AGENDA - SRA 17E STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY Sunday, July 16, 2017 at 10:30am Kenneth Taylor Hall, room 104
PROCEDURE Call of the Roll, Playing of National Anthem, Territory Recognition, Adoption of Agenda, Adoption of SRA Minutes 17D, Announcements from the Chair, Special Orders of the Day, Delegation from the Floor, Report Period, Information Period, Question Period, Business Arising from the Minutes, Business, Committee Business, Unfinished Business, New Business, Time of Next Meeting, Call of the Roll, Adjournment
The SRA would like to recognize today that we are situated on traditional Haudenosaunee and Anishnaabe territories through the ‘Dish with One Spoon Wampum Treaty’.
REPORTS 1. Arts & Science Yun 2. Business McNally 3. Engineering Lightstone 4. Health Sciences Lee 5. Humanities Fama 6. Kinesiology 7. Nursing Nwamadi 8. Science Sabra Salim 9. Social Sciences Patel 10. Executive Board Ibe 11. SAB Space Allocation Ad-Hoc Committee 12. Vice-President (Administration) Anbalagan 13. Vice-President (Education) Deshpande 14. Vice-President (Finance) D’Souza 15. President Ibe 16. OUSA Strat Con Deshpande
BUSINESS 1. Approval of YEARplans Ibe 2. Clubs Ratification Anbalagan 3. Close MSU Seat to Standing Committee D’Souza 4. Close MSU Seat to Neighbourhood Assistance Advisory Council Deshpande 5. Open SRA Seat to Standing Committee Patel 6. Close SRA Seats to Standing Committees Patel 7. Open SRA Seat on Teaching Awards Committee Patel 8. Close SRA Seat on Teaching Awards Committee Patel
MOTIONS
1. Moved by Ibe, seconded by ______that the Assembly approve the following YEARplans: . President . Vice-President (Administration) . Vice-President (Finance) . Vice-President (Education) . SRA Arts & Science Caucus . SRA Business Caucus . SRA Engineering Caucus . SRA Health Sciences Caucus . SRA Humanities Caucus . SRA Nursing Caucus . SRA Science Caucus . SRA Social Sciences Caucus 2. Moved by ____, seconded by ______that the Assembly ratify the new and returning clubs as circulated and recommended by the Clubs Administrator for the 2017-2018 academic year. 3. Moved by D’Souza, seconded by ____ that the Assembly close one (1) MSU Seat on the Finance Committee. 4. Moved by Deshpande, seconded by ____ that the Assembly close one (1) MSU Seat on the Neighbourhood Assistance Advisory Council. 5. Moved by Patel, seconded by _____ that the Assembly open one (1) SRA Seat on the Internal Governance Committee. 6. Moved by Patel, seconded by _____ that the Assembly close the following SRA Seats to Standing Committees: . Internal Governance (1) . Provincial & Federal Affairs (2) 7. Moved by Patel, seconded by _____ that the Assembly open one (1) SRA Seat on the Teaching Awards Committee. 8. Moved by Patel, seconded by _____ that the Assembly close one (1) SRA Seat on the Teaching Awards Committee.
Student Representative Assembly Meeting 17E Sunday, July 16, 2017 at 10:00am Kenneth Taylor Hall, rm 104
Called to Order at 10:09am
CALL OF THE ROLL Present: Anas, Anbalagan, Aoki, Arnold, Chestney, Deshpande, D'Souza, Fama, Florean, Ibe, Lao, Lee, Lightstone, McGill, McNally, Mustafa, Nwamadi, Ochocinski, Patel, Quinn, Risi, Sabra Salim, Sabrin Salim, Senthillmohan, Sooriyakumaran, Stott, Szeliga, Web, Wilson, Yun, Zhang Absent Excused: Obaidullah, Vlatkovic, Zheng Absent Late Others Present: Dave Rosborough (Organizer for ATU 107), Eric Tuck (President of ATU 107), Casy Stelitano (Organizer from ATU International), Stephanie Bertolo (AVP Municipal Affairs) Chair Helen Zeng
TERRITORY RECOGNITION
▪ The SRA would like to recognize today that we are situated on traditional Haudenosaunee and Anishnaabe territories through the ‘Dish with One Spoon Wampum Treaty’.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Moved by Quinn, seconded by Lee that the Assembly adopt the agenda, as presented.
Amendment Moved by Deshpande, seconded by Ibe to amend the agenda to include a Delegation from the floor from the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 107 to present their "Keep Transit Public" campaign.
▪ Deshpande stated that this was circulated earlier in the week, and that they would like to discuss their campaign.
Vote on Amendment
Passes Unanimously
Amendment Moved by Deshpande, seconded by Quinn to amend the agenda to add “‘Keep Transit Public’ Endorsement” as Business Item #9.
▪ Deshpande stated that they will be discussing whether the SRA should endorse the campaign or not.
Vote on Amendment
Passes Unanimously
Amendment SRA 17E Page 2 July 16, 2017
Moved by Lightstone, seconded by Anas to amend the agenda to add “Open one SRA seat on the MUSC Board of Management” to Business.
▪ Lightstone stated that he has class during the meeting times in the fall term so he had to drop his seat.
Vote on Amendment
Passes Unanimously
Amendment Moved by Mustafa, seconded by Wilson to amend the agenda to include the Kinesiology Yearplan as part of Business Item #1.
▪ Mustafa stated that she didn’t submit the yearplan on time, and that she would like it to be included for approval.
Vote on Amendment
Passes Unanimously
Vote to Adopt Agenda Moved by Quinn, seconded by Lee that the Assembly adopt the agenda, as amended.
Passes Unanimously
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
Moved by Quinn, seconded by Fama that the Assembly adopt the minutes from SRA meeting 17D – June 18, 2017, as circulated.
In Favour: Opposed: 0 Abstentions: 1 Abstained: Ibe Motion Passes
ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CHAIR
▪ The Speaker asked that those who are observing to please add their name to the Observer’s List. The Speaker stated that the Recording Secretary couldn’t make the meeting, so they will have the recorder and livestream to help document the meeting.
DELEGATION FROM THE FLOOR
Set Parameters Moved by Deshpande, seconded by Lightstone to set parameters for Delegation from the Floor to be 15 minutes for presentation, and 15 minutes for questions.
▪ Deshpande stated that this should be more than enough time, but if they need more they can extend it.
Vote on Parameters
In Favour: 30 Opposed: 0 Abstentions: 1 Abstained: Anbalagan Motion Passes SRA 17E Page 3 July 16, 2017
1. Amalgamated Transit Union Local 107’s "Keep Transit Public" campaign – Dave Rosborough and Eric Tuck presented (presentation attached)
▪ Rosborough went through the presentation with the Assembly.
Questions ▪ Quinn thanked the presenters for coming and speaking to the SRA. She asked how will the ATU continue to foster relationships and dispel a negative image. Rosborough responded that they are building solidarity within the organization, and want to be a part of the community. He added that having them work side by side will show part of the service and can help advocate for the students. ▪ Lightstone stated that when transit is privatized it’s usually a bad deal for the public. He used the example of Bombardier. Rosborough responded that there are significant issues with funding, and oversight from the provincial government. He stated that Metrolinx was better than a private company, as Bombardier has issues. He explained that Bombardier will be bidding on this, but currently the LRT in Kitchener/Waterloo haven’t met their goals so there are serious concerns on how they provide service. ▪ Sabra Salim asked what measures have the HSR put in place for deadlines and budgeting for the RFP. Rosborough stated that they don’t represent the HSR as they weren’t involved in this. He stated that the ATU 107 doesn’t want to see the P3s at design build phases. He explained that they would like to bring this inhouse and have Metrolinx involved as a public agency. ▪ Sabra Salim asked about operations and maintenance and how the HSR would make sure there was accountability. Tuck stated that they have had issues with the novo buses and with HSR buses there is always a struggle to get funding. Rosborough stated that they are looking at moving back to having a transit commission, as this would be the best solution to get representatives from concerns group involved. ▪ Ibe stated that Metrolinx was public because it was part of the province. He asked how do they reconcile with arguments for accountability and if transit was cut then students would be affected. Rosborough responded that they have heard from a number of organizations expressing their frustration. He said the answer to that would be a transit commission, and having someone on Council to help, as well as having seats from the community. He explained that they need to show that they have a voice in the city, and if the ATU joins the fight now they can make sure it stays public.
Moved by Ibe, seconded by Quinn to exhaust the Speaker’s List.
Vote to Exhaust Speaker’s List
Passes Unanimously
Questions ▪ Anas stated that the HSR is publicly operated, and that a number of students have frustrations with them. He asked if this was kept public how were they planning on changing to get better service, and direct customer service with operators. Rosbourough responded that organization was a big thing. He stated that the transit strategy included fare increases, where they are now in the third year where council was supposed to increase the HSR budget but they put it on hold. He explained that the argument to that was that this was an open vote at council and they only way they were able to vote on this was because they didn’t believe they were accountable for it. He stated that an election was coming up next year, and this was a great opportunity to make this an election issue. ▪ Patel stated that LRT was different than buses, and asked wouldn’t it be more efficient to find someone who could do it all. He stated that maintenance was key. He asked would it cost taxpayers to pay for people to be trained to maintain. Rosborough responded that there wasn’t a surplus of those who can do that, so people will need to be trained. He explained that whoever is operating the system will pay for training, and they would have about 10 years before the LRT was up and running. SRA 17E Page 4 July 16, 2017
▪ Ibe stated that there were concerns raised about private servicing profitable lines, and that it doesn’t hold with the LRT. He stated that the line has been chosen and that there was nothing based on given service areas. He explained that he was torn between the argument made in the beginning of the presentation. Ibe asked them to speak about the accountability for the transit commission. Rosborough responded that the issue they would have to deal with if LRT was privatized was that the line would expand and expanded into profitable areas. He stated that LRT allows a lot of flexibility for ridership as it would run every 10 minutes. He added that private companies would say that it wasn’t profitable and then give up the contract, and that they would cherry-pick the profitable lines and the lines on the municipal books wouldn’t bring in any money.
REPORT PERIOD
1. Arts & Science Caucus – Yun presented
▪ Yun summarized the report.
Questions ▪ Wilson asked what angle they were taking with the mental health initiative. Yun responded that the way that it was envisioned in the yearplan would be to work with campaigns of the past such as MACtalks and collaborate.
2. Business Caucus - McNally presented
▪ McNally summarized the report.
3. Engineering Caucus – Lightstone presented
▪ Lightstone summarized the report.
Questions ▪ Domingues-Florean asked for clarification on movie night. Lightstone stated that it will be advertised to the engineering students with the bulk of posters being put in JHE, and run through their caucus page. He added that this will be open to all McMaster students and staff, and would love it if everyone could attend. ▪ Quinn asked if they will be caucus of the year. Lightstone responded that it was a goal to achieve from their yearplan.
4. Health Sciences Caucus – Lee presented
▪ Lee summarized the report.
Questions ▪ Ibe stated that he saw something about a caucus committee, and that it was on his radar in his yearplan. He stated that this would pertain to all caucuses as he was looking to create a standardized committee, and he would love to have a conversation through Internal Governance Committee.
5. Humanities Caucus – Fama presented
▪ Fama summarized the report.
Questions ▪ Anbalagan asked if Humanities was working with ArtSci and Commerce for the bi-weekly videos. Fama responded that it was in their yearplan, but they haven’t discussed it yet. SRA 17E Page 5 July 16, 2017
6. Kinesiology Caucus – no report submitted
▪ Mustafa went over the Kinesiology Caucus Yearplan with the Assembly.
7. Nursing Caucus – Nwamadi presented
▪ Nwamadi summarized the report.
Questions ▪ Lightstone asked how they were planning on dealing with the fact that some nursing students are MSU members, and others are Mohawk College students. Nwamadi responded that they only represent McMaster, but regardless they will be including the whole McMaster campus. ▪ D’Souza asked if Nursing has a lot of mature students. Nwamadi responded that there weren’t any in her stream, but once they get to second year everyone will be combined. She added that at the past Welcome Week they did something for mature students.
8. Science Caucus – Sabra Salim presented
▪ Salim summarized the report.
Questions ▪ D’Souza asked for a timeline on the interfaith council. Salim stated that there was a meeting planned for after the SRA meeting. ▪ Ibe asked when they would be meeting with the Associate Dean. Salim responded that they have reached out, and will be organizing something soon. Ibe stated that he has a meeting set with Maureen in early August, and invited the Science Caucus to sit in with him.
9. Social Sciences Caucus – Patel presented
▪ Patel summarized the report.
Questions ▪ Ibe asked for Patel to go over their Welcome Week strategy. Patel responded that they have reached out to the campus store and received funding from them, and they will be giving away items throughout Welcome Week to those who engage in their content. ▪ Domingues-Florean asked what they were thinking of doing for the contest. Patel responded that they would be doing something similar to SWHAT and Horizons have done. They will list the item of what they would be giving away and get students to comment on the page, like and invite friends to the page.
10. Executive Board – Ibe presented
▪ Ibe summarized the report.
11. SAB Ad-Hoc Committee – report attached
▪ Webb summarized the report.
Questions ▪ Lee asked if they could go over the process of which stakeholders and consultations have been chosen. Lightstone responded that the stakeholders haven’t been chosen yet, but a lot of them would be self- explanatory. He added that they have been in contact with faith groups on campus, as that was SRA 17E Page 6 July 16, 2017
important. They will also be in talks with the current food and beverage services that the MSU has and look into options for a grocery store. Lightstone explained that as they figure out what students want out of the space they will get an idea of who they will need to contact. ▪ Domingues-Florean asked how they will distribute the survey. Webb responded that it will be on the MSU website and shared on social media. Lightstone added that they have talked about collaborating with faculty societies to distribute on their pages, amongst other ideas. ▪ Domingues-Florean stated that she felt that a lot of input needed to be done to get student feedback and that they weren’t targeting the proper people. She stated that if this was done through Welcome Week then there would be first years, she asked how would they target the returning students who weren’t involved in Welcome Week. Webb responded that there will be a lot of posts on social media. She added that every faculty has a listserv and so the link will be sent out to others. ▪ Sabra Salim stated that the Science Caucus will also be distributing a survey, and that if they do contact faculty societies there might be better outreach with that instead of just Facebook.
12. Vice-President (Administration) – Anbalagan presented
▪ Anbalagan summarized the report.
Questions ▪ Sabra Salim asked if she had spoken to the WWFC about Faculty Cup. Anbalagan stated that she had mentioned it to her but hadn’t followed up yet. ▪ Wilson asked what was the long-term strategy about accommodation and employment equity and if there were plans for pursuing this. They also asked how they would know if the accommodation policy will be successful. Anbalagan responded that she will be working with the new Operations Coordinator, and then they will bring it to Executive Board for them to be the sounding board. She explained with that they will have a number of individuals who have been here long-term. ▪ Lee stated that he noticed that the AVP Internal Governance was taking on a managerial role for the SRA. He asked if they should be updating the bylaw or create a new position. He felt that this was different than the mandate given previously. Anbalagan responded that the AVPs are new this year, and that they have some flexibility on what their jobs look like. She stated that she wanted to add value to the position and that she will be providing opportunities to look over documents that could be cumbersome. Anbalagan explained that the pilot was to look at the possibility of the role having a supervisory or support function for caucus leaders, but that they aren’t looking into permanent changes yet. ▪ Wilson asked what they were doing with the current policy on harassment and if there any plans of making changes. Anbalagan responded that they don’t have any plans to do any more updates as it took a while for the Board to read and pass it. She added that one thing she would like to do would be to make sure that it was communicated on more than one spot on the website.
Moved by Lightstone, seconded by Quinn that the Assembly recess until 1:00pm
▪ Lightstone stated that they have been in the meeting for two hours and that it was time for lunch.
Vote on Motion
In Favour: 28 Opposed: 2 Abstentions: 0 Opposed: Ibe, Anbalagan Motion Passes
SRA 17E Page 7 July 16, 2017
Recessed at 12:23pm Called to Order at 1:07pm
CALL OF THE ROLL Present: Anas, Anbalagan, Arnold, Chestney, Deshpande, D'Souza, Fama, Florean, Ibe, Lee, Lightstone, McGill, McNally, Mustafa, Nwamadi, Ochocinski, Patel, Quinn, Risi, Sabra Salim, Sabrin Salim, Senthillmohan, Web, Wilson, Yun, Zhang Absent Excused: Obaidullah, Vlatkovic, Zheng Absent Late: Aoki, Lao, Sooriyakumaran, Stott, Szeliga Others Present Chair Helen Zeng
13. Vice-President (Education) – Deshpande presented
▪ Deshpande summarized the report.
Questions ▪ Sabrin Salim asked why Change Camp was moved to September. Deshpande stated that the MSU doesn’t host Change Camp, but added that he liked having it in September as they can get it out of the way and dedicate the summer to it. He added that this way people can come in and find projects to be involved in. ▪ Quinn stated that she had a concern about the flag, and how would they ensure that it will represent the various territories. Deshpande responded that they won’t be the ones deciding on that, and will be leaving that to ___ to take the lead on that as they will be doing the research. He added that there will only be one flagpole going up, and that it would hold the Wampum belt flag that represents the treaties of the two nations. ▪ Lee asked Deshpande to go over the priorities of ADVOCAN. Deshpande responded that they will be looking at Indigenous Students, International Students, and undergraduate research funding. He added that there was a fourth item that he could follow up on. ▪ Lee asked if they would be joining ADVOCAN for federal lobbying. Deshpande responded that as of now, yes. He stated that he may put forward a motion on the CASA plenary to make changes that would make the MSU want to re-join CASA. ▪ Sabrin Salim asked if he has met with OUSA, and what were their priorities. Deshpande stated that he has another report to do coming up. ▪ Lightstone asked if there was a structural issue with CASA, and was that not the reason why they parted ways. He asked if they changed their priorities. Deshpande responded that CASA has not made any changes, and that other schools have now come forward to try and address these issues. He explained that CASA was a good organization to be a part of, but not right now.
14. Vice-President (Finance) – D’Souza presented
▪ D’Souza summarized the report.
Questions ▪ Patel asked if TwelvEighty has time to integrate the meal plan into the system. D’Souza stated that they do take the meal card, but if someone wanted to order their food online they would have to come in and use their card. ▪ Wilson asked what the wages will look like when minimum wage goes up in January, and what were the plans for implementation. D’Souza responded that this will go through the Finance Committee, and that during first term they will be preparing reports and recommendations. He added that they didn’t have any plans of implanting anything before January. SRA 17E Page 8 July 16, 2017
▪ Sabrin Salim stated that she spoke to someone who worked at TwelvEighty and they said that they would have liked more say and input on the café. She asked if this was something to consider. D’Souza responded that the main people they were speaking to were Richard, Jen, and Stu. He added that at this time a lot of staff were being re-hired, and was hoping that Jen could provide direction. ▪ Patel stated that in conversations with the AVP Finance, there weren’t any records of past SRA projects. D’Souza stated that there are records of money spent, but not the actual projects. He stated that there wasn’t much care given, but in the past the budget was used for constituent outreach. ▪ Senthillmohan stated that D’Souza mentioned that he wanted to reduce costs for clubs. Senthillmohan asked for an update. D’Souza responded that this will be through Campus Events, and that the Programming Coordinator will be there to help club put on events. ▪ Sabra Salim asked if D’Souza had reached out to the religious groups on campus for SAB. D’Souza stated that he has had a number of phone calls, and recommendations are being compiled together. ▪ Patel asked if there was a way to integrate record keeping for SRA finances for future caucuses, so that they could see what has been done to either improve upon or replicate. D’Souza responded that the AVP Finance will be creating a submission form so that projects can be tracked.
15. President – Ibe presented
▪ Ibe summarized the report.
Questions ▪ Anas stated that the University appointed a new Chief Technology Officer. He asked how they were playing a role with the Wi-Fi and network. Ibe responded that the goal was to get an MSU member on the committee, but UTS has shifted how they organize themselves. He stated that there will be conversations happening in the next couple of weeks. ▪ Sabrin Salim asked if the new Wi-Fi would be replacing MacSecure. Ibe responded that they just created a new option with more access points. He stated that it would replace MacConnect. ▪ Arnold stated that she believed that language mattered, and wanted Ibe to explained what he meant by ‘going for the jugular’. She asked how he was planning on maintaining positive work relationships with the SRA without threatening power and balances. Ibe responded that the goal was letting everyone know that a BOD member is still a person, and if you treat them as human beings everyone can collaborate more. He hoped that they could continue holding each other accountable through the year. ▪ Lightstone stated that the University now has a campus license agreement with Microsoft, and that students will have access to Office 365 at no charge. He asked why haven’t they gotten in on this before if there were cost saving opportunities. Ibe responded that this wasn’t a platform point but it came from the IT roundtable. He stated he was just highlighting something that happened on campus. ▪ Anas stated that right now Mosaic goes through Google service and Microsoft, but Exchange and Google don’t streamline. He asked if there was a product that could help that go together. Ibe responded that he didn’t have an answer for that question, but he will have conversations with the Network Administrator and UTS.
16. OUSA Stat Con – Deshpande presented
▪ Deshpande summarized the report.
Questions ▪ Quinn stated that she was confused as to why tuition hasn’t been a main priority in ten years. She added that debt amnesty was an important issues as financial accessibility was becoming difficult. Quinn asked why OUSA didn’t make tuition their number one priority. Deshpande responded that it was there for the 17/18 priorities, and that their asks were expansive. ▪ Quinn followed up by saying that she didn’t see this in the campaign points. Deshpande responded that they ran a tuition campaign two years ago, and that it wasn’t well received and didn’t act upon it. He explained that it was a lobbying priority, not a campaign one. SRA 17E Page 9 July 16, 2017
▪ Lightstone stated that during the last federal election they had a voting booth on campus. He explained that this would be helpful during the provincial elections, and asked if it would be possible to get voter registration on campus. Deshpande responded that they don’t know when the election will be, and that it could be any time between now and June 2018. He added that voter registration is now online, so it’s easy to sign up. ▪ Anas asked if they could try a campaign to get everyone on campus to vote in the municipal election. Deshpande responded that the municipal election will be six months after the provincial elections and that it wasn’t on their radar. He stated that if the City wanted to prioritize student voting then that was something that the City should do. Deshpande explained that the MSU will work to try and ensure this.
INFORMATION PERIOD
▪ Quinn reported that WGEN applications were closing for Safe(r) Space Volunteers. ▪ Wilson reported that the revised Workplace Anti-Violence, Harassment, and Sexual Assault Prevention Policy wasn’t updated on the website, and that they could only find the document on the website and under policy and procedures. Wilson stated that this was upsetting to them as it was stressful to people coming forward, and that there wasn’t a sufficient policy in place. Wilson added that they have so many staff in the union and there was so much lacking in terms of workplace accommodation. Wilson stated that this was something that has personally impacted them and that it has most likely impacted other people. ▪ Lightstone reported that there was an MSU seat open on the Sponsorship & Donations Committee. ▪ Ibe stated that one of the more challenging parts of this position was the information that comes across their desk. He stated that one of them being losing a student. Eli O’Donnell has passed away, and the MSU has written a letter to his parents, and have donated to their charities of choice. ▪ Ibe responded to Wilson’s statement, and stated that the Board shares these concerns. He explained that this has been raised with full-time staff and will follow up with them in the next couple of weeks. Ibe stated that he wanted to establish a reward for those who have done a lot over the year. He thanked Sabra Salim and David Lee for their hard work so far, and stated that it was now their responsibility to pass on praise to two more people.
QUESTION PERIOD
▪ Lightstone asked the Vice-President (Administration) why the approved minutes from previous SRA meetings not up on the website. Anbalagan stated that this was someone’s job and that she will follow up. ▪ Sabra Salim asked the Vice-President (Administration) if the MSU considered opening a position for someone to constantly update the website. Anbalagan stated that they do have a full-time staff member dedicated to this, and that they just haven’t been doing it.
BUSINESS
1. Approval of Yearplans
Moved by Ibe, seconded by Patel that the Assembly approve the following YEARplans: ▪ President ▪ Vice-President (Administration) ▪ Vice-President (Finance) ▪ Vice-President (Education) ▪ SRA Arts & Science Caucus ▪ SRA Business Caucus ▪ SRA Engineering Caucus ▪ SRA Health Sciences Caucus ▪ SRA Humanities Caucus SRA 17E Page 10 July 16, 2017
▪ SRA Kinesiology Caucus ▪ SRA Nursing Caucus ▪ SRA Science Caucus ▪ SRA Social Sciences Caucus
▪ Ibe thanked everyone for writing their yearplans. ▪ Deshpande stated that if there was anything connected to the BOD in their yearplans to please reach out as soon as they could. He explained that a lot falls under their portfolios and they would like to see the members success.
Moved by Lightstone, seconded by Lee to separate the question.
▪ Lightstone stated that he would like to have the chance to speak about the engineering yearplan, and that a lot of caucus leaders would probably like to speak about theirs as well. He explained that by splitting this up it could go quickly. ▪ Lee stated that he was against this and that there were more efficient ways to go about this. ▪ Lightstone rescinded the motion.
Moved by Sabra Salim, seconded by Quinn to add the updated Science Yearplan to the motion, as circulated.
Moved by Anas, seconded by Fama to Call to Question
Vote to Call to Question
In Favour: 28 Opposed: 2 Abstentions: 1 Opposed: Lightstone, Ibe Abstained: Arnold Motion Passes
Vote on Amendment
Passes Unanimously
Back to Main Motion ▪ Lee stated that one of his students asked to bring up the engineering social, to get more information on what it was. Lee ceded to Lightstone. Lightstone responded that it was for the caucus, and they currently didn’t have any plans set out. He added that they were thinking of a sleepover with pizza and fondue, or a picnic on JHE field. ▪ Webb asked for Ibe to expand on the approach of engagement and feedback on MSU campaign platforms, in relation to his goal of opening up the MSU. Webb ceded to Ibe. Ibe responded that the platform he ran on was slightly different than the yearplan. He stated that he made a promise of taking back the ideas of those who ran and finding ways to have them be priorities for incoming boards. He explained that he didn’t want any good idea left behind. ▪ Arnold asked for Ibe to explain what supports they have to do with tech literacy. Arnold ceded to Ibe. Ibe responded that he was having conversations with faculty societies, and that there was a huge opportunity with maker space in the library. He explained that it wasn’t a question of it happening, just a matter of when it will happen. ▪ Wilson asked what was the people’s project. Wilson ceded to Ibe. Ibe responded that he was trying to get SRA members on for this goal, as there usually is a gap in knowledge for those running in an election. He explained that this will allow to connect with students and campaign managers and have something external on how to execute a proper campaign. ▪ Sabra Salim suggested that for the maker’s space to send promo materials to the SRA for them to post. SRA 17E Page 11 July 16, 2017
▪ Webb asked Ibe about his consultation and research process for his goals. Webb ceded to Ibe. Ibe responded that he has many extensive conversations with the partners outlined in the plan. ▪ Lightstone stated that the Engineering Caucus had a great yearplan, and went over it with the Assembly. ▪ Anas asked Deshpande to expand more about data collection under OUSA and to clarify what it would mean. Anas ceded to Deshpande. Deshpande responded that data collection was about that the province doesn’t collect demo data for students in terms of race, age, and social economic status. He explained that it was about public and accessible information and that it would help with universities being able to structure themselves. Deshpande stated that this was very easy to do as everyone who applies to go to school has a number. ▪ Wilson asked Deshpande what was the plan for data collection, and the plan for the policy. ▪ Deshpande stated that they were going through a review, and that every year they look at six policies. He explained that the Vice-President (Education) will not be an expert on all topics. His hope was to get people who were passionate to come forward and give input to make sure the policy reflects their interests. He added that they will be doing extensive research and will be debated on at policycon. ▪ Patel went over the Social Sciences yearplan with the Assembly. ▪ Wilson stated that why was their approach to accessibility advocacy using the cartographer app. They explained that the app doesn’t get updated and there was no way to remove items. They stated that it was important for people to navigate campus and to have more power at their disposal. They explained that both approaches were necessary for student feedback and experiences on campus. They asked Ibe if there was anything addressing the deferred maintenance and snow removal policies. Wilson ceded to Ibe. Ibe responded that in his yearplan he highlighted that he wanted to make sure good ideas didn’t get left behind. He explained that there were past projects highlighted by the old presidents, and a push from the previous BOD. He explained that this will be one of many steps to be taken, and that he will be making sure that deferred maintenance will get addressed. ▪ Anas asked Ibe to expand on his plan for the off-campus move-in day. Ibe responded that the plan with SOCS and OCRC was to help students in West Village Suites, for August 25 and September 1. He explained that they have received the green light from everyone involved, but just waiting for EOHSS approval. ▪ Sabra Salim went over the Science Caucus yearplan with the Assembly. ▪ Anas stated that they should be looking at students whose parents were working during move-in. He felt that west village was a great idea to start but the base rent is so high, so usually students are prepared to move in themselves. He asked Ibe to look into those who would actually need assistance. Anas ceded his time to Ibe. Ibe disagreed and stated that he lived in west village as an international student, and that he moved himself. He stated that he understood and appreciated the premise of moving on a needs basis. ▪ Lightstone asked the Social Science caucus why they didn’t follow the general template format of their yearplan. He stated that the format was important for information so that they could hold everyone to account. Lightstone ceded to Patel. Patel responded that he wanted to go with something new, and that the template was outdated. He stated that the VP Admin stated that there wasn’t guidance besides the basic template so Patel figured he could take it the way he wanted to. Patel added that if there needed to be an accessible format he could provide that.
Vote on Motion Moved by Ibe, seconded by Patel that the Assembly approve the following YEARplans: ▪ President ▪ Vice-President (Administration) ▪ Vice-President (Finance) ▪ Vice-President (Education) ▪ SRA Arts & Science Caucus ▪ SRA Business Caucus ▪ SRA Engineering Caucus ▪ SRA Health Sciences Caucus ▪ SRA Humanities Caucus ▪ SRA Kinesiology Caucus ▪ SRA Nursing Caucus SRA 17E Page 12 July 16, 2017
▪ SRA Science Caucus ▪ SRA Social Sciences Caucus
Passes Unanimously
2. Clubs Ratification
Moved by Anbalagan, seconded by Lightstone that the Assembly ratify the new and returning clubs as circulated and recommended by the Clubs Administrator for the 2017-2018 academic year.
▪ Anbalagan stated that they have been provided another list from the Clubs Administrator. ▪ Stott asked if there was any update on the information requested from the previous ratification. Stott ceded to Lightstone. Lightstone responded that the clubs were ratified and that they just asked for an inquiry into certain clubs that had less than 10 members vote in their club’s election. ▪ D’Souza stated that they were still waiting to hear back about that.
Vote on Motion
Passes Unanimously
3. Close MSU Seat to Standing Committee
Moved by D’Souza, seconded by Quinn that the Assembly close one (1) MSU Seat on the Finance Committee.
Nominations ▪ Stephan Matrakchine ▪ Nick Ponikvar
Vote on Motion
Passes Unanimously
Moved by Lightstone, seconded by Quinn to set parameters for the election to be a five-minute speech per candidate.
Passes Unanimously
▪ The Speaker read out the nominees’ statements ▪ The Assembly voted by secret ballot
Candidate Vote Matrakchine 9 Ponikvar 14 Spoiled 4 Abstain 3
▪ Nick Ponikvar won the MSU seat on the Finance Committee.
Moved by Anbalagan, seconded by Wilson that the Assembly recess for 10 minutes.
In Favour: 23 Opposed: 4 Abstentions: 1 Opposed: McGill, McNally, Lightstone, Senthillmohan SRA 17E Page 13 July 16, 2017
Abstained: Patel Motion Passes
Recessed at 3:06pm Called to Order at 3:16pm
CALL OF THE ROLL Present: Anas, Anbalagan, Aoki, Arnold, Chestney, Deshpande, Fama, Florean, Ibe, Lee, Lightstone, McGill, McNally, Mustafa, Nwamadi, Ochocinski, Patel, Quinn, Risi, Sabra Salim, Sabrin Salim, Senthillmohan, Sooriyakumaran, Stott, Szeliga, Web, Wilson, Yun, Zhang Absent Excused: Obaidullah, Vlatkovic, Zheng Absent Late: D'Souza Others Present Chair Helen Zeng
4. Close MSU Seat to Neighbourhood Assistance Advisory Council
Moved by Deshpande, seconded by Sabra Salim that the Assembly close one (1) MSU Seat on the Neighbourhood Assistance Advisory Council.
▪ Deshpande stated that he would like to get someone on the committee so that they can start meeting.
Nominees ▪ Michael Dennis ▪ Jordana Satok
Passes Unanimously
Moved by Fama, seconded by Lightstone to set parameters for the election to be a five-minute speech per candidate.
Passes Unanimously
▪ The Speaker read out nominees’ statements ▪ The Assembly voted by secret ballot
Candidate Vote Dennis 17 Satok 12 Spoiled 1 Abstain 1
▪ Michael Dennis won the MSU Seat on the Neighbourhood Assistance Advisory Council
5. Open SRA Seat to Standing Committee
Moved by Patel, seconded by Stott that the Assembly open one (1) SRA Seat on the Internal Governance Committee.
SRA 17E Page 14 July 16, 2017
Passes Unanimously
6. Close SRA Seats to Standing Committees
Moved by Patel, seconded by Sabrin Salim that the Assembly close the following SRA Seats to Standing Committees: ▪ Internal Governance (1) ▪ Provincial & Federal Affairs (2)
Nominations ▪ Sabrin Salim nominated herself for Internal Governance (acclaimed) ▪ Anbalagan nominated Lao for Internal Governance – declined ▪ Lightstone nominated Lee for Internal Governance – declined ▪ Deshpande nominated Max Aoki for Provincial & Federal Affairs - accepted ▪ Deshpande nominated Uwais Patel for Provincial & Federal Affairs - accepted ▪ Deshpande nominated Sabrin Salim for Provincial & Federal Affairs - accepted ▪ Deshpande nominated Alex Wilson for Provincial & Federal Affairs - accepted
Passes Unanimously
▪ Sabrin Salim was acclaimed to the SRA Seat on the Internal Governance Committee
Moved by Deshpande, seconded by Anas to set parameters for the election to be one minute for opening statements, and two minutes for questions pooled.
Friendly Amendment Moved by Lightstone to put a 30-second cap on questions
Vote on Parameters
Passes Unanimously
Nominees ▪ Aoki ▪ Patel ▪ Sabrin Salim ▪ Wilson ▪ The Candidates spoke within the allotted time. ▪ The Assembly voted by secret ballot.
Candidate Vote Aoki 13 Patel 13 Salim 19 Wilson 12 Spoiled 1 Abstain 0
▪ Patel and Aoki tied for the second seat on the Committee. The Speaker gave them an extra 30 seconds to speak. ▪ The Candidates spoke within the allotted time. ▪ The Assembly voted by secret ballot. SRA 17E Page 15 July 16, 2017
Candidate Vote Aoki 15 Patel 15 Spoiled 0 Abstain 1
▪ Patel rescinded his nomination as he felt that this Committee would be a great opportunity for Aoki to be a voting member. ▪ Aoki and Sabrin Salim won the SRA seats on the Provincial and Federal Affairs Committee.
7. Open SRA seat on Teaching Awards Committee
Moved by Patel, seconded by Sabrin Salim that the Assembly open one (1) SRA Seat on the Teaching Awards Committee.
Passes Unanimously
8. Close SRA seat on Teaching Awards Committee
Moved by Patel, seconded by Fama that the Assembly close one (1) SRA Seat on the Teaching Awards Committee.
Nominations ▪ Wilson nominated Chestney – declined ▪ Sabrin Salim nominated Lao - accepted
Passes Unanimously
▪ Chestney won the SRA seat on the Teaching Awards Committee.
9. Endorsement of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 107 's "Keep Transit Public" campaign.
Moved by Deshpande, seconded by Lightstone that the McMaster Students Union endorse the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 107 's "Keep Transit Public" campaign.
▪ Deshpande stated that there were a lot of sides to be considered. He asked the Assembly to think of what mattered most to them and how it would impact MSU members who have the bus pass. Deshpande added that if they choose not to take a stance doesn’t mean that they will be ‘copping out’. ▪ Lightstone stated that this was a complicated issue and felt that they didn’t have enough information to make a valid statement of support or not. He stated that it was an informative presentation, but a lot of questions weren’t answered to his satisfaction. Lightstone stated that he wouldn’t be comfortable of taking a position either for or against this. ▪ Quinn stated that she was a labour journalist, and a labour studies student. She stated that from what she has seen going private becomes a disaster. Quinn stated that privatization increased costs and lessens the service. She felt that it was important to endorse this and have the HSR bid. She explained that there was no guarantee that they would win the contract, but the HSR has been a public entity with Hamilton for a number of years. Quinn stated that if they start supporting the members of the union then they could build positive relationships and create a transit commissioner. She explained that a lot of private companies don’t treat their workers with respect and dignity. ▪ Sabrin Salim stated that it was important to take a stance, and that as the MSU it was important to for them to make a difference with the stance. She explained that she could see both sides of the argument SRA 17E Page 16 July 16, 2017
but that it was important to remember that they need to do the best for their students. Salim asked the Assembly to make sure what they were voting for aligns with their personal values and morals. ▪ Patel stated that they have only seen one side of the argument and that was something to think about when voting to endorse the campaign. ▪ D’Souza stated that how they negotiated the bus passes for students in the past was based on percentages of the monthly bus pass, and that they have been seeing huge increases over the years. He explained that when the HSR was negotiating the costs this year, they argued that they were losing money and that they wanted the students to make up for that. D’Souza added that they have seen a decline of ridership over the past couple of years and felt that this was the driving factor of costs going upwards. ▪ Deshpande stated that the HSR sets their fees, and if they had control over the LRT then they would be setting that amount. He added that Waterloo’s VP has been in a lot of contact about this, and they have had a lot of transition and got to sit down at the table with GrandLinq. Deshpande stated that the VP pointed out that it was important to remember that GrandLinq was a public-owned privately managed non-profit corporation for the light rail, and that meant any losses on LRT would be split from the rest of the transit system, and any profits are reinvested into a maintenance fund or immediate upgrades to the system. Deshpande stated that VP felt that if the Hamilton LRT was similar to the GrandLinq operating model then there would be nothing to worry about. Deshpande stated that if this was similar then it would mean that Hamilton would still own their LRT (they hold majority ownership in the NPO), this will insulate the City and the rest of the transit system from losses in the LRT operations, ensured the City can’t cannibalize the LRT funds to make up for operating shortfalls elsewhere, and there will be better risk management, as maintenance and operating funds are protected through the NPO agreement. Deshpande added that he wouldn’t characterize this as privatization, and that it was a P3 model that firewalls the funds for a public good from general public funds and control. ▪ Sabra Salim stated that she was voting this down, but not to take a negative stance. She explained that she will encourage everyone to stay neutral. She felt that more questions needed to be answered as they don’t have a lot of assurance about how the HSR is working currently. Salim stated that accountability was important and would like to make sure they could hold someone accountable, and with the public sector they can do that. ▪ Anas stated that it seemed as though Hamilton will be going through a lot of growth within the next 10 years. He stated that more and more students will want to stay here and transportation was important. He added that they need to take into account those students who will be staying in Hamilton and how transit will impact their decision to do so. Anas stated that the HSR service to students hasn’t gotten better, and they were even confiscating bus passes last year. He felt that the HSR would be able to own LRT and provide adequate service to students. ▪ Sabrin Salim asked in terms of Grand Links in Waterloo, how would they be sure that private companies would follow the same model. Salim ceded to Deshpande. Deshpande responded that the way that it would work is that Metrolinx put out a call for bidder who would like to run the LRT, and the company that states in their contract that they will prioritize items at the lowest costs will be how the operator will be chosen. Deshpande stated that this company would then be bound to their contract and would have to incur any losses. ▪ Quinn asked if those union members from Waterloo were getting the same pension and pay. She explained that it wasn’t a good thing to bust unions, and that it would be in their best interest to stand in solidarity. She explained that the only accountability that anyone gets would be when it was election time. She stated that they should go to the table and so that it would show the need for the MSU to step up when it came to transit advocacy. ▪ Lightstone stated that what they were talking about was if the HSR would be given a crack at trying to get the operations. He explained that based on what was presented it may be cheaper for the consortium to have the operations contract. Lightstone added that there wasn’t an equivilant system in Ontario and based on their presentation of what they were bringing to the table, wasn’t much. Lightstone felt that this wouldn’t have an impact on students, and didn’t think that there was a reason to the MSU to take a stance. SRA 17E Page 17 July 16, 2017
▪ Ibe stated that he invited the union to come in an speak to the Assembly, as this campaign may be great for the ATU and HSR, but it would also be great for students. Ibe stated that this was time sensitive for the ATU, but not the MSU. He explained that the Ed team can come up with robust recommendations. Ibe added that the ATU was interested in creating a committee, as well as advocate for a transit commissioner and that can’t happen without endorsement. Ibe concluded that he will do everything in his power to build a relationship, regardless of the outcome of the motion.
