The 20th Assembly of the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) met on Wednesday to elect the university fee board representative, swear in three directors, and pass three bills.

The meeting opened with a presentation led by the CATA Executive Director and CEO, David Rishel. Rishel talked about the logistics of the CATA transit around State College and how the university works with CATA to provide transportation for students. He stated that CATA is trying to promote their off-campus resources and ensure that students know that CATA’s services expand beyond the limits of the University Park campus. The UPUA assembly asked questions regarding bus stop lighting improvements, new payment systems, and requests for more late-night bus access for students.

Following a report by Vice President Noah Youcheff, the assembly moved into Elections. 

Elections 

The only election of the night was for the University Park Undergraduate Association University Fee Board Position. Representative Sarah Beaver nominated Representative Megan Soto-Benitez for the position. Soto-Benitez spoke about how vital the Student Fee Board’s funds are to support cultural and recreational centers across campus. She described how throughout her time at UPUA, she has seen how funding can spark change and create community on campus. In addition, she spoke about how the student fee drives student life and inclusivity on campus, and shared how she plans to ensure transparency and equity within her position on the fee board.

Soto-Benitez was elected as the University Park Undergraduate Association University Fee Board Liaison. Following this election, the assembly moved into swearing-ins. 

Swearing-Ins/Confirmations

The UPUA assembly swore in Deputy Director of Sustainability Sree Penumuchu, Director of Student Sustainability Network Julia Simon, and Director of Sustainability Engagement Nicole Lupo. 

New Business

The first bill of the night was Bill #33-20: Food for Job Search Workshop with WorkLink. This bill allows UPUA to purchase food for the upcoming WorkLink session that will be held on Wednesday, November 12, from 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. This upcoming workshop will guide the WorkLink student cohort through the job search process, specifically teaching students how to navigate LinkedIn and utilize the platform to efficiently search for jobs.

Bill #33-20: Food for Job Search Workshop with WorkLink passed unanimously.

The next bill for the night was Bill #34-20: 20th Assembly Financial Literacy Forum. This bill allows for the purchasing of food and refreshments for the Financial Literacy Forum on Wednesday, November 12, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. This event will be hosted by UPUA’s Justice and Equity Committee, with the goal of teaching students necessary financial literacy skills and providing participants with the tools to make efficient and informed financial decisions. The program will be structured into three distinct sections, including a financially literate student panel, a student leadership panel, and a Q&A session with advisors and representatives from the Penn State Sokolov-Miller Family Financial Center.

Bill #34-20: 20th Assembly Financial Literacy Forum passed unanimously.

The last bill of the night was Bill #35-20: Food Insecurity Resources Instagram Post. This bill is created in response to the federal shutdown and the subsequent pauses and cuts in SNAP food aid programs. This bill will allow UPUA to release an Instagram post to provide information on the topic of food access and resources for students facing food insecurity. This post will highlight various organizations both on and off campus that provide free or affordable food for students, as well as university-specific resources.

Bill #35-20: Food Insecurity Resources Instagram Post passed unanimously.