Making Students THE Priority

The Salters-Quinn Administration intends to create the most accessible and transparent student
government possible. Students of this university will have multiple channels and opportunities to air their
concerns and speak to their student representatives. In addition, the Salters-Quinn administration knows
that it is important to reach out and inform students. There will be a series of newsletters sent out to the
entire student body to keep them “in the know” about what their representatives are doing. Going floor to
floor in residence halls, holding town hall meetings, advertising weekly general assembly meetings, and
creating a blog for constant communication are just few of the ideas that this administration has to open
up the student government to students.

Salters and Quinn are also both adamant on the fact that they will not step on the toes of any organization
or association already working on initiatives. Rather this administration will serve as an aid to these
groups in accomplishing any and all tasks to enhance the student experience at Penn State.

Monthly Town Hall Meetings

There will be monthly Town Hall that will be open to all people (students, faculty/staff, administration,
and community members). The topics will vary, based on the varying relevant issues facing the Penn
State student body. A community blog will also be posted on the UPUA website to develop topics. The
blog space will also serve as an opportunity for further dialogue.

Tuition
Tuition is rising at a seemingly uncontrollable rate. Students are potentially looking at the biggest tuition
hike in Penn State history due to the biggest cut in state appropriations to a university in American
history. The Pennsylvania legislature recently cut our university’s appropriation by over 50%. Tuition
hikes are inevitable. However, Salters and Quinn feel that it is unfair for the students to sacrifice at
the expense of other university entities. If we want to maintain the quality of this institution, then we
must invest in the students. The students are the quality of the university, not the buildings, not the
administration, and absolutely not the price tag.

Tuition relief has been the primary focus of Travis Salters’ work during his time in UPUA as Director of
Governmental Affairs. He and Quinn will go through every possible channel to stabilize the tuition hikes
for students. Tuition rates are set by the Board of Trustees at their July meeting, however Salters and
Quinn will request a more advanced notice for the students. It is unjust to raise tuition one month before
students begin their fall semester. There will also be continued and intensified efforts in Harrisburg
to receive more appropriations. Salters and Quinn will continue to do whatever it takes to ensure that
education is the top priority at The Penn State University and in Harrisburg.

Housing
One of the biggest issues facing students is accessible and affordable housing. The Salters-Quinn
administration will launch an investigative report and study about campus and downtown housing. We
hope to work alongside ARHS (Association of Residence Hall Students) and OCSU (Off Campus Student
Union) to carry out this report. Necessary steps will be taken to ensure equal opportunity housing for
students. On-campus housing expenses are growing as well, leaving many students unable to afford the
cost of living. This leads to a much more serious problem called financial holding, which is devastating
to a student’s collegiate career. Obviously, there are market forces and the fundamental rules to a free
market, but this administration will work through those forces to do whatever necessary to ensure fair
access and affordability.

Financial Holding
Financial holding for a college student is a product of unpaid housing and other fee bills, or unpaid
student loans. Financial holdings put students in a trapped position, where they cannot receive an official
copy of their transcript. Without access to an official transcript, students cannot apply for many jobs,
cannot apply to other schools, and cannot apply for scholarships. How do students dig themselves out of
a financial hole without the tools necessary to do so? The Salters-Quinn administration will work with
the University administration to explore alternative processes to relieve this problem.

Pennsylvania Association of State-Related Students (PASS)

Travis Salters was appointed Director of Governmental Affairs at the onset of the Ragland-Smith
administration in the spring of 2010, with the specific tasks of forming a “state-wide student association.”
After months of difficult communication and constant mobilizing, the Pennsylvania Association of State-
Related Schools was formed.

The Salters-Quinn administration will continue to enhance and strengthen the relationship with the other
state-related schools in Pennsylvania. The coalition created this past year between The Pennsylvania
State University, Temple University, University of Pittsburgh, and Lincoln University will be the primary
forum in which this relationship will continue to operate. Most decisions made by the state legislature
that effect Penn State, also effect the other state-related schools. Therefore, it is extremely important that
we continue to show a strong, unified, and powerful front to gain further state support.

Penn State is a university geographically divided, therefore Salters and Quinn will work to ensure that
the commonwealth campuses are not overlooked. The Council of Commonwealth Student Governments
(CCSG) will be an integral part of Penn State’s PASS relationship as well.

PASS will also be used as a “think-tank” to enhance and develop our campus in an efficient manner.
Salters continues to have strong channels of communication with the other state-related schools; as ideas
and initiatives are already being shared and discussed.

Committee Reconstruction
As it currently stands, there are six committees within the UPUA assembly. The Salters-Quinn
administration finds it essential that the Student Life and Diversity Committee be separated into two
committees; the Student Life Committee and the Diversity Committee. Issues of both student life
and diversity are too vast for undertaking in one committee; dividing the focus between two separate
committees will allow for greater student advocacy. There will be a director on the executive board for
each committee in charge of carrying out the plans of the committees.