Vote on Motion Moved by Deshpande, seconded by Lightstone that the McMaster Students Union endorse the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 107 's "Keep Transit Public" campaign.
In Favour: 8 Opposed: 10 Abstentions: 13 Opposed: Lightstone, Zhang, Szeliga, Sabrin Salim, Sabra Salim, Yun, Fama, McGill, Chestney, Arnold Abstained: D’Souza, Aoki, Stott, Mustafa, Nwamadi, Lao, Lee, Risi, McNally, Ohochinski, Florean, Patel, Anas Motion Fails
10. Open SRA seat on MUSC Board of Management
Moved by Lightstone, seconded by Aoki that the Assembly one (1) SRA seat on the MUSC Board of Management.
▪ Lightstone stated that the meetings are Wednesdays at 1:30pm every two months. He encouraged anyone who was interested in the seat to speak with Ibe.
Vote on Motion
Passes Unanimously
TIME OF NEXT MEETING
Sunday, September 10, 2017 5:00pm Council Chambers, GH 111
CALL OF THE ROLL Present: Anas, Anbalagan, Aoki, Arnold, Chestney, Deshpande, D'Souza, Fama, Florean, Ibe, Lao, Lee, Lightstone, McGill, McNally, Mustafa, Nwamadi, Ochocinski, Patel, Quinn, Risi, Sabra Salim, Sabrin Salim, Senthillmohan, Sooriyakumaran, Stott, Szeliga, Web, Wilson, Yun, Zhang Absent Excused: Obaidullah, Vlatkovic, Zheng Absent Late Others Present Chair Helen Zeng
ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Webb, seconded by Wilson that the meeting be adjourned.
Motion Passes by General Consent
Adjourned at 4:52 pm
/vs REPORT From the office of the… SRA Arts and Science Caucus
.
TO: Members of the Student Representative Assembly FROM: Sunny Yun, Arts and Science Caucus Leader SUBJECT: SRA 16F Report DATE: Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Dear members of the SRA,
PROGRESS ON YEAR PLAN The Arts and Science caucus has completed their year plan, which should be available to you for reading at your leisure. The major theme for this year is to expand opportunities for Arts and Science students, with 5 major goals: 1. Monthly Videos for Arts and Science Constituents 2. Inter-Year Arts and Science Socials 3. Introduce Networking and Job Opportunities for Arts and Science Students 4. Advocate for Mental Health Supports/Host a Mental Health Initiative 5. Increase Online Presence for SRA Arts and Science
UPCOMING EVENTS, PROJECTS & ACTIVITIES This summer the Arts and Science caucus will begin brainstorming the details of its year plan, including which community and university partners that it will set up meetings with to discuss the most appropriate ways of achieving its goals, if there are any caucuses that have similar aims and would be open to collaboration, and what content there will be in the monthly videos for Arts and Science constituents.
The ArtSci caucus is excited for the year ahead, for working with all of you, and is ready to get this show on the road and make some change at McMaster.
OTHER It is our very own engineering caucus leader Max Lightstone’s birthday on Saturday, July 15 (the day before our meeting this Sunday). Happy birthday to Max!
ArtSci ’til I die,
Sunny Yun SRA Arts and Science McMaster Students Union [email protected]
REPORT
From the office of the… . SRA Bylaws & Procedures Commissioner TO: Members of the Student Representative Assembly FROM: Finlay McNally, Commerce Caucus Leader SUBJECT: SRA 17E Report DATE: July 16th, 207
Dear esteemed Members of the Assembly,
We are progressing on our goals for the year. We have already reached out to the DeGroote Commerce Society and the Faculty of Commerce with regards to our proposed Student-Professor night. We are also looking into touching base with potential sponsors and professors regarding attendance at the event. We have gotten in touch with the Mac Tonight media team regarding our plan to make videos. We are talking to CIBC to arrange guest speakers at Commerce club events. We have also started to liaison with Commerce clubs who would be interested in having guest speakers. Finally, we have started to draw up plans for our other objectives, and we are looking forward to using these next two months of summer to work on them.
All the best,
Finlay McNally Commerce Caucus Leader McMaster Students Union [email protected]
REPORT From the office of the…
. Engineering Caucus Leader
TO: The Student Representative Assembly FROM: Maxwell Lightstone, Engineering Caucus Leader SUBJECT: 17E Report DATE: July 16, 2017
Dear Members of the Assembly, We have jumped headfirst into our goals for the year, specifically regarding our plans with Engineering Career and Co-op Services. Meetings have been held to investigate the path towards an agreement for the health plan, and a relationship has been formed with members of the service. The caucus is planning a movie night for late July to early August, which will be open to all McMaster students. We will be providing more information in the coming weeks, and encourage you to attend. Caucus dynamics are running smoothly, and we look forward to the year ahead.
Sincerely,
Maxwell Lightstone Engineering Caucus Leader McMaster Students Union [email protected] REPORT From the office of the… Health Sciences Caucus
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TO: Members of the Student Representative Assembly FROM: David Lee, Health Sciences Caucus Leader SUBJECT: SRA 17E Report DATE: July 11, 2017
PROGRESS ON YEAR PLAN
The Health Sciences caucus is extremely excited for the year ahead. Currently we are still in the preliminary stages of planning on how to get more BHSc students involved within the MSU. We have continually updated Learnlink and SRA Twitter and Facebook pages with opportunities to be involved within the MSU throughout the summer. Currently, we are discussing the feasibility of establishing an SRA Council within the Health Sciences program in order to further develop relationships with the MSU.
Likewise, we are also in initial talks with the Nursing Caucus in establishing an awareness event for MSU services specific for students under the Faculty of Health Sciences. The event was ran last year during MacTalks and was a huge success. We would like to have a clearer idea about this in the future in hopes of having other stakeholders involved. We have consulted with SRA Eng about our interfaculty event for the new Engineering-Health Sciences cohort.
I have also contacted the BHSc regarding BDC access to Learnlink and hope to touch base with the upcoming BDC President about setting an initial meeting in September.
In terms of our long-term goals, I am happy to report that we are making progress and have scheduled a meeting with the HSL Director for August regarding next steps on this long term platform point.
PAST EVENTS, PROJECTS & ACTIVITIES
Once elected, Francis and I sought to promote governance within our student union by hosting a Meet the VP Session in the Health Sciences Lounge. I am happy to announce that the event was successful in engaging with numerous students as they sent their questions in via Facebook or discussed certain issues with VP Candidates. We hope to continue similar events to this in the near future with the upcoming referendums and elections as this was a huge success based on the feedback we received.
Likewise, I was able to successfully push for an emphasis on MSU Services on our First Year Handbook for Health Sciences students. I wrote a section promoting our peer- support services and we wish to continue to promote first-year specific roles for these services in the next month through social media and Learnlink with the help of the AVP Services.
UPCOMING EVENTS, PROJECTS & ACTIVITIES
We hope to launch the HSL Survey in the near future and also host another session in the lounge.
CURRENT CHALLENGES
Our current challenge would be finding the most efficient way to engage Health Sciences students to the MSU in interesting and innovative ways.
We have also some trouble with reaching stakeholders for HSL hours due to the nature of the library being housed under Hamilton Health Science. We hope to iron out the details about the best way we can approach this situation in our upcoming with the HSL Director in August.
SUCCESSES
We found that our Meet the VP events to particularly successful due to the abundance of free food and coffee. We also offered to deliver the cookies and coffees to those in HSC and MDCL if they submitted a question on our FB page. Overall, the outreach and feedback on this event was extremely positive.
Regards,
David Lee SRA Health Sciences Caucus Leader McMaster Students Union [email protected]
REPORT From the office of the…
! . SRA Humanities Caucus Leader TO: Members of the Student Representative Assembly FROM: Landon Fama, SRA Humanities Caucus Leader SUBJECT: SRA 17E Report DATE: July 11th, 2017
Dear Members of the Assembly,
As a Caucus, we are extremely excited to continue working with SRA 17, and look forward to a productive academic term. Fiona, Jason and myself are eagerly awaiting the chance to collaborate on the wonderful ideas put forth this coming Sunday.
PROGRESS ON YEAR PLAN
We have just completed the consultation and writing process for our year plan, producing what we believes to be an achievable set of objectives which represent the wishes of our constituents.
We are in the early stages of preparing a proposal to MSU Campus Events and the Programming Advisory Committee regarding the integration of a visual art gallery to the yearly ‘Light Up the Night’ event program. Additionally, we are currently working to ensure that the Caucus is prepared to launch bi-weekly video updates after each SRA meeting, beginning in the new academic term.
PAST EVENTS, PROJECTS & ACTIVITIES
Though this marks our first report as a Caucus, we are pleased to acknowledge the decision of University Senate regarding program specifications on graduating student’s degrees. This was achieved by a wonderful team of passionate individuals, including which were members of the SRA Humanities 16/17 Caucus.
All the best,
Landon Fama SRA Humanities 17/18, Caucus Leader McMaster Students Union [email protected]
REPORT
From the office of the… . SRA Nursing TO: Members of the Student Representative Assembly FROM: Sharon Nwamadi, SRA Nursing SUBJECT: SRA 17E Report DATE: Tuesday, July 11th, 2017
PROGRESS ON YEAR PLAN
- I have begun building a relationship with the MUNSS president. - I have been available throughout the summer to discuss student concerns regarding the nursing program, and changes they would like to see. - I created a feedback form regarding Thode Makerspace where students contributed their ideas, most of which were approved for this space.
UPCOMING EVENTS, PROJECTS & ACTIVITIES - Collaborating the the Nursing Welcome Week Planners to provide SRA related programming during welcome week. - Creating a feedback form concerning general inquiries and ideas for the year. - Creating a plan of action regarding how to improve student engagement for the following year.
CURRENT CHALLENGES - Communication with faculty and nursing facilities is a big challenge as the School of Nursing’s hours are shortened during the summer.
Best,
Sharon Nwamadi SRA Nursing McMaster Students Union [email protected]
REPORT From the office of the… SRA Science Caucus
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TO: Members of the Student Representative Assembly FROM: Sabra Salim, Caucus Leader SUBJECT: SRA 17E Report DATE: July 11, 2017
Dear Assembly Members,
On behalf of the SRA Science Caucus, I would like to take the time to thank you for reading our very first report! We are very much looking forward to the year ahead and have made some progress into our year plan. We have been able to come together and establish early progress on our platforms. Although the academic term hasn’t begun, we also have some successes that we have been able to accomplish. As of now, many of us have started setting groundwork and conversations for tackling platforms for the coming year.
PAST AND CURRENT PROGRESS ON YEAR PLAN
Theme 1: Course Registration and Management I have already reached out to the AVP UA, David Lee in some initial conversations for the Assessment Ban campaign. Groundwork metrics will be established in the near future.
Theme 2: Constituent Outreach Facebook like counts have increased recently by inviting individuals to the like page. We have also been assigned to particular social media outlets to continuously update during the year. We are also waiting to hear back from Preethi about our presence at faculty day/night. We will be meeting with the MSS shortly as well so as to discuss our works with General Assembly and to set the precedence for SRA involvement with the faculty.
Theme 4: Accessibility Currently, Alex seeking membership on PACBIC as well as three other working groups: LGBT2SIA+, MEDS (Madness/Distress, Eugenics, Discrimination and Saneism), and ADA (Accessibility, Disability and Ableism). Additionally, initial conversations have been had with Ryan (VP Education) on this platform for a potential campaign.
Theme 5: Career Networking Night I have reached out to Sabrina Campbell and Connor Maclean to begin discussions for Quantum Leap conference and involving program societies.
Theme 9: Providing Resources to Clubs Some clubs have also been reached out to (i.e. MSA) to discuss Welcome Week programming and involvement with the MSU. Aqeel has also passed clubs integration at an EB meeting with assistance from Chukky. Very early conversations for striking an Interfaith council have also occurred with Engineering Caucus Leader Maxwell Lightstone and President Chukky.
CURRENT CHALLENGES
Some of our current challenges primarily involve planning logistics for meetings. Summer can be difficult in finding the right time to meet with one another. We are hoping this will no longer be an issue closer to the Fall Term when most of us are residing in the Hamilton area for accessibility.
UPCOMING EVENTS, PROJECTS & ACTIVITIES
Much of our upcoming work is primarily based on setting up meetings with necessary stakeholders. These meetings will set the precedence and lay the logistics for continuing with our platforms.
Upcoming Meetings: MSS President (Connor Maclean), Thode Makerspace Coordinator (Mohammad Haque)
SUCCESSES As of now, we have been able to increase our Facebook like count drastically within the course of a month. We hope to continue with these trend and reach our end of year goal of 2500 likes.
Recently, SRA Science and Kinesiology took the initiative to deal with an academic case. Students in a first year Biology course petitioned to the Associate Dean to have their grades examined. Some issues arose and the students were dealing with an academic dishonesty case. However, after discussing with the Associate Dean, we were able to mitigate the situation and halt the addition of academic dishonesty on 101 students’ transcripts. Latently, this case also assisted with our outreach as many other students became aware of our group and our efforts on campus.
Currently, this reports amalgamates our current and future plans with fulfilling our year plan. If you have any questions, concerns or ideas for collaboration, please feel free to contact myself at the e-mail below.
Cheers,
Sabra Salim SRA Science Caucus Leader McMaster Students Union [email protected]
REPORT From the office of…
! . SRA Social Sciences TO: Members of the Student Representative Assembly FROM: Uwais Patel, Caucus Leader SUBJECT: SRA 17E Report DATE: July 11, 2017
PROGRESS ON YEAR PLAN The Social Science Caucus has been making great strides on our year plan. Since May, we’ve been in contact with multiple collaborators and faculty staff to ensure we are prepared for the year. All the tasks for June have been accomplished and we’re on schedule for the rest of the year.
PAST EVENTS, PROJECTS & ACTIVITIES • Reached out to various campus partners • Received $75 from the Campus Store, an iClicker, and a printer for our Welcome Week Strategy
UPCOMING EVENTS, PROJECTS & ACTIVITIES • Finalizing our different plans and initiatives for the year • All else, see year plan
CURRENT CHALLENGES With an open seat on the caucus, we’re one person short. As a result, we’ve had to restructure our plans to compensate for the temporary loss.
SUCCESSES Our social media presence has been very active over the summer. Many students, including the former VP Administration, have complemented our work.
OTHER If any members of the assembly have not liked our Facebook page, please do so forthwith. We would definitely appreciate it and reciprocate the action. fb.com/ SRASocialScience
Best,
Uwais Patel Caucus Leader, SRA Social Sciences McMaster Students Union [email protected] REPORT From the ………..…
. Executive Board
TO: Members of the Student Representative Assembly FROM: Chukky Ibe, McMaster Student Union President SUBJECT: Executive Board Report DATE: June 18
To the most honorable Assembly,
This report will inform you on the Executive Board meetings of June 5th to July 6th. 2017.
EB 17-01 - June 7, 2017
The MSU Services continue to work hard to fulfill their mandates and offer students extensive and useful resources. As this was our first meeting of the semester, there is not much information to present regarding the status of our services. We do have to raise certain decisions made by the executive board to the assembly.
The Vice Presidents Education, Administration and Myself have been in extensive conversation about the function of SCSN- The Student Community Support Network. The Executive Board participated in conversations regarding off campus students. We talked about our experiences as students who lived off campus, and how we can make SCSN more relevant to off campus and commuter students. We are confident based on the conversations at executive board that the direction we are taking the service is truly reflective of the needs of the student body. These are not the ends of such conversations as we will continue to have them at the neighborhood advisory committee.
The changes to the SCSN operating policy include a mandate to work with other groups on campus, including the SRA Municipal Affairs Committee, the Off-Campus Resource Centre, the Society of Off Campus Students, and the Commuter in Residence Experience program. It also includes a new objective to assist in the development and maintenance of a Landlord Wiki/ Rating System, as outlined the agendas of the President and the VP Educations Platform. We believe SCSN is a good place to house this initiative, similarly to how the Course Wiki is administered by Macademics. Administrative changes were also made to the OP to align it with more recent operating policies. Please review updated SCSN operating policy and contact Victoria Scott for tracked changes. This was unanimously passed by the executive board.
The new operating parameters read as follows:
2.6 SCSN shall work collaboratively with McMaster’s Off Campus Resource Centre to facilitate and disseminate services to off-campus students; 2.7 SCSN shall work collaboratively with the Society of Off Campus Students and the Commuter in Residence Experience (CoRE) program to coordinate events and programming to engage off-campus students; 2.8 SCSN shall assist in the creation and maintenance of a landlord rating system. Last year the internal team structure of Underground was reorganized to increase its efficiency as well as its number of designers. With this change, a modern design position was created. This capital request is to purchase a design computer for the new SOP Junior Graphic Designer. For more details, please feel free to ask questions you deem necessary.
At EB 17-02 - June 22, 2017, we heard from CLAY, Diversity services, Horizons, Mac Bread Bin, Farm Stand, and Shinerama. Things move on as normal with these services and they are all preparing for the school year. Farm Stand is operating through the entrance by star bucks and raised concerns that they have limited visibility as compared to previous years. The most dignified VP administration has followed up on this file. The reality of the situation is that inside the student center proves to be better than outside. There are fears that the summer temperatures will damage the goods.
PSL, has revised its structure, their new structure would allow for more flexibility with their staff. The only on-call staff they had last year were then PSL coordinator and PSL assistant coordinator. This essentially meant that whenever a listener was unable to come to their assigned shift, the PSL coordinator and assistant coordinator had to come in. More often than not, this also meant that the coordinator and assistant coordinator could not let go of their phone or leave campus until the shifts have been filled. To address this concern, each member of PSL executive team will be on call for one of the five days of the week (i.e. Monday – Friday), in addition to the coordinator and assistant coordinator being on call during the weekends.
The leadership of MACycle has really stepped up this year and is working closely with the VP Administration and finance to create a robust executive structure and internal financial controls. A volunteer coordinator, shop coordinator, events coordinator, and promotions coordinator have been hired. The entire EB congratulates the MACycle PTM for his work ethic and his diligence. The impeccable VP Education had the wages of the final members of the ED team approved and he is looking forward to paying his people.
EB 17-03 - July 6, 2017 was an ecstatic affair. Macademics, MACyle, PSL QSCC, and SHEC all reported. SHEC is extremely proud of their new executives and how they are responding to the new executive structure. Maccess is in the middle of hiring whereas Macademics has completed the hiring process. QSCC coordinator proposed changes to the structure of the service after extensive coordination with the VP Administration and the Services administrative assistant, they have a slightly re-gigged structure. One part of this changed structure is to empower all members of their executive to be able to provide peer support. The honorable VP finance updated the EB on the progress regarding the 1280 café.
View https://www.msumcmaster.ca/governance/executive-board/executive-board-documents For a full breakdown of the happenings at those meetings.
Your Friend, Chukky Ibe President and CEO McMaster Students Union president@msu,mcmaster.ca REPORT From the office of the… AVP Finance & Chair of the SAB
. Space Allocation Committee TO: Members of the Student Representative Assembly FROM: Scott Robinson, AVP Finance SUBJECT: SRA 17E Report DATE: July 10th, 2017
Members of the assembly, As the chair of the SAB Space Allocation Committee, I am excited to share with you’re the progress that the committee has made since our last report.
Online Survey On Monday, July 17th, our online survey will be published on the MSU website. This survey will allow all MSU member so submit their ideas and suggestions for the SAB. We will aggregate these submissions into numerical data, and the results of this survey will drive forward our research and consultations throughout the summer. Additionally, we plan to release a second survey in mid august which will add on to the results of the first survey. This will involve a ranking process, so that we can have an insight into the priorities of the student body. It will also encompass an additionally submission box, to provide details on their specific ideas for each room or project.
Promotional Video(s) The process has begun with Sarah Mae Conrad, the MSU Communications Officer, to create a promotional video which will link to our online survey. Our ideas for this video will allow it to be engaging to students online, and will draw their attention and interest towards the MSU website and the SAB survey that we have released. We hope to produce 2 videos over the course of the summer, one for each online survey.
Consultations To ensure that our final proposal is as in depth as possible, I am taking time off work at my other commitments between July 19th and August 1st to conduct in person consultations with campus stakeholders and experts. Lists have begun to be created for each room or project, with the individuals that I plan to meet with. These meetings will be at the forefront of our proposal, as the information provided in these meetings will directly influence the space allocation of the SAB.
Focus Groups In late August and early September, we plan to host multiple student focus groups, to hear student feedback on our proposal and the consultations and research we have done. These focus groups will be promoted online, and incentives will be offered to entice students to attend.
Events We are planning to host a table at both the Sidewalk Sale and Clubfest during September. This will allow us to talk one on one with students, garner excitement for the SAB and receive any input on our proposal which will be nearly complete at this point. Incentives and prizes will be offered on site to garner attention and excitement.
Written Proposal We are excited to submit our final proposal to your September SRA meeting, and have a lengthy discussion on your thoughts and opinions about the space allocation of this
Yours in space allocation, Scott Robinson AVP Finance & Chair of the SAB Space Allocation Committee McMaster Students Union [email protected]
REPORT From the office of the…
. Vice-President (Administration) & CAO TO: Members of the Student Representative Assembly FROM: Preethi Anbalagan, Vice-President (Administration) SUBJECT: SRA 17E Report DATE: July 10, 2017
Dear Members of the Assembly,
It’s your second meeting of the year! At this point, I really hope you have a solid (if not, better) understanding of what your position is in the grander scheme of things and to our organization at large. One of the highlights of my summer months has been organizing and delivering training weekends; however, your preparedness for your role shouldn’t ever be contingent on attending one weekend. In the latter half of the summer, I will provide drop-in training sessions for those who missed training and those who would like refreshers. Additionally, working on platforms and keeping up with your commitments can sometimes be challenging and in these instances I would hope you feel comfortable enough to reach out to me for support. I ran for this position because I see immense potential in our abilities to collectively push for impactful changes on campus and it starts with you. If you require any support/advice/an emergency burrito, I am a phone-call away and my door is always open. Over the course of the summer, I’ve had the opportunity to work on some of my platform points and provided detailed summaries of each below. If you have any questions, ask away!
PROGRESS ON YEAR PLAN
In the forthcoming reports, I will be structuring my updates in table format for the following components: training, supporting the SRA, supporting PTMs, supporting AVPs, hiring practices, human resources, welcome week.
Training SRA Onboarding An onboarding package was created and provided Package to all SRA members who attended training in June, Completed for those who couldn’t attend; they will be in the resource library (in front of my office) for pick-up! Summer MSU The MSU Retreat was successful! I originally had Orientation plans for it to be conference-style; however, with Completed Vision 17, it was redundant to provide two conferences. One of the key purposes of the retreat is to allow distinct groups of our organization to interact with one another and engage them in team-building activities. Ath & Rec facilitated this exceptionally well based on the feedback that I collected. Summer 1. PTM Training: May 4 & May 20/21 was a one-day Specialized training session and training weekend, Training respectively. At this point, I delivered training to Completed most PTMs on topics that would best prepare them for their roles. 2. SRA Training: June 17/18 was a training weekend. At this point, the Vision 17 conference on the 17th positioned you all to meet campus partners and peers, and understand your role in the greater context of the MSU. The 18th was your full-day training on matters related to you. I intend to provide drop-in training sessions mid-August for refreshers for both PTMs and SRA members who were absent at training. Safe(r) Campus As I make consultations with campus and off- Training campus partners for welcome week’s strategic On-going themes programming, training is a topic that often comes up. I had a preliminary meeting with Meaghan (EIO) and Crickett (SACHA) to develop a 3-week formalized training program. Training & If you see Merima Menzildzic, give her a warm Resources welcome as she’s our newly hired TRRA and will be Research Assistant working closely with me this year in grounding our On-going peer support training modules as well as other projects I outlined in my platform that continue the efforts of those who came before her: knowledge translation, summarizing the option exploration process and creating a system of contact between community partners and peer support PTMs. SRA In-Transition By-elections don’t occur until first term, so I intend Training to work on this platform closer to this time. Not in progress
Supporting SRA Clustering With Kamini’s assistance as AVP Internal Platforms Governance, she crafted a beautiful document that On-going highlights everyone’s platforms. This preliminary document will help me map out key platforms to cluster prior to the school year and create platform project groups. Resource Library There will be a shelf outside my office that will On-going have key training binders and compiled documents from previous years within caucuses that you will be able to utilize by the beginning of September. Opportunities to If you are interested in helping organize a Student Lead Leadership Conference or the Leadership Summit On-going for Women – please e-mail me your name so that I can forward it to the relevant partners. Caucus Leader You all have been in the process of crafting year- Support plans and myself and Kamini have offered our On-going support throughout. In the following days, Kamini will be connecting with you all in preliminary advice she may have for you in approaching your platforms. Caucus leader training will be held the morning of your first September meeting. Skill-building I intend to work on this platform during first term Workshops when some of our clubs are back (i.e. Improv Not in progress Team) who can help with facilitation. Work-life Balance Myself and Pauline will likely have a meeting to Not in progress develop a strategy of utilizing office 365 or other communication applications that we could pilot to lessen the overlapping of social life and work life.
Supporting PTMs One-on-ones This will stay platform will remain on-going On-going throughout my term because one-on-ones typically aren’t a checkbox. Since May, I’ve made efforts to connect with almost all part-time managers on a personal and professional level and will continue to do so (i.e. via lunches, grabbing coffees, visiting their offices/shops, etc.) Collab-space Renovations and furnishing will begin post- On-going Horizons as the coordinator typically uses the committee room for storage and conference preparation. Staff Meetings 1. Roundtable Staff Meetings: My staff isn’t entirely Not in progress hired, the DRO and SCSN positions are vacant. 2. Debrief Meetings: Merima and Kristina (AVP Services) will be working together in facilitating the first debrief meeting come September for all peer support managers. Merima will connect with some content experts to attend and Kristina will take leadership in facilitating the meeting. Professional Throughout the year, I intend to coordinate these Development professional development opportunities for the On-going part-time staff; however, many are still in the swing of year planning, training exec, transitioning, etc. This will likely be implemented first term. However, I’ve begun relaying any Feedback Feedback forms will be circulated once at the end Mechanism of my summer cycle, mid-way through fall term Not in progress and beginning of the winter term.
Supporting AVPs Transitioning This structure was extremely new and one of the Complete challenges has been identifying how to effectively utilize these roles to support me. As vice- presidents, we delivered an initial introductory training on June 16. Kristina’s role has now been formally introduced as a logistical support for part- time managers and the programming/events they host. Kamini’s role is better equipped to be a support for you all and your caucus leaders specifically for platform-related help and check- ins. Full-time Staff Kristina & I will be regularly meeting with Victoria Connections Scott. Kamini will be working closely with our new Complete Operations Coordinator upon their start date.
Hiring Practices Weekend & This was a fairly simple platform – I communicated Evening Hiring to Executive Board members of when I’d ideally be Complete hiring for the vacant positions over the summer. When hiring periods during the school year begin, they are aware that hiring may potentially be during evening hours or on the weekend. Creative It’s been communicated to part-time managers Recruitment that all interview questions must be approved by Strategies either the VP Admin or AVP Services (in the On-going absence of our Operations Coordinator). We’ve let part-time managers explore the option of asking for assignments, hosting group interviews, etc. I intend to continue working with Kristina in identifying other creative strategies that our part- time managers could consider for hiring.
Human Resources Navigating Key HR I’ve filed two incident reports since my term has Issues begun and will continue populating my files On-going throughout the term. Employment Will begin once the Operations Coordinator steps Equity Statement into their role and has settled in. Not in progress Workplace Will begin once the Operations Coordinator steps Accommodation into their role and has settled in. Policy Not in progress
Welcome Week Bystander Will be facilitated by Crickett & Meaghan in the Intervention latter half of August for campus event On-going representatives, maroons and 1280 security guards. The opportunity will also be extended to other student groups who would like their primary event organizers to receive training. Off-campus Unfortunately, the version of off-campus student Students support that I presented is no longer an interest of On-going the relevant partners I intended to work with. Alternatively, I will be aiming to host a couple events throughout the next couple months (i.e. movie-screening in the hollow) for off-campus students, summer school students, work-study students in collaboration with campus events and maroons (potentially, SOCs). While this isn’t directly welcome-week oriented, it does speak to the support of off-campus students who are looking to engage with other students. Governance & 1. Governance: have ordered shirts for welcome Service Visibility week, booked space for tabling and will extend On-going invites to all SRA members to engage with students during the alternate faculty night event. 2. Service: booked space for tabling, most of our peer support managers will be assisting with the wellness fair and the rest will have an opportunity to table during the week.
GENERAL UPDATES
Over the summer, we have hired both my associate vice-presidents whom you’ve all had quite a bit of interactions with. Three other individuals who have been hired are Aditya Harchand (QSCC Coordinator), Merima Menzildzic (TRRA), and Chloe Deraiche (Chief Returning Officer). If you see any of these folks, please give them a warm welcome as they join our team.
Best,
Preethi Anbalagan Vice-President (Administration) & CAO McMaster Students Union [email protected]
REPORT From the office of the… . Vice President (Education)
TO: Student Representative Assembly FROM: Ryan Deshpande, Vice-President (Education) SUBJECT: Report #1 DATE: July 12, 2017
Dear SRA,
The first two months in office has flown by so quickly. Orienting myself to this job hasn’t been easy, but I finally feel confident in my knowledge and skills in order to do an effective job at representing all of you this year. Thank you for your continuous questions and passion for making change on this campus: it motivates me to do better every day, and always try and be the advocate students need. I’m very excited to tell you about what I’ve been working on and setting up. The past two months haven’t seen direct action, but every day I am setting up this year for success. With reading, planning, researching, and beginning to chip away at my platform: below is a summary of what I’ve done for the past 2 months. If you have any questions, you know how to contact me.
Best,
Ryan Deshpande Vice President (Education) [email protected]
Hiring & Transition
As all of you know, I created the job descriptions and made sure wages were assigned to new Ed Team jobs. The positions are: • Advocacy Project Assistant • Advocacy & Policy Research Assistant
For the past two weeks we were collecting applications – and got quite a lot! With 50 applications across the two positions, I’m lucky to have so many passionate students interested in advocacy. Thank you for all you did in promoting the jobs. Ideally, the full team will start on Monday, July 17.
In addition, I have begun having meetings with my AVPs, helping prepare them for the year and supporting their transition.
Education Department’s Online Presence & Marketing
In anticipation of hiring, I worked with the AVPs to revamp the Ed team’s online presence. We have created the “MSU Advocacy” Facebook page, replacing the old standing committee pages and the Advocacy Street Team page. This page was incredibly useful in promoting applications. In addition, you will notice a revamped Advocacy Tab on the MSU website. This includes info about each AVP portfolio, as well as the newly restructured policy bank. In addition, we are working on Maroon Papers for last year’s policies.
I also created physical promotional materials that highlights the advocacy we do. Please come by my office and check it out, I’m quite proud of them.
Change Camp
One of our many initiatives with the Office of Community Engagement, Stephanie (AVP Municipal Affairs) and I have been attending Change Camp planning meetings. Change Camp is an initiative dedicated to engaging students and community members in community development in Hamilton. This year, CC will take place in September, as opposed to Term 2 as it’s traditionally been. It also has a focus on the Neighbourhood Action Strategy. The new resources in Municipal Affairs are well equipped to plan and assist with CC. Once the project assistant is hired, they will be able to help with logistics as well. If you want to take part in Change Camp, contact Stephanie!
Community Engagement Toolkit
The Office of Community Engagement is working on a toolkit for those who want to take part in community engagement. We are hoping to develop one specifically for MSU clubs, who often go into Hamilton but are not well equipped to do so. This often reflects badly on the University and students, so we are trying to mitigate that through this initiative to better prepare students who want to engage with their community.
Bay Area Economic Summit
The Board & I attended this conference on June 27 to see how we can better meet the needs of students through economic engagement, as well as assert McMaster students as stakeholders in Hamilton. I was one of two people who asked a question to Kathleen Wynne publicly, and specifically about Work Integrated Learning. She mentioned the need for skills development amongst students, and how the government is committed to improving that gap. Check out this picture we got with her afterwards!
Economic Engagement Strategy
Since May, Tuba and I have been meeting with the SSC, Alumni, Office of Community Engagement, and the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce to develop an Economic Engagement strategy for McMaster students. Its goal is:
Develop an economic focused network that encompasses McMaster, the MSU, and City Partners with the goal of better connecting students to various industries in the City of Hamilton.
This will take many forms, and Tuba and I are working hard at making it a reality. We will report on it in the future once its set up!
Off Campus Student Support
As you all know, I created a new committee called the Neighbourhood Assistance Advisory Council with the purpose of bringing together service providers for off-campus students. This committee has yet to meet, as we are waiting for the SCSN Coordinator to be hired.
Meeting with our Local Representatives
I have been scheduling lunches alongside Urszula (AVP Provincial & Federal Affairs) with our provincial and federal representatives, Ted McMeekin and Filomena Tassi. I have met with Ted once, and some cool partnerships have sprung out of it – as you can see in my year plan. With a provincial election around the corner, I hope to use the political momentum for the good of our membership. A good relationship with our federal representative is important because we do not have easy access to the federal government (not being part of a formal organization).
Federal Advocacy
I have been liaising with the ADVOCAN schools, having been in 3 conference calls already. Though we were not a part of it last year, this year they have welcomed the MSU as a member and granted me a vote for the chair, who is Antonio Brieva, Waterloo Feds President. The members of ADVOCAN are: • University of British Columbia Alma Mater Society • University of Saskatchewan Students' Union • University Students' Council at Western University • Queen's Alma Mater Society • University of Toronto Students' Union • University of Waterloo Federation of Students • University of Manitoba Students Union
I am trying my best to get our priorities on the table for ADVOCAN, particularly with regards to Indigenous students.
In addition, I have been in contact with the CASA Executive Director and Chair, and will be assessing CASA in the future.
Education Department Training
If you are a member on UA, MA, PFA – I’ll be contacting you soon to take part in a detailed training to prepare you for your role this year! I’m hoping to get a presentation from the Mayor’s office or have our MPP come and give a talk. I want to properly prepare you for policy writing, lobbying, running campaigns, and achieving your platforms. So, if you’re not on one of the committees, join now! Nonvoting members are invited to training, just contact the AVP.
Work Integrated Learning
I will be working with Student Affairs to develop a proposal to the provincial government regarding the Career Kick Start funding. We are hoping to prioritize career services for marginalized groups including students with disabilities, people of colour, indigenous students, and first generation students.
Indigenous Affairs I have met with Dr. Vanessa Watts, Director of Indigenous Studies Program to discuss putting the flags on campus and it looks like that is going to happen! I’m really excited to see this come to fruition. Vanessa will be taking the lead on liaising with Facility Services on this matter.
This is an overarching summary of what I’ve done. Outside of this report, I’m continuously meeting with stakeholders, my AVPs, and reading and researching so that I can effectively represent you. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to let me know. MEMO From the office of the…
. Vice-President (Finance) & CFO
TO: Student Representative Assembly FROM: Vice President (Finance) SUBJECT: 2017-2018 & 2018-2019 MSU Fees DATE: July 11, 2017
Dear Student Representative Assembly,
These past two months have been a whirlwind and I’m excited to update you on everything that I’ve been up too! Naturally the 1280 proposal has taken quite a bit of time but I’ve still managed to chip away at most of my platform + a number of extra projects that have popped up.
1280 Café
The most ambitious point on my platform is well underway after receiving a $99 000 allocation from the SRA last meeting! To give you a sense of the steps this took and where we currently are the first month was spent creating a vision document, doing heavy consultation with the 1280 team aswell as a variety of full time staff. We reaching out and contracted facilities, took measurements of 1280 and assessed various options, established a summer cost, and received some unofficial quotes on flooring and other aspects to create a draft budget.
The second month was spent creating a summer timeline, more clearly determining realistic phases for the café in addition to logistics of potentially running it with the 1280 team. Analysis was done of both 1280 and Union Market to assess potential sales and estimate labour costs for the café. A separate analysis was done for the prep space to estimate cost savings to union market. All of these analyses were crafted into charts and used to write both the memo and final 1280 proposal for the SRA meeting. Feedback was collected from the SRA and the motion was passed.
Since the SRA meeting we have had two meetings with the architect. A 2 hour walk through was done in addition to a preliminary drawing that was procured with furniture samples. A focus group was conducted to gather feedback on the café design and furniture selections, and feedback was submitted to the architect in the second meeting on July 10th, 2017 where myself, John McGowan, Rick Haja, and our project manager worked through the budget with the architect to determine what scopes of the project we could realistically do for our price point.
To date no expenditures have been made but many of them will be occurring soon as we have to order furniture, select lighting fixtures, and select a colour scheme. In a discussion with the architect we have made it clear that we want to prioritize the quality of the space vs the time of completion. We realized that much of the furniture the focus group preferred will have to be custom made – requiring an increased lead time on these products. As such, attempting to open for Sept 1. will result in increased fees from the contractors. We have decided to schedule the launch of the café for end of September/beginning of October with priority given to potentially opening it in phases. The largest complication is the furniture, but it is necessary to ensure that this café possess the unique feel that will make it successful.
TwelvEighty
This is out largest business unit and is a mammoth to take on. To give you a sense of its size, TwelvEighty employs near 100 part-time staff in addition to 4 full-time staff and collects almost $800 000 in revenue in one of its worst years last year (in addition to losing nearly $250 000).
While building the proposal for the café I took a deep look into the past trends of our beloved campus bar & grill to see if there was something that could explain the loss and determined two things: 1. About $120 000 decrease in food sales and 2. another $70 000 decrease in liquor sales.
Below are two plans to fix those this year (one in outside of my original platform and one inside)
Food Sales: Online Ordering
Very Simply, TwelvEighty is failing to keep up with the changing student demographic in almost every sense. When we analyze when food sales drop, it starts in October and then heavy falls towards December.
The reason is pretty easy to spot: as the school year gets busier, less students want to spend time sitting in a restaurant. The solution? Online ordering system.
To date, the 1280 staff have looked at 7 different companies and decided to go with a company called ‘ChowNow’. It operates in a variety of American restaurants and some Canadian ones and will result in both a website and an app that a student can interactively order food from and pay with visa/debit/apple pay!. The current plan is to implement this in July, train staff in August, and slowly roll out over the school year ramping up promotions in end of October/November/December. The target demographic for this right now are current 1280 customers (the ones who come in September). This would be the easiest market to expand into limiting the amount we would need to spend on promotions – focusing on the low price of hot food on campus.
Liquor Sales: Revamped club nights
We’ve known for a while that club nights are dying. But I’m happy to say that myself, the 1280 team, and Campus Events have come together to completely revamp 1280 club nights!
New model: There will no longer be a club night every Thursday (tbh, only around 5 or 6 of them actually made a decent profit). Instead, we’ll be focusing on throwing club nights on dates that were proven successful last year in addition to other high-profile times during the student calendar (homecoming, Halloween, etc.). We’ve reduced the amount of club nights from 24 to 18 and expect to not only save money by cutting the unwanted club nights but increase revenue by reimagining the way we provide this experience to students.
Club nights will now each have a theme (ie. Latin night, Trap night, Soca/Hip Hop night) that will be organized throughout the year and advertised throughout the end of august so a student will know when specific club nights are.
There is a large trend across the country for a decline in liquor sales in millennials, so while this plan is sure to increase the quality and attendance of club nights it will be interesting to see if liquor sales increase along side it. Either way, this needed to be done.
More Premium Events
In conjunction with the last point, Campus Events will be creating a seamless branding for both club nights and premium nights at TwelvEighty with about one premium night (hired artist) coming in about once a month on months with high club attendance (October, November, January, February)
Ensure Campus Events Programming is Student Driven
The Programming Advisory Committee was struck in late April at the first SRA meeting I observed as the VP Finance-elect and is scheduled to meet in late July. The AVP Finance Scott will be chairing this committee and has met with Campus Events to determine how they can effectively work together and what events they will be focusing on collecting feedback for.
This committee will play a large role in Term 2 premium events and determining what type of programming we would offer during frost week.
Professional Development Opportunities
Cited as my second most ambitious platform point, this is also well on its way to being completed ahead of schedule. I’ve been fortunate enough to work closely with the lovely Ryan Deshpande on this and we’ve developed something called the ‘McMaster Student Economic Engagement Strategy’ alongside the SSC, Alumni, Community Engagement Office, and Hamilton Chamber of Commerce which outlines the ways in which the MSU plans to work with our community and campus stakeholders to effectively connect students to experiential and professional development opportunities. We spent the first month consulting the aforementioned stakeholders and developing a preliminary version of this strategy.
While many discussions with Ryan lie around work integrated learning, my role is in evaluating how we connect our students with professional development opportunities in the community – specifically through the chamber of commerce. I’m also pleased to announce that for the first time we sent the largest student delegation to ever attend the Bay Area Economic Summit as a proof of concept with 10 MSU representatives including 3 MSU members (we made ourselves quite known to the Burlington & Hamilton business community).
I have a meeting with the chamber in the next few weeks to discuss how we can further integrate students into chamber events and connect student groups with local businesses.
Sponsorship & Fundraising Package
Worked with the AVP Finance, Scott Robinson to establish a timeline to build a Sponsorship & Fundraising package for clubs throughout the year. He will be consulting with a variety of clubs and our brand new Campus & Commercial Partnership Coordinator to assemble a best practices sponsorship/fundraising package to be distributed to clubs and campus groups for the 2018/2019 year.
Budgeting Training
In a similar fashion to the last point, Scott will also be working with the Campus Events department to expand off of Ryan MacDonald’s event planning package to create a budgeting package for costs typically associated with running events and a list of vendors typically used by students in the Hamilton area.
Transparency
This is something both Scott and I will be working on with the finance committee once it starts to meet in September. The goal is to host two budget fairs (one per semester) that pop up in different locations across campus to better outreach to students to display where their fees are going too.
Discount Card
We have just hired our Campus Commercial Partnership Coordinator who will be taking this project on as a part of their portfolio! Their role is to be the MSU’s lead salesperson creating advertising packages across all of our departments. Next week I’ll be sitting down with Dave Dedrick (Underground Creative Director) and the CCPC to determine how to most effectively approach the idea of a discount card and integrate it into our sales portfolio
Evaluating the Child Care Center
This is something I thought I would be doing in the winter term but due to recent developments with the university and a new Child Care center coming up in the new Peter George building, Chukky and I have been meeting occasionally to determine how to better integrate the CCC into campus life. We’ve met with Debbie Thompson from the childcare center and are currently assembling a strategy and recommendations for the Childcare center throughout the school year.
HSR Implementation
This has been much more difficult than the MSU could have anticipated. PRESTO has been increasingly difficult to work with and we will be determining this Thursday if we will be moving forward with the PRESTO pass for this year. They have been unable to produce a critical piece of software on their end to allow for a seamless card distribution model that will ensure that if a student does not register their card and loses it, they will still be able to get a new bus pass.
If PRESTO is unable to produce this piece of software by this Thursday we will be thinking of a plan B for the bus pass this year. If PRESTO is not integrated this year, students will not be charged the extra 5$ included in the referendum.
SAB Consultation
Much of my time over the past two months has been spent pouring over the SAB memorandum of understanding. As we convert the MoU to an MoA (legally binding) we have entered a number of small negotiations with the university surrounding the fine details of operations of the space. Some of these discussions have been centered around athletics and recreation use of the space, and minor back and forth comments. I’m hoping to have this wrapped up very soon and send the final MoA over to our lawyers for approval.
In regards to the timeline things are moving very quickly. The architect will be selected by the end of this month and discussions around the space and its details will be working out with the architect and SAB Ad-Hoc committee in August/September. Whichever architect is chosen, a large effort will be made on both the part of the MSU and the architect to outreach to students for feedback on the building design. More details around this can be talked about in the coming months.
Decreasing the Cost of Repsuits
This is something that I am incredibly excited to say has been completed WITH extra bonuses for students. By working with Charitees, a local clothing supplier, we have been able to secure a deal for all residences reps and almost all faculties where reps pay 40$ as a base price for a rep suit! For comparison, arts & science suits last year costed $120. By creating and negotiating this package deal we were able to reduce the cost of repsuits by over 40% and save students over $24 000.
In addition to this, we were able to secure a deal that ensured (in 2018/2019) 10% of the cost of the suits would be donated by the company and used to create a rep suit bursary for students who cant afford suits.
This is a huge win and is currently being carried out by both the Welcome Week Faculty Coordinator and the Residence Orientation Planner.
Job-Related Tasks
Welcome Week
Welcome week is well underway with regular meetings occurring regarding its planning. It’s weird how fast WW creeps up on you but starting August 26th we’ll be in full swing and I am incredible excited for it. Below are some other WW related things I’ve been working on in addition to overall work with the SSC, Residence, SOCS, and faculties.
Welcome Week Strategic Themes: Alcohol Awareness
This year the MSU has taken on the WW strategic themes (formerly under the SSC). I chair the committee for Alcohol Awareness and we’ll be taking a different approach to interacting with students by integrating videos and snapchat into the campaign in addition to the regular lawn signs. Im really excited to see the MSU take a lead on these and think that better outreach and events/programming that is more student friendly will make a huge impact on incoming first years.
Welcome Week Clubs Integration
This was something on Chukkys platform that I am a huge fan of. Both Preethi and I have been working closely with him and the Welcome Week Advisory Committee to make this possible. Chukky will probably talk more about this.
SRA Training
This was fun! If you guys have any more questions at all about finances, our investments, or out business units please feel free to shoot me a message. I’d be more than happy to talk to you about it or demystify how the MSU works!
Services Support
MacCycle
Richard has a lot on his place. Historically MacCycle has been one of the most neglected services with out proper shelving equipment, tools, or accounting systems. We’ve had a number of great PTMs come through the service but Richard has been fantastic in wanting to clean up the service.
We’ve been working closely together to create an accounting system for MacCycle and do some safety upgrades around the shop + create an inventory and consistent price list. Preethi has also been working closely with Richard to help him build his exec team and this year will be critical to determine the effectiveness and the future of MacCycle.
FYC
With the IRC disappearing last year the structure of FYC was changed to include a part time manager + 12 elected residence chairs. With a large change in FYC structure last year was a trial year that revealed an amazing opportunity for FYC to advocate for first years in residence but also presented a variety of challenges.
Currently I’m in discussions with the Director of Housing and Conferences to find ways to better partner this year and have them/residence life co-fund FYC. More on this to come in the coming months! Hazra Chowdry, the FYC Coordinator wil be integrated into these discussions once she starts in August.
University Budget Submission
Naturally Ryan has taken the lead on this but so far we’ve met and laid out a timeline for the school year of when we would like to get this done by. Im sure he can talk more about his!
Homecoming
As promised Homecoming will include a Friday and Saturday NIGHT concert! It will be the last weekend of September and Campus Events has been working on some very exciting stuff for you guys. Stay tuned!
That’s all for now & I look forward to updating you all in the next report!
Sincerely,
Daniel Tuba D’Souza Vice President (Finance) [email protected]
REPORT From the office of the… . Vice President (Education)
TO: Student Representative Assembly FROM: Ryan Deshpande, Vice-President (Education) SUBJECT: OUSA Strat Con Report DATE: July 12, 2017
Dear SRA,
From July 3-6 I attended the OUSA StratCon, where we decided several important things for the year. The itinerary included: • Strengths assessment • Events & date selection • Research skills workshop • Preparing for a provincial election • Annual plan • Preparing for the Ontario Post Secondary Student Survey • Annual priorities selection • Annual campaigns selection • Budget approval • Policy author selection • Media training
All in all, this was an incredibly enriching experience for me. Being with like minded people who are passionate about the work you do made me even more excited about my job, and ever more grateful that you all elected me.
The 2017-2018 OUSA Priorities are:
• Tuition & Funding Formula o Since the tuition framework wasn’t actually revisited last year, we are hoping to make it an election issue by making it a priority this year. I wanted to make tuition a priority this year, so I’m glad this was selected. We will be having this conversation in conjunction with lobbying on the funding formula, which is how the province funds universities (while tuition is how students fund universities) • Work Integrated Learning o This has been an OUSA priority for the past four years, and it encompasses opportunities for co-op, experiential learning, and internships. We will be advocating for more opportunities to be available for students through avenues such as upfront grants to small and medium sized businesses. Our stance to ensure that unpaid internships are eliminated will also be at the forefront of this discussion. • Sexual Violence Prevention & Response o This priority was one I was adamant about, and I’m relieved it is at the forefront this year. Lots of good work was done with mandating that institutions have response protocols (Bill 132), but the focus on prevention has been lacking. We will continue to advocate for this priority this year. • Data Collection o this is largely based on a private member's bill (MPP Yvan Baker) - Bill 127, the Pathways to Pose- secondary Excellence Act (Post- secondary Educational Report). The bill was passed, but the problem with private members bills is that nobody actually has to act on them, they’re just to raise awareness. So, what we want is for the government to collect uniform data on admission requirements, costs, student aid, class sizes, demographic information, student satisfaction, graduate satisfaction, employment and education status of graduates, average annual compensation of graduates, and many other things. Then, we want that information to be widely accessible to applicants and students. This will be something that we advocate to pass in the upcoming year. • Open Educational Resources o This is something that wasn’t on my radar, but I am really excited about. With the recent ECampus Ontario announcement, Ontario has launched an online textbook library. This is an incredible initiative, and will save thousands of dollars for students. The problem is that professors need incentive to use these books, so we will be advocating for provincial legislation, funding, and support. • Mental Health o Something that is a priority for every political party, we are hoping to make mental health and election issue. This includes system design, funding, and increased availability of supports.
This is a lot of information, and some of these topics might be confusing to you – but let me assure you they are all incredibly important. If you have any questions or want to be involved with an of these, please let me know! I love to talk about provincial politics and issues so shoot me an email or stop by my office if you want to chat. Alternatively, you can join the Provincial & Federal Affairs committee.
2017-2018 Campaigns
This year, OUSA has allocated funding for three campaigns, all of which are dependent on the provincial election timeline. • Open Educational Resources o We want to run this campaign in September when students are buying their textbooks. The goal of this campaign will be to raise awareness of ECampus Ontario, and put pressure on the provincial government to increase funding and support for it. • Voter Registration o Around October, we will run a campaign to get students to register to vote. We will also highlight student issues in this campaign such as tuition, mental health, OERs, and others. We also hope this campaign will influence platform development. • Get Out The Vote o Whenever the provincial election is, we will run a GOTV campaign where we do not highlight student issues, so as not to appear partisan. OUSA wants to work with whatever government is in power, so ensuring we have positive relationships with all parties is important.
2017-2018 Policy Papers & Authors
Term 1 • Accountability o Stephanie Belloto (Laurier) +1 from Laurier o Palmer Lockridge (Queens) o +1 from Waterloo
• System Vision o Andrew Clubine (Waterloo) +1 from Waterloo o Torie Lewarne (Queens) +1 from Queens o Chandra Narra (Trent Durham) +1 from Trent
• Indigenous Students o Nadia Bathish (Brock) o Roch Goulet (Laurentian) +1 from Laurentian o Ryan Deshpande (McMaster) + Urszula Sitarz from McMaster
Term 2 Tentative Papers • Teaching and Assessment • Health & Wellness (if this is chosen, I will write it) • Mobility & Credit Tranfer • Mature Students
Let me know if you have any questions about the policy writing and passing procedure - it can definitely be confusing to understand if you haven't engaged in it before. What the authors mean to you is that the people listed here are intimately involved in shaping the principles, concerns, and recommendations to do with each student issue. For the MSU, we have authors Indigenous Students and potentially Health & Wellness. I am also an editor on System Vision. What that means for you as an SRA member is that if you have concerns regarding these issues, the MSU authors on the papers would be great people to bring these concerns up with.
2017-2018 Conferences and Events Best Practises Sharing Day (McMaster) – August 17, 2017 Training Day (Trent Durham) – September 26, 2017 Fall GA (Laurier) – October 27-29, 2017 Advocacy Week – November 27 – Devember 1 Winter GA (Laurentian) – March 9-11, 2018 Partners in Higher Education Dinner – April 4, 2018
Blogs If you’re interested in writing an OUSA blog on a post-secondary issue that interests you, let me or Urszula know and I can hook you up! Check out ousa.ca/blog for past examples.
I hope this report was clear and concise, while remaining informative. I will try my best to be as transparent as possible with regards to OUSA, because I know most people have no idea what it is. It is important that you as the assembly are familiar with OUSA, its priorities, what it does, how it operates, and how it benefits students. If you don’t have an answer to all of those – come talk to me and we’ll make sure you do.
Best,
Ryan Deshpande Vice President (Education) [email protected]
YEAR PLAN
MSU President Chukky Ibe
2017-2018
The MSU President P: 905.525.9140, Ext. 23885 [email protected]
GOALS
Objective Open UP the MSU
Description As an organization, we must be able to continue to position ourselves as a valuable resource to University partners, but most importantly to our constituency. Students should feel we are an organization that cares, and can be meaningfully engaged with. We should not be an organization that has a top down agenda setting regime. We should always seek multiple avenues incorporating student voice in our priority setting agenda. We should also invest in our internal hospitality to make the MSU more appealing, and provides incentives for student engagement. There are two parts to this, hospitality and functionality.
Benefits Not only will this be a good opportunity to get feedback from students and run initiatives they actually want to see, but it also allows students an opportunity to feel like they have a say in the way their money is spent (because they do!).We can create the programs that people care about.
Difficulties It is not possible to listen to everyone, and do everything. We are also an organization run by students, so to assume that we do not reflect the priorities of students is counterintuitive. There are an infinite number of small things we can do to make the union more open. Prioritizing the most efficacious items will be necessary for this success.
Long-term This should be central to our engagement strategy with marauders. We should solicit, and invite students to present us with the issues hey are concerned about. Although this is certainly a viable plan in the few years to come, this is most poignant with our education department. How much is student driven, vs ed team driven. Ed team has more detail and expertise.
How Hospitality
Work with the SRA and office clerks to host MSU open houses, and office and services tours.
Working with the Operations Coordinator and VP Administration to make the front of the office student friendly, we may consider office renovations, and leaving the front doors wide open to create a more inviting atmosphere.
The MSU President P: 905.525.9140, Ext. 23885 [email protected]
Functionality MSYou / SLEF expansion to ensure no good student idea gets left behind during the presidential campaign. After each presidential election, platforms will be given back to students to vote on. This can happen through creating a new platform that will allow students to vote on ideas. It can also happen through extending SLEF for a longer period.
Underground Media Creator Database - build a database at the Underground of student photographers, videographers, and web designers. This makes digital media services easily accessible and provides media specialists with an avenue to gain freelance work and build their portfolios.
MSU Job Portal Expansion We want to expand the MSU job portal to student groups campus-wide so they can post their job/volunteer openings all in one place, instead of being lost within a sea of social media. This will extend to faculty societies so students can submit applications to become Welcome Week reps. If your club is looking for a choreographer or a set designer you will be able to post this on the MSU jobs portal.
Service Usage Review By evaluating what services students use, and how students respond to our services, we will be better able to explore opportunities for improvements and budget allocations.
Partners VP Finance. VP Administration, Office Clerks through Operations Coordinator, SRA - Brian Zheng
Objective Accessible Campus
Description I will advocate to the University to revisiting their infrastructure plan to make campus easier to navigate for students with disabilities and mobility concerns, and restrictions form space pace on gender and or sexuality.
Benefits Making campus accessible is key to ensuring students have the best campus experience.
Difficulties Most of this will largely be a university priority. Our goal, which is an incredibly difficult one, is to convince the university, facility services, and associated stakeholders to ensure this is a worthwhile venture for the university…especially given other funding priorities. I need to gather more information on what has already been done to this effect, and what the university already has in plan towards this. The MSU President P: 905.525.9140, Ext. 23885 [email protected]
Long-term Students will have a more accessible campus, and the university will only have to make a one-time investment in the space, and relatively little costs for maintenance. We just have to make a good enough case that this is important for students.
We would work with SAS and Maccess to ensure students who have How disabilities are aware of http://www.cartographr.ca/ to ensure uptake from this service. Funding for an accessible campus will be prioritized on the university budget submission.
Partners Facility Services, Maccess, Engineering and Science Faculty, SAS.
Objective Reducing Campus Waste
Description We will be expanding the green food box to La Piazza, Bridges, and TwelvEighty
We will also be providing information regarding proper ways to rid yourself of your coffee cups.
We will be providing students with information, and avenues to rid themselves of their electronic devices.
Benefits This continues the MSUs commitment to a sustainable McMaster and safer world. Ensuring this will be possible is a logical challenge. Hospitality Services will Difficulties be the lead on this project. Even though we often have opposing interests, this is a space we will have to collaboratively work on. We will have to ensure students are not taking their re-usable boxes home, and other logistical challenges are met.
Long-term It is my hope that any upgrades we can accomplish this year will serve as a pilot for what this project can be in years to come. A successful first year project will create a self-sustaining model. I have contacted the Director of Hospitality Services to accomplish this How initiative. This task will also be delegated to the sustainability committee of the MSU to ensure its continuity. We will be working with OPIRGs committees to provide coordinated efforts on accessibility related initiatives.
Partners Hospitality Services, Sustainability Committee, OPIRG, UTS
The MSU President P: 905.525.9140, Ext. 23885 [email protected]
Objective Optimizing Student Technology
Description Almost every student on campus owns a laptop and cell phone. We want ensure students have the skills to use their tech to its full potential while protecting their security online.
The goal is for the university to provide students with uninterrupted access to hi-quality broadband access on campus. Critical to this, is to ensure that students are centred in UTS service delivery plan. . We are working with University Tech Services (UTS) on a campus-wide WiFi audit to identify spaces on campus that need to be better serviced. We will work with the Hamilton Intelligence community task force to ensure digital equity and inclusion for students, while also involving students with the UTS admin Board to ensure that students have a voice on internet equity.
Benefits This will drastically improve the quality of student’s education, and in general, student life. We are looking for the university to make necessary investments in the PULSE, the go centre, and on BSB field, and Thode library, and Mills Library. These are some spots that have come to our radar as priority areas for students.
Difficulties There are many moving parts when it comes to a project like this. This mostly is an advocacy point, and ultimately UTS will make the necessary investments.
Long-term UTS currently has a several years phase in plan for upgrading service delivery of broad band for the university.
How 1) The MSU will partner with UTS to create a and circulate a wi-fi survey.
2) The MSU will advocate for a seat on the UTS board of directors
3) The University Affairs Committee will be working with partners in UTS to conduct surveys on the tech needs of students. Based on this feedback, we will be making recommendations to UTS and their partners regarding the tech needs of students.
4) We will be partnering with the student and university stakeholders to host a tech support week a semester. This will incorporate workshops to educate students on campus tech support services, how to backup their documents, how to protect themselves from cyber crimes, and how to get the most out of their tech.
The MSU President P: 905.525.9140, Ext. 23885 [email protected]
5) We will also be working with Phase One and the new Makerspace to help students fix their electronics instead of throwing them away. By setting up a system on campus for students to repurpose old/used electronics and sell them at affordable prices we can provide more opportunities for students and save students’ money
Partners University Affairs, Student Success Centre Vice President Education, Phase One, University Technology Services Campus Store, Lyons New Media Centre
Objective Improving the Off-Campus Experience – Neighbourhood Assistance Program
Description Living off campus needs to be a better experience for students. The main objective here is to create an experience that can equally compare to students who live on campus. This support system must be informed by the experiences of off campus students. This program will have students who live in student neighbourhoods to be able to provide support for the students who live in their neighbourhoods. We want to create services localized to student neighbourhoods.
Benefits This is self explanatory. There is significant understaffing and limited resources dedicated to supporting off campus students. Students who live off campus, can be supported, and set up for academic success here at McMaster. Living off campus should not be a disadvantage.
Difficulties Progress on this is largely dependent on the support of the off-campus experience office and the housing and conference services office. A large part of it is also dependent on collaborating with SOCS and our ability to be flexible and innovative with SCSN.
Long-term Central to this plan is to create an off-campus CA / community connector program. This will be like the CAs in residence. They will have phones, and can be accessed by students who live nearby. This can also be an emailed service. A similar program exists in Western University. This will need collaboration from OCRC, SOCS, SCSN, and potentially, the city of Hamilton.
How 1) This will happen through the creation of a neighborhood assistance advisory committee. They will be tasked with conducting research of issues concerning off campus students, and recommend an appropriate form of action on developing this service.
The MSU President P: 905.525.9140, Ext. 23885 [email protected]
2) Working with SOCS to create a commuter connector program for off-campus students who missed Welcome Week, and a year-round support network for commuter students
3) Creating a Landlord Rating System / Wiki-landlord rating system to ensure students’ homes are safe and welcoming.
4) We are working with the HSR and the University to renovate and build more bus shelters on campus.
5) We will work with Facility Services to repair the stairs on lot M, and invest in proper lighting in areas on campus where students park.
Partners SCSN, OCRC, SOCS, VP education, HSR,
Objective Ensuring Good Governance
Description One of the biggest challenges the MSU faces is the yearly overhaul in leadership. I will be working with our internal governance team to review internal processes of the ensure the internal operations of the organization are efficacious.
We will also be creating several advisory groups to ensure multiple communities on campus are duly represented on campus, and to the MSU.
We also want to show MSU staff and volunteers that we value them so we want to actively invest in their transferable skills by giving them a space for professional development.
Benefits SRA members are better positioned to accomplish their platforms when they can collaborate with other SRA members who share similar ideas. The SRA will be more open, and are better positioned to engage with their constituencies.
Elections are more competitive, and offer support to a wider, and more diverse range of students.
Difficulties We don’t anticipate too many struggles with this. This project will be spearheaded by Kamini Persuad, Makenzy Walcott, and Saima and Sebat Berkri. They will be tasked with creation a constitution, terms of reference, and a year plan. The MSU President P: 905.525.9140, Ext. 23885 [email protected]
To ensure the project groups are successful, we will need SRA members to take leadership. The success of the projects is solely dependent on them. Our challenge will be getting SRA members to take leadership positions, and seek to push their agenda forward.
Long-term The long-term goal is to ensure SRA elections are more competitive and well resourced. The people project will be ratified as an MSU club and should be a self-sustaining project.
How 1) We will be working with campaign managers to create a team (McMaster People Project) to support candidates who would like to run for an elected position. This will range from faculty societies to BOG and Senate positions.
2) The internal governance officer will be working to create project groups for SRA members.
3) Each project group will meet and create a year plan, a list of priorities and a list of actions.
4) I will work with the clubs administrator to create a clubs council for tier 1 clubs (Clubs Presidents Council, Captains Council – for Varsity Teams, Cultural and Religious Clubs Roundtable, Expanding Presidents Council to include Senate and BOG reps, expanding clubs.
5) We want to give SRA members more support in their outreach efforts and will give them a team to help implement their platforms in the form of standardized caucus committees.
6) We will consider the VP elections to see if the timing and training of SRA members can be revised to optimize assembly procedures.
7) We will be working with the speaker to review Roberts rules to ensure floor assembly procedures and debates are conducted effectively.
8) Working to create an international students advisory board and advocating for fair fees for international students.
9) We will be working closely with the past members of the MSU Board of Directors, University staff to upgrade the skills of MSU volunteers so they can get the most out of their time with the MSU. The MSU President P: 905.525.9140, Ext. 23885 [email protected]
Partners Kamini Persuad, Makenzy Walcott, and Saima, Admin Assistant - Emma Ferguson, Brian Zheng , Speaker – Helen Zeng, CRO – Chloe Deraiche, Admin Services Coordinator – Victoria Scott
Objective Strengthening Student Communities
Description The success of Clubs, faculty societies, and student communities are essential for improving the quality of life on our campus. We will implement several programs to help support clubs on campus so they can increase their reach and run effectively, and continue to innovate and grow. Students communities will benefit from establishing connections with the student affairs department. Student groups have the audience, student affairs have expertise. There should be intentional idea-sharing and co-creation of resources between these departments.
Benefits This fosters information sharing across clubs that will emphasize sharing of resources and ideas, co-hosting events, and co-campaigns between clubs and services.
Long-term Ideally, we can get the conversations started this year with both the University and the local government. I also want to see some small projects funded through Participatory Budgeting and similar avenues.
How 1) Introducing an event loan system for clubs. The Clubs Executive Council will grant loans to clubs who sell tickets for their events. This reduces the out-of-pocket costs for student clubs. We will give the Club Executive Council the powers to determine club funding, this frees up the Clubs Administrator’s summer to better support club training.
2) We will make funds available for clubs and student groups to run programs over the summer and be a part of Welcome Week programs. This will help clubs engage with more students and provide opportunities for more diverse welcome week programming.
3) Service and Club clusters will pool together MSU services and clubs with similar interests and mandates.
4) I will be considering merging the MSU and CLUBS award at the student recognition night. This sends a clear message to our diverse student groups that we see them, appreciate them, value them, and will invest in the work they do. The MSU President P: 905.525.9140, Ext. 23885 [email protected]
5) We will open conversations with Greek life (sororities and fraternities) to see how they can best be supported. We can usher in a new era of communication between the MSU, Greek life and the University.
6) Working to create a Clubs roundtable where clubs with similar interests can provide updates, and perspective to each other.
7) Community and campus partners will come together to train students and student organizations who choose to participate in volunteer projects across the city. The MSU will be able to track the amount of funds raised and hours spent by various student organizations, which allows us to see the change that students make in the city. This will happen through a coordinated community action toolkit.
Partners Clubs Executive Council, Clubs Administrator, VP Administration, SWELL Student Life Coordinator, Office of community engagement.
Objective Health and Wellness – Caring Communities
Description This project is built around the social determinants of health. When people belong to a community, they are connected to a system of support, and resources they can access. Health is as much as a social determinant as it is an individuals endeavour. The project draws from the way McMaster communities support each other. It will entail partnering MSU clubs and student societies with the wellness center. This will entail working with a select group of clubs, say 40 to begin with, to create a community health year plan and a club’s specific health and wellness strategy.
Benefits We want student communities to be more intentional with the way they take care of the members of their community. We also want them to be aware of the resources available throughout campus partners. As a result, we would have better resourced, and resilient student communities.
Difficulties The scope of the project is relatively vast. We do not know if student communities will be interested in participating in this project. We also do not know if the student wellness centre has the capacity to do the work. The MSU President P: 905.525.9140, Ext. 23885 [email protected]
Long-term This can be a long-term program that is able to grow, and re-invent itself. If the project is successful, considerations should be given to how it is resourced in the long run.
How We will have to create a framework for the initiative, and allocate necessary funds to support it.
The next steps will be to identify the student groups and clubs that fit the framework. We will connect the clubs to the SWELL – wellness educator program.
We will also have to create outcomes, and after the outcomes, create a system of assessment to determine if this exercise was valuable and should be continued.
Partners SHEC, SWELL, VP Administration, Alison Drew-Hassling
Objective Creation of the Post-Secondary Access Strategy
Description This is a double pronged project.
1) Access to post secondary for non-traditional and underrepresented students on campus. 2) We will also be making new investments in childcare for McMaster students.
Benefits Student-parents face the incredible challenge of balancing raising a child, with all other stresses of being a student. We want to make our campus a family friendly space where affordable and accessible child care options will help student parents chances of success in university.
Difficulties Childcare; This is dependent on our relationship with the GSA, and MAPS and pending on reaching an agreement with them.
Access : This is a collaborative effort between myself and the various stakeholders, and as always when there are several hands working together, conflict can arise, and competing priorities emerge.
Long-term Our city of Hamilton, and the post-secondary sector does not currently have an access strategy to post-secondary for its citizens. It is essential we partner with other institutions to enhance the quality of life of our community, and work as a co-creator of knowledge.
Develop a sustainable system of governance for the childcare centre. The MSU President P: 905.525.9140, Ext. 23885 [email protected]
Childcare How The MSU will work with our campus partners on a joint child care program. We will revisit the MSU childcare costs and hours of operation to ensure that it is accessible, and can accommodate for students with late night classes and exams.
We will be looking into creating a child minding program in tandem with the Campus Store.
We want to work with the University to provide grants to students who are unable to qualify for provincial and municipal childcare assistance. We will work with campus partners to host a “bring your child to school” day to celebrate student-parents. To make campus more family friendly, we will install change tables in washrooms across campus.
We will also explore partnerships with the McMaster Children and Youth University to support student-parents.
Post-Secondary Access Strategy
Our city of Hamilton, and the post-secondary sector does not currently have an access strategy to post-secondary for its citizens. It is essential we partner with other institutions to enhance the quality of life of our community, and work as a co-creator of knowledge.
In the short term, we will be working to extend CLAY into a full year service. The goal for clay will be to work with community partners, and student stakeholders to create a yearlong outcome based program that looks to support students in priority neighborhoods in our city.
A collective-impact program will be created to be able to support students from across the city and the GTA.
Partners Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario, CLAY, Office of Community Engagement, MSU Childcare Centre
Objective Affordable Text Books
Description Textbooks and courseware is a large hidden cost for many students. This is why we want to work with the Provost and Deans to create a diverse campus-wide affordable textbook strategy.
Benefits Cheaper textbook for students. This will give students ample time to budget their money for the upcoming year and allows students who are The MSU President P: 905.525.9140, Ext. 23885 [email protected]
visually impaired to make necessary arrangements for their course materials. This also improves the Campus Store’s ability to source affordable textbooks for students and reduces the wait lines for textbooks in the fall.
Difficulties This is probably my single most challenging goal this year. It demands a multipronged approach to advocacy. It will also mean coordinating faculty society presidents, under a relatively tight timeline. There is no guarantee that the faculty societies will share the same priority as anyone else.
Long-term Our faculty societies must take greater leadership on the issue of affordable courseware advocacy to meet the diverse problems that their constituents face. Through the President's Council and the Academic Affairs Council, the MSU will work to provide the faculty societies with training, advocacy and administrative support to ensure our agendas are aligned and students are able to find affordable textbooks.
How Course materials should be adopted and communicated in the spring- summer. We will be in communication with the Provost, and appropriate Deans to voice this student concern, and have them commit to early adoption.
We are also going to work to increase the number of textbooks available in library reserves so students can access textbooks without purchasing them. We will be working with the librarians to partner with faculty societies to create faculty specific textbook libraries. This has to be a collaboration between me, the VP (Education), and the librarians.
Professors ought to leverage the volume of their classes to negotiate fair costs for course materials. We will be working with the Campus Store, and faculty deans, and faculty societies to put pressure, and to recommend courses that can leverage such volume.
Classes with multiple cores should be coordinated to ensure all classes will use the same courseware and in the long term, McMaster University and the province of Ontario should model successes in British Columbia and invest in Open Source textbooks.
The MSU will work through Academic Affairs Council, and Presidents Council to coordinate a university wide textbook swap. We will also be working with the textbook buy and swap page to communicate more options for students who would like to buy textbooks online.
We will be working through the courseware committee, and advocating to the university to provide professors with the necessary resources to adopt the open source textbook as part of their course materials. The MSU President P: 905.525.9140, Ext. 23885 [email protected]
Partners Faculty Societies, Provost, Assistant VP Research, Assistant VP Faculty, faculty deans, student faculty societies, the Campus Store, the McPherson Institute
Objective Good Food Delivery
Description We will expand the Mac Farmstand and Mac Bread Bin to deliver locally sourced, healthy, affordable food along with student-friendly recipes to students’ door-steps through our Good Food delivery program. This way students can have access to healthy affordable food while Benefits saving time on buying groceries.
Difficulties Logistical challenges would be the most severe here.
Long-term I see this new program being a staple on campus if we can develop a sustainable model for it. We will ensure that the Good Food delivery program is accessible by How integrating it into the new Neighborhood Assistant Program, clubs, and faculty societies.
Partners Mac Farmstand, McMaster Bread Bin, Food for thought, Faculty Societies, CSA- Community food shares, agricultural boxes, Community Food centre Hamilton.
Objective 3rd and 4th Year Transition / Graduate Transition – Patricia K
Description One of the greatest stressors of the undergraduate experience for all undergraduate students at McMaster is figuring out what you’ll be doing afterwards.
3rd year, things start to change. Smaller class sizes, longer papers, demanding jobs, students seek out experimental opportunities and begin to really think about life after graduation.
Currently, while career resources are delivered throughout different departments in the university, gaps remain in gainful graduate transition and support. There is opportunity for program development, and intentional coordination of resources supporting graduate students.
We are not looking to recreate the wheel here, there are phenomenal programs that currently exist. Our goal is to find them, and replicate The MSU President P: 905.525.9140, Ext. 23885 [email protected]
them across campus. These programs will also have to be faculty specific. “Graduation is often scary, but it doesn’t have to be. Through the Benefits implementation of programming and advocating for accessible post- graduation resources for students across the university, we can help bridge the gap from post secondary education to whatever may come next.” (Patricia K)
Difficulties Coordinating resources across campus would need buy in from all campus partners. Progress on this is largely dependent on the student success centre, alumni association, and coordination through experiential education offices, and other campus partners. A large part of it is also dependent on collaborating with SOCS and our ability to be flexible and innovative with SCSN.
How (1) build a one-stop FAQ for career questions that can lead you to specific resources in the university
(2) working with the faculty societies to host career ready natives
Partners Student Success Centre, Alumni Association, Presidents Council, and program societies.
The MSU President P: 905.525.9140, Ext. 23885 [email protected]
GOALS to strive for
List 5 things that you would like to have prepared for the beginning of September
1. Planned Off campus move-in day 2. Planned University Wide Textbook Exchange with Presidents Council 3. Planned Tech Week 4. Established Clubs participation in Welcome week 5. Clubs summer funding allocation 6. Commuter Connectors – Off campus Students
List 5 things you would like to have completed during the fall term (1st)
1. Green Food Boxes Expansion 2. Good Food boxes delivery 3. Creating Caring Communities partnerships 4. Strengthening internal governance 5. Working with MAPS and GSA to improve childcare 6. Hosting grad preparedness conferences across faculties
List 5 things you would like to have completed during the winter term (2nd)
1. Second semester textbook exchange 2. Affordable textbook strategy created, and implemented 3. Creating the neighborhood assistant program 4. MSU Job Portal Expansion 5. SLEF expansion
YEAR PLAN MSU Vice-President (Administration) & CAO Preethi Anbalagan 2017-2018 (Submitted Tuesday, July 11, 2017)
OFFICE OF THE VP ADMINISTRATION
Dear Student Representative Assembly,
In this first month, I've come to truly realize the incredible value and opportunity we provide to students through the work of our volunteer staff, executive members, service managers, full-time staff and elected leaders. I owe a special debt of gratitude for those who came before me, and those who are constantly busy enhancing the lives of undergraduate students and their journey through University. Let’s be insatiably fuelled by our passions and sincerity, let’s see our collective busyness turn into meaningful changes for our students union.
I ran for this position because I believe in ideas greater than us, and believe in those who embark on those great ideas. I am excited to support my board's vision, your vision and my vision this year. I’m prepared to empower those around me to be resilient in their endeavours and will be gratuitous of the hard work that you and our staff put in to enhancing the student experience. You may not hear it often but I will be the first to say this: thank you for your hard work and dedication.
I’m excited to present my year-plan for the following year and hope that we can continue the efforts of those before us while keeping it fresh.
Sincerely, Preethi Anbalagan Vice-President (Administration) & CAO
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GOALS
Objective 1 Strengthening Training Delivery & Orientation Description Our organization is transitional in nature so there is always a chasm between our expectations of elected leaders or staff and their preparedness for their roles. The following are ways I intend to strengthen previous training delivered and developed: • Host a conference-style MSU Orientation, opposed to retreat • Specializing SRA Training through feedback mechanisms • Create on-boarding package for SRA Members • Develop a formalized Safe(r) Training model with campus partners, staff and community partners • Introducing peer support training modules • Offering SRA In-Transition Training
Benefits 1. Host a conference-style MSU Orientation: this is due to the sheer number of new individuals to the organization. Amalgamating core training components for all PTMs, SRA and AVP into a conference-style weekend would provide organizational context for individuals to see how their roles fit into the larger scheme of things, connect with other student leaders, strengthen relationship between service provision and the political branch. 2. Specializing SRA Training through feedback mechanisms: allowing for SRA members to determine what they'd like to see in their training to ensure they receive the most out of the weekend. 3. Create on-boarding package for SRA Members: This will allow us to distribute information through a more accessible channel and ensures members are prepared in their roles at any point during the year. 4. Develop a formalized safe(r) training model with campus partners, staff and community members: this will be a model that is complete with knowledge translation, navigating on- campus and community resources for survivors and will be based on best practices across the sector. 5. Introducing peer support training modules: working with the TRRA to introduce training modules as top-up or refresher components and to supplement in-person training.
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6. Offering SRA In-Transition Training: creating a training module for any members elected in the SRA by-election and for all SRA members after SRA generals that will be supplemented by drop-in training sessions
Difficulties One of the challenges is attendance from participants due to scheduling conflicts, etc. It’s immensely difficult to plan, prepare and disseminate training to half the intended population and additionally organize make-up sessions. Long-term There are no long-term implications with this platform; implications however, it does strengthen our relationship with Housing & Conferences as we’ve transitioned all our training weekends to on-campus. How? 1. Host a conference-style MSU Orientation: work with the Board of Directors in assessing the core training components we can deliver to all groups attending. 2. Specializing SRA Training through feedback mechanisms: Circulate a form or poll to assess what training components members would like to see during their weekend. 3. Create on-boarding package for SRA Members: work with the Speaker to develop an online and in-person resource book with supplemented videos on basic skills and knowledge pieces to know in our organization. 4. Develop a formalized safe(r) training model with campus partners, staff and community members: work alongside the TRRA in developing this training piece for student groups to access with guidance from Meaghan Ross and our WGEN coordinator 5. Introducing peer support training modules: transfer access to modules over to the TRRA who will continue to populate them with information and fine-tune the modules 6. Offering SRA In-Transition Training: the same onboarding package will be used but drop-in sessions will be hosted by myself and the speaker for newly elected members to be trained
Partners Board of Directors, Speaker, Training & Resources Research Assistant, Meaghan Ross (Sexual Violence Response Coordinator), WGEN Coordinator, and Allison Drew-Hassling.
