Student Assembly - Resolution 15 (2024-2025)

Amend Charter to Streamline SAFC Operations

• Term:
  2024-2025
• Assembly:
  Student Assembly
• Status: Adopted by the Assembly
• Abstract: This resolution aims to create a more reasonable timeline for the Infrastructure Fund Commission’s workflow and set up rules to help the commission run without conflict of interest and with better connection with ongoing projects.
  
  Sponsored by: Flora Meng ‘27, Cion Kim ‘27, Franklin Berry ‘26, Christian Tarala ‘27
  Type of Action: Internal Policy
  Originally Presented: 11/21/2024
  Current Status: Adopted by the Assembly, 12/05/2024
  
  Whereas, the Student Assembly Infrastructure Fund (SAIF) has about $50,000 every year to allocate to infrastructure projects that can improve the well-being of all undergraduates.
  
  Whereas, Appendix C of the Student Assembly Charter should be used to make sure SAIF is functioning in coordination with the general assembly and the Office of the Assembly in a timely manner.
  
  Whereas, the current timeline required by the charter is not actionable for the parties involved and thus not enforceable.
  
  Whereas, the allocation of the fund should align with the purpose of SAIF and the pursuit of fairness.
  
  Whereas, Appendix C has no clarification for conflict of interest from voting members in the Student Assembly Infrastructure Fund Commission (SAIFC).
  
  Whereas, current Appendix C has neither clear lines to add accountability to fund receivers nor requirements on them to report back to the commission.
  
  Be it therefore resolved, new time points, evaluation procedures with conflict of interest, and requirements for fund receivers to report back to the commission should be adopted for SAIFC operation.
  
  Be it further resolved, the following text should be inserted after Appendix C, Section 6. A:
  "B. be endorsed by at least one Cornell faculty or staff of associated college/units."
  
  Be it further resolved, “within a one-year time frame” should be inserted at the end of Appendix C, Section 6.D.
  
  Be it further resolved, Appendix. C. Section 9. A. i. “the second regularly scheduled Student Assembly meeting” be struck and replaced by “the second Student Assembly meeting after the appointment of the chair.”
  
  Be it further resolved, Appendix. C. Section 9. A. ii. “the third regularly scheduled Student Assembly meeting, or one week following the meeting with the SAIF Chair” be struck and replaced with “the transfer of the fund to SAIF account, or November 1st.”
  
  Be it further resolved, Appendix. C. Section 9. A. iii. “the second regularly scheduled Student Assembly meeting of the Fall semester” be struck and replaced with “the transfer of the fund to SAIF account, or November 1st, whichever is sooner.”
  
  Be it further resolved, Appendix. C. Section 9. A. iv. “the third regularly scheduled Student Assembly meeting of the Student Assembly each semester” be struck and replaced with “for fall semester before the fund is transferred to SAIF account, and for spring semester by the third regularly scheduled meeting of the Student Assembly.”
  
  Be it further resolved, “members with conflict of interest abstained from conflicted projects’ voting” should be inserted to the end of the Appendix. C. Section 9. B. i. d.
  
  Be it further resolved, the following text should be inserted after Appendix. C. Section 9. B. i. B.
  a. clarify the conflict of interest of commission members,
  (1) An individual is considered to have a conflict of interest when they:
  (a)has an existing or potential significant financial interest or other material interest or relationship that impairs or
  might appear to impair the individual's independence and objectivity in the discharge of their responsibilities to
  the commission; or
  (b) may receive a financial or other material benefit from information confidential to the commission.
  (c) Typically, a conflict of interest may arise when an individual has the opportunity or perceived opportunity to in-
  fluence the commission’s funding allocation in a manner implicating personal gain or competitive advantage of
  any kind.
  
  Be it further resolved, “i. The ongoing projects shall report back to the commission about the progress of the project, the expected time to complete, and the latest person of contact within 6months after the transfer is made” be inserted after Appendix C. Section 9. B. vii.
  
  Be it finally resolved, future chair and members of the SAIFC and SAIF applicants should comply with the amended charter.
  
  Respectfully Submitted,
  
  Flora Meng ’27
  Chair, Infrastructure Fund Commission, Student Assembly
  
  Cion Kim ‘27
  College of Engineering Representative, Student Assembly
  
  Franklin Berry ‘26
  Member of Student Assembly Infrastructure Fund Commission
  
  Christian Tarala ‘27
  School of Hotel Administration Representative, Student Assembly
• Resolution File:
  Resolution 15 (3).pdf (203.59 KB)
• Supporting Documents:
  Resolution 15.docx (55.02 KB)
• Sponsors: Flora Meng (zm264), Cion Kim (ck758), Franklin Edward Berry (feb48), Christian Tarala (ct665)
• Reviewing Committee: