SENATE RESOLUTION 35

AN ORDER TO BE ENTITLED

An act ORDERING A SPECIAL ELECTION ON OCTOBER 1st AND 2nd FOR STUDENTS TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS ON STUDENT FEES

Section 1.        Statutory Authority.  This bill is adopted pursuant to the provisions of Article II, Sections 5(d) of the Student Body Constitution and Chapter 2, Rule 17(d) of the Student Body Statutes.

Section 2.        The North Carolina State University Student Senate hereby adopts the following Order:

WHEREAS,  a Òfee refers to a student fee collected by the University,Ó as specified by the Student Body Statutes ¤5-3.1(d) (ÒDefinitions and ConventionsÓ); and,

WHEREAS,  required fees increased from $985.00 for the 2001-2002 academic year to $1,368.00 for the 2007-2008 academic year for full-time resident and nonresident graduate students, an increase of 38.88%[1]; and,

WHEREAS,  required fees increased from $974.00 for the 2001-2002 academic year to $1,357.00 for the 2007-2008 academic year for full-time resident and nonresident undergraduate students, an increase of 39.32%[2]; and,

WHEREAS,  historically students have been provided ample input into the fee increase process through the UniversityÕs policy requiring administrative units to make fee presentations to the Student Senate[3]; and,

WHEREAS,  the Senate, in adopting its own fee recommendations annually, should have direct input from the Student Body on fee increase proposals that they will have to pay; now, therefore, be it

ORDERED,   by the North Carolina State University Student Senate that, pursuant to its oversight authority as established by the Student Body Constitution (SBC Article II, Section 5(d)), public referenda on all proposals for fee increases and the establishment of new fees shall be presented to the Student Body on October 1st and 2nd in a special election held pursuant to the regulations contained in Chapter 7 of the Student Body Statutes.  Referenda text will be established pursuant to a majority vote of the Committee on Government Operations pursuant to Section 3 below.

Section 3.        Enabling Legislation.  The Student Senate President shall prepare referenda text on each proposed fee increase based upon the data provided to him in his capacity as Co-Chairman of the UniversityÕs Fee Advisory Committee.  Upon completion, referenda text shall be presented to the Committee on Government Operations.  Upon majority approval of the Committee, the referenda will be added to the election ballot.  This section shall not be construed as a limitation upon the implementation authority of the Executive Office of the Student Senate President, which is retained pursuant to Student Body Statutes ¤3-11.2.

Section 4.        This act shall be effective upon ratification and enrollment.