Objective 2 Increased Support for the Student Representative Assembly Description With a relatively new assembly members, it’s important that
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the SRA is provided the baseline foundation in navigating their roles and how to access resources. The following are ways I intend to support the assembly: • Resource Library • Clustering Platforms • Opportunities to Lead • Caucus Leader Support • Skill-building workshops
Benefits 1. Resource Library: provides a base-line foundation of knowledge for assembly members to access at any point during the year 2. Clustering Platforms: with collectiveness, obstacles dwindle. Clustering individuals who ran on the same platforms can give them an opportunity to cross-pollinate their ideas and strategies in accomplishing platforms 3. Opportunities to lead: assembly members will have the opportunity to work on board-level projects and develop personal and professional skills 4. Caucus Leader Support: providing individual support regarding how they can support their caucus 5. Skill-building workshops: providing opportunities for SRA members to build skills and knowledge pieces pertinent to their roles such as strengthening their communication and effective argumentative skills
Difficulties N/A Long-term N/A implications How? 1. Resource Library: work with the speaker in compiling documents that could be useful for the assembly and work with the communications director in crafting videos 2. Clustering Platforms: select three or four projects that are common across the assembly and facilitate an action plan amongst the individuals who will be working on the projects that the AVP Internal Governance can assist with 3. Opportunities to lead: work with the Board of Directors to delegate project tasks to interested assembly members 4. Caucus Leader Support: collecting their benchmarks and timelines so that I can check-in and follow their progress as well train them alongside the Speaker 5. Skill-building workshops: connecting with the Improv Team and Athletics & Recreation to facilitate activities and
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workshops that aim to improve skills necessary for an assembly member
Partners Speaker, Student Clubs (Improv Team), Communications Officer, AVP Internal Governance
Objective 3 Supporting Part-Time Managers Description The Vice President Administration supervises an upwards of twenty part-time managers and it’s the largest, most integral component of my role. I intend to provide support in the following ways: • One-on-ones • Collab-space • Hosting roundtable PTM meetings • Debrief meetings with the Peer Support Department • Providing professional development opportunities • Developing an upward feedback mechanism
Benefits 1. One on ones: these are invaluable opportunities to check in with part-time managers on a personal level and connect with them to gauge the type of experience they’ve been having in their roles and be a friend to them 2. Collab-space: re-imagining the way the committee room looks can help foster a collaboration amongst service managers 3. Hosting roundtable PTM meetings: coordinating schedules amongst 20+ individuals will be necessary for service managers to know what everyone else is up to. With a roundtable approach, it cuts the time in half. 4. Debrief meetings with the Peer Support Department: ensures our peer support managers are receiving sufficient support with an individual with professional expertise 5. Providing professional development opportunities: to provide extensive learning opportunities for our service managers who can get involved in new projects and strengthen skills necessary for their career trajectory 6. Developing an upward feedback mechanism: provides me the opportunity to change in behavior or function that part-time managers wish to see
Difficulties Debrief meetings: strengthening and building a continued relationship with community professionals will be difficult as we are a transitional organization. We will need to develop a sustainable model of continuing our relationships with
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members from SACHA, YMCA, etc. Long-term Student life enhancement. Just kidding, but while that is implications partially true, the amount of support and assistance that is provided to part-time managers can transfer to better service provision and enjoyable experience for the staff. How? 1. One on ones: connect with every part-time manager once in the beginning of the school year and make a concerted effort to hang out with them during lunch or dinner. 2. Collab-space: request a divvied portion from the Office Renovations Budget approval and gather feedback for the layout of the Collab-space, as well set expectations for the use of the room 3. Hosting roundtable PTM meetings: allowing the AVP services to come up with a structure and coordinate the roundtable presentation from part-time managers 4. Debrief meetings with the Peer Support Department: invite Allison Drew-Hassling and/or off-campus partners to facilitate debrief with peer support PTMS 5. Providing professional development opportunities: communicating any upcoming events, conferences and seminars to all part-time staff. 6. Developing an upward feedback mechanism: working with the Administrative Services Coordinator to develop a performance evaluation survey that is anonymous and solutions-based
Partners John McGowan, AVP Services, Allison Drew-Hassling, Victoria Scott
Objective 4 Supporting Associate Vice-Presidents Description Associate Vice-Presidents are new to our organization and are the first individuals to pilot this structural change and some of the ways I intend to support the preparedness of incoming AVPS are: • Making the transition: crafting an onboarding package alongside the VP Finance and VP Education • Connecting them to full-time staff: AVP Internal Governance to work closely with the operations coordinator and AVP Services to work closely with the administrative services coordinator
Benefits Providing our associate vice-presidents with enough historical
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context to their positions, what projects were begun and have been completed in the past, who to contact for support, etc. are important as it will equip them with the skills and experience to excel in their positions. Difficulties We have three different respective vice-presidents that oversee the AVPs, so coordinating our expectations and core training components we wish to deliver will be a slight challenge. Long-term It’s important that our AVPs receive the best training possible implications and feel secure/comfortable within their roles because it will ground this structural change for future years. How? • Making the transition: setting aside a training day that is facilitated by the three Vice Presidents and an onboarding package that contains relevant information to their roles • Connecting them to full-time staff: the AVP Internal Governance will meet with the operations coordinator when assessing job description or operating policy changes, the AVP services will meet with myself and the administrative services coordinator weekly and be present at EB meetings
Partners Vice President Finance, Vice President Education, Operations Coordinator, Administrative Services Coordinator
Objective 5 MSU Hiring Practises, Improvements & Additions Description My predecessor focused heavily on improving the hiring process for many students who felt as though there were barriers to obtaining paid or volunteer positions within our union. To continue the efforts of those who came before me, I intend to host hiring frequently in the evenings and weekends. In addition, I intend to explore creative recruitment strategies to assist PTMs who would like to innovate their hiring processes. Benefits Continuity is important within the union but hiring practises are a huge component of my role and must be evaluated from time to time to identify areas for improvement. Difficulties “It's challenging to discuss this topic because there is only a finite number of positions available through the Student Union, so it's hard to provide opportunities for every individual.” Long-term Allows for service managers to think more critically about implications what competencies they’re seeking in individuals and how to create a hiring process that assesses them. How? 1. Evening & Weekend Hiring: set clear expectations for EB members that they should be available for hiring
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conducted primarily on evenings and weekends or after 9-5 2. Creative Recruitment Strategies: all part-time managers in the hiring process will consult with AVP Services to explore ways of crafting a hiring process that reflects the competencies being looked for
Partners Executive Board Members, Part-Time Managers, AVP Services, Administrative Services Coordinator
Objective 6 Strengthening Human Resources within our Union Description As an organization, while we are committed to ensuring our internal practises and systems are free of barriers, we are lacking some critical things: • Employment Equity Statement • Navigation of HR Issues • Workplace Accommodation Policy
Benefits 1. Employment Equity Statement: ensure applicants and external partners that everyone has an unhindered access to our employment opportunities and will continue the efforts of outgoing VP Admins’ priorities of equitable hiring practices. 2. Navigation of HR Issues: a compilation of incident reports and debrief notes when handling HR issues would be helpful for VP admins in the future as it can provide historical context and equip the incoming VP Admin in handling unique and complex employee relations issues.
Difficulties N/A Long-term N/A implications How? • Employment Equity Statement: delegate to the operations coordinator and post it on our employment tab • Navigation of HR Issues: populate a resource binder of reports and debrief notes regarding HR issues that I have had to navigate myself and issues that have been navigated before • Workplace Accommodation Policy: delegate to the operations coordinator and circulate with employees of our organization
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Partners Operations Coordinator
Objective 7 Strengthening Welcome Week Programming Description The VP Admin sits on both the Welcome Week Planning and Implementation Committee (WWPIC) and co-chairs the Welcome Week Advisory Committee (WWAC). It’s one of the only project-based components to my role and having been a part of welcome week for three years in the past, I’m excited to see a few changes in the upcoming year: • Delivery of strategic priorities programming • Bystander Intervention training for student groups • Supporting the off-campus student population during orientation • Garnering visibility for both our governance branch and our services throughout welcome week
Benefits 1. Delivery of strategic priorities programming: for the first time, the MSU is overseeing all strategic priorities of welcome week and its associated programming. This provides us the opportunity to engage in discussions on effective campaigning strategies, messaging and planning events. 2. Bystander Intervention training for student groups: this was piloted last year by a request from me and the outgoing VP finance that I’d like to continue as welcome week involves mass gatherings and education pieces could equip students to be proactive. 3. Supporting the off-campus student population during orientation: we’d like to see continued efforts towards engaging a historically disengaged population in welcome week programming because everyone deserves a good transition into university. 4. Garnering visibility for both our governance branch and our services throughout welcome week: provides a platform and opportunity for first year students to engage with the MSU
Difficulties Sometimes planning processes are less effective with many voices at the table but it’s also important to value student feedback and opinions regarding strategic themes. So, facilitating discussions will be somewhat challenging this year to ensure everyone’s voice is heard without hindering the planning and implementation. Long-term We are looking to ground the structural change with strategic
Page | 10 implications themes now under the MSU’s wing and with success; the long- term implications will include continued student engagement with the planning and implementation of our priorities. How? 1. Delivery of strategic priorities programming: plan campaigning strategies, messaging and events alongside respective working groups – assign a working group lead to facilitate the conversations 2. Bystander Intervention training for student groups: get in touch with Project Soundcheck and coordinate training weekends between targeted student groups 3. Supporting the off-campus student population during orientation: coordinate with SOCS and the off-campus resource center to envision off-campus student engagement during welcome week 4. Garnering visibility for both our governance branch and our services throughout welcome week: integrating SRA members into faculty-specific programming and providing assembly members SRA shirts for heightened recognition. As well, providing service managers priority in accessing a visible location for student engagement
Partners Faculty Societies Coordinator, Part-time Managers, Student Representative Assembly, Project Soundcheck, SOCS Planners, Jennifer Kleven (Off-campus Resource Center)
GOALS to strive for
List 5 things that you would like to have prepared for the beginning of September
1. Strengthening Training Delivery & Orientation 2. Increased Support for the Student Representative Assembly • Resource Library • Clustering Platforms 3. Strengthening Welcome Week Programming 4. Strengthening Support for Part-time Managers • One-on-ones • Collab-space 5. Transitioning the AVPS
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List 5 things you would like to have completed during the fall term (1st)
1. New Training Pieces • Develop a formalized Safe(r) Training model with campus partners, staff and community partners and introducing peer support training modules 2. Increased Support for the Student Representative Assembly • Opportunities to Lead • Caucus Leader Support • Skill-building workshops 3. Strengthening Support for Part-time Managers • Hosting roundtable PTM meetings • Debrief meetings with the Peer Support Department • Developing an upward feedback mechanism 4. Supporting the AVPs • Strengthening relationships with full-time staff 5. Employment Equity Statement
List 5 things you would like to have completed during the winter term (2nd) 1. Strengthening Support for Part-time Managers • Providing professional development opportunities 2. Report on Navigation of HR Issues 3. Workplace Accommodation Policy 4. Increased Support for the Student Representative Assembly • Providing drop-in training sessions for newly elected members 5. Transitioning the incoming VP Administration
Master Summary (calendar and checklist)
May • One-on-ones check-ins with Part-time Managers (on-going) • Training all Part-time Managers (done) • Transitioning the AVPs (done)
June • MSU Orientation (done) • Specializing SRA training (done) • Creating on-boarding package for SRA members (done) • Strengthening Welcome Week Programming (on-going)
July • Culminate a resource library for the SRA
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• Introduce clustered platform groups to the SRA
August • Collab-space • Introducing peer support training modules for our department
September • Caucus Leaders Support: delivery of training • Skill-building workshops for SRA • Opportunities to lead for SRA • Circulating a feedback form for the VP Admin • Strengthening relationships between AVPs and full-time staff
October • Developing a formalized safe(r) campus training model with campus partners, staff and community partners • Debrief meetings with Peer Support Department
November • Hosting round-table PTM meetings
December • Employment Equity Statement
January • Providing professional development opportunities to staff and elected leaders
February • Workplace Accommodation Policy
March • Report on navigating key human resources issues • Providing drop-in training sessions for newly elected members
April • Providing the greatest transition to the new “me,” with a 100- page report (because I do the most).
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YEAR PLAN MSU VICE PRESIDENT (FINANCE) DANIEL TUBA DSOUZA 2017-2018 Submitted June 13th, 2017
Dear Members of the Student Representative Assembly
The following 16 pages outlines the goals and vision that I promised during my election. The role of Vice President (Finance) is one that is truly unique in the spectrum of the McMaster Students Union. While it is difficult to fit into a job description what this role truly is, this document will give you a sense of the things I am currently and will be working on this year.
As the Vice President (Finance) I’m here to provide support to our PTMs and SRA, strategic direction to our business units, represent students as a member of the Board of Directors, and act as a source of knowledge for any and all things student-fee related. The process to get here was difficult and I would not be here without each of your support.
The 14 objectives you see before you are a combination of the ideas you have elected me on after being vetted and mapped out over the past two months. The points and objectives listed here are each novel in nature and are items that are done in addition to projects started by the past Board of Directors and to the day-to-day or expected tasks of the organization and role (ie. training and supporting PTMs, ensuring fiscal responsibility of the organization, working with other BoD members to accomplish their platform points etc.). As discussed during the election process, the three pillars that will guide my actions this year are partnership, outreach, and transparency. I want this assembly to be actively engaged in the discussion and execution of this platform and every step along the way.
As Ryan MacDonald wrote in his year plan last year: “this document is neither exhaustive nor lifeless”. As our year progresses, some of these ideas may change. Ideas may be added and others reformatted. My goal is to continuously update all members of the MSU of the progress on my projects through both reports to this assembly as well as through electronic channels using both the MSU website, our social media accounts, and collect feedback through you – the SRA.
Each of us were elected on a promise we made to enhance the student experience and the only way we can truly do that is by working together. I am incredibly grateful to be able to spend the next year working with all of you to improve the student experience.
Sincerely,
Daniel ‘Tuba’ D’Souza Vice President (Finance) & CFO McMaster Students Union GOALS
Objective 1 The Marauders Nest Description If you ask a student what is one thing they would want on their campus (other than lower tuition) you’ll find that the large majority of students want quick affordable food.
Unfortunately, in the two food selling locations owned by the MSU, only one of them sells food like bagels and sandwiches in a small capacity with little selection. Not to mention the lines for UM pile up between classes, making it difficult to sit down and grab something to eat on your way from the Arts Quad to JHE.
As anyone who has ever eaten in MUSC can attest too, there isn’t much space to sit down and eat. While there is a new building now scheduled to be built in a 3 year horizon, there are still 3 years of students that are going to be faced with congested lounge space, eateries, libraries.
Currently 50% of the 1280 space is only used during club nights and special events. I would like to evaluate converting the space into a Bar/Coffee Shop similar to models at other universities such as Western’s “The Spoke”. Instead of 1280 being seen as purely a restaurant, it becomes a hub for students to socialize, relax, grab a quick bite, or study. A student can walk into 1280 and have the choice to sit down for a meal, order a cooked meal to go, or grab a quick wrap/sandwich/bagel for an affordable price and hang out for 20 minutes before heading to class.
A part of this proposal includes building a prep space in the storage area of UM to make & prep sandwiches in house.
Benefits • Affordable Food • Purposeful Lounge Space • Increased Study Space • New Area for club events • Increased quality of quick lunch options @ UM • Decreased cost of goods for grab & go lunch products
Difficulties • VeryTight summer timeline • Not ideal location (1280) • Will need a hard branding push
Long-term • Increased Food & Beverage offerings to students implications • Increased affordable food options on campus • Increased student input into food & beverage offerings • Healthier, more affordable campus • Increased traffic in 1280 • Increased diversity of lounge and entertainment options
How? • Proposed $99 000 capital allocation to 1280 for the creation of a standalone café • Proposed capital allocation to create a prep space at the back of UM • Facility Services contacted • Proposal + Motion put forward • RFP (Request for proposal) put forward to architects • Timeline for construction created by facility services • September = Soft Launch • October = Full Launch
Partners • General Manager (MSU) • AVP Finance • Food & Beverage Manager (MSU) • Student Food Consultation Working Group • Facility Services • SRA
Objective 2 Online Ordering @ 1280 Description Over the past 4 years 1280 has seen an a decline in food sales totaling to an amount over $100 000. This presents an opportunity to see how we are effectively reaching out to students and advertising prices and food items at 1280.
Currently 1280 has been looking into an online ordering system that will allow students to place an order and pay through their phone or online and pick up their food at the bar.
The current plan is to implement this for September and slowly ramp up promotion as we approach exam season and see a decline in individuals sitting in the restaurant Benefits • Increased ease of ordering food • Brings 1280 into the digital era • Increase 1280 sales
Difficulties • Logistics/tech support & training of staff • Troubleshooting issues expected in the first few months Long-term • Great opportunities for branding and promotion of 1280 implications specials
How? • 7 different companies looked at • Company called ‘ChowNow’ selected • Currently waiting on an official quote from them • July = system implemented • August = Testing & training • September = Soft Launch (no promo) • Gradual Increase in promo throughout year
Partners • 1280 Kitchen Staff • Food & Beverage manager • Michael Wooder, Director Communications & Marketing • John McGowan
Objective 3 Revamped 1280 Club Nights + Integration of MSU Clubs Description 1280 club night attendance has been decreasing over the past few years and saw complaints both in the silhouette and online with some club nights having barely any attendees. The ‘Thirsty Thursday’ model is one that needs to be evaluated and remodeled to match the changing student demographic.
I propose to evaluate current successful/unsuccessful club nights., cut the ones that are not successful, and focus on enhancing the ones that are currently popular with students. With the empty Thursdays we can partner with clubs or other on campus groups that traditionally host club events off campus and offer then a free rental of 1280 + assistance planning their event to keep their events on campus to ensure student safety and drive more traffic into 1280. The planning and promotion of club nights will be hosted by 1280
Benefits • Students kept safe & on campus during non-campus events club nights (MSU clubs, faculty societies, fraternities/sororities, etc.) • More affordable 1280 rental for on campus groups • Increased 1280 attendance + increased 1280 bar sales • Nighttime programming matches students needs
Difficulties • Collaboration between 1280 and CMPE has not been done to this extent before
Long-term • Increased safety on campus implications • Enhanced student experience How? • Bring together 1280 and CMPE to establish a year long plan • Contact clubs/groups that have had past experience with large club-like events • 1280 and campus events already brought on-board • June = plan finalized • July = Groups Contacted • August = Promotions created & begin
Partners • 1280 • Campus Events • Michael Wooder • John McGowan • MSU Clubs • Other On-campus groups
Objective 4 More Premium Events Description With the recent increase in the campus events budget, I’m looking forward to consulting with the new campus events director and the campus events team in more effectively engaging students through an increased diversity of programming that caters to various student groups. This year saw the appearance of a popular hip hop artists for the first time in years and sold out 1280 within a day. The demand for programming alternative to the typical EDM/Indie artists hosted by campus events has been made clear by the student body and is something that can be reflected in increased large-scale programming next year.
To assist in the collection of student input, a committee called the ‘programming advisory committee’ has been created which will work with campus events to conduct surveys of the student body & recommend genres of music. This committee will also collect data from events which will allow us to analyze what events are successful for future years.
Benefits • Increased diversity of events • Enhanced student experience • Increased programming for various groups & cultures on campus
Difficulties • N/A
Long-term • N/A implications How? • Committee has been struck • AVP Finance to consult with programming coordinator how best effectively to utilize the committee • Campus Events responsible for booking artists
Partners • AVP Finance • Campus Events Director • Campus Event Programming Coordinator • FYC Events Chair (on committee) • 1280 Night Staff
Objective 5 Professional Development Opportunities Description The second biggest issue brought up by student’s time and time again is the availability of career building opportunities. While select faculties offer co-ops and have a renewed focus on experiential learning opportunities, there is much that the MSU can do in regards to facilitating this through community partnerships. In consultations with the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce (HCC), Hamilton Economic Development, and the City Manager’s Office student retention and connecting students to local business has been outlined as a priority. Despite this, little progress and integration has been made in that area.
According to the HCC and a wide variety of businesses in Hamilton, local businesses and companies are looking for better ways to interact with local talent. Given abysmal results from the ‘Your City 2.0” survey conducted by the MSU in 2015, it is clear that there is no well developed strategy to engage students with businesses in the city. With the most clicked part of the MSU website being the ‘Jobs’ tab there is plenty of opportunity for the MSU to utilize this space to bridge that gap.
As a minor member of the HCC the MSU already has access to events such as the Bay Area Economic Summit, Breakfast with the Mayor, and all other events that the HCC holds. When consulted, the HCC has said that they are more than willing to have students present at these events but no one ever asks them. Currently the only MSU member who attend these events on behalf of the MSU are the BOD or paid commissioners.
While the SSC has put much focus and attention into its career service, Oscarplus, students still find it difficult to be aware and use these services. Given that students are also paying into the SSC through student affairs, I believe it is in the best interest of the MSU to act as a bridge between students and SSC services so students can have easier access to its services.
I would like to evaluate the possibility of creating a mutually beneficial partnership with the HCC in which MSU support for chamber initiatives & groups (ie. Hamilton HIVE – a young professional group in Hamilton) can be exchanged for increased experiential opportunities for students with chamber events and local businesses while working together with campus partners to effectively centralize the resources currently available on the MSU website.
Benefits • More effectively connect students to experiential opportunities offered by Alumni, the SSC, Community Engagement office and other relevant partners • Create a tangible partnership with the HCC to allow the MSU to more effectively partner with business and community groups • Increase unique networking and professional development opportunities for students • Centralize non-faculty related experiential opportunities for students
Difficulties • Multi-partner project (communication, long time lines etc.) • Establishing a sustainable home for this project within the MSU
Long-term • Increased awareness of experiential opportunities for implications students • Increased ways for students to connect with businesses and young professional groups in Hamilton
How? • Create an economic engagement plan for students outlining our objectives and have this approved by relevant stakeholders • Centralize available university resources onto the MSU website • Negotiate a mutually beneficial partnership with the HCC
Partners • McMaster Alumni Association • Student Success Center • McMaster Office of Community Engagement • Hamilton Chamber of Commerce • Hamilton Economic Development
Objective 6 Sponsorship & Fundraising Package Description Fundraising is a critical aspect of event-focused services such as MSU Horizons, CLAY, Shinerama, and many other clubs of faculty groups looking to host a large-scale event. With a large amount of fundraising experience myself, I would like to look into creating either a workshop or booklet that aims to educate on-campus groups on different types of fundraising methods, how to approach businesses for sponsorships, how to effectively create partnerships with community or other on-campus groups. This training will also include tips on negotiating, pitching, and various resources available in the community for on-campus groups to access.
Benefits • Increased guidance on fundraising techniques for clubs and on campus groups
Difficulties • Lots of consultation with various groups to assess grants available and current sponsorship methods
Long-term • More cohesive sponsorship strategy from the MSU clubs implications department • Potential integration into overall sponsorship strategy from the MSU
How? • This is one of the points that the AVP finance will be focusing on over the first semester/end of the summer
Partners • AVP Finance • MSU Services • MSU Clubs • Faculty Societies • Campus Commercial Partnership Coordinator
Objective 7 Financial & Budgeting Training Description In consultations with on-campus groups, one of the most difficult part of planning a new event or creating a new club is being able to accurately budget your projected finances for the year. There is no central database where an individual can estimated costs for venues, catering, equipment rental etc. Its also difficult to estimate how much you should be spending on food vs programming vs space.
I would like to supplement the event planning package which Ryan MacDonald created by also creating a budgeting package and/or offer workshops to services, clubs, and on- campus groups to fill the knowledge gap that students face when handling a budget for the first time.
Benefits • Increased guidance for on campus groups when planning events • Increased awareness of budgeting technique • MSU groups can more effectively anticipate how much planning an event will cost them and budget/fundraise accordingly
Difficulties • N/A
Long-term • N/A implications How? • This is something the AVP finance will be focusing on throughout the year in consultation with myself and various MSU groups who have hosted events at various venues in the past
Partners • AVP Finance • Programming Coordinator Campus Events • MSU Clubs • Other On-Campus groups
Objective 8 Transparency Description Last year Ryan MacDonald hosted a ‘budget fair’ in which the MSU budget was put into infographics and put on display in MUSC atrium for students to comment and provide feedback on.
This year I would like to take this one step further and create ‘pop up’ budget fairs in various building across campus where students from different faculties congregate such as JHE, BSB, MDCL, LR Wilson, Centro, etc. hosted by the finance committee and various members of SRA so students can voice their concerns about the budget directly to their faculty representatives Benefits • Increased outreach to students • Increased communication between SRA and students • Increased budget transparency • Increased budget feedback for the following year
Difficulties • Coordination between SRA members and Finance committee members throughout the day
Long-term • N/A implications How? • This is a project that the finance committee will be working closely on throughout both first and second semester Partners • AVP Finance • Finance Committee • SRA • Michael Wooder, Director of Communications and Marketing
Objective 9 Discount Card Description In consultations with the outgoing finance commissioner Yelena, we currently have buy-in and strong interest from businesses in being a part of this system aswell as infrastructure in the underground to print and distribute the cards for welcome week. Throughout the summer I would like for this project to be completed and the promotion and distribution of the card during welcome week
This is a project that can fall under the portfolio of the MSU’s new sales lead the Campus Commercial Partnership coordinator as part of a larger advertising plan with the MSU
Benefits • Increased discounts for students at local businesses • Entry level point for businesses to market to students
Difficulties • Campus Commercial Partnership Coordinator only recently hired = tight timeline
Long-term • Fits into an overall sales strategy for the MSU implications How? • When the campus commercial partnership coordinator is hired, this will be one of the projects they will be focusing on integrating into their overall marketing plan for businesses
Partners • Campus commercial partnership coordinator • MSU Underground • Michael Wooder, Director of Marketing
Objective 10 Evaluating the Child Care Center Description As mentioned in the new indigenous students policy, there are concerned brought up by students with children regarding the accessibility of the MSU childcare center. I would like to conduct an evaluation to assess how the services currently offered by the childcare center are being used and how they can be better catered towards students needs. Benefits • Increase awareness of affordable childcare option to students with children Difficulties • The childcare center is restricted by many government regulations which govern staffing numbers, hours of operations, and certain programs.
Long-term • Better support mature students or other students with implications children
How? • Consult Debbie Thompson (Childcare Director) on current challenges faced by the childcare center • Establish a working group of representatives from students groups with high percentages of mature students to discuss current challenges • Form recommendations to the childcare center • Find ways to implement the childcare center into activites run by programs with high rates of mature students
Partners • Debbie Thompson (Childcare Center) • MSU President • Faculty of Nursing • Indigenous Student Programs • Other groups with a large amount of mature students
Objective 11 HSR Implementation Description This year, McMaster University will be the first university to implement a UPASS system to their students. Come September in partnership with the university, we will be distributing 22 000+ presto cards to students. The new presto component adds a new digital aspect to the bus pass which will have to be considered moving forward in negotiations.
This year an agreement will be created with PRESTO, the University, and HSR regarding the topic of data sharing and the forward plan for renewal of the cards and bus passes in the 2018/2019 year. As the first university UPASS system in Ontario, McMaster will play a large role in shaping the program for other universities but will also be faced with many of the starting challenges. My main role as the MSU representative alongside John McGowan and Debbie Good (Compass Manager) will be to ensure that students are not getting pushing aside for the sake of administrative ease aswell as negotiating the MSU percentage of the administrative fee charged in the referendum. Benefits • Increased ease of use for students • Longer term plans for online renewal of passes (instead of a new pass every single year) • Integration with presto and GO bus lines
Difficulties • First time program • Will encounter bugs + kinks in the system • No other references at other universities in Ontario to use
Long-term • Much easier/consistent bus pass system for students implications How? • Continue working with HSR, University, Presto to determine best methods
Partners • HSR • PRESTO • McMaster University • John McGowan • Debbie Good
Objective 12 SAB Consultation Description One of the largest projects the BOD will have to tackle this year is ensuring the continued cooperation of the university to the MoU that was established this year with the new Student Activity Building aswell as properly consulting students in terms of what this student space should look like. While there are already agreed upon spaces such as a grocery store and a multi-faith prayer space, the rest of the building is still a blank slate. A priority of mine this summer is to effectively reach out to students by launching feedback campaigns to see what the major amenities students would like to see in the SAB.
This involves large marketing campaigns, both in person promotional booths and feedback events aswell as an online presence. Currently the SAB Ad-Hoc consultation committee chaired by the AVP finance is meeting weekly to create and launch a consultation plan over the summer. Benefits • A building for students, by students
Difficulties • Tight summer timeline makes extensive consultation difficult BUT we have a wide variety of past data over the past few years
Long-term • This will guide the formation of the new student center implications How? • This committee will make recommendations to the overall SAB committee in regards to what should go in this space • These recommendations will be taken into account within reason when analyzing available space within the building Partners • AVP Finance • SAB Ad-Hoc Consultation Committee • MSU • SRA • Student Affairs • Athletics & Recreation • Facility Services
Objective 13 Frost Week Description Frost Week is something that has consistently lost momentum each year with last year having no large scale programming as it has done in the past. With the restructuring of the campus events budget and new direction of their department I believe there is a great opportunity to try something different.
In consulting with the campus events department before coming into this role, the idea was to host one large scale concert or multiple smaller ones in 1280 that students could get excited about. I think given the clear demand from students for upcoming artists from the GTA (as seen with Roy Woods) this could be a great opportunity to do something very cool.
Benefits • Frost week programming that provides students with the best bang for their buck • Frost week that appeals to a variety of demographics across campus
Difficulties • New campus events director with a lot of large projects infront of her • May be overwhelming to the CMPE department with its recent restructuring
Long-term • N/A implications How? • Sit down mid-summer with Campus and Events and work through a year plan with them highlighting a plan for frost week • Approach other campus stakeholders to partner on this – alleviating the financial burden on the MSU
Partners • Campus Events • Alumni Association • Security Services • Programming Advisory Committee • AVP Finance • 1280
Objective 14 Part Time Staff Wage Review Description With the new increase in minimum wage set for January 2018 and again in January 2019 the MSU will have to evaluate the wages of its part time staff to ensure that all positions are getting paid fairly in respect to the work they do. I plan to build off the wage matrix that was created by Ryan and Shaarujaa last year and build upon it with the new changes to positions currently making under 14$/hour.
Benefits • Students are being paid appropriately for the work they complete • Wage reviews are defined based on merit with respect to the level of service delivery they are providing to students • Promotes consistency across the organization
Difficulties • With a large increase in the minimum wage the MSU must ensure that we can accommodate our staff that doesn’t put the organization at risk and doesn’t place that burden on the backs of student’s fees • With the large jump, considerations must be made as to how the increase affects both contract and salary within the organization so that all of our staff are treated fairly
Long-term • Consistent, sustainable wages in our organization implications How? • Work with the finance committee to assess the impact of the fee increase to our organization and prepare recommendations • Work with the wage review committee to update the wages based on recommendations of the finance committee + the previously established wage matrix
Partners • AVP Finance • Finance Committee • Operations Coordinator • Maggie Gallagher (Comptroller) • Preethi Anbalagan (VP Admin)
Objective 15 Decrease the Cost of Rep Suits Description Near the end of his term Ryan MacDonald started the conversation of bulk ordering rep suits to lower cost for students given the unwillingness of faculty groups to use a portion of their WW levy funding to create a rep suit bursary.
I would like to continue this conversation for implementation in WW 2017.
Benefits • Students in small faculties would not be forced to pay >100$ for a rep suit • Ease of ordering for faculties
Difficulties • Many faculties are bent on tradition, making the unwilling to order from a different supplier • Order timelines must coincide with WW planner schedules • Finding a willing supplier may be difficult given the wide variety of colours and customizations that reps require
Long-term • A step towards an affordable welcome week for student implications volunteers
How? • Find a supplier willing to source and place the order • Negotiate a price point with them • Have the welcome week faculty coordinator and residence orientation planner communicate with them on a consistent basis to coordinate the ordering and customization of the suits • If satisfied, sign a multi-year agreement to lock down the prices for the next few years
Partners • Welcome Week Faculty Coordinator • Residence Orientation Planner • Suit supplier • Accounting Department • Each WW faculty planner
Objective 16 Ensure Campus Events Programming is Student Driven Description Working for campus events for the past 3 years I have seen first hand the disconnect between student wants and the programming we provide. Last year was the first year we changed the genre of artists we provide and saw huge successes with the Roy Woods concert.
I would like to form a committee composed of SRA and students who’s duty it is to assess the student population and provide recommendations to campus events on the types of genres & programming that students would like.
This committee would also be responsible for analysing the events from the campus events department and reporting back to SRA at the end of the year.
Benefits • Better programming for student
Difficulties • Managing unrealistic expectations from students (ie. bringing Drake to campus)
Long-term • More effective programming on campus implications How? • Strike a committee and connect them with Campus Events
Partners • AVP Finance • Campus Events Director • Campus Events Programming Coordinator • SRA • Students
GOALS to strive for
List 6 things that you would like to have completed for the beginning of September - The 1280 Café renovations underway - 1280 Club Night Revamp + Integration of MSU Clubs plan completed - Online Ordering ready to go - SAB Consultation completed - Childcare Center Recommendations made - Discount Card completed & ready to distribute List 6 things you would like to have completed during the fall term (1st) - HSR Implementation - Part-Time Staff Wage Review - WW Suit Deal Completed - Finance & Budgeting package - Premium Events plan for CMPE - Budget Fair 1 List 6 things you would like to have completed during the winter term (2nd) - Frost Week completed - Experiential Opportunities completed - Budget Fair 2 - Marauders Nest be fully functional & plans made for phase 2 of proposal - Create a plan moving forward with the MUSC fund - All ongoing contracts signed and completed with the SAB and HSR
Master Summary (calendar and checklist)
May • #1 Food & Beverage managers consulted on café plan • #1 Food & Beverage manager + 1280 staff consulted on online ordering • #1 1280 Vision Document & Proposal Drafted • #1 Facility Services contracted • #5 Established Primary & Secondary Goals of the McMaster Student Economic Engagement Strategy (MSEES) to complete objective 5 • #15 Find a supplier & negotiate an agreement • #16 Strike a committee through the SRA
June • #1 1280 Café budget allocation • #1 Consultation with design focus group & food concerns focus group • #1 Preliminary design plans completed • #2 Online ordering timeline determined • #3 1280 club night plan established • #5 Consultations for MSEES • #12 Consultation summer plan completed
July • #1 1280 café: Heavy lead items ordered • #1 RFP placed for construction • #2 Online ordering company brought in for setup • #5 Formalize MSEES document with relevant stakeholders • #5 Negotiate formal agreement with the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce to provide student seats at paid events • #7 Discuss how best to best approach event finance & budget training with AVP Finance and Campus Events Programming Coordinator • #9 Determine a year plan for the discount card and how it will integrate with the new sales portfolio of the MSU • #10 Create a formalized plan and set of recommendations for the MSU Childcare Center • #12 Consultations for religious space accomodations completed
August • #1 Flooring + Lighting to be completed & Furniture to arrive • #2 Online ordering system tested • #3,4 1280 Club night promotional material completed & major dates advertised + Premium night dates selected • #10 Create a year plan for the childcare center recommendations • #13 Effect of Wage Increase for 2017/2018 on the organization established
September • #1 Soft launch of café space • #2 Online ordering system slowly rolled out throughout the year • #6 Work with AVP Finance to establish timeline of Sponsorship & Fundraising Packager • #11 HSR PRESTO Implementation + HSR On-Campus • #12 Formal list of recommendations to the Architect completed
October • #1 Full launch of café • #2 Online ordering full launch • #5 Integrate outcomes from MSEES into MSU website/other MSU infrastructure • #5 Establish MSEES outreach strategy • #8 MSU Budget Fair 1 • #13 Short term organizationa; recommendations formed
November • #1 Café evaluation • #12 Frost Week Planning
December • Term 1 Wrap Up & Evaluation of Projects
January • #5 Launch MSEES outreach strategy • #12 Frost Week
February • #8 MSU Budget fair 2 • Conduct PTM consultation on budget for 2018/2019
March • #13 Long-Term recommendations for the organization formed • Conduct internal budget review
April • #6 Sponsorship and Fundraising package completed & plans for clubs distribution established for 2017/2018 year • Submit 2018/2019 budget for approval
YEAR PLAN MSU VICE PRESIDENT (EDUCATION) RYAN DESHPANDE 2017-2018 (submitted JULY 11, 2017)
OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT (EDUCATION) INTRODUCTION
Dear Assembly,
As I said in my platform, I am excited, humbled, and nervous to be a candidate for the MSU VP Education position. Though I have the position now, those feelings remain the same. Being the VP Ed isn’t an easy task. Similar to the President, 22,000 students are relying on me to say the right thing to the right people. They are relying on me to be well-informed, knowledgeable, and skilled in every aspect of post- secondary education. It’s scary. But what these past two months have taught me is that I’m fully capable of rising to that challenge.
Since I was elected, we’ve already seen some amazing changes to post-secondary education across Canada. In Ontario, the government launched the Career Kick Start strategy, investing in work-integrated learning. It also invested money into frontline mental health support, increasing the number of counsellors at Mac. With the provincial election looming over us, this year is going to be incredibly exciting for Ontario.
At the same time, there are other priorities that we have to focus on. Whether it’s a result of the “Trump Effect” or not, Canada is seeing a surge in international students – some of the least supported students who go to school here. We have also seen Indigenous politics come to the forefront of Canadian politics due to the Canada 150 celebrations. How should we as students engage with these issues? In January, McMaster approved its Sexual Violence Prevention & Response policy, and we are seeing increased supports for survivors on campus: but there are issues with that too. Sexual violence is still rampant, and we need a cultural change to one that respects and believes survivors. This is only the tip of the iceberg. There are hundreds of issues that the Education Department can engage with. This is why advocacy is so important.
As my supervisor, I ask you to do one thing: stay informed. Read the news, be aware of what’s going on in the sector, and engage with me about it. I want to know what your priorities are, because chances are it falls into my portfolio. At the end of the day, we can be an unstoppable MSU together.
I didn’t get to say this before, but thank you for putting your faith in me. To be entrusted with this role is an honour. Being a student is part of the core of my being. I am always will be learning. To be a leader in this sector, then, means everything to me. Thank you for this trust.
