AMS Council: January 20, 2010

Hey! We’re back to no one taking interest in the AMS. Highlights:

1. Tuition Increase proposals from UBC
2. Student Housing demand report released
3. Council makes donation to Haiti relief efforts; doesn’t make donation to Haiti relief efforts

Catch up on five hours in five minutes, by passing the jump.

AMS Foundation Meeting
The AMS Foundation, the AMS’s charity wing, donated $1,609 to UBC with the direction that it be allocated to the Student Aid Bursary Fund.

“Another successful meeting of the AMS Foundation!” – Dave Tompkins

Student Financial Assistance & Awards Presentation; Tuition Proposal and Consultation schedule
The moment we’ve all been waiting for… Anne DeWolfe and Barbara Crocker presenting on tuition increases and student financial aid.

UBC has a policy saying that they have to consult with students whenever there is to be a tuition increase. Last year, students were unhappy with the consultation and there was a joint letter from the AMS, GSS and UBCSUO asking for an enhanced consultation process. There have been meetings between those groups to develop this process this year. The reason for last year’s truncated process is that the exact figure of the cost-of-living increase came quite late from province and the university didn’t want to start consultation until they had that figure. This year they are starting without it to give themselves more time.

In short, expect a 2% increase in domestic tuition due to a cost-of-living increase. International students can expect a 4% increase in tuition, broken down as a 3% HEPI increase and a 1% for increase to contribute to financial aid for international students. Graduate students can also expect a 2% increase.

Consultation will be done through a website which is not yet up, but will be located at: students.ubc.ca/tuitionconsultation

A broadcast email will be sent out on January 26; the consultation ends February 9.
Questions and comments can be directed to: tuition@interchange.ubc.ca

Mrigank Sharma (GSS) asked about differential application fees for international students depending on their country of origin. Anne said she wasn’t aware that was happening, and that it’s likely not that the university waives the fee, but that someone else is paying it.

Aaron Sihota (SUS) asked about the cost-of-living figure coming from the province. Anne said if the COI was lower than 2% tuition increases would be lower. If the COI figure is higher than 2%, UBC won’t go higher than that.

Tahara Bhate (SUS) asked if the 2% increases were being institutionalized (ie. the university is planning based on having that increase every year). Wishy washy answer; probably yes.

Johannes Rebane (VP Academic) asked for more details about the 1% increase for International students. Anne clarified that the money collected will go exclusively back to international students.

Blake Frederick (President) expressed concern that the 1% might simply displace other funding. Anne said that was not the case; it was additional funding

Mike Duncan (BoG) said that Policy 72 doesn’t apply to international students – how are we ensuring we’re getting the best international students, not just the richest ones? Vague platitudes as an answer.

Dia Montgomery (Law) asked about last year’s consultation process.

Alex Lougheed (Math major, pollster, lover) wanted to know if the survey results would be made public (yes) and why the province wasn’t giving up the COI info (don’t know). He then asked if UBC was asking for an exemption from the tuition cap for certain programs. The answer was yes. (in bold because it’s important)

Tim Chu (VPX) asked why tuition increases weren’t happening in September to coincide with the start of a new academic year. Anne said her best guess was because it was designed to coincide with the university’s fiscal year instead, which starts in April each year.

Next, Barbara Crocker gave a presentation about student financial assistance. More discussion, but no recap. Information will be posted on the tuition consultation website.

Child Care Presentation

The Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC gave a presentation about what they’re all about.

Student Housing Presentation

Nancy Knight gave an update on the results of a study into the demand for student housing. Big surprise: there isn’t enough student housing on campus. There were a lot of very compelling stats presented and there are supposed to be 2,500 new beds built on campus in the next 5 years.

Too tired to summarize. The report is here.

Elections Logistics Officer
The previous one resigned on Isabel’s (EA) request. Audrey Gardiner is to be hired instead.

Referenda Discussion
The AMS is running a referendum about indexing all its fees to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Council had to figure out how this would apply to the SUB fee. The SUB fee is not technically indexed, but is slated to increase $10 each year. Should the CPI indexing apply every year in addition to the $10 increase? Or only after the fee has reached its maximum point? Or not at all? Much confusion.

The decision reached in the end was to clarify the referendum question to say that the SUB fee will max out at $100, then get indexed to CPI.

The second referendum question up for discussion is the student court referendum. In March 2009, council passed the following motion (there were actually two, but they are almost identical):

That on the recommendation of the Code and Policies Committee and the Oversight Committee, Council approve the proposed Bylaw changes contained in the report ‘Bylaw Changes- Student Court Consultant’s Recommendations,’ such changes to be submitted to the membership at a later date in a referendum or general meeting to be called in accordance with a future Council motion.

link for document lovers

The motion above did not actually call a referendum. It only approved the changes in principle. The last line of the motion clearly states that another council motion must be passed in order to actually call the referendum. The AMS Bylaws stipulate that when a referendum is called, it must be “put to the members not less than ten (10) days and not more than thirty (30) days” after that point. In order to coincide with the start of voting for AMS Elections on January 25, it would have had to be passed by January 15th. It wasn’t done at the last council meeting; today’s is too late.

What happened instead is that Legislative Procedures Committee decided to 1) combine the two questions into one, and 2) put it to referendum. Tonight council ratified the decision so the referendum stands.

In the opinions of the editors of this blog both decisions were incorrect on a technical level. But, um, good job council!

Haiti Relief Efforts

A representative of a Caribbean club on campus came to talk about the current situation in Haiti and asked for a donation of undetermined amount. Council gave them $1,000 from the President’s Fund.

Food Services Donations to Haiti

Employees of AMS Food Services have agreed to donate their tips collected until February 5th, 2010 to the Red Cross for relief efforts in Haiti. Proposal to have Council will match these donations up to $5,000 is postponed to the next meeting.

Blake’s Broadcast
Met with elections candidates; two all-day SUB meetings; reviewed job performance of BSul; HR issues resolved; education committee meeting

Tim’s Talk
Evelyn Lett childcare bursary was not given out this year; ironing out some U-Pass subsidy issues; U-Pass contract is still not signed resulting from 2008 referendum; have been increasing meetings with Translink; attended UBC Line consultation

Crystal’s Chat
Working on the SUB, 2 full day sessions, trying to schedule more; met with Janet Teasdale about student development in new SUB; new directories for current SUB are up; nomination forms for councilor of the year

Johannes’s Jargon
New Committee formed for UNA-Greek relations; planning the AGM; transition report; international engagement report

Tom’s Tirade
Meetings; Associate VP Finance has been worked into the ground and left, interviews for her successor happening; health plan contract is up for renewal soon; AMS foundation; looking at endowments for student groups; working on transition with both Elin Tayyar and The Invisible Man

Pavani’s Prose
This week was catching up; met with tutoring; student involvement centre opened last week; revising policy manuals for safety office

Minutes 1

Executive Committee minutes passed.

Moon on Fire
The Moon didn’t catch fire, but it currently doesn’t meet safety standards so Council spent $11,000 to upgrade the fire suppression system in the Moon so it doesn’t catch on fire.

Minutes 2
SAC minutes passed.

Executive Recall Contingency
If Blake and/or Tim get impeached, Council passed a motion saying that the elected candidate be appointed immediately (but only if they already sit on council) so that there is not a vacant position.