Opinion

UA Update

The last chance to vote in Senate and Class Council elections is today! Paper ballots are available today in Lobby 10 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The results of the elections will be posted tomorrow. If you have any questions, please contact ua-elect@mit.edu.

The introductory Senate meeting this year will be on Monday, October 5 at 7:30 p.m. in W20-400. All Senate meetings are open to the public. The meeting will begin with a discussion with Dean for Student Life Chris Colombo, Dean for Undergraduate Education Daniel E. Hastings ’78, and Vice Chancellor and Dean for Graduate Education Steven R. Lerman ’72 about the Institute-wide Planning Task Force recommendations. After the discussion, the Senate will hold its special budgetary session to discuss the UA’s budget for the fall term. Students are especially encouraged to attend the discussion with the Deans, even if they cannot stay for the remainder of the meeting.

Undergraduates are encouraged to provide feedback about Institute-wide Planning Task Force recommendations through http://ua.mit.edu/taskforce/. These pages highlight and detail the twenty-two recommendations which could have particularly large effects on undergraduates.

Every ten years, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges comes to MIT to perform an accreditation evaluation. One component of this process is a student-only session, and interested students should provide their perspectives to the evaluation team on Monday, October 5 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in 32-141. No MIT faculty or staff will be present at this session, and students may come and go as they please. More information about MIT’s accreditation can be found at http://web.mit.edu/accreditation/.

UA Exec meetings will be held every Wednesday this term from 7:00 to 8:00 pm in W20-401.

At this time, the UA’s goals for the upcoming year are as follows:

Publish a formal response to recommendations proposed by the Institute-wide Planning Task Force based on undergraduate students’ feedback

Gather student opinion and provide feedback to the Student Life Visiting Committee

Present motion to the faculty to make the September student holiday coincide with the Career Fair

Obtain and provide clear information regarding the allocation of the Student Life Fee

Improve communication with students, alumni, faculty, and the Corporation

Work with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges throughout the accreditation process

Publish a report on the current state of athletics at MIT

Hold a series of “Community Conversation” meetings between students and administrators in a casual setting

Hold office hours to encourage communication between the UA and undergraduates at large

Promote MIT athletic spirit through “Superfan” events

Work with the Department of Student Life on the future of the dining system implementation based on the Blue Ribbon Dining Committee and UA Dining Proposal Committee reports

Improve the process to report academic violations by creating an automated system

Gather student input about HASS curriculum changes and assist in their implementation

Work on improving the freshman academic packet by helping to set up and guide focus groups

Publish a report on the state of academic advising with recommendations

Publish a report analyzing the effects of increased enrollment on aspects of undergraduate life at MIT

Creating historical summaries to streamline minutes and legislation for easier browsing

Archiving UA documents electronically

Make sure new television service over the network reflects student interests

Work with new leadership at IS&T so they understand student technology needs, including telephone and email services

Improve network infrastructure in dorms and FSILGs

Make information about Institute Committees more readily available

Formalize a recruiting process for Nominations Committee

Assess mid-year Institute and Presidential Committee needs and assist chairs with filling vacancies in student representation

Publicize the work of Institute and Presidential Committees

Coordinate student-faculty dinners

Review the Financial Policy Review Committee’s report on UA’s finances and implement a set of best practices and guidelines for spending

Constitutional Revisions: review the Constitutional Committee’s report on UA governing documents and implement necessary changes

Work with facilities to improve bike facilities on campus

Work with CAC to improve use of W20 student space such as the Coffeehouse and the old game room

Evaluate the need for power cords on the 5th floor of the Student Center and, if necessary, implement a solution

Get a TV outside of the Student Center displaying Saferide statuses

Improve public awareness of recycling facilities on campus

Expand plastic bag recycling on campus

Expand the availability of reusable grocery bags in dorms

—Elizabeth A. Denys, UA Secretary General