Date:  March 19th, 2003                                                          Vote: Yes 8   No 0   Abs 1

 

Intent: To express the intent of the Montana Associated Students to formally request to the Montana State Senate that the current Student Regent's term be ended July 1, 2003.

 

Whereas, Montana Code Annotated 2-15-1509 reads:

(3) (a) One seat of the appointed members on the board of regents is reserved for membership by a student appointed by the governor. The student must be registered as a full-time student at a unit of higher education under jurisdiction of the board of regents. The length of term of the student member is determined by the governor and must be for not less than 1 year and not more than 4 years. The term begins July 1 and ends June 30 of the years designated by the governor. The provisions of subsections (1)(a) and (1)(b) do not apply to the student member and may not affect the balance of the remaining appointive membership on the board of regents.

(b) The governor shall appoint the student provided for in subsection (3)(a) based upon a nomination provided by a student organization designated by the board of regents. The student organization shall nominate no fewer than three qualified students. If the governor finds that none of the students nominated are acceptable, the governor may request a new slate of nominees. Nominations must be forwarded to the governor in March immediately preceding the end of a regular term, and the governor shall make the appointment before the end of the succeeding June. In the event of a vacancy, a replacement must be appointed as soon as is practicable and in the same manner as the original appointment.

 

Whereas, Montana Board of Regents Policy 506.3 reads:

2. Function

a.       The Montana Associated Students shall establish its own procedures which shall be filed with the Commissioner of Higher Education

b. The Montana Associated Students is the student organization designated by the Regents to provide nominations for student regent to the Governor as provided for in 2-15-1508(3)(b) MCA.

 

Whereas, in the May 15, 2001 Governor's letter of appointment clearly outlines:

"a term ending July 1, 2003"

 

Whereas, in the January 16, 2003 Governor's letter the clear ending date is ignored and a new ending date of July 1, 2004 is established.

 

Whereas, MAS considers this action a reappointment.

 

Whereas, by this action student voice was excluded in the selection process by not allowing MAS to forward 3 nominations to the Governor.

 

Whereas, by this action the 32,000+ other students engaged in public higher education are not afforded the opportunity for this educational experience.

 

Whereas, the Montana Board of Regents of Higher Education Code of Expectations item number 8 reads:

"We view the Student Regent as one who is equal to other Regents. The Student Regent has a first and foremost responsibility to represent students in the Montana University System."

 

Whereas, in the January 28, 2003 edition of the Montana Kaimin the Student Regent was quoted:

"I advised Governor Martz that the opinion of MAS (Montana Associated Students) should be heard."

 

Whereas, in a February 5, 2003 communication to MAS, the Student Regent states:

"I am committed to representing the interests of all Montana students. As in the past, I am also committed to listening to and considering any and all viewpoints that come from members of the student organization MAS."

 

Therefore, let it be resolved, that MAS recommends and formally requests that the present Student Regent turn down the reappointment to allow the students across the state of Montana the same opportunity.

 

Therefore let it be further resolved that MAS recommends and formally requests to the Montana Senate that the current student regent's term end July 1, 2003.

 

Presented March 19, 2003 and adopted by:

The Associated Students of Montana State University-Bozeman
The Associated Students of Montana State University-Northern
The Associated Students of Montana State University COT Great Falls
The Associated Students of the University of Montana
The Associated Students of Dawson Community College
The Associated Students of Montana Tech of The University of Montana
The Associated Students of UM-Helena College of Technology
The Associated Students of The University of Montana-Western
The Associated Students of Miles Community College

 

Signed and effective March 19th, 2003

 

 

Daniel T. Geelan, President
Montana Associated Students