Yours, Ryan Deshpande
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GOALS
Objective 1 Optimize the Education Department’s Marketing Description With the newly restructured Education Department, we have an obligation to improve outreach and communicate our advocacy priorities and initiatives to the student body. With the loss of the Advocacy Street Team, increased efforts will have to go into optimizing our outreach. Better use facebook for outreach Benefits - More engaged students - Better outreach to gain student input, leading to better representation - Fragmented resources will be consolidated Difficulties - More things to update gets difficult, and the work must be distributed Long-term - Increasing the outreach of the Ed Team will help more implications students get involved, and ensure yearly continuation and transition of the department How? 1. Consolidate and increase likes on Advocacy Facebook pages 2. Restructure the Advocacy tab on the MSU website 3. Restructure and update the online policy bank 4. Provide up to date information on lobbying priorities provincially and federally 5. Create physical promotional materials (stand up banners, posters) Partners - Associate Vice Presidents - Advocacy Project Assistant - Michael Wooder, Marketing and Communications Director - MSU Underground Media + Design
Objective 2 Design and Implement Education Department Training Description While the Education Team has been successful in the past, it has done so without formal training. Imagine then the capabilities of the department if all its members were effectively trained. This includes policy writing, sector knowledge, lobbying training, campaign design, research skills, and more. Benefits - A highly efficient, prepared team - Higher quality and more impactful advocacy Difficulties - This is potentially expensive and difficult to sustain year to
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year Long-term - A framework that can be used from year to year will be implications developed, even if the exact format isn't followed. This will ensure that future education teams can use the training and update it with what's relevant in the sector at the time. How? 1. Establish and maintain communication with all the staff and volunteers of the Education Department 2. Reach out to content experts to design and deliver training 3. Book training dates and coordinate logistics Partners - Associate Vice Presidents - Michael Wooder, Marketing and Communications Director - OUSA Research & Policy Analysts - Office of Community Engagement - City of Hamilton
Objective 3 Build the MSU’s Advocacy Capacity Description Many staff and volunteers join the MSU because they’re passionate and want to make changes on this campus. Most of these individuals are not part of the Education Department, and are not familiar with the MSU's advocacy process. This year I want to train the PTMs, SRA, and FYC in advocacy to better equip the MSU with the ability to do advocacy. Benefits - The MSU will be more impactful on and outside of campus - More people will be on board with the organizational vision and stances - Policy stances would distributed amongst the organization Difficulties - I cannot manage everyone who does advocacy, and thus cannot make sure they are doing it effectively. Rather, I can offer support when I'm reached out to (so reach out to me!) - With more people striving for changes, there is the possibility of meetings going badly and stakeholder relationships to be compromised Long-term - Design a framework for training that can be used annually implications - Ensure recipients are transitioning their successors with the skills they've learned and continuing the previous year's efforts. How? 1. Deliver short training during SRA and PTM training weekends, delivering the most useful content for the relevant group 2. Email out relevant policies to Part Time Managers so they know the MSU's stances
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3. Create a network of the Social & Political Advocacy Coordinators of services Partners - Part Time Managers - Student Representative Assembly - First Year Council
Objective 4 Refine the MSU Policy Development Process Description Last year, the framework for the new policy development process was set up with the changes to Operating Policy - Education & Advocacy Department. This year, those changes will launch and I have to ensure they run smoothly. As per my platform, the following policies will be written, subject to any immediate changes required: Term 1 - Health & Wellbeing - Work Integrated Learning - Academic Success Term 2 - Transit - Sustainability - Sexual Violence Prevention & Response
In addition, I hope to make Policy Conference more impactful since it is required for the SRA to attend. I also will move it to the week before so the final policy is posted to the SRA Documents website. Benefits - Better developed, researched, and impactful policies - More time for authors and SRA members to read the policies with them being posted on the MSU website Difficulties - Increasing attendance at Policy Conference - Ensuring authors are diligent and stick to deadlines Long-term - Since this has been codified in the OP, this structure will implications likely stick for a while
How? 1. 3 policies will be written per term, with one Advocacy & Policy Research Assistant assigned to each policy 2. The policies will not be written from the Standing Committees, but rather with authors from each committee joining a separate policy committee, chaired by an APRA 3. The Policy Conference dates will be moved one week earlier to give the authors more time, and to allow for more
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feedback to be incorporated into the policies Partners - Advocacy & Policy Research Assistants - Advocacy Project Assistant
Objective 5 Establish the New Education SRA Standing Committees Description This is the first year the MSU has had a Municipal Affairs and Provincial/Federal Affairs standing committee, and this year will define the committee for years to come. That is why it is incredibly important these committees are well supported and well planned. Benefits - Ensure the success of the committees and avoid restructuring due to failure - Empowered staff and volunteers Difficulties - There is no precedent for these committees Long-term - As mentioned, this will set the precedent for how the implications committees will operate for years to come
How? 1. Train the AVPs with management training so they can effectively lead their committees 2. Ensure I am a good manager who checks in regularly and supports the AVPs in setting the year up 3. Assigning tasks and creating plans together Partners - Stephanie Bertolo, AVP Municipal Affairs - Urszula Sitarz, AVP Provincial & Federal Affairs - Student Representative Assembly
Objective 6 Evaluate the New Education Department Structure Description Everything will be done to ensure the success of this year’s Education Department, but it is still a brand new structure and needs to be critically evaluated at the end of the year. Benefits - Ensures we have the most optimized structure Difficulties - Could result in further changes to the Ed Department Long-term - Ed Department could undergo further changes as it has implications done in the past
How? 1. Collect feedback forms from staff members mid year 2. Evaluate how different parts of the Ed Department are functioning in the new structure (campaigns, policy, lobbying) through pre-set metrics 3. Write a report at the end of the year for the SRA
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Partners - Board of Directors
Objective 7 Sustainability Working Group Committee: Research & Strategy Description Based on some of the outreach I have done, there is still an appetite for sustainability efforts through the MSU. While this wasn’t a big part of my platform, we have the infrastructure to do it through the Sustainability Working Group Committee. I want for this committee to assist with the Sustainability Policy and help coordinate sustainability efforts across the university, as many stakeholders are at the table. Benefits - Addresses the gap of student led sustainability efforts - Brings together stakeholders across campus - Could provide valuable recommendations to all levels of government and the university Difficulties - This committee hasn’t proven to be effective in the past, so extra work will need to be done this year Long-term - Outcomes of this committee can influence campus-wide implications changes
How? 1. Appoint a chair at the first meeting 2. Ensure the Advocacy Project Assistant attends the meetings to provide logistical support 3. Set a plan at the beginning of the year that involves sustainability research and the development of a campus sustainability strategy Partners - David Lee, AVP University Affairs - Advocacy Project Assistant - Student Representative Assembly
Objective 8 Health Services Review Description Continuing the work of the University Affairs Committee last year, this is a primary research initiative I want to conduct to inform the Health & Wellbeing policy paper. Benefits - We will identify the gaps in health services across campus outside the MSU to influence recommendations to the university Difficulties - Ensuring maximum participation in the survey will be difficult Long-term - The policy paper will be valid for 3 years implications
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How? 1. The survey has already been designed. Once the APRAs are hired, I will assign one to this project and they will review the survey to ensure it meets today’s needs 2. We will launch the survey in collaboration with SHEC and promote it through there 3. Data analysis will be conducted by the fall to assist policy authors Partners - David Lee, AVP University Affairs - Sutina Chou, SHEC Coordinator - Advocacy & Policy Research Assistant
Objective 9 Academic Affairs Council: Supporting Our Faculty Societies Description I see a lot of potential for the Academic Affairs Council, and this year I want it to be a space where Faculty Society VP Academics can accomplish their common platform points. In addition, similar to last year I want to bring a work integrated learning project to AAC. Benefits - Increased Faculty Society-MSU relations - More University-wide academic improvements - VP Academics have closer relationships with their Faculty offices than myself or the Ed Department would Difficulties - Participation in AAC has traditionally been low Long-term - System-wide changes can improve student life for implications generations
How? 1. Call a meeting toward the end of the summer or September, and have this meeting has a brainstorming and collaboration session 2. Identify priorities for the year and projects that can be accomplished together Partners - David Lee, AVP University Affairs - Ive Velikova, Macademics Coordinator - Faculty Society VP Academics
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Objective 10 Academic Success Description Improvements to the academic experience for McMaster students could take hundreds of forms. I propose to tackle a few of them this year, with incremental changes beginning now and setting the stage for larger scale changes in the future. This is a priority for the SRA as well, who continuously run their campaigns with platforms that prioritize academic improvements for their faculties. I hope for this to be a University-wide coordinated effort. Benefits - Provides coordinated recommendation to the University from the SRA and Ed Department Difficulties - Many academic related changes are slow and difficult to implement - Academic changes require faculty buy-in Long-term - Changes to University policy implications How? 1. I want to be a student editor on the University’s Undergraduate Course Management Policy, where things such as the Assessment Ban and exam scheduling are set. The policy is being reviewed this year. 2. For things I am unsuccessful in changing, they will go into the Academic Success MSU policy for future years to lobby on Partners - Susan Searls-Giroux, McMaster AVP (Faculty), Acting Provost - David Wilkinson, McMaster Provost & VP (Academic) - Arshad Ahmed, McMaster AVP (Teaching and Learning) - David Lee, AVP University Affairs
Objective 11 Indigenizing McMaster Description As per my platform, I have to main ways I want to support Indigenous initiatives at Mac. The first are the addition of Indigenous flags on BSB field, and the second is assisting in the creation of Truth & Reconciliation Commission-related undergraduate course that will ideally be mandatory for all students. Finally, I hope to continue Indigenous student support by regularly meeting with the existing groups on campus and connecting them to the MSU’s advocacy. Benefits - Increase the MSU’s connection and support of Indigenous groups - Cultural shifts at Mac with regards to attitudes and stereotypes against Indigenous people - Better curriculum that respects Indigenous ways of knowing Difficulties - Students are often opposed to a course requirement or learning outside their degree requirements in an area they
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didn’t choose - There is not enough capacity within the Indigenous Studies Program to host a mandatory course for all students Long-term - Several of these changes would be long-term changes at implications Mac
How? 1. Set up a preliminary meeting with ISP to discuss the changes and propose the idea of the flags and discuss progress on the course 2. Gain Presidential endorsement of these ideas 3. Set up meetings with Facility Services to discuss implementation 4. Use existing committees to develop the course and assess the feasibility of making it required Partners - Vanessa Watts, McMaster Academic Director of Indigenous Studies - Patrick Deane, McMaster President - James Knibb-Lamouche, McMaster Associate Director Indigenous Student Services - Joint Indigenous-Administration Consultation Committee - McMaster Indigenous Student Community Alliance (MISCA) - Cooperative of Indigenous Studies Students & Alumni (CISSA)
Objective 12 Food Security Description McMaster’s state of food insecurity is particularly dangerous because we have no data to understand its scope. This is why I want to lobby to Hospitality Services to pressure them to hire a food security analyst. This person will ideally run a climate survey on campus as well as provide recommendations to lower food insecurity at Mac. Benefits - More affordable, nutritious food - A better understanding of what improvements need to be made Difficulties - Hospitality Services might not be on board with hiring this individual Long-term - If successful, these changes could be very important for implications McMaster students, providing more affordable food across campus
How? 1. Meet with the Director of Hospitality Services and propose the idea of hiring this individual
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2. Lobby to University Administration to allocate funding for this opportunity Partners - Chris Roberts, McMaster Director of Hospitality Services - Roger Couldrey, McMaster VP (Administration)
Objective 13 University Budget Submission Description This year, I want the University Budget Submission to be a focus. The last one was very well received, and I hope for this one to be just as impactful and realistic. Some of the priorities I want to include are: - Food Security Analyst - Funding for EFRT - Funding for Student Support Services
Benefits - An easily digestible format for the University to take our considerations into the budget Difficulties - Lots of research needs to go into it Long-term - Our considerations will go into the budget and will ideally implications be locked in for 3 years
How? - Develop priorities for the budget - Research past budgets and where money has been allocated Partners - Daniel Tuba D'Souza, VP Finance - David Lee, AVP University Affairs - Advocacy & Policy Research Assistant
Objective 14 Municipal Budget Submission Description With a new Municipal Affairs committee, we have more support to do more forms of lobbying to the City of Hamilton. This budget submission will be a way to influence the municipal budget in a way that benefits students. Some of the priorities I want to include are: - Reconsideration of the Ward 1 bylaw enforcement program - Increased sustainability practices for waste collection and management
Benefits - Establish a new form of lobbying for the MSU - Influence the city budget Difficulties - Some of our needs with the City are not met through a budget, so this will not be all encompassing
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Long-term - If money is allocated by the City, many positive long term implications changes to student life will be observed
How? 1. Set up a preliminary meeting with the AVP MA and APRA to set priorities for the submission 2. Consult the City on where the budget is best suited to meet the needs of McMaster students 3. Conduct research and write reports to influence the submission 4. Create the submission document and deliver it to stakeholders Partners - Stephanie Bertolo, AVP Municipal Affairs - Advocacy & Policy Research Assistant
Objective 15 Off Campus Student Support Description A vision that Chukky and I share this year is support of off-campus students. Right now, there are many services in place for off campus students, but they have limited communication with one another and the service provision is not optimized. Titled “Neighbourhood Assistance”, I hope to bring these stakeholders together and create a committee where they can interact, share best practises, and develop new service provision strategies. Benefits - More streamlined support for students, and increased collaboration between MSU services and university partners Difficulties - Getting everyone to meet and prioritize the committee Long-term - Recommendations to our own services can be incorporated implications to make them better
How? 1. Create an Operating Policy for the new council, “Neighbourhood Assistance Advisory Council” 2. Have this committee meet and devise a plan for the year, with the goal of improving service provision and conducting research Partners - SCSN Coordinator - Stephanie Bertolo, AVP Municipal Affairs - Society of Off Campus Students - McMaster Off Campus Resource Centre - Commuter in Residence Experience (CoRE) Program - Chukky Ibe, MSU President
Objective 16 Landlord Rating System
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Description With municipal landlord licensing a far off dream, I want to implement an effective landlord rating system, titled the Landlord Wiki. It doesn’t take long browsing through Spotted at Mac or housing groups to see people distressed about their landlords, or unsure if the house they’re moving into has a good landlord. Students are already rating their landlords on Facebook, but there is no centralization of this information. This is why I want to develop this system under the MSU. - Develop a rating system that is accessible to students, properly researched and developed - House it under an MSU service Benefits - Better accountability for landlords - A more realistic preview of student housing for first years who are looking for their first house Difficulties - Maintaining and populating these Wikis requires a lot of work Long-term - This can be taken up by the City or another stakeholder implications once the need has been met
How? 1. Do background research to establish the need for this system, documenting landlord abuses and tenant expressions of these abuses 2. Design the rating system questions and have them evaluated by the MSU lawyer 3. Build the infrastructure into the MSU website 4. Launch the Wiki and house it under SCSN next year Partners - SCSN Coordinator - Chukky Ibe, President - Stephanie Bertolo, AVP Municipal Affairs - Kathleen Quinn, SRA Social Sciences - Pauline Taggart, Network Administrator
Objective 17 Municipal Post-Secondary Advisory Group Description There have long been conversations about a “Municipal HPSAG” but not much headway made on this. This year, we have had appetite from the mayor's office to initiate a Mayor’s post secondary advisory group including the McMaster, Mohawk, and Redeemer student associations. Benefits - Have students concerns brought directly to the Mayor, ensuring they are more likely to be raised city wide Difficulties - The municipal election is in just over a year and this may not sustain afterwards
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Long-term - This is largely dependent on the outcome of the municipal implications election
How? - Establish a partnership with Mohawk and Redeemer through our existing channels (HPSAG) - Come forward as a united front to the Mayor, who has already expressed interest in this initiative - Ensure this committee is enshrined in the responsibilities of a full time staff member Partners - Board of Directors - Michael Wooder, Marketing & Communications Director - City of Hamilton Mayor's Office - Aidan Johnson, Ward 1 Councillor - Stephanie Bertolo, AVP Municipal Affairs
Objective 18 Transit Advocacy: LRT and Beyond Description Last year was very big for Light Rail Transit in Hamilton. The environmental assessment was passed – but it is only one step of many that has to be considered before we finally see the project a reality. Continuous advocacy is needed, and a public display of the MSU’s support will benefit this. Contingent on Municipal Affairs Committee, the Ed Team would like to run another LRT-related campaign. I also want to have a more integrated effort for our advocacy, working with other municipal stakeholders such as the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce. Finally, our transit advocacy is not well defined, and thus we will be rewriting the transit policy this year. Benefits - The City will continue to see the MSU as a stakeholder in municipal issues - We will hopefully get LRT and other service improvements! - Bus shelters can be installed for on campus transit Difficulties - Funding for bus shelters might not be readily available due to LRT Long-term - The transit improvements will spread McMaster students implications further downtown and better integrating us with the City
How? 1. Attend and participate in the HCC’s LRT Task Force 2. Attend City Council meetings 3. As per the new policy development process, write the transit policy for term 2 Partners - Board of Directors - Michael Wooder, Marketing & Communications Officer
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- Hamilton Chamber of Commerce - Stephanie Bertolo, AVP Municipal Affairs
Objective 19 AWCA Membership Description The Ainslie Wood Community Association is composed of residents of one of the two communities most close to campus. I would like to pursue obtaining membership for SRA Municipal Affairs Committee members to sit on this committee and represent students. Last year we pursued membership on the AWWCA, and Stephanie has already begun attending these meetings. Benefits - Improved strained relationships with permanent residents in the community - Giving students the opportunity to advocate on behalf of their constituents Difficulties - Some residents harbour ill feelings towards students Long-term - Better relations and interactions between residents and implications students in the community.
How? - Contact the AWCA and purchase membership on their committee Partners - Stephanie Bertolo, AVP Municipal Affairs
Objective 20 Strengthen Regular Municipal Advocacy Description With initiatives such as MPSAG and AWCA, our municipal advocacy will strengthen. However, I also want to do so at other levels such as City Council and the Rental Housing Sub Committee. Benefits - Increased presence of the MSU in the city - More effective advocacy with an established reputation Difficulties - People do not often take students seriously since we are thought to be transient Long-term - Easier advocacy and establishing the reputation of the MSU implications How? 1. Have the APRAs read through city council agendas and prepare briefs if they are relevant to students 2. Attend city council (at least 3) and other committee meetings and speak on behalf of students Partners - Stephanie Bertolo, AVP Municipal Affairs - Advocacy & Policy Research Assistant
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Objective 21 Provincial Election Preparation Description The upcoming provincial election is scheduled to happy any time before June 7, 2018. This is not a very helpful time grame, and that means we have to be prepared for anything. Through OUSA, we will influence platform development of all parties and set up a tentative Get Out the Vote campaign (MacVotes). I will set up my successor to engage with this election effectively. Benefits - Increased voter turnout - Student issues being considered in the election Difficulties - Uncertainty of the election time makes it difficult to plan Long-term - The new provincial government will be in power for 4 years, implications so having our priorities on their agenda will make it a good 4 years for students
How? 1. Meet with each party leader through OUSA 2. Run a voter registration campaign highlighting student issues 3. Run a MacVotes campaign if the election is before my term ends Partners - Stephanie Bertolo, AVP Municipal Affairs - Advocacy & Policy Research Assistant - McMaster Office of Public Affairs - Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance
Objective 22 Economic Engagement + Work Integrated Learning Description Working with Tuba, I want to start a comprehensive economic engagement strategy based out of the MSU for McMaster students. There are so many existing resources that exist, and I want to centralize these resources for students providing opportunities and allowing students to take charge of their careers while in school. Part of this includes making use of the new Career Kick Start funding promised by the provincial government. I will work with Student Affairs to write a student-focused proposal for this funding. In addition, OUSA has made WIL a priority this year, so we will lobby for upfront grants for small businesses. Benefits - Increased career support for students - Centralization of resources - More WIL opportunities for students - Career preparedness Difficulties - The funding available is uncertain - Businesses are not always open to hiring students Long-term - A more prepared student workforce implications
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How? 1. Meet with relevant stakeholders and devise a strategy to engage them through the MSU 2. Lobby to the government for WIL with OUSA 3. Engage AAC in going back to their Faculty offices to lobby for more WIL opportunities 4. Lobby to the HCC to incentivize their businesses in hiring students Partners - Daniel Tuba D'Souza, VP Finance - Hamilton Chamber of Commerce - Student Success Centre - McMaster Alumni Association - Office of Community Engagement - City of Hamilton - Academic Affairs Council - Faculty Experiential Education Offices - Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance
Objective 23 Sexual Violence Prevention & Response Description SVRP is an OUSA priority this year, meaning we will lobby for increased funding, support, legislation, and infrastructure to support sexual violence prevention. At McMaster, I want to work on implementing training for all incoming undergraduates. Benefits - Cultural change on campus that addresses rape culture - Alignment with Bill 132 Difficulties - The scale is very big and we have limited resources at Mac Long-term - Cultural changes across the province implications How? 1. Lobby to the provincial government with OUSA 2. Use the Sexual Violence Education Team to develop and disseminate training for next year Partners - Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance - Preethi Anbalagan, VP Administration - McMaster Sexual Violence Education Team - Padmaja Sreeram, WGEN Coordinator - McMaster Equity and Inclusion Office
Objective 24 Open Educational Resources Description This year, OERs are an OUSA priority – though we do not have a defined stance on it. This means an interim policy paper will be written through OUSA. In September, we want to run an OER
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campaign that highlights textbook costs and the availability of free educational resources. Benefits - Affordable course materials for students Difficulties - Faculty buy in is required for this to succeed, we need provincial support and incentivizing Long-term - Student ancillary costs will be lowered implications How? 1. Lobby to University Administration to incentivize buy-in to OERs 2. Lobby to the provincial government to invest in ECampus Ontario 3. Run an OER campaign that highlights them as an issue for students right when they are buying textbooks Partners - Urszula Sitarz, AVP Provincial & Federal Affairs - Advocacy Project Assistant - Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance - Chukky Ibe, MSU President - ECampus Ontario
Objective 25 OUSA Indigenous Students Policy Description One of the policies coming up this fall at OUSA General Assembly is OUSA's policy on Ancillary Fees. I will be an author on this paper alongside Urszula to ensure that the paper reflects the MSU's vision for Indigenous Students in Ontario. Benefits - Paper will be reflective of our current Indigenous Students Policy in the MSU Difficulties - Will be a big project Long-term - This policy will be advocated on for 3 years implications How? - Will write the paper throughout first term Partners - Urszula Sitarz, AVP Provincial & Federal Affairs - OUSA Research Analyst (Marc Gurrisi)
Objective 6 OUSA Health & Wellness Policy Description One of the potential policies coming up for the Winter OUSA General Assembly is OUSA's policy on Health & Wellness. If this policy is approved for writing, I will be an author on this paper. Benefits - Paper will be reflective of our current advocacy - Aligns well with writing the MSU Health & Wellness paper Difficulties - Will be a big project
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Long-term - This policy will be advocated on for 3 years implications How? 1. Fall OUSA GA will vote on whether they want this paper written 2. I will write the paper throughout second term Partners - OUSA Research Analyst (Colin Aitchison)
Objective 6 Mental Health - Provincial Strategy Description An outcome of the mental health forum run by the MD students advocacy group was for a coordinated effort between students and the provincial government in devising a mental health strategy. My inititial meeting with Ted McMeekin has shown appetite for this, and mental health is also an OUSA priority this year. Benefits - Student input gets to shape this completely - Better mental health outcomes for students Difficulties - This is an election year and initiatives might not be long term if housed under the government or not put into legislation before the election - This is still just a concept and hasn’t taken shape yet Long-term - If this is put into legislation or carried forward through the implications VP Ed or AVP PFA, it can continue. This year, it will likely be in the initial stages only
How? 1. Have continuous meetings with Ted’s Office 2. Task the APRA with research the current climate and provide recommendations 3. Do this alongside the Health & Wellness Policy Paper 4. Consult with students and stakeholders to form the strategy and what we want the outcomes to be 5. Present the strategy to the Minister of Health & MAESD Partners - Urszula Sitarz, AVP Provincial & Federal Affairs - Advocacy & Policy Research Assistant - Ted McMeekin, MPP Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough— Westdale - Dr. Eric Hoskins, Ontario Minister of Health - Deb Matthews, Ontario Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development - Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance
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Objective 6 Attend CASA Policy & Strategy Conference Description Although we are not members of CASA, we still have a good relationship with the organization that is important to maintain without a formal federal lobbying organization. With that in mind, we should attend CASA Stratcon to influence the priorities of CASA for the upcoming year.
Benefits - Able to have MSU input in federal advocacy - Build relationships with other student unions - Assess CASA on future membership options - Maintain a positive relationship with CASA Difficulties - Potentially expensive - Spending days out of the office Long-term - It is becoming a trend for us to attend CASA’s conferences implications – meaning they will likely start to listen to our asks
How? - Arrange with CASA executive director Partners - Urszula Sitarz, AVP Provincial & Federal Affairs - Chukky Ibe, MSU President - Michael MacDonald, CASA Executive Director
Objective 6 Lobby with ADVOCAN Description Last year, ADVOCAN (comprised of University of British Columbia Alma Mater Society, University of Saskatchewan Students' Union, University Students' Council at Western University, Queen's Alma Mater Society, University of Toronto Students' Union, University of Waterloo Federation of Students, and the University of Manitoba Students Union) organized a lobbying week for federal advocacy in Ottawa. The MSU did not take part in this. This year, I would like to. Benefits - Low commitment, with no funds required aside from travel costs - Larger impact on the budget - The U15 schools carry lots of weight Difficulties - With so many schools, it is hard to get MSU's priorities on board - Some schools do not want to join ADVOCAN because of existing relationships with CASA or CFS Long-term In the future, this would become an annual lobbying week that implications hopefully all students unions from top 15 research intensive schools in Canada would participate in. By increasing membership and having an earlier lobbying week, we set the group up for
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success and a large impact on the federal budget
How? - Working with schools to have calls and decide on priorities and briefs - Using our own resources from our organizations to promote and do research for the group - Deciding on a week and setting up meetings with various MPs Partners - Urszula Sitarz, AVP Provincial & Federal Affairs - ADVOCAN schools
GOALS to strive for
List 5 things that you would like to have prepared for the beginning of September 1. Neighbourhood Assistant Advisory Council 2. Indigenous Flags on Campus 3. Federal Advocacy Plan decided 4. Build the MSU’s Advocacy Capacity 5. Strengthen Municipal Advocacy
List 5 things you would like to have completed during the fall term (1st) 1. Budget Submissions (University and Municipal) 2. Lobby weeks – OUSA and Federal 3. OUSA Indigenous Students Policy passed 4. Open Educational Resources Campaign 5. Voter Registration Campaign
List 5 things you would like to have completed during the winter term (2nd) 1. Economic Engagement Strategy 2. Landlord Wiki Launch 3. Sexual Violence Training implemented 4. Evaluate Education Department 5. Have all 6 policies completed and passed
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Master Summary (calendar and checklist)
May • Optimize Ed Team’s marketing
June • Neighbourhood Assistance Advisory Council OP • Build the MSU’s advocacy capacity
July • Hiring • Establish standing committees • Attend CASA Strat Con • Food Security Analyst
August • Ed team training • Refine policy process • Indigenous Flags • Sustainability working group
September • Health Services review • Academic Affairs council • MPSAG • OER Campaign
October • University Budget Submission • Municipal Budget Submission • OUSA Indigenous Students Policy/OUSA GA • MacVotes 1.0
November • AWCA Membership • Term 1 Policy Con
December • Launch Economic Engagement Strategy •
January • Launch Landlord Wiki • Academic Success changes
February • Transit advocacy/campaign • Provincial Mental Health Strategy
March • Evaluate Ed Team’s structure • Sexual Violence Training • Term 2 Policy Con • OUSA GA
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April • MacVotes 2.0 • Transition new VP Ed
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YEAR PLAN MSU SRA Arts and Science Sunny Yun 2017-2018 (submitted Tuesday, July 11, 2017)
OFFICE OF THE Arts and Science Caucus INTRODUCTION
Dear Board of Directors and fellow SRA Members,
Welcome to the Arts and Science 2017-18 year plan. For the ArtSci Caucus, the unifying theme throughout this year will be expanding opportunities. In the following document, you will see that I have outlined 5 major goals for the Arts and Science Caucus: Monthly Videos for Arts and Science Constituents, Inter-Year Arts and Science Socials, Introduce Networking and Job Opportunities to Arts and Science Students, Advocate for Mental Health Supports/Host a Mental Health Initiative, and Increase Online Presence of SRA Arts and Science.
By: • engaging constituents with interesting, accessible online content, • hosting inter-year events to introduce students of the ArtSci program to one another who might not have otherwise had the opportunity to meet and build community, • breaking down barriers to discussions on mental health, wellbeing, and illness, and • providing avenues by which ArtSci students can learn through networking with Hamilton/GTA organization representatives and explore potential career paths,
we will introduce ArtScis (and hopefully reach many more other McMaster undergrads in the process) to new ways in which they can engage with their community socially, politically, and professionally.
If you have any questions about the SRA Arts and Science year plan, feel free to call me, beep me, if you want to reach me. Truthfully, this is so exciting! I love projects, and I love the process of growth and change; and what better opportunity is there to make a splash of growth and change for our fellow undergrads? I am so ready to collaborate with all of you to achieve some wonderful accomplishments for our fantastic, welcoming, and driven school. Bring it on, 2017-18.
Faithfully yours, Sunny Yun SRA Arts and Science Caucus Leader 2017-18
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GOALS
Objective 1 Monthly Videos for Arts and Science Constituents Description Arts and Science students, as a whole, tend not to be too heavily engaged with developments from the SRA. In previous years, Arts and Science students have been informed about SRA-related occurrences with email from the SRA representative. However, these emails were sometimes quite lengthy and therefore not many people read them in full or were too intrigued to sift through the jargon. I would like to introduce monthly videos for Arts and Science students that are exciting for them to watch because they touch on issues that the students care about. Benefits Increase excitement around student politics and the SRA for Arts and Science students. Show them what their representative is doing on behalf of the faculty and hopefully pique enough interest so that by the time the next SRA election season comes around, there are more than just a couple of candidates from the Arts and Science program. Difficulties Producing content that will touch on a) what Arts and Science students care about and b) will be exciting. In order to address a), I hope to have some great discussions with Arts and Science students during office hours and through the Google Doc that I will introduce for the students to contact me. In order to address b), I will begin looking around for connections to a videographer, or someone who understands how to increase the production value and appeal of videos. Furthermore, I have ideas to engage guests in these videos, including other SRA members, prominent student leaders, and professors, which would intrigue viewers. Long-term Social media and digital platforms for sharing what is implications happening around campus are increasingly popular year by year. Increasingly we also live in a highly visual culture. With videos (of not too long length) we could get more students interested in the SRA and student politics at McMaster. This, in turn, would hopefully encourage them to share their opinions on how to make our university a better school. How? Each month, plan out the theme of the video and any guests who might be on the video. The videos may be simple updates on what is occurring in the SRA, interviews, or short-length “poll” videos of students at McMaster. Produce and share the video via digital platforms, including social media.
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Partners Guests for videos – student leaders, SRA members, professors To be determined – videographers
Objective 2 Inter-Year Arts and Science Socials Description While each independent year in Arts and Science tends to be quite close socially (mainly due to the large number of shared classes and chances for engagement), there tends to be less interaction between the various years. I would like to continue to encourage the close-knit nature of the Arts and Science program as a whole by providing more structured (as opposed to informal get-togethers) on-campus and off-campus for all of the different years. A couple of initial ideas for socials include: Speed Meeting between the years and Sib Family Paired Coffee Dates and Scavenger Hunts around the City of Hamilton. Benefits The primary benefit of hosting more social events that engage students of all years in Arts and Science is to create a closer community feel within the program. Although the program is already quite small, interaction between the years may be increased outside of purely the academic realm by introducing social events such as the ones proposed above. Difficulties The difficulty with any type of social event is having good promotions and attracting enough people to come out to the event itself. Within Arts and Science we will utilize the email account and our various social media platforms to do outreach. Long-term By forming closer relationships between students of the implications various years in Arts and Science, there will be a more open feel to the social nature of the program. Students will not only make more friends in the program and share their interests with one another, but also be more inclined to reach out to one another for academic purposes and networking. How? I will work with SASSEx, and more closely with their Social Coordinator, to ensure that we provide programming that appeals to all of the years. We will review what types of programs in the past have produced the highest turnout and implement the successful elements of those programs in our events for Inter-Year Social Functions. Partners SASSEx – Society of Arts and Science Students
Objective 3 Introduce Networking and Job Opportunities for Arts and Science Students Description As it stands, the Arts and Science program does not have a career advisory department. Furthermore, for Arts and Science
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students (who study in a liberal arts/interdisciplinary program by its nature) there are virtually zero targeted job postings on McMaster-run sites such as OscarPlus. I would like to work with the Director of the Arts and Science program and the other Arts and Science staff administrators to begin building a network of professional organizations that would like to network or recruit from our cohort of interdisciplinary-based students. Benefits Arts and Science students often joke that they do not know what to do with their degrees post-graduation. A lot of the students in Arts and Science apply and come to the program because they are interested in many different fields and want to expand their knowledge in the liberal arts sense. However, the program is not the most successful at teaching students how to market their degree in terms of an elevator pitch of what their education is. By creating networking and recruitment opportunities for Arts and Science students, they will gain exposure to different fields of work that they could potentially be interested in. Furthermore, it establishes for the program the Career element, which is increasingly important to new grads. Networking and building a name for Arts and Science students in our community (Hamilton and the GTA) will provide the program with increased legitimacy, not simply in the academic sense in which it already exists but in terms of career building. Difficulties This project will take a lot of coordination with various organizations and administrators within the Arts and Science Program itself. Since networking opportunities, co-op opportunities, and job help have never been previously offered by the Arts and Science Program, this will be a large undertaking that may require a flexible timeline with many consulting sessions between different community partners. Long-term Long term, I could see a project like this having tremendous implications and wonderful effects on the Arts and Science program. While we would never want to turn the program into simply a vocational degree, it is important to teach Arts and Science students, via opportunities such as networking and career recruitment, the ability to market their degree and express the unique nature of their interdisciplinary, liberal arts education (as well as any program that they might have chosen to Combine their degree with). Furthermore, a networking engagement project such as this may open many doors for Arts and Science students, potentially allowing them to gain their first exposure to a life-long interest in a particular career
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or job field. How? Consult with Pearl (previous SRA Arts and Science representative) for the work that she might have begun organizing job and networking opportunities for Arts and Science students, specifically as it pertains to Hamilton organizations and GTA partners. Set up meetings with the Director and Administrators of the Arts and Science Program. Work with other caucuses on the SRA that might be interested in providing more networking and job opportunities for their students. The different faculties interested in hosting these career nights may collaborate and fuse their events together. Partners Potential collaboration with other caucuses such as the SRA Commerce Caucus that might already have networking/career events in place for their program; professional organizations and their representatives within the Hamilton and GTA area; working closely with the Director of the Arts and Science Program and Arts and Science Program Administrators
Objective 4 Advocate for Mental Health Supports/Host a Mental Health Initiative Description In response to the greater demand on Canadian university campuses for mental health support, I would like to be an advocate for initiatives that continue to support students’ mental wellbeing. Without this baseline of mental health, it may be more challenging for students to focus on the academic and extracurricular aspects of their university experience. While I will be an advocate for mental health supports generally as the year offers us various motions and proposals for initiatives, I am also interested in hosting, or collaborating with another MSU partner to host, a mental health initiative. This is yet to be determined, however may take the shape of a campaign (such as with informational flyers, posters, and student engaged-interactive displays) or a discussion-based student/faculty forum. Benefits We could all benefit by speaking more openly about mental health and wellbeing, and by promoting what ways in which we can take care of our mental wellbeing. There have been many newspaper articles and calls in the past previous years regarding student anxiety and depression. This has prompted discussion among university administrators regarding the degree to which these institutions should be responsible for providing their students with mental health care. While the university debates over this degree, I would like the MSU Student Representatives to continue to respond to this
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demand to talk about mental wellbeing by hosting our own initiatives. Difficulties Mental health is often a controversial topic today. There are many avenues by which people relate themselves to their mental wellbeing, and some of these avenues are not the standard advertised techniques and methods that may be found in a health textbook or flyer. However, I think it is in our responsibility to consult with the experts, such as psychologists and counsellors from the Student Wellness Clinic, in our campaigns and initiatives being broadcast to our undergrads. Long-term I hope to contribute to breaking down the barriers to implications discussions on mental health and wellbeing. The taboo and stigma around discussions of mental wellbeing and illness is not simply a McMaster or university student problem, although mental distress may be exacerbated by academics or extracurricular demands; this taboo around mental health and illness that exists is also a cultural problem. By promoting more open discussions around mental wellbeing and by giving it a language, voice, and avenue for students to express their experiences, we will hopefully create a more open society and help students and others to understand that it is nothing terrible to admit when you might need help with your mental wellbeing. When there is an open society in which people share how they might have struggled in the past, more people are in a position to be honest with themselves and access help for themselves if they need it. In fact, it is a responsible thing to do to for your health and performance to take care of how you feel not just physically, but emotionally and in your overall mental state of mind. How? There have already been Mental Health campaigns in the past hosted by MSU branches, including the MacTalks campaign. I would like to consult with student leaders who have worked on such campaigns in the past and see if we could revamp the campaign, add elements to it, or create an offshoot for such a campaign that might be able to run more times during the year. There was also an interactive display by SHEC this previous year regarding students’ “mental health secrets/thoughts that they wanted to express.” Such interactive displays are good at engaging students in a way that is not too intrusive, yet still allows them to express themselves. I have many ideas for improvement of these initiatives and also ideas for the institutions of other campaigns to focus on mental wellbeing. In this process, I will be
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consulting with student leaders and the McMaster Student Wellness Clinic for what initiatives they might have already planned or begun the progress on, and through which angles it is most effective and helpful to tackle the discussions around mental health, wellbeing, and illness. Partners MSU SHEC, MacTalks Campaign Organizers, McMaster Student Wellness Clinic Student Leaders, Counsellors, Psychologists, Professors, MSU Undergrads (Students), Other SRA Members, Board of Directors (all of these partners for input and planning of potential campaigns and forum)
Long-term planning
Overarching Increase Online Presence of SRA Arts and Science Vision Description • Increase engagement with SRA Arts and Science materials online (platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) in order to engage Arts and Science students (and other McMaster undergrads) in MSU politics, what is occurring within the SRA, as well as (perhaps most importantly) how they may reach out to their representative and effect change
Benefits • There will be an online record of what has happened during the school year, what events are being hosted, and how Arts and Science students are responding to these changes • This will increase student engagement in MSU politics
Year 1 • More Consistent Postings • Greater Advertising of SRA Arts and Science Social Media Outlets (Hopefully with the Help of Other Caucuses) – get people to share the material • Increase number of Facebook likes, Twitter followers, and Instagram followers • Introducing Monthly Video Content • Posting Pictures of Events/Initiatives Hosted Throughout Year • Updating the Social Media Accounts After SRA Meetings
Year 2 • Continuing all that was achieved in Year 1 • Using Social Media outlets to engage constituents, getting their feedback on initiatives in progress or events that have
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transpired • Getting students to “rate” the Facebook page for SRA Arts and Science and leave positive (hopefully) comments • Consider the possibility of beginning a website where all SRA Arts and Science material may be centralized/streamlined • Plan for a website production
Year 3 • Continuing all that was achieved in Year 1 and 2 • Begin building a website where SRA Arts and Science materials (including relevant documents, images, events, campaigns, past representatives’ portfolios, etc.) may be posted for students to view and to better understand the role of their representative • Continue gaining online traffic
Partners SRA Arts and Science Caucus Representative, SRA Members, Other MSU Members, website developers
GOALS to strive for
List 5 things that you would like to have prepared for the beginning of September • Plan out monthly video content (at least for the first few months) • Brainstorm Inter-Year Arts and Science social ideas • Plan out what meetings with what partners I would like to have this year, including bigger players such as the Director of the Arts and Science Program, and representatives from the Student Wellness Clinic regarding Mental Health Initiatives and Mental Wellbeing of Students • Assess the online presence of SRA Arts and Science as it stands • Research how to provide networking opportunities for ArtSci students
List 5 things you would like to have completed during the fall term (1st) • Have created monthly videos for Arts and Science Constituents • Set up and had meetings with Arts and Science Program Director and Administrator regarding networking and job opportunities for ArtSci students • Consultation meetings regarding Mental Health Campaigns • Increase online/social media presence of SRA Arts and Science • Have planned for or hosted an inter-year Arts and Science Social
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List 5 things you would like to have completed during the winter term (2nd) • Continue to create monthly video content for Arts and Science Constituents, such as interviews with prominent campus guests (student leaders, profs) • Host a networking/job event for ArtSci students (foresee this being in collaboration with another caucus or larger university administrators) • Host inter-year Arts and Science social • Continue to gain online traffic for SRA Arts and Science with consistent postings and a digital trail of what has been accomplished during the year so far • Host/collaborate on a campus-wide Mental Health initiative or campaign
Master Summary (Tentative Calendar and Checklist)
July 2017 • Review Year Plan that has been created • Brainstorm ideas for initiatives (Mental Health, Networking for ArtScis, Inter-Year Socials, Videos)
August 2017 • Plan for what meetings I want to set up this year and what partners at McMaster I wish to consult with
September • Monthly Video #1 2017 • Increase online presence for SRA Arts and Science through advertising and consistent postings • Discussions regarding Networking/Job Opportunities for ArtSci students
October 2017 • Monthly Video #2 • Host Inter-Year Arts and Science Social
November • Monthly Video #3 2017 • Discussions regarding Mental Health Campaigns in the upcoming Year
December • Monthly Video #4 2017 • Host Another Inter-Year Arts and Science Social
January 2018 • Monthly Video #5 • Potential Networking Event for Arts and Science Students
February 2018 • Monthly Video #6
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• Potential Mental Health Campaign/Collaboration • Ensure that Networking Events for Arts and Science Students are continued into future years
March 2018 • Monthly Video #7 • Host Inter-Year Arts and Science Social
April 2018 • Reflect on the years’ work • Update social media outlets • Transition in the new SRA Arts and Science representative
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YEAR PLAN MSU COMMERCE CAUCUS Finlay McNally Selene Florean Sophie Ochocinski Liam Risi 2017-2018 (submitted July 11, 2017)
OFFICE OF THE COMMERCE CAUCUS INTRODUCTION
Dear Members of the Assembly, and fellow Commerce Students
The 2017-2018 Commerce Caucus is excited to present our plan for the upcoming school year. We feel that our goals will improve the lives of students at McMaster and will result in a more engaged and well-rounded community. Our caucus brings a wealth of experience, new ideas and diverse schools of thought. We are excited to build on what previous Commerce Caucuses have been working on, as well as implement our own unique ideas.
