The ASUNM Senate established an executive agency at UNM for the first time in 10 years during its meeting Wednesday.
The Associated Students of UNM Senate voted unanimously to add the Community Experience as the seventh executive agency. It joins the Crafts Studio, Election Commission, Homecoming Committee, Lobbying Committee, Southwest Film Center and Student Special Events as committees that provide special services to the undergraduate student body.
The Community Experience will provide students with community service opportunities through management of lists of community service programs and by coordinating events that provide an opportunity to give back to the community, according to the bill.
ASUNM President Jennifer Onuska spoke to the senate before the vote and told them why she thought the bill was important.
"ASUNM can centralize community service on campus by implementing this," Onuska said. "This idea will help every student at UNM and will ensure Spring Storm become a yearly event."
Spring Storm was a student-organized, one-day event last April 6 where more than 700 students, staff and faculty spread out around Albuquerque to give service at 30 local sites.
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The Community Experience will be made up of an executive director, an assistant director, two senators, appointed by the vice president and approved by the senate, and any undergraduate students selected as necessary by the executive director.
The senate gave itself a round of applause after passing the bill.
"It's high time UNM takes more interest in the community that supports it," Sen. Tim Reed said.
Sen. Tim Serna said he believed the creation of a seventh executive agency was historic.
"We're making history on this campus," Sen. Serna said. "We're making community service a permanent part of ASUNM and I for one am very proud to be a part of it."
