The All Student Undergraduate Association (AUSA) Senate met Tuesday night to discuss plans and goals for the 2008-09 school year.

At the meeting, the Senate discussed several ideas for the year, including an initiative that would fund renovations to the Johnson-McFarlane freshman dormitory.

The remodel would take place between the Johnson and McFarlane buildings.

The Senate welcomes ideas from residents and students.

This year, the Senate will also conduct more surveys in order to better address the priorities of the undergraduate student body.

The Senate is also looking to augment its initiatives with research and get ideas for marketing from its constituents for planned projects.

As a part of the new focus on marketing, flyers will be posted around campus asking students to mark them if they notice them.

This will help the Senate determine the ideal spots to place announcements to reach the most people possible.

“This year we will be conducting surveys to get ideas of marketing and research to back up our initiatives and make sure we are doing what is best for our constituents,” said Melanie Stroud, director of marketing and communication for the Senate.

The Senate is also planning to create a Sustainability Committee within the organization this year. This group will be responsible for projects and activities that promote sustainability on campus.

It, like the other Senate committees, will be funded by the student activity fee.

Two years ago the Senate voted to raise the activity fee to pay for wind energy to reduce the cost of power for Driscoll Student Center and Sturm Hall.

This year the contract with the company expired and the university agreed to split the cost with the Senate.

The $56,000 that this freed up will be given to the Sustainability Committee.

The Senate will welcome two new members who will fill the First Year senator seats after the polls close on Wednesday.