EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING MINUTES – Final Revision
TUESDAY, February 3, 2015 11:00am-12:00pm Board Room – Sequoia Building
Meetings will be live streamed to the Hanford and Tulare campuses
CALL MEETING TO ORDER – PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
A.
Abbi called the meeting to order at 11:10am
B.
Danny led us in the pledge of allegiance
II.
ROLL CALL
A.
Debbie takes class roll
III.
ADDITIONS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
A.
Abbi entertains a motion to approve the agenda as is. Pablo moves to approve, Bree
seconds, motion carries.
IV.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A.
Abbi entertains a motion to approve the minutes. Pablo notices that in under Public
Comments Item C it should read 6th Annual Latino Youth Leadership Academy. Abbi points out that
under Advisor’s Report it should be Matthew not Charles Rush. David moves to approve the
minutes with the edits, Heather seconds, motion carries.
V.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
A.
VI.
ACCREDITATION/MASTER PLAN REPORT SUPERINTENDENT/PRESIDENT OR
VICE PRESIDENT
A.
VII.
ACCREDITATION/MASTER PLAN STUDENT REPORT
A.
VIII.
ADVISORS REPORT
A. Guest - David Hurst - Higher One Issue
 Mr. Hurst has a handout for this presentation concerning COS and its agreement with
Higher One Debit Card. There will be a Blackboard assignment for this presentation and the
class will be receiving an email from Renee with more information on this topic. All the
research Mr. Hurst conducted was strictly from the internet and he wants to share his
findings concerning college financial aid debit cards, and COS’s agreement with Higher One.
Higher One was founded in 2008 when a few students thought there was a better way to
collect their money rather than waiting in line for financial aid, scholarships and grants. In
2012, the U.S. Public Research Group released a report entitled The Campus Debit Card Trap
that reports that 80% of its revenue in 2011 came from debit card fees. He shares that more
than half of community colleges go through Higher One for their financial aid banking
contracts. Although having a contract with Higher One helps cut down on administrative
costs, employees enjoy working there, and they have reported $211 million in annual
revenue, many students give Higher One poor ratings as their banking option. By 2012, the
company was already in hot water, having been associated with lawsuits, had a $110,000
fine to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for overdraft fees as well as a $15 million
class-action settlement. Higher One is only one of many companies that are going under
government scrutiny and are accused of predatory marketing. Many Financial Aid recipients
use Higher One as a way to receive their financial aid dispersions and at the same time
support Higher One as a company. What Mr. Hurst does not like is that it seems like COS is
endorsing for students to use Higher One, while not showing students that they have other
I.
banking options as well. The U.S. Department of Education prohibits fees for accessing
financial aid, but the rules are bendable. If a fee-free ATM is “conveniently located,”
students can be charged for fees using other banks’ ATMs. There are no specifications that
define “convenient” or specify how often ATMs must be serviced. There are Fees for
accessing financial aid, and Higher One is allowed to charge you if you use another bank’s
ATM, which is another issue that should be acknowledged. In California in March 2014,
Senate Bill 845 was introduced to require each governing body of an accredited private
postsecondary education institution to develop a model contract governing the
disbursement of financial aid, scholarships, campus-based aid or school refund onto debit
card. The link for the COS Higher One Debit Card on the COS website urges you to activate
the Higher One Debit Card but barely gives you your other options for banking (you have to
read the fine print). Mr. Hurst questions if this is legal? He states that students have the
right to a paper check, to direct their deposit in another bank, and many other things that
are in the fine print. Mr. Hurst recommends that we advocate for disclosure, on the COS
Website, of the contract details with Higher One. He believes we should revise the Financial
Aid web pages to more clearly point out students’ rights not to use the debit card and to
downplay or remove any tacit endorsement of higher One by COS. He suggests that we
create handouts/flyers for new students about the Higher One Debit Card to be distributed
at orientations and in the offices (Financial Aid Office, Cashier’s Office, and Scholarship
Office). Mr. Hurst would like Student Senate to be informed of this issue and suggests that
we create informational workshops to help students about the Higher One Debit Card and
to help students learn how to manage their money and their banking options. Furthermore,
we could get in contact with Mr. Carrizosa and college representatives and acknowledge
them of this issue.
