Flu Vaccine Clinic- The UA co-sponsored the 2011-2012 Penn Flu Vaccine Clinics. Thus far, SHS has administered flu vaccines to nearly 2,000 students via 3 successful mass immunization clinics. They hope to vaccinate about 1,000 more faculty, staff and students at their last clinic on Thursday, October 27^th at the ARCH. The UA, through marketing and “working the Walk” was key in spreading the word about the flu clinics and helped to significantly boost attendance. This collaborative effort, which involved student volunteers, student- and campus-organization co-sponsors, and Student Health staff, will likely serve as a model for future public health interventions at Penn. Questions about this project? Contact our Student Life Director, Jon Monfred, at studentlife@pennua.org

Holiday Absence Policy Resolution- This resolution encouraged professors to observe the University’s policy on religious holidays. Working with PRISM and the Council of Undergraduate Deans, this resolution created a letter to be sent to the faculty reminding them of the policy at the beginning of each semester. Questions about this project? Contact our Academic Affairs Director, Abe Sutton, at academics@pennua.org

Federal Government Pell Grant Funding Support Resolution- The UA affirmed support for the Federal Pell Grant program and sent a letter to Sen. Pat Toomey and expressed to him the importance of Pell Grants to students at Penn. Questions about this project? Contact our President, Tyler Ernst, at president@pennua.org

As always, you can find everything discussed at this week’s meeting here: https://docs.google.com/View?id=dnhzxtk_153×2hgdf

Email is a primary means of communications used by today’s students. It is becoming an ubiquitous media for getting important messages delivered. That’s why the UA, headed by Matt Sternberg and Faye Cheng in coordination with the Student Technology Advisory Board, have successfully lobbied the University to implement a grade email notification system in Penn InTouch in time for fall semester grade postings. This means no more need to anxiously check your grades over winter break!

Read more here.

More syllabi are expected to be uploaded. We’ll keep you updated!

Muslim Chaplain Resolution - the UA hereby:
1. Recognizes the need for an Interfaith Fellow and Campus Minister to the Muslim Community.
2. Commends the Chaplain’s Office for its strides towards meeting the needs of Muslim Students.
3. Calls upon the University to establish the Interfaith Fellow and Campus Minister to the Muslim Community as a permanent, full time position.
4. Strongly Urges the University to expand the benefits and Institutional Support of the Interfaith Fellow and Campus Minister to the Muslim Community.
5. Supports the incorporation of as diverse a range of views and opinions into the University as possible.
6. Signs the letter of support found in the Appendix (see meeting packet).

IFC/UA Textbook Exchange Resolution – the UA hereby:
1. Requests the creation of a website for Penn students, and Penn students only, to exchange, buy, and sell, textbooks with no middleman.
2. Requests the implementation of a system similar to the one at Princeton which identifies books using ISBN number or course number and compares book prices to the buyback price and sale price (both new and old) available at the bookstore.
3. Suggests that the UA promote the new trade via all-school emails and other marketing techniques.
4. Encourages professors to post book lists by the beginning of add/drop period to ensure that the book exchange is a viable option for students.
5. Will work in conjunction with the IFC to set up and manage the website.

The New York Times Sponsorship Money Reallocation Authorization Resolution – the UA hereby:
1. Commits to extend the conversation of funding electronically over the summer and holding a straw poll after substantive online debate.
2. Grants the UA Executive Board the ability to determine whether to allocate the $12,400 to funding the New York Times based on straw poll.
3. Requires the UA Executive Board heavily consider the straw poll and the body’s opinions.

Authored by Vinay Rao, Sakina Zaidi, and G.J. Melendez-Torres, the UA also resolved to improve the academic environment for students within testing situations by making a few changes such as ensuring left-handed desks, increased invigilators, adequate desk space, and clear time displays.

Finally, Associate Member Colin Kavanaugh and the Student Life committee is working with the University to prevent identity fraud by promoting the opportunity for students to change their PIN numbers away from the current Social Security Number-based PIN.

Please tell us your thoughts, and check out the full meeting minutes.

Through the Omnibus Recycling Resolution, the UA:

In the ASL resolution, the UA

Finally, the Bylaws Amendment:

Check out the meeting minutes here!