Diversity
Diversity, as this administration sees it, is not the number of underrepresented students that attend the
university (however, this is also extremely important). Rather, diversity is the acceptance, respect,
and most importantly the understanding that cultures share with each other. The Salters-Quinn
Administration will develop as many creative ways to give Penn State students an opportunity to learn
more about each other’s culture.

Penn State NAACP’s initiative called the “diversity module,” is a program designed for all incoming
students to participate that will give them a snapshot of what to expect at Penn State; this program
is similar to AlcoholEdu but more effective. This administration will explore the possibility of
incorporating the World in Conversations Project with the “diversity module” endeavor. Salters and
Quinn fundamentally believe that greater cultural exposure will create a more complete Penn State
student body and overall better society.

Student Activity Fee and Lobbying Initiatives

Every year, each student pays a student activity fee that goes towards programming for student
organizations, additionally it relieves some financial burdens for other student activities such as concerts.
As it stands, the student activity fee cannot be used to fund lobbying efforts. UPUA’s operating budget
comes from the student activity fee, therefore lobbying efforts from UPUA are prohibited. Salters and
Quinn understand that student and student organization beliefs and values vary across the university, thus
preventing the use of student activity fee money for lobbying. However, this administration will attempt
to change this policy so that UPUA, the voice of the student body, has the opportunity to use these funds
to lobby and advocate for the student body. It is unreasonable to disallow the student government to use
their budget to speak on behalf of the students, when student advocacy is the ultimate purpose of student
government.

Informational Programming
The Student Government should be an advocate for the student body. However, it should also be
a resource for any and all information regarding student life. Therefore, under the Salters-Quinn
administration there will be various workshops and information sessions open to all students focusing on
such topics as:
● Identity Theft Prevention
● Tax Service Advice (which may be developed into a permanent free tax service for students)
● Tips to Registration at Penn State
● Information about applying for Student Aid

UPAC Food Request

Many of the programs and events that Penn State student organizations hold are partially funded by the
University Park Allocation Committee (UPAC). Student Organizations submit a proposal at least forty
days prior to the program to receive these funds. The Student Activity Fee that every student pays at
the beginning of the year is used to create this “pot of money.” As it currently stands, it is policy that
UPAC cannot allocate money to fund food. Salters and Quinn agree that these funds should not be used
for food when purchasing pizza for meetings or ice cream for socials. However, this administration also
believes that food can be a necessary part of an event, especially cultural and other educational programs.
Therefore, the Salters-Quinn administration will work with UPAC to change the policy so that food can
be funded. We would suggest having a committee on UPAC that deals directly with funding food to
ensure that the money is being spent responsibly on food that is essential to an event.

Emergency Telephones (Blue Light System)

One of the most useful campus safety resources is the blue light emergency phone system. In the event of
an emergency, the blue light emergency phone system allows students to contact the police wherever they
are on campus. However, this resource is rarely used, as a result of few on-campus emergencies (though
unlikely) or because students are unaware or do not recognize the emergency system. A quick fix to this
problem is placing “lion paw prints” on the street and sidewalks that lead to each and every emergency
phone.

Winter Weather Response

Each winter, students have to deal with ice covered sidewalks. Without exaggeration, this year was
similar to an ice rink. The Salters-Quinn administration will request an improvement in the response to
inclement weather situations. There should be rock salt and other de-icing mechanisms on the ground
before the storm hits. We will also advocate for cancellation or delays when winter weather hits our area.
Many students do not live within walking distance to campus; therefore they must drive or take the bus,
thus creating an unnecessary risk. Student safety is not to be compromised, especially in the event of
inclement weather.

Transportation
Centre Area Transportation Authority (CATA) has announced that they will be making cuts and
reductions to many of the bus routes on and off campus. The most alarming cut is to the Red Link
route. This bus is the only link between campus and Innovation Park; Innovation Park is the home to
multiple radio and television studios in addition to housing many College of Communications classes.
As it stands now, there is 20 minute interval between Red Link buses. This results in many absences
and constant lateness in classes at Innovation Park. Any further reductions will cause greater burden
to students, especially those in the College of Communications. The Salters-Quinn administration will
work diligently to ensure that there is no reduction to this route. It is understandable that some routes
are reduced to budget restraints, however, the last routes that should be effected are routes transporting
students to class.

Social Life- Late Night

Social life at Penn State is extremely important to a student’s success and overall experience. The
Salters-Quinn administration understands and embraces the fact that students will attend social events
while in college. However, not all students enjoy attending social events downtown or off-campus
because of safety concerns. This administration would like to see areas in the HUB-Robeson Center, such
as Alumni Hall and Heritage Hall, or preferably some of the gymnasiums reserved for student socials.
These events will create a safer environment for students to relax and have a good time with their fellow
students. In addition, facilities that students pay for through our facilities fee need to be used to their full
potential. These events would not be necessarily be hosted by UPUA. These facilities and opportunities
should be open to all student organizations.

