Council of Alberta University Stu-Whaaa?

CAUS and its Role

The ULSU is a member of CAUS, the Council of Alberta University Students. Why should you care? First, the Post-Secondary Learning Act, which also mandates our existence, directs us to provide a voice for students at the municipal, provincial, and federal level. Second, CAUS provides that Albertan venue for expression of Lethbridge University students’ concerns about their education, and how it is affected by the provincial government. Most importantly, if we sit still with our hands crossed, listening without giving any feedback to the people operating the education system we go into debt or work hard to pay for, do we deserve the terrible treatment we would likely receive?

What happens when one doesn’t stand up for themself

What happens when we all voice our opinions and come to compromise.

 

Advocacy

Advocacy is the name of the game. Through round-table discussion, the Council is currently discussing what our provincial lobbying priorities will be for the next year. Balancing local issues with provincial issues, the Council must come to a consensus as to how we will be approaching the government in the next lobby conference. Stronger together than separately, the University of Alberta, the University of Calgary, and the University of Lethbridge Students’ Unions will come to agreement and then approach the relevant ministries to get tangible results that benefit our students.

08/09 Lobbying Priorities and Accomplishments:

• We lobbied for increased deferred maintenance –i.e. monies for repairing and upkeeping University buildings. The year saw $155 million in new funding and a promise to match federal funding for deferred maintenance.
• CAUS asked for tuition increases to not exceed the CPI cap. This means that as the Consumer Price Index increases (it did by 2% this year), institutions cannot increase tuition past that. Indeed, the Minister of Advanced Education and Technology, Doug Horner, committed to this, and with CPI going down from 5% to 2% in 09/10, the increase to tuition has gone down from previous years. 
• Further, CAUS asked for the elimination of property taxes on University residences, in order to create an environment encouraging Universities to complete capital projects to create new residences.

 

What the 09/10 ULSU Exec have been up to

This past week, the ULSU Exec went to a CAUS changeover conference, to discuss policy direction for the next year, and elect new positions for the Council Board.

09/10 Lobbying Priorities:

• Improving student financial aid
• Keeping tuition tied to CPI
• Increasing base operating funding to Alberta’s universities
• Targeting deferred maintenance
• Disability Student Resources
• Elections Act to to be more student-friendly

Through CAUS, your expectations that the SU will be providing you with a voice to the provincial government are met. Exceedingly, this year’s executives believe that the Council of Alberta University Students is an organization to invest time and resources into, to benefit UofL students. A new townhouse-style residence building is in the University’s capital plan, so let’s help them with their goal by creating a positive financial environment for them to complete their project and provide students with more spaces. As the recession hits the University, they may want to increase tuition to fund their operations, so let’s make sure we have tuition tied to CPI to make sure students can afford their education. As University Hall’s cramped science laboratories generate layers of chemical crust, lets help the University secure funding to move those labs out of that building, off the heads of all those residence students living a few floors down. Support us in supporting you. Generate conversation with our peers about these issues and make sure every student you meet is well-informed. However, if nothing else, stay tuned. There is more to come.

Cheers,

Jeremy Girard

Hungry for Power? Concerned for Students

If you answered ‘yes’ to both questions, we have just the opportunity for you!As you may know, the future of the ULSU has recently been placed in the nervous hands of a brand new General Assembly and Executive Council. Since the beginning of this month, we’ve gotten right down to work on our primary mandate: student advocacy. Many students know the ULSU from our more public activities: hosting concerts, booking speakers, operating the Zoo, and the like. What you may not know is that our most important work happens behind the scenes. We love the glitzier aspects of our jobs, but our function, first and foremost, is to ensure that students’ rights and interests are not overlooked by University and government.

Fortunately, the University gives us an opportunity to look out for undergrads by staffing various committees with student representatives. That’s where you come in: the SU wants volunteers to help represent student interests. Looking to get more involved on campus but don’t know where to start? Do you feel that important student concerns are being overlooked by administration? Do you want an opportunity to network with influential people on campus? Join a committee!

The fact is that this university is largely run by committees, and those committees take student reps very seriously. If you want a say in running this institution, look no further. All you need to do is contact me by e-mail at su.academic@uleth.ca or by phone at 403-329-2770. Feel free to drop by the Students’ Union office (SU 180) for more information.

Bring on the Little Kids!

Last week the U of L officially broke ground on the lastest addition to the campus – construction has begun on the new Daycare Facility here. This is a pretty big deal considering that this push for on campus daycare has taken nearly five full years to come to fruition.

Ground was broken by student leaders, senior level administrators, members of the Daycare Action Committee (DAC), and the outside service provider for the daycare facility. For many of the students present this opening was a large victory as the movement to bring daycare onto campus began as a grass roots movement. DAC was formed with the support of faculty and staff here at the U of L, but largely was made up of students. Their study on the need for daycare on campus was the prime spring board that got this issue moving along in the upper levels of administration. You can find many of their studies here.

All of those who worked so hard to bring this service to campus, congratulations – here’s to 2010, when the facility will officially open its doors for service.

