The students spent two days at the State Capitol.
(Austin)—About 15 members of the Chancellor’s Student Advisory Board (CSAB) visited Austin Feb. 7-10 to meet with their counterparts from the University of Texas System and with legislators, learn about issues affecting higher education and even help craft the text of a draft omnibus bill dealing with university fee structures.
“This trip helps the members—usually the student body president and one other student leader from each campus—bond as a group and gain a broader A&M System perspective on issues that affect us all,” said Verna Dewees, assistant vice chancellor for academic and student affairs, who accompanied the students, along with student advisers from Texas A&M University, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and Prairie View A&M University.
The CSAB travels in alternate years to Austin and Washington, D.C. The Chancellor's Century Council provides budgetary support for this travel.
Their first day in Austin coincided with Orange and Maroon Day at the State Capitol, when representatives from The Texas A&M University System and UT System join forces to promote higher education. This trip was the first time that the board, created in 1982, met with their counterparts from the UT System, as well as with the outgoing student members of the Board of Regents from the UT and A&M Systems, said Dewees.
Cassidy Daniel, a student at West Texas A&M University and the A&M System’s incoming student member of the Board of Regents, as well as outgoing student regents Tyson Voelkel from the A&M System and Brian Haley from the UT System, attended a special reception for the A&M and UT System advisory groups held Feb. 9.
Students met with Greg Garcia, assistant vice chancellor for governmental relations, at the Capitol.
The students also helped David Rejino, assistant vice chancellor for governmental relations, on the text of a draft omnibus bill on university fees and the oversight of the fee structures. The bill addresses issues such as getting rid of the sales tax on textbooks, increased Pell Grant funding and reducing tuition for classes held at off-peak times.
“This is a draft omnibus bill from Texas A&M,” said Rejino. “It’s still a work in progress, and we realized that student opinions would be very important. We need to have their input and approval of what we’re doing if they’re going to come back and help us get the bill passed during the legislative process.”
In addition, the students met with A&M System Chancellor Mike McKinney, the Senior Policy Advisor for Representative Kirk Watson (D-Austin), the Office Chief of Staff and Legislative Aide for State Senator Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio), and State Representatives David Swinford (R-Amarillo) and Dan Flynn (R-Texarkana).
Lori Balerio (left), of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Amber Ramoz of Texas A&M-Commerce, are joined by Michael de Baca of West Texas A&M , Hannah Hensel of Texas A&M-Texarkana and Marc Ceja of West Texas A&M before a meeting at the State Capitol.
They also had their photograph taken with Gov. Rick Perry, attended a hearing of the House Appropriations Committee and met with Harrison Keller, director of research for Speaker of the House Tom Craddick.
“After seeing this board work in conjunction with the rest of the A&M System on our trip to Austin, I now firmly believe that the leaders of tomorrow are students of the Texas A&M System today,” said Blaze Currie, a student senator from Texas A&M and CSAB chairman.
CSAB members also met with the Board of Regents at its September meeting and will attend a student affairs symposium at Prairie View A&M in May. 