Free Shuttle
As previously stated, the Salters-Quinn administration recognizes that many students attend social events
downtown which can sometimes lead to unsafe situations. This administration also recognizes that the
student government represents students on AND off campus. Currently, the 814-865-WALK service
provides an escort home for students that feel unsafe. The Salters-Quinn administration will explore
the option of a free motorized shuttle that students can request if they are in danger or feel unsafe off
campus. Walking is at times not fast enough. Salters and Quinn want a service where students can get
a free shuttle by calling or texting. Students who are in a bad situation may not feel comfortable enough
or have the opportunity to call for a service, but they will be able to communicate by texting the service.
To ensure that people do not take advantage of the system, there will be a record of calls and students that
travel in the shuttle. There will be a system so that people cannot use this service as just a free taxi. It is
important that this administration continues to create more resources for the safety of students.

Campus Wi-Fi
Penn State is a research institution, one of the top universities in the nation, and is filled with more
knowledge and information than any person could fathom. Yet, our campus wireless internet service
is unreliable. This administration will look to ensure that every area on campus has reliable internet
access. Every student pays an Information Technology Fee (IT Fee) every year, which pays for the IT
Service Department, Networking and Security Services, and University Library Services. In all of that,
wireless internet is covered. If students are paying for this service through a mandatory fee, then this
administration will work to ensure that students receive reliable service in any part of campus. This
initiative is already being explored and worked on by the university, but this administration will work
alongside the team of faculty and staff.

Sustainability; Paper Usage and Paperless Campus

With a campus of over 40,000 students, tons and tons of paper are used for projects, notes, essays, and
many more academic duties. Penn State University is an eco-friendly school, however there is always
room for improvement, especially in the form of enhancing current campus initiatives. The Salters-Quinn
Administration will continue to explore options to cut down on paper usage. Ensuring the use of ANGEL
for notes and communication, encouraging professors to accept essays and projects through email, and
converting the older classrooms into technology classrooms are just some of the possibilities that this
administration will explore. In addition, this administration wants to see an end to professors passing the
burden of printing class materials to students. Salters and Quinn will work with the faculty senate to limit
the amount of printing that professors can require of their students.

Many of the bulletin boards and walls around campus are constantly covered with flyers for upcoming
events and meetings. It would be much more efficient (and appealing to the eye) to have these
announcements displayed. This initiative was developed following Salters’ visit to Ohio State University,
where the Student Union building is filled with “virtual bulletin boards” that display student organization
announcements. The Salters-Quinn Administration believes this to be achievable for Penn State and will
work with University officials to explore the possibility implementation. The HUB-Robeson Center
would be the perfect start to install these “virtual bulletin boards.” In addition, in the near future the
HUB-Robeson Center will be expanding towards the White Building. This sustainability initiative
should be policy for the new expansion. This would drastically cut down on the paper used by student
organizations. It would also be a much more efficient way to spread the word to the student body about
different opportunities to get involved.

Bringing new University Park Students into the community: New and transitioning/transfer students
The Salters-Quinn administration will take every available opportunity to make students at University
Park feel welcome and prepared to tackle the challenges that a 40,000 student campus can bring.

We will continue our excellent working relationship with the Council of Commonwealth Student
Governments (CCSG) and collaborate on events such as Change-of Campus Orientation, Winter
Welcome, and LINK UP to ensure that students who come to University Park from a Commonwealth
Campus or who transfer from another university are exposed to all the services, programs, and activities
offered at Penn State University Park immediately upon their arrival. We will also advocate for any
available resources that UPUA or the University provide to First-year freshmen to be expanded to
transitioning Commonwealth Campus Students. The Salters-Quinn Administration will work with the
Vice President for Student Affairs and the Student Transition Steering Committee to ensure that UPUA
provides every possible resource and every method of assistance to transitioning and transferring students.

Freshmen and First-Year students will have a friend in UPUA under the Salters-Quinn administration.
Through the S-Book, students will have an introduction to UPUA and life at University Park at the first
moment. S-Books will be made available to all incoming freshmen as soon as they enter their residence
halls or, for commuters, during their orientation.

Furthermore, we will hold Freshman Forums in East Halls periodically throughout the year to speak
directly to the freshmen about their experiences at Penn State, and what their student government can do
to help them achieve their collegiate goals and make the campus the best in the Commonwealth. These
events will be a chance for not only freshman Representatives but the entire UPUA to actively engage
themselves with the newest Penn Staters, and help to make them the most successful college students
possible, both in and outside of the classroom.