Cheers,

Eric
VP Internal

CAUS: Budget 2009 Gives Students More of the Same

Budget 2009 gives students more of the same

Edmonton, AB – The Alberta 2009 budget puts the government into the red, but avoids passing down cuts into post-secondary education. Minister of Finance and Enterprise Iris Evans announced that Government of Alberta would be continuing their previous commitments in post-secondary education but unveiled little in the way of new spending or programs that were not previously announced.

“There is a missed opportunity to make post-secondary education the key to our economic recovery,” said Beverly Eastham, chair of the Council of Alberta University Students (CAUS). “But students are relieved to see that the government is not reversing the many gains that have been made in the last few years.”

Included in yesterday’s budget is a 6% increase to the base operating grants for universities. This will ensure that tuition does not go up past inflation and that Alberta’s universities do not face cuts similar to the early 1990’s. However, students and universities will continue to face serious challenges next year and throughout the duration of the economic downturn, as no new funding was announced within the student financial aid program despite rising costs in getting a degree.

“We are still far from having the most affordable universities in Canada or meeting the challenges in providing a higher quality education-but it is good that the province is not looking to put more of the cost onto students this budget,” concluded Eastham. “We wanted to see more funding and lower tuition, but this is fortunately not a step backwards.”

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The Council of Alberta University Students (CAUS) represents the interests of students at the University of Alberta, the University of Calgary and the University of Lethbridge.

For more information contact:
Beverly Eastham
CAUS Chair
tel: 780-492-4236
cell: 780-237-1707

Vice President Research candidates present

Over the past year I have been involved in the search for the new Vice President Research for the University of Lethbridge. We have two excellent candidates now and they are both presenting for the university public next week.

Dear Members of the University Community:

I am writing to update you on the progress of the search to appoint a new Vice-President Research and to invite you to participate in the next phase of the progress.

The Search Committee has met several times over the last few months and reviewed the files of a number of individuals who had expressed an interest in the position.  Most recently, we conducted interviews on campus with a few of these individuals.

The Committee has invited two candidates to visit campus and to participate in the public part of the interview process.  These individuals are Dr. Keith Archer and Dr. Daniel Weeks.  Dr. Archer is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Calgary and Director of Research at the Banff Centre.  Dr. Weeks is Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychology at Simon Fraser University.

Each candidate will present a public lecture on “The Challenges in Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity and How They Can Be Addressed at a Canadian University in the 21^st Century”. I encourage you to attend these presentations.

Dr. Archer will present at 9:00 am on Wednesday, April 1 in W646 (the Board Room)

Dr. Weeks will present at 9:00 am on Thursday, April 2 in W646 (the Board Room)

I also want to encourage you to comment in writing to me on your views of the two candidates.   Your comments must be received by the end of the day on Tuesday, April 7. These will be made available only to the Search Committee on a strictly confidential basis to aid them in the evaluation of the candidates.

Each candidate will also meet with representatives of ULFA, the Deans and Executive Directors, the Students’ Union, the Graduate Students Association, Human Resources, Research Services staff, and the Search Committee.

I look forward to seeing you at the public presentations and to receiving your comments.

Thank you.

Bill

All are welcome to come out to see the presentations and give feedback to the committee members about the candidates and how you believe they would fit in with the University community and how they would drive the research opportunities here at the University.

Please feel free to contact me further in any questions you may have about this process,

Jenn Prosser

VP Academic

ULSU Club of the Year Winner – GALIA

Congratulations are due to the Gay and Lesbian Integrity Association (GALIA) here at the University of Lethbridge for winning the ULSU Club of the Year Award!

Out of the 5 clubs nominated for this award, GALIA was selected by the ULSU Clubs’ Council as the best club on campus for this year. GALIA has shown a high level of professionalism and spirit in all of their events – they have renewed the face of their club by increasing the number events they host. They have sponsored advocacy events and social nights alike, and very shortly will be painting a brand new mural in the tunnel.

On behalf of the ULSU General Assembly, I would like to extend a well deserved congratulations to GALIA.

Cheers,

Eric
VP Internal

“Huzzah Minister!” – Lobbying Day 1

As part of our ongoing news feed from Ottawa, we are officially concluding our first real day of lobbing. The membership has already conducted 34 individual meetings with Senators, MPs, and key staff. The ULSU got to meet with the following:

Myself

• Ed Komarnicki, MP: Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour 
• Rodger Cuzner, MP: Official Opposition Whip

 

From Left to Right: Rodger Cuzner: MP, Derek Krywvj: Red River College, Kyle Steele: Acadia University, Brodie Pattenden: ULSU

 

 

Jeremy

• Mike Savage, MP: Official Opposition Critic for Human Resources and Skills and the Chair of the Liberal Caucus Committee on Post-Secondary Education and Research
• Rick Norlock, MP

Adam

• Paul Calandra, MP
• Martha Hall Finley, MP: Platform Outreach Chair for the Liberal Party of Canada

These meetings so far have been incedibly exciting, with reception of CASA’s priorities, as outlined in Adam’s previous post, being quite positive. The pragmatic solutions we are proposing are not requiring huge capital injunctions (something that tends to be a hard sales pitch during a recession), but rather a more efficient and effect use of current funds. Also, initiatives such as the Removal of the Textbook Importation Tax and Fair and Balanced Copy-write Law, have little to do with funding to and from government coffers, but rather adjustment to policy that enhances innovation, affordability, and accessibility in the PSE environment. 

