Associated Students Inc. senators unanimously approved a resolution in support of Senate Bill 386 concerning faculty submissions for new textbook editions.
“This is meant to discourage unnecessary new textbook editions,” said ASI President Erin Swetland at the Wednesday’s senate meeting.
The resolution will mandate all faculty members to submit an analysis when requesting to adopt a new edition of a textbook if it has been in use for less than three years.
“This is actually going to help the textbook rental program … now, some faculty are hesitant to commit for that long,” said ASI Executive Director Richard Haller, when asked about how the Senate Bill 386 would affect the 49er Shops program.
The bill would not require faculty to get approval, but would require them to make their cost-benefit analyses.
Haller later gave a presentaton on the proposed 2009-2010 Associated Students budget which, when compared to last year’s budget, will cut spending on student government operations, scholarships and some student services.
Haller, who assembled the 65-page budget draft, said this year’s budget focuses on stabilization.
“We normally expect in each year a little tiny bit of growth … this year was different,” Haller said.
The proposal will be discussed in upcoming ASI meetings, where senators can discuss and make changes to it before finalization.
The $44 student fee paid by each student per semester funds the AS budget. Since total enrollment at Cal State Long beach is planned to shrink by 4,000 students next year, according to Haller, AS’s funding base will shrink proportionally.
In addition to lower fee revenue, ASI will also have to compensate for slowing income growth, significantly lower returns on investments and rising costs for utilities, insurance and employee benefits, Haller said.
The budget proposes to combat these trends through cutting AS spending by 6.3 percent and increasing income operations by 6.2 percent next year.
Actions to curtail spending through the general fund — which receives $17 of the $44 AS fee — will include reducing stipends, slashing ASI staff event and human resources spending and putting the 20-plus ASI student scholarship program on hiatus.
Funding for athletics scholarships awarded through the Beach Pride Fund — which is $21 of the $44 AS fee — will be reduced by 2 percent “to the minimum amount allowable under the terms of the agreement, which is currently $801,661,” according to the AS proposed operating budget.
AS funding for student organization will also be cut next year.
Income increases will come in the form of a rise in childcare fees, an increase in recyclable commodity sales and a projected climb in funding from grants, contracts and donations.
There have been “minor” violations by candidates in the ASI elections this week, according to Kim Hinckson, the ASI Assistant Director of Student Involvement and Leadership. The majority of the violations have been concerning distribution, posting and content of handbills and posters, and were upheld and settled with apology letters and warnings from the board.
The content of some handbills were questioned and dismissed on account that assumptions were made, Hinckson said.
“Candidates have been pretty respectful for the most part,” Hinckson said.
Results for the election are being released today at noon. Check daily49er.wpengine.com for the results.