GUIDLINES FOR STUDNET CONSULTATION
POLICY
Executive Order 740 titled The California State University Student Fee Policy states that appropriate and meaningful consultation occurs before establishing or adjusting student fees. For fees that affect the student body as a whole, this consultation will take the form of a student referendum. For all other fees, an alternate method of consultation shall be the review and recommendation of the Student Fee Advisory Committee [SFAC].
PROCESS FOR CONDUCTING A STUDENT REFERENDUM
Authority to Conduct a Referendum : The University President, the ASI Board of Directors or the student body (when a petition granting authority has been signed by at least 5 percent of eligible voters) has the authority to call an election.
Eligible Voter : Any part time or full time matriculated, registered student at CSU, Sacramento.
Voter Pamphlets/Communications : The SFAC shall advise the University President on specific statements to be included in the voter pamphlet. The pamphlet shall provide students with adequate information from which to make a decision. Student forums and electronic bulletin boards may also be used to communicate information. The information shall be objective and include both the pros and cons of the proposed fee action. All information distributed on behalf of the University or ASI shall be approved by the Vice President for Student Affairs. Additionally, ASI voter pamphlets and communications will adhere to ASI policy.
Ballot Form : The ballot used for an advisory student fee referendum shall be proposed by the requester but subject to University legal and policy review.
Notice : Copies of the voter pamphlets and ballot shall be available to the student body thirty (30) days prior to the election. The thirty-day notice period shall exclude academic holidays to insure an adequate review period. Information regarding the dates, times and polling locations shall be posted in the University Union, University Library and Lassen Hall thirty (30) days prior to the election. The notices shall also be posted on campus advertising kiosks and sent to the Office of Student Activities for distribution to campus clubs and organizations. Finally, the notices shall be published in the campus newspaper each week for four (4) weeks prior to the election.
Timing : Advisory student fee referenda shall be conducted during the fall or spring semester. Referenda shall be held after the student census date.
Polling Locations : There shall be at least four (4) polling locations. Students may vote at any of these locations.
Polling Hours : The polling booths will be open for two (2) consecutive days from at least 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m .
Election Supervision : In order to insure that the process is fair and honest and that the participants conduct themselves appropriately, the Vice President for Student Affairs shall supervise the election process and development of election procedures, unless the University President makes a different delegation of authority. The University shall designate a faculty, staff or an organized non-partisan group to supervise the polling locations.
Ballot : Each eligible voter shall be allowed only one ballot. If an error in completing the ballot is made, the voter may return such ballot and receive another. The supervisor of the polling booth shall invalidate such ballot by writing "void" across the body of the document.
Results : The University shall designate an organized non-partisan group to count or directly supervise the counting of the votes. The results shall be tabulated immediately after the closing of the polls. The number of "yes" and "no" votes shall be certified by the University President. Blank votes will not be counted. Student referenda will not be considered valid unless at least 5% of the student population vote.
