August 15, 2024 saw AUSU meet shortly before a significant change of leadership. In that meeting, AUSU Council went over and approved the 2024-2025 AUSU Budget, with some notable updates included below. Then, on October 8, 2024, new President Jan Lehmann initiated the AUSU council meeting on Zoom at 3:06 PM Mountain Time. Vice President Finance and Administration (VPFA) Diana Ramirez was announced as the accessibility officer for the meeting. AUSU Councillor Aiza Nazarmatova was absent. This meeting focused on the scholarships and bursaries policy update, health and dental plan cancellation, and new council & committee appointments. The agenda for the October 2024 meeting was approved unanimously. The minutes from the August 15, September 9, and September 18 meetings were also reviewed and approved.
2024-2025 AUSU Budget
The 2024-2025 AUSU budget was presented by Vice President Finance and Administration (VPFA) Diana Ramirez and approved following discussions. The budget balances projected revenue from student fees with expenses, including inflation impacts and increased food bank services, and discontinuation of LinkedIn Learning services.
- Increased Food Bank Gift Cards for Students: Notably, the council decided to increase the number of $100 food bank gift cards from 10 per month to 15 per month, sustained by both the grant and budget allocations of $12,000 Alberta food security grant dedicated to the food bank and Food Assistance Program.
- Discontinuation of LinkedIn Learning services: This decision aligns with the council’s commitment to exploring alternative services that offer more value directly to students which would reduce the cost from $59,500 to $20,000 for the fiscal year.
Scholarships and Bursaries Policy Update: AUSU council approved changes to the policy governing member representatives on AUSU committees, as well as modifications to scholarships, awards, and bursaries programs. These changes include:
- Increasing available funds for new awards and bursaries, reflecting growing demand for financial aid among AU students
- Emphasizes inclusivity, allowing Indigenous students to provide alternative forms of documentation such as community testimonies.
Health and Dental Plan Cancellation: AUSU discussed the recent discontinuation of the student health and dental plan by the insurer due to low usage. This raised concerns among council members about the limited benefits currently offered to students, and several councillors, including Councillor Faustina Arsenault, Councillor Kari Thompson, Indigenous Circle Voice Neenah Brown, and President Jan Lehmann all voiced the need for AUSU to explore more affordable insurance options. It was agreed that finding a new health plan provider would be prioritized.
Appointments and Terminations
Appointment of AUSU Financial Auditor: AUSU Council approved the re-appointment of KRP LLP as the financial auditor for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. This decision was made upon the recommendation of the Finance Committee, and the motion was moved by VPFA Ramirez and seconded by VPCW Shepherd. VPFA Ramirez indicated that while AUSU has worked with KRP LLP for several years, the council may consider finding a new auditor for the following fiscal year.
Appointment of Amal Hirole to the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee: During the October 2024 meeting, a motion was presented by Vice President of Community and Wellness (VPCW) Olivia Shepherd to appoint Amal Hirole as a voting member of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee. Hirole was selected based on her impressive qualifications and her demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion initiatives. Hirole’s appointment fills a crucial vacancy and is expected to bolster the committee’s efforts to ensure equitable representation and inclusivity for all AU students. “Amal was one of our top choices to fill the vacancy on the EDI Committee,” said VPCW Shepherd. “Her experience and perspectives will be a great asset to our ongoing initiatives” The motion was seconded by Councillor Faustina Arsenault and passed with unanimous consent.
Ratification of Jan Lehmann as AUSU President: A significant appointment ratified during the meeting was the confirmation of Jan Lehmann as AUSU President for the remainder of the 2024-2025 council term. Lehmann had been serving as Vice President External (VPE), and this transition followed a period of leadership reorganization and previous president Chantel Groening resigning. Lehmann’s ratification was supported by the council as she had demonstrated strong leadership during her time as VPE and was well-suited to guide AUSU through the upcoming term.
Termination of Executive Director Jodi Campbell: One of the key motions ratified during the meeting was the termination of Executive Director Jodi Campbell’s employment. This decision followed an email motion that had been circulated and passed by council members on September 20, 2024. The council cited a need for new leadership and direction as reasons for the termination.
The updated Executive and EDI committee members are:
Executive Committee
Committee Chair: Jan Lehmann (President)
Voting Members:
- Chimaraoke Akuchie (Vice-President External)
- Diana Ramirez (Vice-President Finance and Administration)
- Olivia Shepherd (Vice-President of Community and Wellness)
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee
Committee Chair: Olivia Shepherd (AUSU Vice President of Community and Wellness)
Voting Members:
- Aiza Nazarmatova (AUSU Councillor)
- Annette Karien (AUSU Councillor)
- Chimaraoke Akuchie (AUSU Councillor)
- Faustina Arsenault (AUSU Councillor)
- Kari Thompson (AUSU Councillor)
- Amanda Leeman (Member-at-Large)
- Amol Hirole (Member-at-Large)
The meeting was adjourned at 3:52 PM and the next meeting of AUSU Council will be on November 21, 2024. If you are interested in attending the AUSU Council meeting on Zoom, or if you have any questions about the AUSU Council meeting, contact governance@ausu.org.