We have structured our goals into three broad categories, which we hope will keep us on track and focusing on what really matters. The three sections are: Communication, Events and Academics. We will be working on projects in these three areas, as well as advocating for pro-student policy that works towards them. We believe Communication is very important. Commerce students are not as engaged in the MSU or DCS as they could be. Which means they are missing out on a wealth of experiences and learning opportunities. We want to bring the MSU and DCS to the forefront of Commerce Student’s thoughts, empowering them to get more involved than ever. We think that events are an excellent way to get students involved. Not only do the events themselves have great utility, by teaching students new skills or helping them deepen their connection to the community. Events are also a great way of introducing students to the ecosystem of student-run organizations, inspiring them to get more involved in the school community at large. Finally, we believe focusing on academics is essential. After all, that is why we are all here at one of Canada’s foremost learning institutions.
This document is not the final, set in stone plan of the Commerce Caucus. We will be participating in committees, reaching out to our constituents, and always striving to improve the lives of the students who call McMaster home. If in the pursuit of serving our constituents new objectives become clear, old objectives become irrelevant or changes to our proposed objectives become necessary we will not hesitate to change and adapt. We will always put the needs of the McMaster Community first, and our actions will only serve to reinforce that idea. We are very excited to make this year another successful chapter in the storied career of the Commerce Caucus.
Sincerely,
Your 2017-2018 Commerce Caucus.
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GOALS
Goals can be broadly defined into three different categories: Communication, Events, and Academics. By structuring our objectives around three themes we can ensure that our efforts are focused and synergize well.
Communication Communication is something we have identified as a major priority. DCS-SRA relations have not always been a priority for the SRA, something we intend to change. As advocates for the MSU it is our job to reach out and actively engage with our constituents. The following goals reflect that responsibility. This is especially important for Commerce students, the SRA is very unknown to Commerce students. We intend to change that.
Objective 1 Strengthen Relationship with the DCS. Description The DCS and the SRA have not always had the strongest interorganizational communication. After talking to the previous Commerce SRA caucus and the incoming DCS executive team improving this was identified as a priority. Our proposed solution is to make sure at least one SRA member is attending each DCS executive meeting. Benefits By attending DCS executive meetings we can make sure communication between our two organizations is comprehensive and timely. This will ensure we are able to work together well, and neither organization will be left in the dark. Difficulties Attending and being prepared for another set of meetings each week is a time commitment. By working together and sharing the workload/attendance we do not foresee this being a serious issue. Long-term Having improved communication between the DCS and SRA will implications increase the effectiveness of both organizations. Strong communication will allow us to share resources and work together to further both independent and collaborative organizational goals. How? We have already reached out to the DCS, and they will be sending us a schedule of their executive meetings. We will ensure a SRA member is always in attendance.
Partners The DeGroote Commerce Society.
Objective 2 Maintain an active Facebook presence with the “SRA Commerce” Facebook page. Description One of the biggest challenges the Commerce Caucus faces is the fact that many Commerce Students are not aware of its existence. We will
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use the “SRA Commerce” Facebook page to promote student engagement with the MSU and the DCS. By posting updates on SRA meetings, DCS meetings, DCS events, and other things Commerce Students might be interested in we can make the SRA Commerce page a hub of student information. Benefits Increasing student involvement in the SRA and DCS will allow the SRA/DCS to be more effective at serving their constituents. It will also enrich and improve the school experience of Commerce students and the rest of the MSU community. Difficulties Students are very unengaged right now, a cultural shift is necessary to increase engagement. Facebook has a very high noise to signal ratio, we will need strong content to promote our online presence. Long-term Better student engagement will improve both the operation of the SRA implications and DCS as well as improve the lives of MSU and DCS members. How? Posting updates on SRA meetings, DCS meetings, DCS events, and other things Commerce Students might be interested in. Making a video series to communicate weekly or biweekly summaries. Partners The DeGroote Commerce Society.
Objective 3 Create a series of short videos to communicate important information with constituents. Description In accordance with our objective above we want to make a series of short videos on a regular, repeating basis. These videos will be short summaries of what the SRA and DCS are working on, as well as any other interesting or pertinent information for students. Benefits Videos are a very effective way of communicating information in the information age. Students do not like reading long, boring blocks of text and Facebook analytics show that videos have a very high engagement rate. Producing short videos is a powerful way of communicating our message and encouraging engagement. Difficulties Making videos is a lot of work, and it is very important to be consistent. We will have to schedule time to make these videos and not fall behind on their creation. Long-term Better student engagement will improve both the operation of the SRA implications and DCS as well as improve the lives of MSU and DCS members. How? By making short videos every week or two weeks with the help of the Mac Tonight media team. SRA Commerce members, and DCS execs would provide short videos to communicate useful information to Commerce Students.
Partners The DeGroote Commerce Society. The Mac Tonight Media Team.
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Objective 4 Class talks. Description A great way of reaching out to Commerce Students are class talks. At the start of each semester classes are very full, and as such provide a great way to communicate directly to large amounts of students. We would use these talks to communicate important information about the SRA, and also to inform Commerce Students about our existence. Benefits Increasing student involvement in the SRA will allow us to be more effective at serving our constituents. It will also enrich and improve the school experience of Commerce students. Difficulties Preparing class talks takes time. But overall this is a very easy goal. Long-term Better student engagement will improve the operation of the SRA implications caucus as well as improve the student experience of MSU members. How? Reach out to Commerce teachers at the start of the year to set up class talks. Identify important subjects and create short speeches to present the subjects.
Partners Commerce teachers.
Objective 5 Application Calendar. Description September is an action-packed month, and it is easy to miss things. Many students miss the wave of club applications that go out in september, and have to wait for January, or even worse, the next school year to get involved. An applications calendar for the DCS and other Commerce faculty societies will help alleviate this problem. This calendar could then be expanded to MSU clubs as a whole. Benefits This will help students get more involved in extracurriculars, enriching their student experience. This will also provide student and school organizations with more student involvement, so they can accomplish even more. Difficulties This is a large task, and will require lots of cooperation between many different student organizations. Long-term Better student engagement will improve the operations of the many implications Commerce Student organizations as well as improve the student experience of Commerce students. How? Reach out to Commerce organizations and get lists of their deadlines. Assemble these deadlines into a single calendar source, for a comprehensive list.
Partners The DeGroote Commerce Society and sub-organizations (DHRA, DMA, DFA, DAA, DOA). SRA. Potentially other MSU clubs.
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Objective 6 DCS fee breakdown. Description Fees transparency, specially commerce fees that are paid. Working with DCS to have a link on the website, or hold an event to show students where those fees are going to. Benefits By showing the what the DCS fee Commerce students pay goes towards we hope to foster better community engagement. People appreciate seeing where their money goes and this may inspire them to get more involved. Difficulties This will take some work, but ultimately is not that monumental of a task. Long-term Hopefully this will foster a positive attitude towards the DCS and implications encourage student engagement with the organization. How? Work with the DCS to either make a short presentation or a video that breaks down where the DCS fee goes.
Partners The DeGroote Commerce Society.
Objective 7 Paradise Catering Nutritional Information. Description The nutritional information for McMaster’s food is hard to find, and in some cases downright inaccurate. We think this information should be easily accessible to students (and accurate!) so students can make healthy and informed decisions about the food they eat. We would like calorie and nutrition information to be posted in easily accessible places for students, instead of locked away deep in their website. Benefits The benefits of being able to make informed decisions about the food one eats are too long to go here. Students who eat better perform better in school, are less stressed out and are healthier, to name a few benefits. Difficulties Paradise Catering is very uncooperative. Caucus members have already tried reaching out and have been ignored. Adding this information to menus will cost money. Long-term Something every student at McMaster agrees on is that the food is implications subpar at best. Hopefully by educating students about what they are being fed pressure on the McMaster Administration to change the awful service will increase. How? By advocating to Paradise Catering and the McMaster administration. As well as spreading awareness to students. By doing this we can convince Paradise Catering to put nutritional information in accessible places for students.
Partners Paradise Catering. McMaster Administration. MSU.
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Events We would like to advocate for and help organize events that we think will better the academic experiences of our constituents.
Objective 1 Networking Night with Professors and Students. Description Provide a networking event for students to meet their professors and each other in September. This will be similar to events other faculties hold for the same purpose. Benefits Having students meet each other and their professors is a great way to foster a strong community of Commerce students and Faculty. A strong community will enrich the scholastic experiences of our constituents. Difficulties Planning an event like this is a lot of work. There are many different moving parts and people to get on board. Thankfully we can look at the best practices of what other faculties do, allowing us to learn from their experience. Long-term Fostering a strong Commerce community will enrich the networking implications and support groups available to Commerce students. It will also develop stronger relations between the students and their faculty. This will improve scholastic performance and drive the business program to new heights. How? By liaising with the DeGroote Commerce society, teachers and sponsors a September event can be put together.
Partners The DeGroote Commerce Society. Mill Street Brewery potentially as a sponsor.
Objective 2 Guest Speakers Events. Description Have guest speakers come in from different areas of the business world to talk to Commerce students and share their industry knowledge. Benefits This will help give students new and unique knowledge, specifically knowledge that is incredibly relevant to the business world. Instead of learning things in a purely sterile classroom environment by interacting with industry professionals students will learn cutting edge and relevant information in a hands-on way. Difficulties Making these events is a lot of work. There are many possible difficulties from scheduling speakers, booking rooms, getting speakers students are interested in, and most importantly marketing the event. Long-term Having these talks and new learning opportunities can only lead to implications more enriched, well rounded students. This is great both for the students, but also the McMaster community at large.
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How? By liasoning with speakers and the DCS these events can be put into motion. The SRA will act as an advocate and a planner to ensure these events are brought to life.
Partners The DeGroote Commerce Society. CIBC. The Faculty of Commerce. DeGroote Entrepreneur Club. FYO Club. Randall Vickerson.
Objective 3 Help Commerce Students Connect with The Forge. Description Help The Forge reach out to Commerce students so they can get involved with its many programs and opportunities. Benefits The Forge provides valuable skill workshops that Commerce students would benefit from taking. They also provide an excellent suite of resources for students looking to begin startups. Difficulties Commerce students have not been attending programs provided by The Forge. Is this from a lack of interest or a lack of awareness? Long-term Getting Commerce students more involved in their school community implications will result not only in better experiences for the students, but a community which gains more active and contributing members. How? Work with The Forge and the DCS to promote their events.
Partners The Forge @ Mac. The DeGroote Commerce Society.
Academics Ultimately, school is why we are all here. We plan to advocate for things that will improve the academic performance of Commerce students, to ensure they get the most out of their degrees.
Objective 1 Advocate for Podcasted Courses. Description Podcasted courses are a slam dunk idea for improving the lives of our constituents. They give students access to an incredible tool that will help them achieve new heights in their academic career. Benefits Better availability of podcasts will allow students to do better in school, by having even more resources at their fingertips. Podcasts are also very important because they improve accessibility for students. Difficulties Podcasting equipment and technology is available already at McMaster. This means the resistance to podcasting is not a lack of ability, but a lack of will. We will have to lobby teachers to add podcasting to their lesson plans. Long-term An uptick in student performance due to having increased pedagogical implications tools. Perhaps lower class attendance. How? Work with the professors who have yet to implement podcasting. Connect these professors with the appropriate technical resources, and
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other professors who do implement podcasting. By meeting other professors who podcast their courses the ones who resist can learn about why podcasting is great for students from their peers.
Partners SRA Science. SRA Social Science. Maccess. Faculty of Commerce.
Objective 2 Advocate for Exam review sessions. Description Exam review sessions would be a great help for struggling students. There are some Commerce courses that typically prove to be a large challenge for Commerce students every year (Finance, Accounting). Having study sessions for these classes would do a lot for students. We can look at well attended study sessions like those for Bio 1M03 to attain some best practices for these events. Benefits Students who study together succeed together! In an increasingly fast paced and turbulent society it is more important than ever to be able to work together. Providing exam review sessions will not only increase Commerce student’s scholastic performance It will help them build community bonds and work together, creating an even stronger Commerce community. Difficulties Just because these sessions work for Bio 1M03 does not mean they will work for us. We will have to work with the DCS to curate an event that meets the unique needs of Commerce students. Long-term Run correctly, these events will improve student performance and implications foster a stronger Commerce community. How? Work with the DCS and Faculty of Commerce to create and run exam review sessions for the Commerce classes that students typically struggle with.
Partners The DeGroote Commerce Society. The Faculty of Commerce
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GOALS to strive for
List 5 things that you would like to have prepared for the beginning of September 1. Work with DCS to make Student/Professor night a reality. 2. Schedule of DCS executive meetings so we can ensure SRA attendance. 3. Facebook page media plan to ensure consistent posting throughout the year. 4. Video production plan to ensure consistent video creation throughout the year. 5. Class talk ideas and schedule, so we are prepared to deliver class talks in the opening weeks of the school year.
st List 5 things you would like to have completed during the fall term (1 ) 1. Lay groundwork for the exam review sessions by talking to DCS and other societies who run successful programs. 2. An application calendar for business students. 3. A method of communicating the DCS fee breakdown, by presentation or video. 4. Work with the DCS to have at least one guest speaker event.
nd List 5 things you would like to have completed during the winter term (2 ) 1. Have readily available nutrition information on Paradise Catering Menus. 2. Extending the application calendar to MSU clubs at large. 3. A series of informational videos created throughout the year to keep Commerce students informed. 4. Have The Forge hold an event that is well attended by Commerce Students. 5. Help Commerce professors who are not yet podcasting setup podcasting for their classes.
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YEAR PLAN STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY ENGINEERING CAUCUS 2017-2018 (submitted July 16, 2017)
Maxwell Lightstone (Caucus Leader) Maximilian Aoki Thaejaesh Sooryakumaran Abdul Stott Jakub Szeliga Stefan Vlatkovic Peter Zhang
OFFICE OF THE ENGINEERING CAUCUS INTRODUCTION
Dear members of the Assembly, and fellow Engineering students,
We are pleased to have the opportunity to present our plan for the Engineering Caucus this year, and we believe it to be large, ambitious, unconventional, and achievable, all at the same time. Engineering is the largest academic division represented on the Assembly, and the Caucus is made of a group of people with very diverse backgrounds, experiences, and points of view. With this rich resource of personalities who bring different ideas, work habits, and contacts, we consider our bold plan to be well within our capabilities, and we look forward to a productive year.
Our plan is comprised of 7 large objectives, each of which has several underlying action items and goals. The objectives are creating closer ties between the Caucus and the Engineering Faculty Society, raising the profile of the SRA and the Caucus in particular to Engineering students, advocating for food accessibility for everyone, from those who have dietary restrictions to those who are studying for a math midterm until 4 in the morning, increasing the quality of the Co-op experience, advocating for B. Tech, Computer Science and iBioMed students, running soicial and educational programming, and reducing the stress of exams and the release of marks after exams. Each of these major objectives can have as many 7 goals or individual programs within them, each of which can require anything from daily interviews to surveys to investigating and subsequently organizing an analogue of the iron ring ceremony! It is a lot, in order to accomplish it we will be asking for feedback, testing unorthodox forms of constituent outreach, and supporting each other the whole way.
This document does not encompass the entirety of what the members of our Caucus will accomplish in the year to come. Through the committees we participate in, the discussions we initiate, and every student we work with, we will be making less flashy but just as important contributions to the student experience at McMaster. We will also be reacting to and working on projects that come up during the year, situations that no one can predict except that they will be important and interesting. We look forward to the challenge.
To our fellow representatives, we look forward to working with you this year. To our fellow Engineering students, you put your belief in us and trusted us to represent you. We work for you, and we hope to make you proud.
Yours most sincerely, The Engineering Caucus of the Student Representative Assembly
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GOALS
Objective 1 Create closer ties between MES and SRA Description The McMaster Engineering Society and the Engineering Caucus are two separate bodies that represent the interests of Engineering Students. Since the bodies have completely separate management and political structures, there is no requirement for the groups to work together, and in the past there has been a frigid relationship at times. By creating strong ties between the organizations, resources can be shared, events can be advertised, and political insight can be given in both directions. Increased communication is in the interests of Engineering Students Benefits • Event Collaboration • Best practices sharing • Collaboration on tackling issues that face Engineering students – the ability to work on the issue from multiple angles • Event and Opportunity advertisement • Political recommendation on contentious issues • Information exchange by way of ‘supdates’
Difficulties We have to be on top of issues and schedules so that we know when to attend meeting and who to talk to. Also, a great deal of this depends on the MES’s willingness to include us. Long-term Long term benefits for Engineering students. Difficult to ensure that the implications relationship lasts beyond a single year due to the turnover of SRA and MES representatives. How? • Regularly attend MES council meetings • Attend and present at MES Semi-Annual General Meeting (SAGM) • Have introductory meeting between MES Executive and SRA Engineering at the beginning of the year • Share events that the MES is running, and ask them to share our events • Solicit opinions from the MES on contentious issues before the SRA
Partners • MES President – Michael Meier • MES VP External - Jocelyn Lee • MES VP Academic - Luka Samac • MES VP Student Life - Dani Lake • MES VP Finance and Administration – Liam McDermott
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Objective 2 Raise Profile of SRA Engineering to Engineering Students Description Most students don’t know what the SRA is or does, and in Engineering the proportion is higher. The caucus will make more students aware of the SRA, increase the reach of our communication, and spread the message that if engineering students have an issue, we can help them solve it. A good metric of the impact of a caucus is the relative amount of followers to their facebook page to the amount of constituents in their academic division. We aim to exceed 1 000 followers on our facebook page by the end of the academic year. Benefits • Increased interaction with students gives representatives a better idea of how to vote to represent them • Increased knowledge of the SRA is helpful to students when they find themselves in need • Increased reach of communication
Difficulties A large portion of students, and a greater proportion of engineering students, have no interest in the MSU or its representatives. Additionally, the McMaster Engineering Society is a powerful body compared to other faculty societies, and is seen as more relevant to some students than the MSU. Long-term Greater outreach and knowledge of the SRA will be impactful for the entire implications time that students are at McMaster, which for Engineering students can be 7 years in some cases. This will benefit students as they will know what resources are available to them. Increased communications and advertising reach will allow the caucus to lets more constituents know about opportunities within the MSU and what is going on that their university. How? • Collaborate with the MES, ECCS, and faculties to share each other’s posts, to give each partner access to students they may not have themselves. • Host a series of movie nights during the school year, advertised to engineering students particularly, but open to all members of the McMaster Community. The movies will be chosen based on constituent feedback, and will be shown in a lecture hall. Before the film starts, a member of the caucus will describe what the SRA is, what SRA Eng does, and tell people to like our page to find out when more movies and other cool opportunities happen. • Participate in SAGM – the MES’s Semi-Annual General Meeting. SRA Eng has presented at the last two SAGMs, with generally positive feedback. The presentation consisted of what the SRA is, who the caucus members are, and a tagline of “If you ever have any issues with the MSU or the University, come to us and we can help” • Include information about the MSU and SRA Engineering in the first year information website run by the MES
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• Run “Like Campaigns” on the SRA Eng facebook page in October and November. The campaigns have been run by MSU services in the past, and consist of telling people to like the page, like the post, and tag three friends in a comment in exchange for a chance to win a prize pack. • Run a first-year profile campaign during welcome week and the first week of school, profiling one or two first years each day and posting their picture and a paragraph about them on facebook. • Run “Humans of Mac Eng” during March – National Engineering Month
Partners • Engineering Manager of Public Relations – Monique Beech • ECCS Relationship Manager – Daniel Picone • MES Director of Public Relations – Victor Chen • Housing and Conference Services • MSU AVP Finance – Scott Robinson
Objective 3 Food Accessibility Description Advocating for increased Halal and Kosher certified options on campus and for healthy food to be available on campus between 10 pm and 4 am Benefits • Accommodating options for students with dietary restrictions • Food available for students on campus during the late hours when they are studying • Healthy alternative to ordering delivery or buying from vending machines • Improved relationships with religious students and student groups on campus
Difficulties • Preparing foods in the proper environments to be deemed Halal or Kosher • Devising a viable method to implement late night food sales • Cost effectiveness and accessibility to Halal/Kosher food
Long-term • Maintaining and improving the implemented systems so that they implications cater to the students as intended will require both time and resources • The systems will allow students access to healthy food options that fit within their dietary restrictions; be they religious or time of day • Improved wellbeing for students on campus
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How? • Collaborate with Hospitality Services to see if existing food hubs on campus can be implement, within an existing and vetted system, the proposed food options • If not, find a new venue that can be used to deliver the food services • Consultation with religious student groups ie. MSA, Hillel • Work w/ VP Finance - consultation to establish framework for Halal/Kosher food with 1280 revamp
Partners • SRA Health Sciences - David Lee • SRA Health Sciences - Francis Lao • MSU VP (Education) - Ryan Deshpande • MSU VP (Finance) - Daniel D’Souza • Hospitality Services • PACBIC - Andy Crowell • Hillel VP External - Max Lightstone • MSA Public Relations External - Mahmoud Haddara
Objective 4 Increase the Quality of Co-op Experiences and WIL Description Increased access to, and quality of co-op experiences for engineering students at McMaster. This would involve increasing the quantity of available positions, educating students on internships of resources they can access, supporting students during their work term through access to health insurance, and creating a framework for social connections between students on placement. Benefits • Students will have better experiences during what may be their first experience with full time employment • A greater number of students will have access to high quality positions • Increased access to health insurance will remove barriers to participating in the co-op program, and will reduce the impact of medical and dental issues during the work period.
Difficulties • It may take a lot of effort and time • There are a lot of partners and external organizations that will need to be on board • It may require resources beyond what is available to the partner organizations • In the case of the health plan, it may require a referendum of engineering students, the results of which are impossible to predict
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Long-term A better co-op experience for McMaster students, and a better reputation implications for the McMaster Faculty of Engineering as a result. How? • Work with the MSU to create a mutually acceptable contract for access to the health and dental plans. • Reach out to Engineering students, especially those in first and second years, to inform their parents of the co-op program and the benefits of hiring co-op students. Encourage them to bring ECCS into contact with the Engineering, Business, Sales, and HR departments at their places of employment. • Have one Caucus member become involved with the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce as a representative of the MSU. Through that connection, represent the interests of the Union and encourage other members of the Chamber to connect with ECCS (or other faculty WIL offices if appropriate) and to hire McMaster students. • Advocate to ECCS for a regional intern connection program, wherein students on placements will be connected to other students in the same geographic area. Possible extensions include the creation of “Intern Leaders”, who will be hired by ECCS to organize social events for the interns in their region on a volunteer basis. They would be recognized through their co-curricular record.
Partners • ECCS Relationship Manager – Daniel Picone • MES VP External – Jocelyn Lee • MSU Administrative Services Coordinator – Victoria Scott • MSU VP Finance – Daniel D’Souza • Hamilton Chamber of Commerce • Experiential Learning Coordinator – Louise Gazzola
Objective 5 Supporting B. Tech, Computer Science, and iBioMed Students Description B. Tech and Computer Science students often feel alienated from the engineering social group. They are members of the Faculty of Engineering, and their unique requirements must be recognized and advocated for. This year, the university will see the first cohort of students in the cross faculty Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Science program. We will introduce to the SRA and MSU, and work to include them in Engineering Life. Benefits Increased student involvement in the Engineering faculty, and better relationships between Engineering, B. Tech, and Computer Science Students Difficulties A lack of interest in SRA/MSU services will impair our ability to know what to advocate for. Entrenched traditions will be difficult to change,
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specifically Kipling and any attempts to make a version for non-B.Eng students. Long-term A “culture change” with regards to the role of Computer Science and B. implications Tech students in the Engineering faculty How? • Release a survey to see what the needs of the groups are, in a general sense • Release a survey to see what issues Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechatronics, and Software Engineering students have with ITB. The issues could be anything from they need a lounge, to better natural lighting, or a coffee shop. If a lounge is desired, advocate to faculty to rent out a room to MSU to run a “South Side UM” or “South Side Marauders Nest” • Depending on the results of the survey, if a Kipling analog for Computer Science and B. Tech students is desired, advocate for that to the faculty. • Welcome to McMaster and the MSU program with SRA Health Sciences for iBioMed students
Partners • MES B. Tech Representative – Michael Barbosa • MES Computer Science Representative – Gabriel Gebril • MES ECE Representative – Elena Gregorias • MES Software Representative - MJ Lindsay • MES Mechantronics Representative - Helena Turgeon • MES iBioMed Representative – To Be Elected • MSU VP Finance – Daniel D’Souza • SRA Health Sciences – David Lee • SRA Health Sciences – Francis Lao
Objective 6 Social and Educational Programming Description The Caucus will facilitate social and educational programs to further the MSU’s mandate of fostering activities and events which will enhance the university experience for its members. Benefits The educational programming will provide Engineering students with valuable skills for living away from home at a time when those skills are needed most. The social programming will provide stress relief and build connections between Engineering students, and students within other faculties. Difficulties The SRA is organized in a way that makes independent work and advocacy easier to do than social activities. Running programming will require planning, communication, and follow through, as well as participation of partner organizations. Willingness to collaborate from the MES will be key.
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Long-term Long term, these events will have beneficial impacts on the lives of implications engineering students. They are self contained, and have no impact beyond the attendees, so for continued benefits they will need to be run in future years as well. How? • Money Skills Lectures and Sessions organized with the Mac Money Center and SSC, held in JHE, and publicised to Engineers • Work with the MES to organize an Engineering Pub Night in TwelvEighty • Hold Movie Nights from the Outreach objective • Cross Faculty/Stream Buddy Connector, whereing students sign up to be paired with a buddy in another stream or faculty and spend a day attending classes with them and vice versa. This would help to increase knowledge and appreciation of other academia as well as creating opportunities for cross field networking. Labs probably wouldn’t work, so they would not be included at this point • Skating night, at the piers downtown, organized by the caucus • Pick up basketball, organized by the caucus
Partners • Student Success Center • SRA Commerce - Sophie Ochocinski • Mac Money Center • MES VP Student Life - Dani Lake
Objective 7 Reducing Mark and Exam Stress Description Exam scheduling and the time it takes to gets marks back following exams is a source of stress for students, especially students in level 1 of Engineering. Limiting the amount of exams that one could have within a week so that students wouldn't be stuck with 5 exams back to back would be beneficial to student’s levels of stress and ability to cope with the examinations. Furthermore, defining a maximum time that marks must be returned would be helpful, because students needed to know whether or not they would be required to take summer school or not. Benefits This would relieve the stress that students experience during exam season and would allow for students to take the time to properly review their coursework. As opposed to cramming it all within such a short period of time. Furthermore this would allow for temporary moments of rest for students to recuperate after long nights of intense studying. Difficulties This would be a massive change in the way the department does things, and would put more work on professors. Long-term The long-term implications of this will largely benefit engineering student’s implications mental and physical health. It will prevent students from getting burnt out
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too quickly and discourage harmful studying habits such as consuming copious amounts of caffeine and disregarding sleep. How? • Working with the Office of the Registrar and the Engineering 1 program to more efficiently plan and execute the timing and locations of exams • Encourage communication between professors in the faculty of engineering to ensure there is less of an overlap between exams • Advocate for a maximum time to mark return, following an exam.
Partners • Office of the Registrar • Engineering 1 Course Coordinator - Jessica Anderson • SRA Commerce - Selene Dominguez-Florean
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GOALS to strive for
List 5 things that you would like to have prepared for the beginning of September 1. Meet with the McMaster Engineering Society’s Executive 2. Meet with representatives from the Engineering Faculty, ECCS, and the Office of the Associate Dean 3. Release survey for students on internship about their experiences with health insurance 4. Creating the surveys for B. Tech and Computer science students, and ITB improvements. 5. Update all online information sources with current data
List 5 things you would like to have completed during the fall term (1st) 1. Increase facebook likes to above 1000 2. Run swag giveaways and movie nights 3. Finish health insurance contact 4. Have buddy system implemented 5. Have had regular meetings with MES leadership
List 5 things you would like to have completed during the winter term (2nd) 1. Have advocated for B.Tech and Computer Science Kipling 2. Test late night food options 3. Implement regional intern social grouping 4. Bring contacts from Hamilton Chamber of Commerce to ECCS 5. Complete a full transition with next years SRA Engineering 6. Win Caucus of the Year award
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Master Summary (calendar and checklist)
July • Meet with partners from Engineering Faculty and Society • Bring partners into conversation about year plan and goals • Update Caucus page on MSU website • Update SRA page on MES website
August • Prepare for Welcome Week • Run one movie night • Organize money skills sessions • Set up a strategy for Kosher/Halal food in 1280 revamp
September • Run the First Year Profiles on the facebook page • Run one movie night • Money Skills Sessions • Release ITB survey • Run welcome to McMaster program for iBioMed students with SRA Health Sciences
October • Run one movie night • Present in SAGM 1 • Run Swag Giveaway
November • Have Buddy system implemented • Run one movie night • Run Swag Giveaway
December • Caucus Social • Have Health Insurance Contract signed between Engineering and MSU
January • Have late night food options implemented and begin testing viability • Advocate for B. Tech and Computer Science Kipling
February • Run one movie night • Finish Objective 7 • Implement regional co-op social grouping
March • Present at SAGM 2 • Have 1280 Eng Pub Night completed • National Engineering Month - Humans of Mac Eng Campaign
April • Transition • Caucus Appreciation
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YEAR PLAN MSU SRA HEALTH SCIENCES DAVID LEE AND FRANCIS LAO 2017-2018 (submitted JULY 11 2017)
OFFICE OF THE SRA HEALTH SCIENCES CAUCUS LEADER INTRODUCTION Dear Health Sciences students,
Francis and I are extremely excited and humbled to represent this incredible faculty within the Student Representative Assembly (SRA). We acknowledge that we are only in our positions due to your unwavering support and trust in our capabilities. Both of us have come into our elected positions with great enthusiasm, passion and dedication. We hope to empower Health Sciences students and continue the sense of pride within our faculty and the MSU.
Francis and I have similar priorities and visions that we would like to achieve this year. We hope to focus on promoting the McMaster Student Union’s (MSU) outreach and integrate the MSU more into the Health Science community. Last year, we saw an incredible amount of participation from Health Sciences students being involved in MSU services, standing committees or even engaging with us during our office hours. We hope to continue this level of engagement within our faculty. We also wish to continue the communication and strong relationship we have with the Bachelor of Health Sciences Society (BHSS) and the MSU to ensure that the concerns of Health Sciences students are properly addressed. Ultimately, we have created a plan that is shaped by the incredibly diverse ideas of Health Sciences students that undoubtedly share common themes.
We want to continue our advocacy efforts on student life and student space particularly through working with the Health Sciences Library (HSL) in hopes of implementing improvements and upgrades in the near future. Furthermore, we would like to address food insecurity, in collaboration with several other stakeholders. Through efforts such as posting bi-weekly updates on Learnlink, hosting events for student feedback amongst many others, we aim to make the MSU more transparent and address the barriers which may prevent BHSc students from becoming involved. Using the foundation of achievements from last year we have crafted a year plan that plans to tackle common problems and issues. All things considered, we are looking forward to implement our platform with all of your support and hope that you are just as enthusiastic as we are for the upcoming year.
Regards,
David Lee Health Sciences Caucus Leader McMaster Students Union [email protected]
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GOALS
Objective 1 Support for BHSc Events – Continue to strengthen ties with the BHSS Description Last year, being an official observer on the Bachelor of Health Sciences Society has allowed me to understand the landscape of projects and events the BHSS operates in. My participation brought valuable external insight in meetings as well as collaboration with the past VP Finance to publish monthly financial reports which I hope to continue.
Furthermore, one of the growing concerns I have encountered as an official observer in BHSS meetings is a struggle for students to fund BHSc led events such as our Fashion and Musical. Both events serve as cornerstones for the BHSc spirit within our community and the students have struggled to find the appropriate funding to host a charity event to their liking. As SRA representative, we are proposing that further funding, whether through SRA special projects funding Benefits Health Sciences students can host events to the scale that they have envisioned and reduce the amount of stress trying to gather sponsors in order to have it run smoothly Difficulties Finding the appropriate budget line and increase to donate would require consultation between Fashion Show Chairs and the Health Sci Musical Director. Long-term Collect feedback on the amount that is donated and whether implications it is deemed appropriate for future years. How? Consult with relevant stakeholders such as the BHSS, Fashion Chairs and Health Sci Musical Directors on anticipated financial hurdles. Consult with VP Finance on solutions to these issues. Partners Ahmed Abdelaal – BHSS VP Finance Gian Agtarap – BHSS Chair Avery Clavio – BHSc Fashion Show Co-Chair Esai Bishop – Health Science Musical Director Daniel DSousa – MSU VP Finance
Objective 2 Increase Outreach Description The SRA of each faculty are responsible to represent their opinions and those of their faculty. Thus, we strive to keep
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BHSc students informed of MSU related issues, and actively engaged in the decision making process because the decisions we make as SRA will ultimately affect each student within our faculties.
This objective involves keeping BHSc students aware and engaged of issues within the MSU. As well, it maintains the connection between the Bachelor of Health Sciences Society (BHSS) and the SRA. Benefits Transparency ensures that decisions made by the SRA are of full knowledge to their faculty, such that their faculty is in support of their decisions or, at the very least, aware of the rationale behind each decision.
Keeping BHSc students informed and engaged will help the SRA garner more opinions, and help students within the health sciences faculty have a say in the decisions of the SRA. Difficulties Guaging the level of engagement and having a good turn out to events may be a difficulty. Long-term We have seen improvements on the outreach of the MSU on implications the BHSc community through the amount of participation we have seen BHSc have with the MSU. We want to continue this and have students also engaged in student issues. How? 1. Meeting Minutes will be recorded at each SRA meeting, then uploaded within a week to Learnlink and Facebook SRA health science pages. 2. Media posts through LearnLink, Twitter, and Facebook in a variety of mediums (documents, photos, and videos). 3. Class talks for pressing MSU issues, including special events, presidential elections, and referendums. 4. SRA office hours to allow BHSc students to ask the SRA questions regarding the MSU.
5. Work with the BHSS. We will attend BHSS meetings to be informed of faculty specific issues and events. As well, we will use the year reps and year groups to spread word of SRA events, issues, and initiatives Partners Bachelor of Health Sciences Society
Objective 3 Outreach and Engagement with the Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization Program
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Description The advent of the new Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization (BDC) program which is under the Faculty of Health Sciences and represented by SRA Health Sci brought challenges that we want to address this year. It is difficult to outreach these students we have found since we do not have the same classes and students often come from various faculties at this level 2 entry program. There is also no common communication platform with BDC students as they do not have access to LearnLink. Benefits We would be able to represent the views of BDC students better and also have them engage with the MSU further through awareness. Difficulties Finding the appropriate means of communicating and an effective way to engage BDC students would have to be established. Long-term Improved relationship between BDC and BHSc students and implications also have more participation from BDC students within the MSU. How? 1. Meet with BDC President to discuss strategic priorities and plan for the year 2. Communicate with BHSc Office Staff regarding the need for BDC students to access Learnlink 3. Find an effective way to communicate with BDC students 4. Invite BDC students to SRA Health Sci events Partners Bachelor of Health Sciences Society Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization Society Stash Nastos – LearnLink Coordinator
Objective 4 Interfaculty Events with Nursing and Engineering Description Many of the peer support services at McMaster are underutilized by Health Sciences student in Nursing and BHSc partly due to the fact that many students are unaware that these resources are available to their disposal. Mental health is a particular focus for the BHSc program due to the rigorous nature of our curriculum; there have even been mandatory courses which focus on mental wellness. We would like to continue to in this direction and showcase the numerous peer support services the MSU provides and also facilitate meaningful conversation with this event. Similar to our event with nursing last year.
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The new Engineering and Health Sci program will also bring a new cohort of students that are taking both BHSc and Eng courses. In collaboration with the Eng caucus we would like to host a similar event which will showcase the MSU services and how to get involved in the MSU. Benefits - Engage with students so that they are more aware and knowledgeable about the services especially the Peer Support services the MSU provides - Possibly host the event in high traffic areas for Health Sciences and Nursing and Engineer students.
Difficulties The level of engagement may be a potential problem as it can be a busy time of year or schedules may not match. We will try our best to provide an event that is convenient for most students to attend. Booking procedures within HSC may also be a potential problem. Long-term Continue this as an annual event. Shows awareness for implications mental health resources and other services of the MSU. Increased participation from services will allow for more students to be engaged. How? 1. Collaborate with SRA Nursing and Engineer in brainstorming and planning these events. 2. Contact MSU Services in order to gauge interest and feedback 3. Find a proper time that will be allow students to attend this event 4. Coordinate logistics for these events Partners SRA Nursing SRA Engineering PTM of Services (SHEC, PSL, QSCC, Diversity, WGEN and Maccess)
Objective 5 Academic Accessibility Description Through an online platform such as Echo360 or ask.fm, students can ask questions during class on a website, instead of raising their hands and voices.