B. Farmersville Jr High/Peer Mentoring - Friday, February 13th
 If you would like to participate in this volunteer opportunity, please see Debbie after class.
Farmersville High School will be appreciative of the student leaders present. This counts as
Peer Mentoring hours. Student Senator Division Chair information is being handed out and
should be in your binder. Another handout of the Student Senator Report Schedule is
handed out and should be in your binder.
C. Extra Credit - Time Management Workshop
 This extra credit is due today and worth 5 points. Make sure to take advantage of all the
extra credit opportunities throughout the semester.
IX.
EXECUTIVE BOARD REPORTS (Jennifer, Carlos)
A. Jennifer - Jennifer attended her first Board of Trustees meeting and she was sworn in as
Student Trustee. They discussed the new Master Plan Report, the Plus or Minus Grading System,
and tabled a lot of the meeting to the next meeting. Her next meeting is next week, and meetings
are in the Sequoia Board Room from 5-7:30pm every 2nd Monday of the month. Anyone is
welcome to attend these meetings.
B. Carlos - Nothing to Report
X.
SENATOR REPORTS
A.
Danielle reminds those Student Senators who will report on February 10th
XI.
STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT
A.
XII.
OLD BUSINESS
A. Club Social - Tuesday, February 10th
Abigail G.
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XIII.
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XIV.
Abigail goes over who is working set up, event, and clean up for Club Social. Set up is from
2-3pm, event from 3-4pm and clean up 4-4:30pm. Please be on time for whatever you sign
up for.
B. Club Rush - Thursday, February 12th 10am-1pm
Abigail G. and Daniel B.
There will be a Club Rush committee meeting from 12-1pm this coming Thursday in the
Student Center. Abigail goes over who can and cannot make it to the meeting. Student
Senate will be selling soup and sandwiches for Club Rush. We will not be having Military
Appreciation Day combined with Club Rush because there was a miscommunication with
the Veteran’s Club. However, in the future if they ask for our assistance for an event, we will
do so. Make sure to check your email for Sign up Genius reminder emails about Club Social,
Club Rush and future events!
C. March in March - Monday, March 2nd
Debbie and Carlos
Debbie would like to confirm those from the class who will be attending this event. If you
would like to attend, please sign up in the Activities office and bring $15. On that morning,
you will receive your $15 back and a $10 stipend for lunch. Today we will open it up to the
rest of the school. If we do not have enough people for the event, the event will be
cancelled.
D. Color Run - Friday, March 6th
Madeleine, Chris T.
Madeleine and Chris thank all those who came to the Color Run committee meeting last
Friday. As a general reminder for the class, please make sure to reply to all text messages
and emails so we can have good communication throughout the semester. They went over
smaller details and answered basic questions concerning the Color Run. Debbie is getting in
contact with Liability to see if this is an event we can do, and Chris and Madeleine will soon
be getting in contact with Safety and Facilities as well as Campus Police. They will be
meeting with Debbie and Facilities this Thursday and will report next Tuesday what they
learn. As of right now, there are some concerns with liability for this event, due to the fact
with the dye and where it will be. This event will take everyone’s dedication to make it a
success. There will be another Color Run committee meeting this Friday from 11-12pm in
the Student Center.
E. 2 Microwave Ovens/1 Stand (action item)
Debbie
Debbie entertains a motion that Student Senate would approve to purchase two
microwaves and one stand for students to use and not to exceed $200. Daniel moves to
approve, Bree seconds, motion carries.
F. Bike Theft Committee
Carlos
Carlos writes down names of those interested in being in the Bike Theft Committee.
G. Water Conservation - Work Group
Carlos
Carlos has the names of those interested in being a part of the Water Conservation work
group.
NEW BUSINESS
A. Toy Drive - March 2nd - 26th
Daniel
This event will be chaired by Daniel and Abigail G. and this Toy Drive will have the
toys donated to the Children’s Hospital. Toys donated to the children’s hospital. The
club with most toy donations will receive $200. This event will go onto the agenda for
the next meeting, and it is something we will promote to Tulare and Hanford to get
the word out as well as ICC.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
A.
ADJOURNMENT
A.
Abbi entertains a motion to adjourn the meeting at 11:59am. David moves to
approve, Timothy seconds, motion carries. Meeting adjourned at 11:59am.
XV.