PROJECT 1: Institute community-based budgeting for funds managed from the student tuition.

 

 

Working off of #HaltTheHike’s list of demands, community based budgeting is a common strategy that many cities have pursued.  It means the university sets a side a large sum from the student tuition and engages in broad-based student-centered consultations to evaluate where the largest student needs are and how university funding might be allocated better to meet student concerns.  

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PROJECT 2: Hold community-wide workshops for students, faculty, and staff to attend in order to understand where, how, and why funds are being allocated.

 

Inspired by Harvey-Mudd’s structure, the Tufts administration should set aside two days at the start of every academic year to hold workshops on what/how financial decisions are made, engaging students, faculty, and staff in these open discussions as a form of information transparency as well as action accountability.

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PROJECT 3: Ensure that financial aid advisors are equipped to respond sensitively and timely to students’ needs.

 

Building off of the work initiated by Senator Charlie Zhen, as well as those part of the #HaltTheHike movement, this would include financial aid advisors holding financial aid workshops, such as how to apply for financial aid, pay off loans, and understand what their financial aid package offers.

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PROJECT 4: Implement a structure that would allow students on financial aid reduced prices for tickets to student activities, events, and performances.

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Student activities organized from the Student Activities Fee (which all students pay) are meant to be open and accessible to all students, so when ticket prices for events are too expensive for students on significant financial aid to gain access -- are student activities truly open for everyone?  Partnering with leaders in the #HaltTheHike movement, let’s guarantee equitable access to all student activities

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PROJECT 5: Allow students receiving financial aid refunds to get access to these refunds from the Bursar’s Office before the first day of the semester begins.

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Expanding and building off of the efforts of former TCU President, Gauri Seth, let’s help students pay for their start-of-term expenses, including books, rent, and utilities, by giving them access to their financial aid refunds from the Bursar’s Office before the first day of the semester.  Current policy requires students to wait a week into the semester to get access to their refunds due to the “liability” costs; this policy does not reflect student need and a change in policy would deliver large benefit to students.

 

PROJECT 6: Establish a more accessible, efficient, and transparent club sports system.

 

This includes ensuring that a permanent hire is made for a Club Sports Director to oversee the activity, liability, and financial needs of club sports teams. This also includes working with club sports athletes and administrators to develop an efficient and transparent funding request system, and coordinating a more collaborative and transparent relationship and oversight structure between the TCU Treasury and Club Sports.