These questions can be answered by their TAs or the prof. Benefits This provides a medium for students who are too afraid to speak up during class. Difficulties Questions may be spammed or vulgarities may be said in an anonymous online asking platform. However, this can be
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avoided by having to use a student-specific account to ask the question (while staying anonymous to the professor and class), but still keeping the student accountable for what they type. Long-term Other classes could look to using to implement this system. implications How? 1. Embed a live question-asking platform into Avenue 2. Transition to using Echo360 or ask.fm
Partners BHSc Faculty BHSc Office Ryan Deshpande – VP Education
Objective 6 Promote First Year Involvement Description First year is a tough time – coming to a completely new environment is an extremely difficult time for many. Most MSU positions that are reserved for first years (ie. SHEC, FYC) usually come out in September but many first years are still adjusting to McMaster. Moreover, the MSU is an integral organization at McMaster that many first year students are unaware of. Benefits - Promoting the MSU will allow for more first years to apply to opportunities where they could further excel - Several first years are interested in applying for positions but are intimidated since they feel intimidated – having an upper year teach them on how to create a strong application will help overcome this barrier - Engaging with first years entering the program via the Handbooks will allow them to become more aware and knowledgeable of the MSU services and business units
Difficulties - Coordinating with current Welcome Week Coordinators in order to bring a Handbook that is comprehensive and easy to understand - Having students interested
Long-term - A section in the Handbook dedicated to the MSU implications - Having awareness of the MSU to all incoming first year Health Science student How? 1. Work with Welcome Week Coordinators and Faculty Offices in putting this information in the Handbook
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2. Communicating with Welcome Week Handbook Head 3. Communicate with VP Academic of BHSS about continuing applicant workshop 4. Have a conversation with AVP Services regarding the amount of services that have volunteer positions reserved for first years
Partners - BHSS VP Academic - Health Sci Welcome Week Coordinators - Kristina Epifano – AVP Services
Long-term planning
Overarching Addressing Food Insecurity Vision (what is the ultimate goal?) Description We plan on addressing food insecurity based on the feedback received during outreach hours last year. The two main problems are : 1) During the spring and winter terms, McMaster has inadequate late night food options as only MyMiniMac and NeedaPita are open regularly until midnight. This lack of late food night food options is worse in the summer as many campus restaurants close. 2) Healthy food options at McMaster are available, but are financially and physically inaccessible. In effect, the price of a box of fruit from a fruit/veggie bar exceeds the price of a burger from CreationX. Moreover, cheaper healthy food options are physically inacessible, often requiring students to stray off-campus to get healthy food. Thus, the difference in price and distance from healthy food drives students to choose the unhealthier alternatives.
Benefits Students have better options about their food choices and are able to access food without going off-campus. With healthier options, students are able to work towards a well- balanced diet.
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Year 1 Addressing the lack of late night food options: Have 1280 sell prepackaged food, like they do with sandwiches but instead have microwavable meals. This would be similar to the bowls that are sold in La Piazza fridges and would ideally be sold in Union Market. - Sit down with TwelvEighty, Union Market stakeholders and VP Finance to discuss the implementation of this idea - Develop of logistical plan and timeline - Pilot project and advertise - Gather feedback from users
Addressing the lack of healthy food options. Help MacBreadBin deliver monthly Good food boxes to locations more accessible to each faculty (including the Health Science student lounge), aid in the development of the grocery store in the new student activity building to provide affordable, healthy food. - Develop a plan with Mac Bread Bin PTM and Chukky on the Good Food Box delivery program to faculties society spaces - Gauge interest from faculties and pilot project
Year 2 The next part of the plan is to incorporate the feedback used. And implement any changes concerning both projects. It is anticipated that since both projects require several logistical planning and involvement from multiple partners that it will have to be piloted towards the end of the academic year or next year. Partners Richard Haja - 1280 Kitchen Manager Daniel Dsouza – VP Finance Chukky Ibe – President Connor Blakeborough – UM Manager Jen Simas – 1280 Restaurant Manager
Overarching Improvement and Upgrades to Health Sciences Library Vision (what is the ultimate goal?) Description Health Sciences Library is used by a majority of Health Sciences student and has become an integral part of a Health Science student here at McMaster. There have been some concerns and ideas brought by others to improve HSL.
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We would like to improve and expand the current structure to be more functional for student needs and also address the high demand of student space during exam season. Benefits • More study space for students especially for off campus students • Student feedback will be the basis for all of these improvements in order to ensure that the concerns of all students who use HSL will be properly addressed
Year 1 • Continue communication with HSL Director in releasing a survey for students in order to garner feedback • Report ideas based on this survey and have a clear timeline in which we can implement these changes
Year 2 - Hopefully have improvements and upgrades established before the end of Year 1 or at the start of Year 2 - Some upgrades that we have in mind are: longer hours, charging station, revisiting the online booking system for HSL study rooms which appears to be taken advantage of
Partners - Health Sciences Library Staff - Communications Officer - MSU President - MSU VP Education
GOALS to strive for
List 5 things that you would like to have prepared for the beginning of September - Meet with HSL Director - Have logistics planned with SRA Eng and Nursing - Plan academic accessibility platform point - Meet with Tuba regarding the - Update Learnlink and Facebook frequently
List 5 things you would like to have completed during the fall term (1st) - Start audit with AVP University regarding which services offer first-year specific positions - Have event with SRA Eng
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- Have event with SRA Nursing - Launch HSL Survey - Have a conversation with the BDC society regarding ways to effectively communicate
List 5 things you would like to have completed during the winter term (2nd) - Pilot the food security platform for at least one week - Exhaust all avenues for HSL hours extension - Consult with BHSc Faculty regarding Academic Accessibility platform - Engage Health Sciences student for upcoming SRA election - Have applicant workshop with VP Academic and publish financial reports with VP Finance
Master Summary (calendar and checklist)
May • Hold Meet the VP Events • Update Learnlink regarding opportunities in standing committees
June • Consult about Year-Plan • Update Learnlink about positions available in the MSU • Start writing the MSU/SRA section on the First Year Handbook • Touch base with HSL director regarding last year’s progress
July • Finish writing the MSU section for the first year handbook • Plan out objectives for the events with SRA Nursing and Eng • Touch base with BHSc Fashion Show Chairs and Health Sci Musical Directors
August • Meet with HSL staff regarding library hour extension • Continue advertising the MSU on Learnlink • Have initial talk with Tuba and 1280 manager regarding Food Security platform point • Plan with SRA Nursing and Eng regarding the events
September • Advertise SRA Office Hours and have conversations with BHSS in order to brainstorm ideas in engaging more students (possibly establishing an SRA Council like last year)
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• Launch HSL survey and promote it • Promote First Year specific positions during class talks
October • .Continue advertising SRA Office Hours and outreach to Health Sci students about the MSU • Planning stages and contact/meeting with stakeholders for the SRA Nursing and Eng event • Continue distributing HSL survey to students • Touch base with BDC Society President about how to communicate with BDC members
November • Continue to advertise SRA Office Hours, publishing biweekly meeting minutes and budget reports • Continue to attend BHSS meetings • Host event with SRA Eng • Gather data with the HSL Survey • Continue Food Security platform point • Consult with BHSc Faculty regarding academic accessibility
December • Continue SRA office hours and publishing minutes • Continue plan with SRA Nursing and contacting stakeholder- hopefully have everything finalized for 2nd Semester (if not have the event towards the end of November before exams) • Analyze results of HSL Survey • Plan logistics for food security platform point
January • Continue promoting SRA Office Hours and engaging students about the MSU and BHSS • Host joint event with SRA Nursing in the BHSc Lounge (if not in late-November) • Plan on improving and implementing HSL upgrades based on feedback from HSL Survey • Continue for academic accessibility platform point • Contact BDC President in terms of effectiveness of new strategies
February • Continue promoting SRA Office Hours and engaging students about the MSU and BHSS • Promote SRA General Elections and MSU Seats on Committees • Plan on improving and implementing HSL upgrades based on feedback from HSL Survey
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• Plan logistics for food security platform point
March • Continue promoting SRA Office Hours and engaging students about the MSU and BHSS • Promote SRA General Elections and MSU Seats on Committees • Plan on improving and implementing HSL upgrades based on feedback from HSL Survey • Pilot the Food Security Project
April • Continue promoting SRA Office Hours and engaging students about the MSU and BHSS • If possible incorporate changes to HSL such as increasing hours during exam time
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YEAR PLAN MSU SRA HUMANITIES CAUCUS Landon Fama, Fiona McGill, Jason Chestney 2017-2018 (Submitted July 11th 2017)
1 of 10 OFFICE OF THE SRA HUMANITIES CAUCUS LEADER INTRODUCTION
Dear Humanities Students & Members of the Assembly,
Fiona, Jason, and myself, are extremely proud to have been given the opportunity to represent this wonderful and diverse Faculty for the 2017/18 academic term. It is with great honour that we look forward on our next ten-months as members of the Humanities Caucus, and plan how we can best represent the wishes, interests, and opinions of our constituents. We acknowledge the trust you have placed in us, and have the upmost intentions of carrying out diligent, and motivated work on your collective behalf.
Our Caucus year plan emerges from an incredible source, our constituents, the students of the Faculty of Humanities. Through meaningful consultations, and our own lived experiences, we believe that we have developed a year plan which is rooted in real student issues, leaving us poised to make a meaningful impact on the lives of Humanities students.
The intended direction of our Caucus is guided by the input of students. These are students who feel undervalued, under informed and misunderstood. It is through these common themes that we wish to take action as a Caucus to fight for our constituents. We are looking to break the Faculty hierarchy which has left Humanities students feeling subordinate to their fellow McMaster students. We are looking to instil programs and opportunities which celebrate the commonalities of Humanities students, while taking note of their breadth of differences. We are looking to bring Humanities students to the forefront of the McMaster community.
Ultimately, we are looking to work for you. Your wishes, interests and opinions are at the core of everything we look to do this year. In order to best complete this task, we ask for your feedback not only on our year plan, but on anything which concerns you as a Humanities student within the McMaster Students Union. The following pages provide an overview of what the SRA Humanities Caucus is looking to achieve during our term. Please contact us if we can better accommodate you in understanding our intentions for the term.
McMaster works best when we work together. I hope our plans can motivate you to help us in these efforts.
All the best,
Landon Fama SRA Humanities, Caucus Leader 2017/18 McMaster Students Union [email protected]
2 of 10 WORKING OBJECTIVES
Objective 1 Humanities Student Recognition Description Students have voiced their displeasure with the way Humanities students are regarded and treated on campus. McMaster has a tendency to favour Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematic-based programming over those centred around artistic merits. Humanities students fall victim to a campus culture which makes them feel less important, and undervalued. We would like to motivate the SRA, MSU and the University to take deliberate steps to better recognize the contributions of Humanities students on campus and in our community. Benefits • McMaster community as a whole will benefit from the increased contributions of Humanities students. • Humanities students will see opportunity and value in their actions on campus and within the community. • A greater sense of community at McMaster, where we can better value contributions of different natures.
Difficulties • Structural issue. This will not be fixed with a singular event or initiative, but rather is a combination of efforts from many different groups. See Objective 8. • Cannot control or directly influence many of the variables (i.e.: Government funding of STEM-based initiatives). Long-term Implications Though largely described previously, a campus where the contribution of every student is valued equally, is one which as the ability to achieve far beyond the sum of it’s parts. Creating a level playing field for Humanities students will mean we are better situated to bring our unique talents and knowledge to the table for the betterment of our University.
3 of 10 Objective 1 Humanities Student Recognition How? This is undoubtedly a long-term process, however it has been included in this stage of our year plan to ensure that it is a constant priority and motivation for what we do this year. We believe tangible steps have already been taken through the creation of Art Matters Week, the increase in Humanities’ specific space at the L.R. Wilson building, the Dr. Robert & Andrée Rhéaume Fitzhenry Studios & Atrium, and increasing opportunities for Humanities-based students (such as performances). As a Caucus we are looking to do several things to support this objective: • Continued support for Art Matters Week. • Increased University-level advocacy for Humanities-based issues. • Pursuing opportunities for McMaster student involvement in performances and other art displays within the McMaster community. Partners • SRA • Faculty Societies • BOD • McMaster University • Campus Events
Objective 2 Increased Digital Student Engagement (Bi-Weekly Video Updates) Description With a relatively low Facebook ‘Like’ count, few Twitter followers and an overall lacking presence within the digital space, SRA Humanities will be focusing on boosting the social media interactions had with constituents. We feel this is a valuable way to gain the input of students as it uses a medium which they frequent. Benefits • Humanities students will feel better connected to the happenings within MSU Governance which matter to them. • As a Caucus, we will be better informed of the wishes, interests and opinions of the students which we represent. In turn, this will allow us to make more informed decisions when acting in our role on the SRA. Difficulties • Students often feel bombarded with MSU-related content, and can often skip-over efforts to connect with them better. • Creating informative, yet engaging and desirable content can be hard. This is because it is difficult to pack in the required information, without creating dull and boring content which leads to a lack of interest.
4 of 10 Objective 2 Increased Digital Student Engagement (Bi-Weekly Video Updates) Long-term Implications Better informed students, means better informed decisions regarding the future of Humanities students within the MSU. How? This year, we will be looking to create short, Facebook-based video updates after each SRA meeting, and in the lead up to important MSU matters (such as a referendum or Election). These updates have been championed by previous Caucuses on the SRA, most notably SRA Science 16/17, who utilized them for key MSU-related issues (SoBi referendum, ECC, Marmor, etc.) reached nearly 5,000 students on their most popular post. While these numbers are an unreasonable expectation of SRA Humanities to match, this serves as a proof of concept for this initiative. After each SRA meeting, the SRA Humanities Caucus will look to begin sharing short informative videos on their Facebook page. These videos will be made by all, or a selection of Caucus members in order to inform constituents about the happenings of the most recent meeting. These videos will aim to be under 4- minutes in length, and attempt to defuse the important minutes, along with any information relevant to the next meeting. Going forward, this is something we would love to see cross Faculty integration on, involving members of different Caucuses to reach the most MSU members as possible. Partners • SRA • BOD
Objective 3 MSU Discount Card Description As an initiative which has been discussed within the MSU for multiple terms of government, the Discount Card is clearly something which has traction within the Union. We would like to work hard within committees to ensure this is getting done and delivered to students. Though a Humanities specific discount card was part of the platforms of members McGill & Chestney, our Caucus now feels a MSU-level card gives Humanities students better access to goods and services. We will bring the Humanities perspective to the table during the processes surrounding the delivery of a discount card to the MSU body. Benefits • MSU Students will be able to gain better access to goods and services within the Hamilton community. • Community partners will benefit from the increase in McMaster- student patronage.
Difficulties • Finding and arranging discounts with community partners
5 of 10 Objective 3 MSU Discount Card Long-term Implications Better community-student relationships. More money in students pockets. How? Carry-on the work of past VP-Finance’s and MSU Finance Commissioners in pursuing an MSU Discount Card. Be sure that the needs of Humanities students are met during this process.
Partners • SRA • BOD • AVP Finance • Community Partners
Objective 4 Increased Campus Visibility Description The SRA is often portrayed as being reclusive, and the workings of the ‘MSU-Bubble.’ This can be particularly true within the Faculty of Humanities, where there is already a commonly held belief that the McMaster community does not value the contributions of Humanities students fairly. We will look to increase the presence of SRA members at MHS events, and events from the Faculty of Humanities, in order to increase the accessibility of SRA/Student interaction. Benefits • Humanities students will feel better connected to the happenings within MSU Governance which matter to them. • As a Caucus, we will be better informed of the wishes, interests and opinions of the students which we represent. In turn, this will allow us to make more informed decisions when acting in our role on the SRA.
Difficulties • Organizing time to attend events during the school year. Long-term Implications Creating a long-term pattern of accessible SRA members. How? Caucus members will seek to attend events put on by the MSU which are of interest to Humanities Students, those put on by the MHS and the Faculty of Humanities. Partners • SRA • MHS • Faculty of Humanities
Objective 5 Improved Relationship With MHS Description SRA Humanities and the MHS in recent years have operated autonomously from one another. Though progress was made last term, much work still needs to be done to ensure efficiency in all aspects of student governance for Humanities students.
6 of 10 Objective 5 Improved Relationship With MHS
Benefits • Humanities students will be better served by two levels of student government working in unison. • Programming, initiatives, and progress on Humanities student issues will be more efficient. Difficulties • Finding mutually available time to schedule meetings and collaborate during the school year. Long-term Implications Better programming, initiatives and progress on Humanities student issues due to the increased cooperation of both levels of student government. How? Caucus members will seek to attend events such as MHS GA, where we will be available to constituents and the MHS alike. We will ask for permission to attend MHS meetings as official observers and be kept up to date on MHS business. We will reciprocate this invitation by encouraging MHS members to attend SRA meetings and be active in our decision making. Partners • SRA • MHS
Objective 6 Better Transition Process Description In transitioning into this role, and in particular when preparing this document, the lack of a formal transition report or transition process has slowed progress. SRA Humanities needs to implement a Caucus transition report structure which can be carried forth to the following generations of Humanities representatives. We want to leave a strong process which can be used to transition many Caucus’ to come. Benefits • The next generation of SRA Humanities Caucus members will be better situated to immediately begin work on Humanities student issues. Difficulties • Creating and ensuring an in-term transition report building process. Long-term Implications Developing a better prepared culture of student government with the SRA Humanities Caucus’ of future years. How? Caucus members will maintain records, including the development of a transition report starting at the beginning of their term. This document will include important knowledge for the role itself, progress on platform/year plan items and other key happenings of the SRA. Members will also be required to transition the newly elected SRA Caucus at the end of their own term. The transition process of other SRA Caucus’ will be consulted in developing this process.
7 of 10 Objective 6 Better Transition Process
Partners • SRA Humanities 2018/19
Objective 7 Light Up the Night’ Artist Involvement Description Light Up the Night is the largest on-campus party of the year, and as such is a great chance to increase visibility for McMaster artists. The inclusion of visual art displays during this event will not only give McMaster artists the chance to be displayed in front of a major crowd, but would also see another level of depth added to the programming, therefore appealing to more students. We would be using large-scale events, such as Hamilton’s SuperCrawl, as inspiration for integrating visual art mediums into large-scale programming. Benefits • Visual arts students have the chance to display their work on campus to their peers. This will be a huge increase in on- campus visibility for a group which is often over looked. • The MSU will increase the event’s appeal even further by adding another level of programming to the evening.
Difficulties • Working with MSU Campus events to create the space for McMaster artists to display their pieces. • Ensuring artists receive the promotion and credit they deserve for their work in the event. Long-term Implications • A more positive approach on campus for artists to display their pieces. • A deeper connection to the Hamilton artist community as a whole, which is a thriving sector of our city. How? Consulting with the MHS, working within the Programming Advisory Committee, the VP Finance & MSU Campus Events, we will pursue the chance to integrate artists into the event. We will work to develop an application/screening process for artists who wish to participate in the event. Partners • SRA • MHS • BOD • Campus Events
LONG-TERM PLANNING
Objective 8 Improved McMaster Student Recognition Overarching Vision (What A campus where the contributions of all McMaster students are is our ultimate goal?) respected equally and without bias.
8 of 10 Objective 8 Improved McMaster Student Recognition Description As outlined in Objective 1, through the gathering of feedback from constituents, Humanities students feel undervalued on campus. This has been identified as something which will require a long- term solution and generations of SRA Humanities representatives to solve. We are hoping to begin an implementation process which better represents the needs of Humanities students in the areas of on campus programming, space allocation and University credit. Benefits • Humanities students will be able to contribute to their full potential on campus, and on an equal playing field to those in other Faculties. • McMaster will build a well-rounded reputation, as a school which values and promotes the arts, in addition to excelling in research and technology.
Year 1 • Arrange a meeting with Dr. Patrick Deane on how to best meet the needs of Humanities & all other students within the McMaster community. Understand the steps the University can take to ensure they are valuing all contributions equally. • Consult other schools, particularly those whom promote the arts strongly to see what they are doing correctly when valuing students. • Develop a plan based on the results of this meeting on how we can best move forward as a Union and a University. • Create recommendations for both the MHS and SRA Humanities to strive for going forward. Year 2 & Beyond • Continue to evaluate the progress of the slow cultural shift, understanding that this will not be a two year solution. Partners • SRA • MHS
GOALS TO STRIVE FOR
Five things we would like to have prepared before September: 1. Consultations with MSU Campus Events on artist integration. 2. Initiation of a discussion surrounding the MSU Discount Card at a meeting of the Finance Committee. 3. Open a line of communication with the MHS. 4. Begin the transition process for SRA 18/19 5. Have the logistical requirements for Caucus video updates arranged.
Five things we would like to have completed during the fall term: 1. Implementation of bi-weekly video updates. 2. Progress within committee on the MSU Discount Card. 3. Meeting date set with Dr. Patrick Deane.
9 of 10 4. Integration with MHS events and first term GA successful. 5. Finalize ‘Light Up the Night’ artist integration logistics and open call for art submissions.
Five things we would like to have completed during the winter term: 1. ‘Light Up the Night’ artists integration. 2. Recommendations to the MHS & SRA based on meeting with Patrick Deane. 3. Finalized transition report. 4. MSU Discount Card ready to be delivered to students in the next academic year. 5. MHS second term GA successful and a noticeable improvement in relations.
MASTER SUMMARY & CHECKLIST
Month Objectives
May • Brainstorm ideas for the SRA Year Plan. • Consult students, and cross-check platforms.
June • Consult with MSU partners on ideas for year plan.
July • Finalize Year Plan submission • Consult with MHS regarding each respective group’s plan. • Discuss MSU Discount Card at Finance Committee. • Work out Caucus video update logistics. August • Begin transition materials and report for SRA 18/19 • Arrange meeting with Patrick Deane for September. • Consult with MSU Campus Events on ‘Light Up the Night’ integration. September • Begin by-weekly Caucus video updates. • Meet with Patrick Deane. • Begin committee advocacy MSU Discount Card, ‘Light Up the Night’ integration.
October • MHS event attendance. • Gauge and evaluate social media interaction effectiveness. • Meet with MHS to discuss mutual progress and efficiency thus far.
November • Finalize consultation on ‘Light Up the Night’ integration. • Open call for art submissions (LUTN). December • Work on recommendation for SRA & MHS based on meeting with Patrick Deane
January • Work with MHS on logistics for Art Matters Week
February • Art Matters Week
April • Finalize transition reports • Finalize recommendations for SRA and MHS.
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YEAR PLAN MSU SRA Kinesiology Sara Mustafa and Brian Zheng 2017-2018 (submitted July 12th, 2017)
OFFICE OF THE SRA KINESIOLOGY CAUCUS INTRODUCTION
Dear Assembly,
For the upcoming year our caucus has planned out a number of exciting opportunities and changes focusing on paving the way for the future of our faculty and assembly. This purpose is to focus on three major pillars. These are: reliable information gathering, student opportunity, and relationship building.
To achieve these pillars we’ve highlighted a number of different objectives for the year. For example, to develop student opportunity, we’re looking to work with the kin society to revamp and strengthen our current mentorship program for future years. This will hopefully help educate many students on how to gain the most of their university experience and develop relationships to enrich their education and career goals. Looking at relationship building, we wanted something to really create and environment and develop a “family” feeling to our faculty. As a result, we found the difference between our program and other programs is the lack of a common space for us to collaborate and interact. As a result we looked into providing this space for coming years by seeing if we can secure a space in the new Ath & Rec building. Finally, looking at reliable information gathering, we wanted an objective method of really understanding the population we represent. Instead of making assumptions, we’ve come up with an effective method that is both quick and very representative.
Historically, our faculty has shown apathy and distaste for the MSU. While many of the reasons may be warranted, the MSU has many opportunities to provide to the faculty and can help strengthen and develop our faculty for years to come.
Feel free to let us know if you have questions.
Best,
Brian Zheng & Sara Mustafa Page | 2
GOALS
Objective 1 Textbooks
Description To have the Kinesiology department purchase copies of textbooks for core first and second year courses and give kinesiology students access to these textbooks. Benefits Would lower the cost for students. Would prevent students from buying a textbook for a small section or chapter. Would give students who choose not to purchase a textbook or simply cannot afford one the access to one at any point in the semester. Difficulties To get the kinesiology department to agree to this. To decide what courses to purchase textbooks for. Long-term The editions of textbooks and the courses themselves implications change so the textbooks inventory that the department purchases would have to always be updated. How? Advocate to the department. Partners The Kinesiology Society.
Objective 2 Access to past midterms.
Description Kinesiology students do not have access to past midterms. We would like to advocate to the professors in the kinesiology department to start giving students access to past midterms r to at least provide them with sample questions to aid the students in their preparations for these assessments. Benefits Students would perform significantly better on their midterms if they had an idea of what to expect. Difficulties Kinesiology professors, especially for first and second year courses, choose not to do this because they always repeat tests. Getting them to agree to this would not be easy. Long-term N/A implications How? Advocate to professors in the department. Partners The Kinesiology Society.
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Objective 3 Space for Kinesiology students in the Athletic and Recreation Center. Description Kin is one of the most tight-knit programs at McMaster, however, we do not have a space on campus. We would like to propose that a space in the Athletic and Recreation Center be given to kin students. Benefits This would finally give Kin students a space on campus to call their own. Difficulties Many groups on campus are looking to have a space in this new building, getting one for kin would not be an easy task. Long-term N/A implications How? Show that there is a need and a want for this amongst kin students. Partners The Kinesiology Society.
Objective 4 Comprehensive Communication and Establish SRA Presence in Kin Description Many students in Kin have limited information about the responsibilities of the SRA, MSU opportunities, the how the MSU can affect their university career. This is a result of historical apathy and disconnect from the MSU. The goal is to create a consistent outreach to the students to establish the SRA as a more viable resource. Benefits Allow Kin students to establish SRA as a resource and understand what their responsibilities are and how they can help improve their student career. In addition, this provides an more comfortable and accessible dialogue between SRA and their students, which will hopefully facilitate a stronger relationship between the two. Difficulties There is a distaste for the MSU Long-term Increase Kin involvement with the MSU and stronger implications relationship How? This can be achieved by creating a more consistent outreach plan for students: Page | 4
- social media posts - class talks - office hours - information events - collaborations with other faculties and kin society to provide more friendly content - livestreams Partners The Kinesiology Society SRA Science MSS Michael Wooder Chukky
Objective 5 Effective Feedback System
Description Many platform points and actions of SRA members have been guided by anecdotal evidence and personal student experience. While this is effective, the common student leader’s experiences is not reflective of the common student experience. This point is to establish an effective feedback system accurately represents student understanding and needs. Benefits Shaping events and information sessions tailored towards actual student needs Polling act itself acts as an informational system Difficulties Cost of wifi polling system and getting professor permission Long-term Hopefully establishing the need for informational gathering implications prior to outlining platform points How? Use of Wi-fi polling system during class talks Partners The Kinesiology Society Michael Wooder Chukky
Long-term planning
Below is an example of something that you could plan for longer than one year. This is quite a simple example, but you can choose to use this for simple tasks (such as increasing Facebook likes) or for broader visions (planning a multi-school conference for example) Page | 5
Overarching Mentorship Program Vision (what is the ultimate goal?) Description Many of us Kin students do not really know what to with our degree post-grad. Those of us who do might not know how to get there. We would like to work with the Kinesiology Society to start up a long-term mentorship program for Kinesiology students. Benefits Students can be well informed about the different career paths available to them post-grad. Students can get the opportunity to explore career options that they may not have originally considered. Year 1 Start by recruiting post graduate students who are in programs relevant to kinesiology . They can either be McMaster students or McMaster-Mohawk students Year 2 Recruiting actual professionals from various fields once the program is established and has been running for a year.
Partners Student Success Center Kinesiology Society The Department of Kinesiology
GOALS to strive for
List 5 things that you would like to have prepared for the beginning of September - Have data collected and submitted for the space in the Athletic and Recreation Center. - Meet with the Kinesiology Society and learn about their plans for the year and build a good relationship with them for future collaborations. - Brief outline of a media strategy and reviewed by Michael Wooder. - Establish a wi-fi polling service to be used Page | 6
List 5 things you would like to have completed during the fall term (1st) - implementation and review of media strategy - Completed 2 class talks w/ polling system to highlight beginning of the year struggles and basic knowledge of the SRA - Support the Kinesiology society through their fall plans. - Start advocating to Profs in the department about the need for students to have access to past midterms.
List 5 things you would like to have completed during the winter term (2nd) - Finalize an effective media strategy, compile effectiveness evidence and present to SRA - Have the mentorship program up and running.
Master Summary (calendar and checklist)
May ● . ● June ● . ● July ● . ● August ● Meeting with Michael Wooder to Consult about media strategy ● Establish media strategy draft Page | 7
● Find wifi polling system ● Livestream with students September ● Have data collected and submitted for the space in the Athletic and Recreation Center. ● Meet with the Kinesiology society and present our ideas to them and discuss how we’re going to accomplish our ideas. ● Small SRA Kin event for first years during WW ● First wifi polling/class talk ● Evaluate data and implement informational events October ● Get feedback from kinesiology students as to what post- graduate options they’d be interested in. ● Meet with the Kinesiology department and present to them our ideas (textbooks) November ● Start recruiting post-grad students for the mentorship program. ● Create some sort of data collection from Kinesiology students to show that there is a want for access to past midterms. December ● Present that data to the Kinesiology department. ● Second wifi polling/class talk o Evaluate data and effectiveness of intervention o Livestream for exam time o Potential Collaboration w/ SRA Science for exam relief? January ● Start up the mentorship program second semester. ● Continue advocating to the department on the need for access of past midterms for students and the need and the benefits of open-source textbooks for core kin courses. February ● ● March ● ● April ● End of the year polling/class talk ● Collab w/ SRA Science/Kin Society for exam relief
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YEAR PLAN MSU SRA NURSING SHARON NWAMADI 2017-2018 (submitted July 11th, 2017 )
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OFFICE OF THE NURSING CAUCUS INTRODUCTION
Dear Members of the Assembly, and fellow nursing students,
Welcome to a new year of growth, and development for the Nursing faculty, the McMaster Students Union, and the McMaster community as a whole.
Nursing students come from a variety of diverse backgrounds, and communities. We are the only faculty to have three different sites, and three different streams which are all a part of the same family: the McMaster family.
This year, the overarching focus of the nursing caucus is to be present. This means including students in decision making, collaborating with the nursing society and faculty, and making information available, and easily accessible.
This year plan is comprised of 5 larger goals, with smaller objectives contained within. These goals are to demystify the workings of the SRA/MSU to the nursing student body, build on the foundation of the 2016-2017 SRA Nursing caucus, improve collaboration with the McMaster University Nursing Student’s Society, work to improve the Constituent Outreach Policy to the benefit of nurses, and to advocate for transparency and change within the School of Nursing.
This year plan will outline the steps needed to complete these goals, and the specific objectives that will be tackled throughout the year to come. While most, if not all of these goals are attainable, this year plan may not encompass all that will be targeted for change within the 2017-2018 year.
Nonetheless, I look forward to working with my fellow representatives to create positive change, and working for the betterment of nursing students within the McMaster community.
Best regards, Sharon Nwamadi
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GOALS
Objective 1 Demystify the workings of the SRA/MSU to the nursing student body.
Description There is a disconnect between the nursing student body and the MSU. The major reason for this is that nursing students don’t know what the purpose of the SRA/MSU is, and what services and clubs are available to them. I want to provide this information to students in early in the semester so that they have the tools to get involved within the McMaster community. Benefits - This will minimize the disconnect between the nursing student body and the MSU. - Nursing students will be informed about MSU services and clubs in a public forum where they can ask questions comfortably. - Nursing students will be able to get involved in MSU services and clubs once they are informed of the existence and purpose of such groups. Difficulties - Advertising - Encouraging student engagement - Planning around clinical days Long-term - In the long term nurses will be informed and will be able to implications share this information with their friends to encourage more involvement within the McMaster community. How? - I will provide a seminar each semester tailored to nursing students and the faculty of health science to discuss the workings of the MSU, elections, the available services, and how to get involved with these services. - I will use the SRA Nursing Facebook, and Twitter pages as an avenue to provide information regarding upcoming MSU events that may be of interest to the nursing student body. Partners David Lee - SRA Health Science
Objective 2 Improving collaboration with the McMaster University Nursing Student Society (MUNSS).
Description MUNSS is the major representatives of nursing students as they run events for all students at all three sites, and streams. While SRA Nursing only represents approximately ⅓ of the student body, it’s
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important to be inclusive of all nursing students in any way possible. I want to collaborate with MUNSS so I can reach out to more nursing students through both communication, and events. Benefits - Having a strong bond with MUNSS will make running events, and information translation smoother - Working with MUNSS will increase my outreach abilities - Working with MUNSS will allow me to determine which advocacy initiatives lie within the SRA versus MUNSS Difficulties - Attending MUNSS meetings at Conestoga site - Not being a voting member on MUNSS - Having the MUNSS Education & Finance Chairpersons sit on MSU committees - The MUNSS president isn’t from McMaster site, and isn’t represented by the MSU Long-term Creating a bond with MUNSS will make planning and collaborating on implications events simpler. How? - By attend MUNSS meetings toprovide updates regarding the SRA. - By collaborating with MUNSS to ensure that information regarding SRA Nursing events can be shared through all mediums possible. - By creating a bond with the MUNSS president where expectations can be communicated effectively - By collaborating with the McMaster Nursing Welcome Week Representatives and the McMaster University Nursing Student Society (MUNSS) to provide information about the SRA/MSU during welcome week so that incoming students can be informed from the start of the semester - By arranging meetings with faculty and staff to establish faculty support Partners Thomas OHandley - MUNSS president Lois Chui & Alyssa Hirtle - McMaster Nursing Welcome Week Planners
Objective 3 Building on the foundation of the 2016-2017 SRA Nursing Caucus.
Description During the 2016-2017 the SRA Nursing Caucus launched the Nurses of McMaster Initiative, and hosted a career panel with the SSC. I want to continue these initiatives. Benefits - The Nurses of McMaster Initiative will encourage a familial bond with the nursing faculty. - Career services will benefit individual students.
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- As a nursing student, a major focus of our any individual is career planning. Providing career services such as resume and cover letter building workshops, interview skills and information sessions from different specialities will give students a closer look into their future as nurses. Difficulties - Getting unfamiliar faces to contribute to the Nurses of McMaster Initiative Long-term - Career services will benefit students as they begin to search for implications work after graduation. - The Nurses of McMaster Initiative will bring students with similar interests together. How? - Nurses of McMaster Initiative: By creating a Google form to make submissions easier. And by posting on a consistent biweekly schedule. - Career panel: By communicating with faculty and the SCC to plan a career panel in second semester. Partners Tracey Jewiss - Level 1 Chair McMaster Site Anna Magnotta - SSC Gisela Oliveira - SSC
Objective 4 Working to improve the Constituent Outreach Operating Policy to the benefit of nurses.
Description The constituent outreach operating policy outlines rules regarding how often an SRA representative has to be in contact with students. I want to increase my presence, especially through social media as that has been proven to be the most effective means of communication. Benefits - I can get student feedback on creating new initiatives and improving those that already exist - I can involve students in decision making, and keep them informed Difficulties - Encouraging student engagement Long-term Through using student feedback, I can build on my platform and implications suggest major areas for change for the following years. How? - I will be present both online and in-person to hear concerns and questions from nursing students even beyond my outreach hours. I will work to address these questions and concerns to the best of my abilities. - I will use google forms to hear student ideas regarding what they would like to see SRA Nursing do. Partners
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Objective 5 Advocating for transparency and change within the School of Nursing.
Description Course evaluations are run on different sites separate from other McMaster courses which makes doing them tedious. I’d like to advocate for one stream of information, and evaluations that allow for less constricted feedback. I’d also like to advocate for transparency in what occurs with tutor evaluations. In addition, I’d like to advocate for the opening up of health science electives to nursing students, as we are in the same faculty. Benefits - More elective courses will enrich learning - Accessible feedback forms will improve student responses which can lead to positive change Difficulties - The School of Nursing may be reluctant to change their policies on evaluations - Finding the right people to contact - Arranging meetings with faculty Long-term More student feedback will lead to improvements in the nursing implications program. Having access to health science electives will create a broader range of choices for students, as we are often at a disadvantage due to prolonged clinical days and course conflicts. How? - By sitting in on meetings with the Dean and other faculty members in collaboration with MUNSS to discuss these changes Partners Pamela Baxter - Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Nursing Education Sandra Carroll - Interim Associate Dean Health Sciences (Nursing), Director School of Nursing David Lee - SRA Health Science
Long-term planning
Overarching Increase Facebook Likes & Twitter activity Vision (what is the ultimate goal?) Description ● Improve social media reach
Benefits ● More students will be engaged with MSU content
Year 1 ● Advertise the group in nursing specific Facebook pages
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● Invite all Facebook friends, regardless of if they are in nursing to like the Facebook page ● Follow nursing students on twitter
Year 2 ● Advertise the group in nursing specific Facebook pages ● Invite all Facebook friends, regardless of if they are in nursing to like the Facebook page ● Follow nursing students on twitter
Year 3 ● Advertise the group in nursing specific Facebook pages ● Invite all Facebook friends, regardless of if they are in nursing to like the Facebook page ● Follow nursing students on twitter .
Partners
GOALS to strive for
List 5 things that you would like to have prepared for the beginning of September
1. Being present at Faculty day to provide information about the SRA and MSU to incoming students 2. Creating a google form where students can contribute their ideas for changes they would like to see this year 3. Providing students with an update on what I will be working on in the Fall and Winter term to come 4. Begin communicating with the SSC to plan the career panel 5. A plan of action for how to improve student engagement
st List 5 things you would like to have completed during the fall term (1 ) 1. MSU and You - Introduction to Services and Clubs 2. Increasing Facebook likes by 5% 3. Meeting with the Dean to advocate for changes in course evaluations, and course selection 4. Presenting my year plan to MUNSS 5. Successfully re-starting the Nurses of McMaster Initiative
nd List 5 things you would like to have completed during the winter term (2 ) Page | 8
1. Career panel 2. MSU and You - Elections seminar 3. Increasing Facebook likes by an overall 10% 4. Updating students on the implications and use of tutor evaluations 5. Changes in the course evaluation system, and the opening of health science electives to nursing students
Master Summary (calendar and checklist)
May ● Providing updates to constituents via social media June ● Providing updates to constituents via social media July ● Creating a plan of action to improve student engagement. August ● Feedback form: What would you like to see this? September ● Restart the Nurses of McMaster Initiative. ● MSU & You - Clubs & Services
October ● Meeting with the Deans’ to discuss concerns with course and tutor evaluations. ● Collaborating with MUNSS to provide Midterm de-stressors. November ● Collaborating with MUNSS to provide exam de-stressor activities. December ● Providing updates to constituents via social media January ● MSU & You - Elections February ● Collaborating with MUNSS to provide Midterm de-stressor activities. March ● Career Panel & Workshop ● Collaborating with MUNSS to provide exam de-stressors. April ● Feedback on the year, and looking forward to changes for the next year
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YEAR PLAN MSU SRA SCIENCE 2017-2018 SRA 17E (submitted July 11, 2017)
Sabra Salim (Caucus Leader) Alexander Wilson Aqeel Anas Rabeena Obaidullah Sinthu Senthillmohan Sabrin Salim Uwais Patel
INTRODUCTION
To the Faculty of Science and the Members of the Assembly, I would like to begin by thanking you for taking the time to read through our year plan! To our constituents, thank you for believing in our ideas and ultimately electing us to represent you in the coming year. Among the six of us, we hope to bring a variety of different experiences, perspectives and ideas to the table to reach our collective goal of enhancing the student experience through governance. As a collective, we believe that our individual platforms would best be met by encouraging internal collaboration within our caucus, as well as with the assembly and our other partners such as the McMaster Science Society (MSS). For this reason, we have added a new section under our objectives that details what each respective SRA Science member plans on completing. Although slightly ambitious, we have highlighted nine primary objectives that the six of us would like to tackle this year. Not only do we bring our own new ideas to the plate, we also wish to continue the efforts of previous SRA Science Caucuses while ensuring that our platforms are relevant yet considerate of the needs that still exist within our faculty. We hope to continue expanding our outreach to our constituents, improve relations with partners like the MSS, as well as improve the academic/student experience within the faculty and the union as a whole. Below, we have cumulated a detailed review of the efforts we hope to achieve in the coming year. This is merely a summary of our plan that we hope will also provide some insight for possible collaborative efforts. If you feel that there is a project you may want to work on us with, please feel free to contact any one of us at the email addresses listed! Alexander Wilson - [email protected] Aqeel Anas - [email protected] Rabeena Obaidullah - [email protected] Sabra Salim (Caucus Leader) - [email protected] Sabrin Salim - [email protected] Sinthu Senthillmohan - [email protected]
Warm Regards, Sabra Salim SRA Science Caucus Leader
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GOALS
Objective 1 Course Registration and Management SRA Members Alex Wilson, Sabra Salim, Sinthu Senthillmohan
Description Course registration and management are our academic priorities this year. One of our internal academic priorities includes easing the registration process for science students as well as enhancing the course experience for students alike.
