AUSU IN-PERSON DISCUSSION GROUPS
AUSU in-person discussion groups in Calgary, Edmonton, and Medicine Hat would like to invite students to join them in casual, coffee shop get togethers to discuss life as an AU student.
Getting together physically with fellow AU students adds to your university experience. Other students will be able to understand and relate to the joys and frustrations of distance learning. It’s also a way to stay abreast of information relating to AU and the Athabasca University Students’ Union.
To take part in the Calgary group please contact JODY at jwaddle@telusplanet.net.
To take part in the Edmonton areas discussion group, contact RYAN at nicepilotdude@yahoo.ca.
To take part in the Medicine Hat group, contact STACEY at jackenna96@telusplanet.net.
Anyone interested in starting up a group in your area (anywhere in Canada, from small towns to major centres) please contact SANDRA at smoore@ausu.org.
SURVEY ON AU’s PROPOSED REMOVAL FROM THE TUITION CAP
How do you feel about AU being removed from the tuition cap?
Athabasca University, like other universities and colleges in the province, currently falls under Alberta’s tuition fee policy that enforces a ceiling on allowable tuition increases. AU has asked the Alberta government for exemption from the tuition fee policy. If passed, tuition increases for undergraduate courses at AU will no longer be regulated by specific government controls.
To find out how students feel about this proposed change, AUSU has placed a short survey on the AUSU web site at: http://www.ausu.org/tuitionsurvey/index.php. More information can also be found on this page.
To learn more about this issue, students are encouraged to visit the AUSU discussion forums [accessible from the “Message Forums” link on the AUSU front page] and to browse the past several issues of The Voice.
Please take a minute to fill out this simple survey, to ensure that the students’ union is representing you.
CHAT WITH AUSU ONLINE
If you have a question for AUSU, or would like to get to know your council, drop by the chat-room [accessible through the ‘Message Forums’ option on the AUSU home page http://www.ausu.org. You will need an AUSU web site account.] during one of our chat times and talk live with AUSU council members or your Voice editor. All times are MST
Sunday, August 31 – 3:00 PM – Sandra
Mondays, 8:00 PM – Karl
More chat times to be posted soon:
FEATURED TUTOR ON THE AUSU WEB SITE
Judi Malone
Psychology
Hmmm, what to say . . . I am very open but I do not usually write about myself. I do ask new students about themselves so I can see them as persons first, students second. Usually they do not ask for the same in return so I guess this is my chance:
Read more at: http://www.ausu.org/tutor/index.php
AUSU COMMITTEE SEEKS MEMBERS
AUSU Committees are looking for student members who can volunteer just a few hours a month to answer email or attend teleconferences. Anyone who wants to become involved with AUSU Student Council can gain great experience and insight through committee work.
The External Committee, chaired by Shirley Barg, needs representatives from Atlantic Canada, Saskatchewan, and Northern Canada. Contact Shirley at sbarg@ausu.org if you would like to get involved, and help improve services to AU students in your area.
NEEDED – VOLUNTEER MENTORS FOR NEW STUDENTS
Do you remember your first few months at AU? Do you remember all the questions you had and the confusions you encountered? Every month at AU there are close to 1500 new registrations and these new students will be in the same boat you were once in. How about helping these students out by offering to be an AUSU mentor? AUSU mentors are “experienced” AU students who are willing to provide a little guidance and support to new AU students. If you are interested in participating in this new venture of AUSU’s or if you’d like more information please contact Sandra Moore at smoore@ausu.org
STRATEGIC PLANNING WEEKEND
On the weekend of August 10th, AUSU convened in person for a strategic planning weekend, which coincided with the August 11th council meeting and the presentation of Dominique Abrioux. Over the weekend AUSU discussed the budget for the coming year, and other goals and plans of the union that will take it through the remainder of this council term and beyond.
