDENT FEES THAT WOULD IMMEDIATELY BE APPLIED TO THE FUNDING OF NMPIRG THROUGH SUCH A FEE.

WHEREAS, the University of New Mexico Board of Regents Facilities and Finance Committee rejected the adoption of a waiveable student fee policy on October 4th, 1999, and

WHEREAS, the consideration of the development of such a policy came directly out of an initiative process developed by NMPIRG seeking a $3 waiveable fee in support of the organization's operation; and

WHEREAS, the initiative process developed by NMPIRG included seeking support from all major representative organizations on the UNM campus: ASUNM, GPSA, the UNM Staff Council, and the UNM Faculty Senate; and

WHEREAS, the initiative process also included presentation to and overwhelming approval by both the undergraduate and graduate student populations through their respective general student elections; and

WHEREAS, the NMPIRG waiveable fee proponents worked closely with the University Administration through the University Planning Council to develop a draft policy for presentation to the Board of Regents; and

WHEREAS, the UNM Board of Regents have recognized and approved, "The right and responsibility of the Students of the University to provide their own self-government with authority in affairs of the student community," and

WHEREAS, the UNM Faculty Senate recognizes that the current process for recommending student fees is not meeting the needs of some organizations seeking funding and;

WHEREAS, the proposed waiveable fee policy would provide an intensive process for the approval of proposed fees presented to the Board of Regents for consideration.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE UNM FACULTY SENATE, THE REPRESENTATIVE BODY OF FACULTY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1: That the Regents of the University of New Mexico acknowledge the responsibility that they have given to students through consideration of a waiveable fee policy that came directly out of the NMPIRG initiative process that the UNM Faculty Senate supported.

Section 2: That NMPIRG receive funding through such a policy as developed by a joint Administrative, GPSA, Faculty Senate and ASUNM committee, and approved by the UNM Board of Regents.