Council Connection—December 19, 2024 Meeting

On December 19, 2024, President Jan Lehmann commenced the AUSU council meeting on Zoom at 6:04 pm Mountain Time. The meeting addressed tuition advocacy, key requests presented to the federal government, council recognition, and holiday discussions. The agenda for the December 19, 2024 council meeting, the minutes from the November 21, 2024 council meeting, the ratification of the December 9, 2024 email motion regarding committee meeting frequency, the ratification of the December 13, 2024 email motion on severance pay for Jodi Campbell, and the launch of the AUSU Wellness Passport with a $400 annual prize were all approved unanimously.

Tuition Advocacy Update

Vice-President Community and Wellness (VPCW) Olivia Shepherd confirmed that a formal letter on behalf of AUSU was sent to both President Dr. Alex Clark and the Chief of Staff Matthew McCreary, addressing concerns over the tuition increase. Vice President Finance and Administration (VPFA) Diana Ramirez also brought it up to AU’s Board of Governors at a recent meeting. Despite these efforts, AU’s Board of Governors has approved that a 2% tuition increase will take effect on September 1, 2025, to align with the Government of Alberta’s 2% limit on domestic tuition. VPCW Shepherd affirmed, “We will continue to advocate for the issues raised in the letter.” She further emphasized that course multimedia, content quality, and overall value should “at least be somewhat on par with the price we pay.”

Advocacy for Course Accessibility and Updates

Councillor Faustina Arsenault raised concerns about the workload in some 200-level courses, which students find overwhelming and incompatible with student aid timelines. She advocated for a review of these courses to better align their content with reasonable expectations. President Lehmann encouraged council members to gather specific examples of overloaded courses, noting that such feedback could be incorporated into ongoing university committees focused on curriculum updates. VPFA Ramirez and VPCW Shepherd both emphasized the importance of addressing accessibility issues, such as outdated materials and broken links, which create negative learning experiences. The council agreed to compile a list of courses requiring attention and to coordinate advocacy efforts through relevant university committees. President Lehmann emphasized the importance of continuing this work in the new year, stating, “There’s a lot for us to do on this front, and it’s something we can actively push for in our roles.”

Key Asks Presented to the Federal Government

President Lehmann and Vice-President External (VPEX) Chimaraoke Akuchie participated in Advocacy Week in Ottawa which is organized by the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA). AUSU engaged with federal government officials to present six asks aimed at improving student experiences and opportunities across Canada:

  1. Investment in Student-Work Placement Program: Request an annual investment of $250 million for 2027-2028 to improve student-work placements in small and medium enterprises.
  2. Increasing Apprenticeship Hours on Federal Projects: Advocate for an above 20% apprenticeship hours requirement for federal infrastructure projects.
  3. Graduate Funding Adjustment: Advocate for inflation-adjusted funding for Tri-Council Agency Graduate Student Programs to attract top Canadian talent.
  4. Express Entry Immigration Program Improvements: Propose doubling the points allocated in the Express Entry program for Canadian post-secondary credentials, rewarding students with strong economic potential.
  5. Renewing and Increasing Student Financial Aid: Request the permanent renewal of the $4,200 annual grant and $300 per week loan, with proportional increases for students with disabilities and dependents to ensure equitable access to education.
  6. Support for Indigenous Students: Push for an annual funding increase to $1.14 billion for Indigenous post-secondary support programs to ensure every qualified Métis, Inuit, and First Nations student can access higher education.

Recognition for Outstanding Efforts

President Lehmann commended VPCW Shepherd for her dedication to developing the Wellness Passport, which is set to launch in January. Councillor Faustina Arsenault seconded the recognition, expressing excitement about the upcoming launch. VPCW Shepherd responded emotionally, “I’m very happy that I was able to get all of your contributions and feedback into that as well to make it. I hope it benefits our students.” Councillor Annette Karien praised the collective effort and mutual support within the council. VPEX Akuchie echoed these sentiments, thanking President Lehmann for stepping up as a leader and applauding the team for their contributions.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:32 PM and the next meeting of AUSU Council will be on January 16, 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.