There are still three more days and ~120 lobby meetings to go, with highlight meetings such as Elections Canada and Stephane Dion for myself, and Michael Ignatieff for Voss. Meetings are being added daily, so stay tuned!

Brodie Pattenden

VP Admin, CASA Fanboy

Student Housing Awareness event brought to you by the letter’s U-L-S-U.

Student housing leaves no room for learning

Thursday October 2nd, 2008 join the ULSU in University Hall Atrium to discuss the issues that face students in finding safe and affordable housing.

In the Lethbridge city census of 2008, the City of Lethbridge put the current vacancy rate at 3.87% with a population of 83 960 people. Although 3.87% seems a reasonable rate of vacancy for a city of our size, this year’s census “expanded the dwelling unit types to occupied, unoccupied, under construction and vacant lot.” Which boils down to a vacancy rate including land and housing which is unable to be occupied.

Lethbridge, being a smaller urban center is often seen as a student friendly much more affordable place to live than Calgary or Edmonton. Yes, this is very true but that does not diminish the fact that student constantly face issues in finding housing to fit their particular needs. Transitory life styles, low and inconsistent incomes, little background in legal rights and an energy intensive life style are all factors which combine to make it very difficult for students to find suitable housing and protect their rights.

From a report put out by Social Housing in Action: “The vacancy rate is currently less than 1% (CMHC, 2006). Rental stock is declining with over 300 rental properties condominiumized this year alone (Real Estate Board, 2007). Gentrification is also occurring, further reducing affordable rental and ownership stock. The rental industry has seen significant increases in rental costs; 22% in the past year.”

Student housing rights are an issue which affects not only students but also the members of the university community and community at large. Lethbridge is a city whose prosperity and community development is greatly aided by students and our ability to live in a secure and suitable place is fundamental to academic and social success while attending University.

Please join us noon-1:30pm October 2^nd, 2008 in the Uhall Atrium to talk to representatives from the province of Alberta, ULSU, the University Administration, Social Housing in Action and the City of Lethbridge about Lethbridge’s student housing issues.

Free dessert and coffee will be served.

UofL on itunes….world look out!

The University of Lethbridge has rather recently created a wicked Uleth itunes. Your go-to source for podcasts of wicked lectures happening at the Uni as well as announcements and addresses from our President and other amazing people here at the University.

Find it at: http://www.uleth.ca/itunesu

Jenn Prosser, VP Academic

A U of L Students’ Guide to Voting

Congratulations! Just by reading this far you have become 40% more democratic! Jokes aside, if you are a first time voter (that includes first time voting away from your home town “home”), the process can seem quite daunting and confusing. This piece will clear up those confusions and misconceptions. Before anything else, find out where you can register to vote and what you will need for identification purposes on the Elections Canada website (www.elections.ca) or the ULSU website (www.ulsu.ca ).  You can also contact the Elections Canada Lethbridge office at 403.329.2111.

And now for the fun part, actually voting!

If You Are From Lethbridge

You should have received a voter information card from Elections Canada providing the hours and locations for voting on Election Day or at the advance polls. However, if you have recently moved or turned 18 years of age, it is possible that you are not on the list of electors. If you have not received your voter information card, you can call Elections Canada at 1-800-463-6868, or visit their office in Lethbridge Center Mall by October 7^th. If you miss that deadline, you can still register in person on any of the advance voting days (October 3^rd, 4^th, &6^th), or on Election Day at your assigned polling station. Once you are registered all you need to do is show up at your assigned polling station on Election Day with your voter information card (if you have one) and the proper identification and cast your vote!

If You Are Not From Lethbridge and Want to Vote For Your Home Riding

For this, you need to either 1) Go to the Elections Canada office in Lethbridge Center Mall before October 7^th and vote by special ballot, or 2) Drive back to your home riding on the 14^th and vote there. I highly recommend not skipping a whole day of classes and just voting by special ballot.

If You Are Not From Lethbridge and Want to Vote In the Lethbridge Riding

If you are like me, due to the constant moving you have probably never changed your driver’s license or passport to show a Lethbridge address. That’s ok, you can still vote here. Again, there are two options: 1) You can go to the Elections Canada office before the 7^th and request to change your residence in the voter registry. All this requires is you filling out a piece of paper that contains your Lethbridge address, and signing it. You will then be able to show up at a polling station on the 14^th and vote. 2) Show up at your assigned polling station on Election Day and register to vote. You will need a piece of photo identification showing who you are (ie: drivers license, passport), as well as a certified original document showing your Lethbridge address (a copy of your lease or utilities bill with your name on it will suffice). You will then need to register at the polling station, and depending on the time of day this could take a while. Again, I highly recommend doing option one and taking care of it in advance.