1) Assessment Ban: In coordination with the VP Education platform, we are looking to better define the Assessment Ban as well as produce accountability measures for enforcement. 2) Syllabi Repository: This project involves having syllabi finalized earlier in the summer so students who need to have accessible formats created through library services can have them in time for the start of classes and so every student can have a better idea of the actual content of the courses they are enrolling in. We are excited to help Ryan work on this project and link it with ongoing open syllabus repository advocacy. 3) Later Drop Add Date: Additionally, we want to bring the idea of later drop add dates to these discussions. Because our academic terms never begin on a Monday and labs and tutorials don’t start until the second week, students are asked to finalize their schedule without experiencing a full week of it. This creates huge financial and accessibility barriers for a number of students. 4) Recommended Courses on Mosaic: Currently for science programs, mandatory courses are listed under the plan by requirements section. This platform primarily focuses on adding listed recommended courses for each program onto Mosaic so as to increase accessibility for enrollment.
Benefits 1) Producing anonymous accountability measures for enforcement of the assessment ban will allow students to report infractions when necessary. This will hold professors and course administration responsible for ensuring that marked material is only distributed/due outside of this period. Even more so, by enforcing accountability, we minimize the number of assessments that are distributed in the period before exams so students can focus on studying. 2) Via a course Syllabus Repository, students will have a better idea of what the actual content of the classes they are taking is.
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This is particularly helpful for transdisciplinary students who may not have access to informal information sharing communities that currently exist. Additionally, this would give time for students who require course materials to be converted to an accessible format through library accessibility services to do so over the summer as some students do not receive needed materials until October (Midterm season) in the current system. 3) A later drop add date would ameliorate many financial and accessibility considerations in the current course enrollment model. 4) By adding recommended courses on Mosaic, we provide science students with more accessible information when enrolling. Recommended courses are currently only on undergraduate academic calendars which are not frequently cross checked. Many of the recommended courses end up being prerequisite to a large majority of upper year courses which students then fail to take. This addition will help students become more aware of courses like this when planning and enrolling. Difficulties 1) Difficulties in this platform are primarily around logistically planning ground work (student feedback) for evidence-based advocacy. 2) This requires a deadline shift in when course syllabi are due which may impact the contracts of sessional faculty - more research is needed into the difficulties and existing policies before a specific plan can be brought forward. Ideally these syllabi would be embedded into mosaic or the undergraduate course calendar however failing this a potential difficulty into where to house this information arises. 3) This is a rather significant change and one that will likely be better received in internal university offices also support this change. This changes the fee timeline of the university as well which could have significant unforeseen impacts that need more investigation. 4) One of the biggest difficulties in this platform is convincing the Faculty and the Dean’s Office that adding recommended courses to Mosaic is meaningful to students. This can hopefully be overcome by producing a survey to reveal that this is what students want. Long-term 1) This will hopefully in the long term provide students with a implications medium to report such infractions. 2) Students of the future can enroll in courses with actual knowledge of the course content! Additionally, this will have rippling effects as better informed students will strengthen Page | 4
individual student's ability to waive prerequisite courses when appropriate and allow for more work in designing minors to be done by students strengthening that advocacy. 3) N/A 4) In the long term, we hope that recommended courses on Mosaic will ease the enrollment process. How? 1) Work with David Lee, the AVP UA, to establish ground work in data collection and then continue in advocacy from there. 2) Working with Ryan Deshpande, the Vice President (Education), to understand his current framework for addressing this need from last year’s referendum and finding avenues to support and collaborate on this project. 3) Initially, working with the Education team to research and evidence this ask and include it in the Academic Success Policy being written this year. Additionally, working with other organizations on campus (Student Accessibility Services, Student Financial Aid, Student Accounts, and the Registrar’s Office) to understand the impact this would have on various university services. 4) Currently, we are in the works of having biweekly meetings with the Dean and the Associate Dean to discuss this issue and bring it to their council. This does not require university administration outside of the faculty. Partners David Lee - Associate Vice President University Affairs Ryan Deshpande - Vice President of Education Maureen MacDonald - Dean of Science Michael Farquharson - Associate Dean of Science Otto Geiss - IT/AV: Information Technology Analyst
Objective 2 Constituent Outreach SRA Members Alex Wilson, Sabra Salim, Sinthu Senthillmohan, Sabrin Salim, Aqeel Anas, Rabeena Obaidullah
Description As outlined by SRA Science 16-17, constituent outreach continues to be a priority. Students are unaware of the ways that they can become involved with the MSU. On the other hand, students are also not informed of the different plans and projects we work on over the course of the academic term. We have highlighted four main strategies below in increasing our presence both online and in person.
1) Restructuring Office Hours: Our current plan includes implementing the work of the SRA Engineering 16-17 in office hours. We plan to host a caucus office hour that will be 2 hours Page | 5
in length biweekly either online through a live stream or at a changing location throughout the year. Flexibility in time and location will also allow us to cater to more students and increase our accessibility. 2) Attending Faculty Day/Night: As per the VP Administration Platform, we are currently in the works of attending the Science Faculty Day/Night during Welcome Week so as to interact with incoming first years and set a presence. 3) General Assembly: The McMaster Science Society hosts a general assembly every term that allows science students to keep up with the work they do. We are currently in the works of discussing with the President on our presence at this assembly. 4) Increasing Online Outreach: Currently, we are using Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to reach out to our constituents. We are hoping we can increase our Facebook like count and expand our online presence through updates. We will also be updating our page on the MSS, post semesterly videos of our progress and continue with updating the MSU Webpage.
Benefits By opening the gate of communication with science students, dialogue of the efforts we make during the year can become known. Even more, by continuing with these discussions, we can receive the necessary feedback and information needed to best cater to our constituents. This will also make students more comfortable with the SRA and the MSU as a whole. Difficulties Difficulties in this platform primarily consist of organizing logistics in our outreach plans. Setting up times for meetings and bi-weekly office hours maybe an issue during the coming year as described below. Long-term This will hopefully allow us to remove the barrier between SRA and implications science students so that they may be more comfortable in reaching out to us throughout this year and for many to come. How? 1) Work with respective administration to book rooms if necessary as well as organize times for all of us to come together. 2) After approval from Preethi, we will be reaching out to Marina and the Science Planners to see how we can best be of help at Faculty Day. 3) Contact Connor Maclean and VP Internal in organizing slides and timings for GA to present our projects 4) We have currently assigned a social medium platform to each SRA Science member. This will allow for efficient updating. We also plan on inviting individuals to the Facebook page and to consistently post important information on class pages. Partners Preethi Anbalagan - Vice President Administration (MSU) Marina Bredin - Faculty Coordinator
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Science Planners - (MSS) Connor Maclean - President (MSS) Naomi Wong - Vice President Internal (MSS) Monish Ahluwalia - Vice President Communication (MSS) Daksh Datta - Webmaster (MSS)
Objective 3 Enhancing the Learning Environment SRA Members Alex Wilson, Sinthu Senthillmohan, Rabeena Obaidullah
Description 1) Podcasted Courses: Based on the information the previous SRA Science caucus has provided regarding this issue, we believe we can encourage more professors to podcast their classes. 2) Variability in Course Assessment: We are hoping to work with faculty administrators to ensure that we implement variability in assessments in our courses. A well known example of a course that provides students various options for the calculation of their final grade is that of CHEM 1A03/1AA3. Benefits 1) Podcasted courses have the capability of drastically increasing the availability and accessibility of classroom lecture content. 2) Variability in our course assessments is important as it honours that every student applies their knowledge in different manners. Difficulties 1) Many classrooms that have the capability to podcast, have professor’s who are unaware of this or how to do this. Additionally, there is an attitudinal barrier that if lectures are podcasted students will stop attending lecture and this is believed to be problematic. Large introductory classes that would benefit from being podcasted are not always held in classrooms with appropriate infrastructure to do so. 2) Logistical issues may arise in partnering with University staff, especially in changing and implementing different types of assessments/grade calculations. Long-term 1) Could lead to broader investments in distance education implications software and a prioritization of universal design in course conceptualization. 2) Establishing various course assessments could increase student success as these styles vary in response to variability among students. How? 1) Creating a letter/package with evidence-based literature explaining why podcasting is beneficial, why professors should do it, and directing them to Otto Geiss to help set it up in their classrooms. 2) Work with the Faculty and the Dean of Science to establish new
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assessment strategies and/or grading techniques. Partners Otto Geiss - IT/AV: Information Technology Analyst Maureen MacDonald - Dean of Science SRA Commerce SRA Social Sciences
Objective 4 Accessibility SRA Members Alex Wilson, Sinthu Senthillmohan
Description In many ways, our school environment can be improved to better accommodate students with various needs, and one way to do that is by making the classroom more accessible. 1) Mosaic Improvements: Right now, Mosaic only shows the bare minimum when it comes to course descriptions. Things like whether the class is podcasted, whether the room will be wheelchair accessible, and how we're being evaluated are not listed. Hopefully, Mosaic can be improved so that much more information is available for students online, when they are selecting courses. 2) SAS Note-Taking Program Improvements: As it currently stands you as a student can register to be a note taker on the SAS website. The purpose of note takers is to provide students who can’t make it to class for disability related reasons with notes, allowing them to access to the same information as everyone else. Currently students who post notes are offered a reference letter in exchange. Yet, every year students who need these notes cite frustration over a lack of note takers in any of their courses (University Accessibility Policy: https://www.msumcmaster.ca/governance/bylaws- policies/general-policies and Accessibility Forum Reports: https://www.msumcmaster.ca/governance/bylaws-policies/msu- reports) . Imagine paying for a course and having to drop it because no one would give you notes. This system needs to change. 3) Disability Studies Minor (Alex): This is a project I’ve had the pleasure of working on for quite some time now and I’m excited to continue working on it as an assembly member. Previously, I’ve had the opportunity of working with Blake Oliver current Vice President Education, and former University Affairs Commissioner, to Co-Author the current University Accessibility Policy (https://www.msumcmaster.ca/governance/bylaws- policies/general-policies) which among many things demonstrated student need in the creation of this minor.
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Currently the Madness Eugenics Discrimination and Sanseis (MEDS) working group of the President’s Advisory Committee on Building an Inclusive Community (PACBIC: https://pacbic.mcmaster.ca/) is working on advocating on the creation of an interdisciplinary minor in disability studies. As an assembly member I would like to continue to work with MEDS on this initiative. 4) Deferred Maintenance and Physical Accessibility (Alex): It has been a substantial period of time since our Deferred Maintenance Policy paper has been updated and is long expired. I would like to investigate deferred maintenance in relation to campus accessibility and suggest recommendations for a future edition of this policy. Benefits 1) Students with disabilities can know ahead of time exactly how their courses are structured, whether certain assessment styles may impose barriers, and whether the classroom can accommodate them. This implementation will also allow all students to know exactly what they are signing up for, and lets them choose courses according to their strengths. 2) Students who require notes to be provided to them will actually get them. 3) Students are able to critically engage in academic content relating to facets of their identity. Students benefit from a better understanding of the nuance and complexities of disability as a social category. Students who want to pursue disability studies in post graduate studies can explore these issues in undergrad and become more prepared for these studies. 4) When the deferred maintenance policy is written there will be more data collected in regards to an accessibility framework and some of the policy planning will have already been done. Difficulties 1) The biggest barrier will be efficiently transferring course information onto Mosaic, and deciding what is/isn’t important to include. 2) Student Accessibility Services is sometimes inconsistent in their response to student driven feedback on their services. Professors may think this is an “easy” way to get participation marks. 3) There is not set framework for creating a minor. Especially from student feedback. To some extent this is charting new territory and will require varied and flexible approaches. 4) To be honest this is the lowest priority point for me (Alex) as it is setting future years up for success and initiating conversations for the future as opposed to looking for tangible goals this year. As such it may be put to the side when prioritization becomes more important. Page | 9
Long-term 1) Students will know all that they need to know before signing up implications for a course. 2) Partnering with SAS on this project may allow for better collaboration in the future on other advocacy initiatives. 3) This is already a multi-year project and will likely continue beyond this year. 4) Sets future deferred maintenance advocacy up for success. How? 1) We can look into how information is chosen to be put onto Mosaic, and whether the Mosaic Steering Committee can help advocate for these improvements. 2) Working with Student Accessibility Services, the Vice President (Education) and Faculty Society VP Academics, we want to explore a system where registering and meeting the responsibilities of being an SAS notetaker qualifies you for participation marks in relevant courses. Not only is this a fair means of assessment as note taking is part of participation, thus providing notetakers with diverse assessment opportunities, it will increase the number of students that have access to notes. Additionally, we want to work on incorporating SAS notetaker registration into course syllabi so more students are aware they can become notetakers. 3) Working with MEDS a list of disability related courses at McMaster has already been compiled. Their syllabi are in the process of being collected and professors and faculty potentially interested in the creation of this minor have been reached out to to gauge interest. Moving forward a introductory course will need to be designed that integrates foundations with some perspectives from these upper-year courses. Advocacy should be focused on securing funding for a student researcher to suggest content for the introductory course and look at course content at other universities to make other relevant recommendations. 4) Look at current MSU policy on deferred maintenance as well as past accessibility forum reports to find areas that need future research or draft recommendations to be made. Additionally, working with Maccess strategic questions can be asked during data collection activities to ensure their is relevant accessibility related data to strengthen future asks. Partners Ryan Deshpande - Vice President of Education Ivelina Velikova - Macademics Coordinator Page | 10
Fred Hall - Chair of Mosaic Steering Committee Linda Elliot - Mosaic Program Director Lauren McClinton - Maccess Coordinator (and/or relevant executive members TBD) PACBIC Madness Eugenics Discrimination and Saneism Working Group PACBIC Accessibility DIsability and Ableism Working Group Alise DeBie - Grad Student and EIO Staff Tim Nolan- Student Accessibility Services
Objective 5 Career Networking Night SRA Members Alex Wilson, Sabra Salim, Sinthu Senthillmohan, Rabeena Obaidullah, Aqeel Anas, Sabrin Salim
Description In conjunction with the McMaster Science Society, our goal for this platform is to provide science students with a medium to explore career opportunities within the STEM field. Currently, we are looking to expand the current career networking night, Quantum Leap. Benefits Science students are often unaware of the various career and academic paths available to them after their undergraduate studies. Seeing a gap in the university and faculty’s efforts to assist students in transitioning out of McMaster, we believe that a career networking night will provide science students with an opportunity to broaden their horizons and gain insight into these options. Difficulties Budgeting and finances may pose as issue for this event. Current plans include taking Quantum Leap to a venue of campus which may be costly. Long-term Continuity of Quantum Leap in partnership with the MSS, this event implications can continue to benefit science students in the long-term by aiding them in exploring options beyond McMaster. In the long-term, we How? We have reached out to the MSS Academic Events Planner who is currently coordinating the conference. We will be assisting her in coordination of the event and in acquiring sponsors, promotion and necessary logistics.
Partners Sabrina Campbell - Academic Events Planner, MSS Science Program Societies
Objective 6 Diversity in Governance SRA Members Sabrin Salim, Sabra Salim
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Description Under the SRA, “MSU Wants You” is a working group committee that aims “to increase the diversity and representation of student government at McMaster in terms of but not limited to gender, race, sexuality, ability, Indigenous status, and other underrepresented groups” (1.1). After consulting members of the SRA Science 2016- 2017 Caucus, we agreed that this working group may be further improved. I would like to implement change by running focus groups throughout the the 2017-2018 school year in collaboration with relevant MSU Services (e.g. Diversity Services, Maccess etc.). In addition, through this I would like to also run surveys to collect data through these focus groups. As science students, it is important for us to recognize the importance of collecting data so as to improve services through recognizing where there may be a lack of resources. Benefits This will allow us to see what we can do as a student’s union to support minority groups on campus and further provide opportunities. Difficulties The working group requires to work with executive members of WGEN, QSCC, McMaster Indigenous Student Community Alliance and Diversity Services Long-term This will hopefully increase representation in elected positions implications (governance) within the MSU while also working to tackle institutional barriers. How? The Working Group Committee operating policy requires some updating. Maccess Coordinator should be added into the operating policy as well as the removal of the Advocacy Coordinator (Advocacy has been disassembled). In addition, we would like to set up a meeting with Ryan Deshpande to see how it is we may collect information and what information is required so that we may see development
Partners Padmaja- WGEN Coordinator Kamini Persaud- Internal Governance AVP Aditya Harchand- QSCC Coordinator Representative from the McMaster Indigenous Student Community Alliance Lilian Obeng- Director of Diversity Services Lauren McClinton- Maccess Coordinator
Objective 7 Housemate Connector SRA Members Sinthu Senthillmohan Description I hope to work with the Off Campus Resource Centre to improve the service they provide for students who are looking for housemates. Some changes I wish to implement include: 1) Better Promotion: I had never previously heard of this service until I went in person to the OCRC office to inquire about it. No Page | 12
information is available online, and it is not marketed to first years, which is crucial considering many of them will be moving to live off campus for the first time. 2) Year-Round: Currently, this service is only available in the summer, and primarily targets students entering first year. I want to expand this to be year-round, and for students from any year, as many leases are signed much earlier than when this service runs. 3) Automatic Match-Up: Right now, students must create profiles on this website and then spend time looking through other profiles to choose a housemate. We can change this to mimic the automatic match-up system that occurs when incoming first years fill out a short questionnaire to get paired up with a roommate in residence. Benefits Students can easily find potential housemates based on similar interests and lifestyles. Difficulties There may be monetary issues when it comes to keeping the website running during the summer. Long-term In the long term, students can continue to use a well-established implications medium to find potential housemates. How? I think that by working with services that target first year students, we can better promote this service. For example, MSU Spark hosts a session regarding moving off-campus, and advertising this service could be added to the agenda by working with their Sessions Coordinator. I would also like to work with the OCRC to make more information available online, so that we can efficiently reach out to students who may require this service the most. Partners Lindsay D’Souza - Spark Coordinator Giancarlo Da-Re & Jane Luft - Spark Sessions Coordinators Off Campus Resource Centre
Objective 8 Distribution of Information SRA Members Aqeel Anas
Description With the immensity and complexity of the union, there is a vast amount of information that can be collected and used in multiple different ways. As technology progresses towards an information basis, the MSU should work towards implementing ways in which data collection can be used to assess the success of the inner workings of the union. As we have amassed a historical database of information, there are many patterns that could be recognized that we could use to our advantage in making future decisions of the MSU. Furthermore, with service operations, we should be constantly collecting and analyzing
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usage, training, budgetary constraints, and all other metrics of services. With certain services catering to a certain population, while others catered to all students, we should be collecting information to ensure that these services are on a sustainable path to more success in the future. Benefits Collecting data and metrics will allow us to quantify the successes and failures of our services. This information could be used to make future decisions and continue their sustainable growth by collecting and analyzing annual data about how well we are serving our students. Difficulties Some of our difficulties are primarily as a results of metric collection. Data collecting can be lengthy, time consuming and expensive. Even more, student information must also remain secure. Long-term In the long term, analyzing our services will allow us to see the implications historical growth of the union. This information will allow us to continue serving our students as a feedback system to further improve the union. How? The first step involves looking into what type of metrics are common to all services and see how we can start to collect that type of information. Even more, we want to see if certain services are not collecting a type of data that could be crucial to making decisions about that service. After this, we will look into collecting metrics about MSU members to have a better understanding of the population that the union is serving.
Partners Kristina Epifano - AVP Services
Objective 9 Providing Resources to Clubs SRA Members Aqeel Anas, Sabra Salim, Rabeena Obaidullah
Description 1) Service Collaboration: Cross service collaboration has been one of the best ways that we are able to optimize our resources to deliver the best programming for students. Likewise, I would like to make it possible for clubs to have a platform on which they are able to collaborate with not only other clubs, but also MSU Services. This would not only provide clubs with more resources to provide programming for students, but it will also bridge a gap between students involved in only clubs and students involved in only MSU services. 2) Clubs Storage: I also want to look into clubs storage, and finding alternative spaces for clubs to be able to store their belongings. Currently the only storage cabinets in club space are to serve over 300 clubs, however with the growing Page | 14
population of students and more clubs, we need to find better storage solutions. 3) Connecting Program Societies: Currently under the MSS there are 13 program societies. Year after year they provide opportunities and programming for their given cohort of students. However, some of the smaller programs within the faculty of science often go under represented, and the students in those programs go unsupported. We want to be able to bring together all the program societies to discuss best practices, support the often forgotten ones, and collaborate to offer the best services to the students of each respective program. 4) Interfaith Council: Still in its very early stages. Will be updated in next report. A working group where presidents of faith based groups can sit in a roundtable to discuss best practices and collaboration.
Benefits 1) This platform will hopefully provide clubs with more resources to improve the success of their programming. Even more so, in increasing collaboration from large campus bodies that serve a set population of MSU members. We also want to bridge the divide between students who are involved in clubs and students involved in MSU services. Clubs have better outreach and are thus a great way for services to reach more MSU members. 2) This will provide clubs with adequate storage for their belongings. 3) This platform is important as it will aid in the transition to a more connected faculty. This will also recognize smaller groups as well as provide opportunities for program societies to share best practices and centralize resources with the MSS. Difficulties 1) Services have a packed schedule and it can be hard to collaborate with multiple partners at once. More so, not all clubs will want to collaborate with services or other clubs, and/or may have difficulty finding overlapping programming to collaborate on. Logistics of collaboration can also become difficult and confusing. 2) Difficulties with this platform primarily revolve around finding space on campus for storage. 3) Connecting 13 different societies can be difficult logistically. Long-term 1) This theme will essentially help establish a more connected implications campus with all the services and clubs collaborating. With this, everyone is able to come together and provide a rich and diverse range of programming and support for students. 2) Better storage means more space for the growth of the clubs department.
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3) As for collaboration with program societies, increased collaboration can diversify the programming and opportunities we can provide science students. The faculty can also grow together and pave way for easier collaborations in the future. How? 1) The first step is to create a platform for all clubs to be able to collaborate on their events. After this platform has been created, a master calendar of all the events that will be run should be organized to minimize overlap and encourage collaboration on projects/programming together. 2) Optimize current clubs storage, or look into new spaces to allocate for clubs storage. 3) Work with the MSS to bring program society executives in meetings with the SRA. Partners Board of Directors Jenna Courage- Clubs Administrator Monica Sadik and Ruchika Gothoskar -Assistant Clubs Administrators Connor Maclean - President (MSS) Program Societies
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Long-term planning
Overarching To continue utilizing governance to improve the undergraduate Vision (what is experience in all facets of student life. the ultimate goal?) Description We hope that our projects if not accomplished within the coming year, will maintain their longevity through work by incoming caucuses. If there is one task that needs to consistently be continued, it would be to increase constituent outreach every year until it becomes optimal.
Year X ● Increase Facebook like count consistently every year until our Facebook like count is close to faculty population umbers Partners McMaster Science Society (MSS) Program Societies Welcome Week Planners (Science)
GOALS to strive for
List 5 things that you would like to have prepared for the beginning of September
● Start discussions with Sabrina Campbell to work on the Quantum Leap Conference ● Increase like count to 1500 likes on Facebook ● Establish metrics for groundwork Assessment Ban, recommended courses and Mosaic related items ● Meet with the McMaster Science Society and establish meetings with the Dean’s office ● Meet with the Science Planners to organize Faculty day ● Establish metrics for service analysis
List 5 things you would like to have completed during the fall term (1st)
● Finalize logistics for the Quantum Leap ● Focus groups for MSU and You working group ● Increase Facebook like count to 2000 likes ● Establish a meeting time for bi-weekly meeting ● Attend MSS General Assembly Term Page | 17
List 5 things you would like to have completed during the winter term (2nd) ● Increase Facebook like count to 2500 likes ● Increase diversity in governance for the upcoming election ● Attend MSS General Assembly Term 2 ● Gain access to more clubs storage ● Mosaic related changes struck
Further establishment of semesterly and monthly deadlines to come in the coming month.
Master Summary of Themes
Theme 1: Course Registration and Management Theme 2: Constituent Outreach Theme 3: Enhancing the Learning Environment Theme 4: Accessibility Theme 5: Career Networking Night Theme 6: Diversity in Governance Theme 7: Housemate Connector Theme 8: Distribution of Information Theme 9: Providing Resources to Clubs
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SRASRA Social Sciences
Social Sciences
Year Plan 2017 - 2018
Lauren Arnold | Uwais Patel | Kathleen Quinn | Kirstin Webb SRA Social Sciences
July 11, 2017
Fellow Social Science Students, Members of the Assembly, and Members of the McMaster Community,
This Caucus is grateful to be representing Social Science students on the Student Representative Assembly with genuine zealousness, tenacity, and passion. We are here to make a positive impact through our work, alter the status quo, and bring greater opportunities to better support our constituents. This year, we’re very excited to be changing the way we represent our faculty — we hope you’re excited too!
The Social Sciences caucus plans on achieving a significant amount this year for Social Sciences students. We want to obtain a sense of pride and inspiration within our faculty, and empower students around us. We want to better communicate with our students, conduct better outreach, and engage with the population like never before. As a caucus, we plan not only to work with the Faculty of Social Sciences and the McMaster Social Sciences Society, but we plan to connect with other MSU services, clubs, and campus partners. We’re hoping to shine a brighter light on the MSU and the SRA’s role within it to show students that we are here for them.
This year, our work will focus on the following broad themes: engagement, innovation, and support. Through our work on engagement, we hope to become better communicators and listeners. We are determined to actively work with our constituents and be more transparent in our actions. We hope to create and update new communication products and techniques to better accommodate the needs of our students. Moreover, we hope to support our students through their academics and extracurriculars.
We’re ready to engage, innovate, and support our faculty. As a caucus, we’re just getting started. If you have any questions, ideas, or contributions, we are here to listen and can be reached via email.
Warmest regards,
Uwais Patel Caucus Leader, SRA Social Sciences McMaster Students Union [email protected] SRA Social Sciences Caucus Members
Lauren Arnold Honours Social Work [email protected]
Kirstin Webb Uwais Patel Kathleen Quinn Honours Social Work Honours Political Science Honours Labour Studies [email protected] [email protected] Political Science [email protected]
To Be Determined ETA: October 2017 SRA Social Sciences Objectives Communications and Engagement Strategy Previous outreach and engagement with social science students has been less than acceptable. Though the MSU has been actively trying to increase it’s engagement efforts, there hasn’t been consistency amongst the communications and engagement activities that i geared towards students. The Communications and Engagement strategy is being developed as a resource for SRA Social Science members to communicate and engage with their constituents on a consistent basis. Its aim is to create a protocol that caucus members can use to interact with the faculty and its members.
MSU Guidebook This guide will serve as a handy how to for students looking to get involved. The four Key sections are 1) What is the MSU 2) How to Run for a Seat 3) How to run a referendum 3) Meeting attendance and what you need to know. Looking to create a print and online version rough draft for September and distribute this resource to students afterwards.
Formalized relationship with MSSS and Faculty of Social Sciences As already determined, we will sit regularly with the MSSS to ensure we are in a collaborative and supportive relationship that best benefits students from both MSU and faculty-level platforms. Likewise, ensuring that we communicate with the Faculty of Social Sciences will enable the best and most comprehensive support for Soc Sci students.
Student Representation at the University Level Based on previous student engagement, some folks in Social Sciences have felt mis- and under-represented at the University level. This review can be completed easily through survey and/or consultation, and will engage faculty and students to see how we can ensure that students’ voices are adequately represented.
Accessibility for Courses/SAS Capabilities Podcasting courses is one step to improving accessibility for courses for students. Similarly, we would like to work with students and SAS to ensure that SAS is meeting the needs of students in the best way they can (e.g. adequately recognizing the difficulty and inaccessibility of requiring doctor’s notes, and re-evaluating and reforming the current notetaking system).
Improved Course Evaluations The current course evaluations system is crucial to quality of education; we would like to ensure that the system is transparent in how it affects teaching and educational opportunities, and, if needed, that the system is improved. We will do so through consultation with the Provost, Faculty, and others involved, and then potentially through a survey/other feedback opportunity. SRA Social Sciences Objectives L.R. Willson: Hours Make the building designated for Social Science and Humanities students feel more like a second home with extended hours (ideally an hour before classes start and an hour after classes finish at night). Work with Stacey and lobby to the Dean of Social Sciences to do this.
L.R. Willson: Lounge This lounge is meant to be a home to Social Sciences students (and Humanities students!). We would like to work with the MSSS and the Faculty of Social Sciences to decorate and make this space accessible and comfortable for students to use to study, hang out, and feel at home at Mac.
Landlord Rating System This system will be implemented in coordination with the VP Ed, President, AVP Municipal affairs and associated committees. Looking to create a landlord rating system to help centralize information about bad landlords without the financial limitations of the off campus housing listing. Currently in research. Looking for draft by September
Study Sessions A night of studying in a room with snacks and possibly a tutor to help social science students during exams. Similar to PSL last year as it provided a noticeable benefit to those who attended. Will coordinate with faculty partners.
Experiential Opportunities Continuing the work from the previous Social Sciences Caucus, we’re looking to work with the Social Sciences Experiential Education (EE) centre to learn how we can better support them and our faculty in obtaining experiential opportunities. SRA Social Sciences Master Schedule
Month Checklist
• Meet and reach out to campus partners June • Start landlord and MSU How to Drafts • Reach out to Faculty and Campus Partners
• Photograph and plan materials for Welcome Week • Continue outreach to campus partners and develop year July communication plan • Develop outreach material for open SRA seat • Finalize Welcome Week Plan and Communications Plan August • Finalize outreach plan and material for open SRA seat with Comms Officer
• Rough draft of how to completed September • WW plan to be implemented • Begin meeting with MSSS regularly • Draft of landlord rating system and How To to be approved and made • MSSS GA • Meet with other Soc Sci stakeholders and representatives - October EE, Faculty, etc. • Plan with other collaborators to meet with SAS • Elect our last member • Run how-to event for members wanting to run
November • Study Sesh events
• Study Sesh events December • Finish landlord rating system
• Class talks and recruitment scouting of new members January • Review course evaluation system within classtalks and/or online survey. Will be planned more thoroughly in first term. SRA Social Sciences Master Schedule
Month Checklist
• PROMO the GA February • Promotion of elections
• Run how-to event for new members March • Promotion of elections for MSSS and SRA • Prepare for transition • Study Sesh Events April • Transition with new caucus, smoothly SRA Social Sciences Goals
Increase Communication with Social Science students
Lead: Uwais
Support: Kathleen, Lauren, and Kirstin
• Using both tested and new methods of communication to Description increase social science student awareness of MSU and soc sci events and other important information
• Accountability and transparency in SRA Soc Science’s work • Increased visibility of MSU opportunities and events Benefits • Increased Participation and awareness among the general population • Commitment to groundwork and timelines esp. in busy Difficulties season
Long-term • Longevity of participation within the MSU implications • Increased two way feedback between MSU and students • Initial Email to Clubs, Services, and Academic Societies • Planning of Class Talks Each Semester How? • Social Media • Longterm Year Communication Strategy
• McMaster Social Sciences Society • Faculty of Social Sciences Partners • McMaster Students Union • Various Campus Parts SRA Social Sciences Goals
Increase Collaboration and Support for Social Science Groups, Clubs and Academic Societies & Formalized/Improved relationship with MSSS
Lead: Kirstin and Uwais
Support: Kathleen
• Actively seeking to co-ordinate year plans, attend Description meetings, and affect change through various platforms
• Accountability and transparency in SRA Soc Science’s work Benefits • Increased visibility of MSU opportunities and events • Comprehensive experience for Social Science students • Culture of Apathy around the MSU Difficulties • Continuation Yearly • Working within our schedules
Long-term • Positive and Restorative Relationship with the SRA Soc Sci implications Caucus • Initial Summer outreach to clubs, services and academic societies How? • Planning year of events to collab on/ attend • Planning of Meetings to attend from clubs, services, and societies
• Academic Societies Partners • McMaster Social Sciences Society • MSU Clubs SRA Social Sciences Goals
MSU Guidebook
Lead: Kathleen
Support: Uwais
• MSU How to guide book for students looking to understand who we are and how we can help them create positive change. Description • Includes: description of how the MSU runs, meetings, elections, services, campaigning, petitioning, and general forums.
• Autonomy for students looking to organize, comprehensive resource which is easy to navigate, Benefits increases student feedback, reduces inefficiency in communication.
Difficulties • Compilation, printing, and changing policies.
• Time saving resource, enhances engagement. Long-term • Implications- can be useful to determining value of face- implications to-face contact and evaluating certain methods.
• Class talks scheduled and organized for first week of How? classes at the beginning of each semester
• MSU, clubs, McMaster University, SRA, Underground (if Partners printed) SRA Social Sciences Goals
L.R. Wilson (Hours and Lounge)
Lead: Kirstin and Lauren
Support: Uwais
• Students in Social Sciences and Humanities will be given a new lounge in the basement of L. R. Wilson Hall, replacing the unusable space in the basement of the Commons Building. However, it will be closed to the general public and only accessible by the faculty societies via key card. In order to make Description this space more accessible and more effective in building community amongst Humanities and Social Sciences students, we want to aid and collaborate with SRA Humanities, the MSSS and the MHS to keep this space open to all Social Science and Humanities students Monday to Thursday from 6-10pm.
• Builds community • Gives students a space to call their own Benefits • Good opportunity for us to outreach with more students • and collect their feedback • Big commitment Difficulties • Difficulties in ensuring every organization honours their • commitment in this collaboration
• Similar to Science’s Nucleus lounge, this could become a Long-term longstanding tradition where liberal arts students can meet and implications form relationships.
How? • TBD
• SRA Social Sciences and Humanities, MSSS, MHS, potential Partners collaboration with faculties SRA Social Sciences Goals
Student Representation at the University Level
Lead: Kirstin
Support: Lauren
• Based on previous student engagement, some folks in Social Sciences have felt mis- and under-represented at the University level. This review can be completed easily through Description survey and/or consultation, and will engage faculty and students to see how we can ensure that students’ voices are adequately represented.
• Ensuring that students have their needs met and are Benefits communicated with in ways that benefit them from the University and not just with regard to the MSU. • Feedback can be difficult to come by unless this is a priority Difficulties for students - which it may not be if a topical subject does not come up.
• Better communication across McMaster, with more of a focus on ensuring a comprehensive learning and living Long-term environment for students. Essentially, making sure that the implications culture of transparency that the MSU promotes is upheld across campus. • Conduct review personally, with interested SRA members potentially, and if deemed necessary, conduct a survey that How? could tell us what students need to hear more about and what they’re not hearing enough about from the University.
• Provost, Social Sciences faculty, MSSS, other SRA members Partners potentially SRA Social Sciences Goals
Accessibility for courses/SAS capabilities
Lead: Kirstin
Support: Uwais and Kathleen
• The current SAS and accessibility systems on campus are crucial to so many students’ education and overall lives. Ensuring that these matters are truly what is best for students in practice is key. Podcasting courses is one step to improving accessibility for courses Description for students. Similarly, we would like to work with students and SAS to ensure that SAS is meeting the needs of students in the best way they can (e.g. adequately recognizing the difficulty and inaccessibility of requiring doctor’s notes, and re-evaluating and reforming the current notetaking system). • Improving accessibility for students, and educational opportunities Benefits for all. Addresses concerns that students have had for years about different accessibility issues on campus.
• Could be a lot more at play than anticipated, and potentially a larger Difficulties project than we know. • Raised consciousness of accessibility concerns and lack of Long-term accessibility in education, and hopefully improvement in how the implications University answers the voices calling for these accessibility measures.
• Advocating for and truly implementing podcasted courses. • Work with SAS to determine their successes and difficulties, and how they can be supported. Likewise, what students in SAS have How? concerns about. • Reviewing the current notetaking system, potentially implementing a reward/incentive system (e.g. 5% participation) to ensure that notes are taken and provided more regularly. • SRA, Faculty of Social Sciences, SAS, Maccess (and more partners if Partners more faculties want to be involved SRA Social Sciences Long Term Planning
Advocating for More Experiential Opportunities
Lead: Kirstin
Support: Lauren, Uwais, and Kathleen
• Work with the Experiential Education office. Continue progress Description from previous caucus. • EE provides “unique approaches to learning within the classroom and more actively engaging students in the community, as well as Benefits promoting strong relationships between academic studies, career exploration and community involvement” (EE, n.d.).
• Gather data from Social Science students who have taken EE courses and their feedback for wanting to increase similar course Year 1 styles. 2016 - 2017 • Sit in on meetings with the MSSS VP Academic, and Experiential Education office • Generate a report from feedback received. • Work towards using that feedback and working with the EE office Year 2 to seek more opportunities for Social Science students. 2017 - 2018 • Create a campaign where students can share their opinions on potential opportunities that can be created. • Work with EE on how we can support them.
• VP Academic of the MSSS • Experiential Education Office Partners • McMaster University • VP Education and Education team SRA Social Sciences GOALS to strive for…
List 5 things that you would like to have prepared for the beginning of September 1. Communication Plan for the Year including Welcome week 2. Year Calendar of Events and Meetings to attend 3. Materials and Recruitment plan for seats 4. Rough Draft of How To Guide 5. Outreach to various Campus Partners
List 5 things you would like to have completed during the fall term (1st) 1. Rough draft of Landlord Rating System 2. One Study Event 3. MSSS GA #1 4. Successfully Transition another SRA member 5. Facilitate event to encourage people to run and get involved with SRA SocSci
List 5 things you would like to have completed during the winter term (2nd) 1. MSSS GA #2 2. Successful continuation of class talks 3. Transition plan for incoming caucus 4. Overall engagement report with performance results 5. 600 Facebook Likes
The End MEMO From the office of the… . Clubs Administrator
TO: Members of the Student Representative Assembly FROM: Jenna Courage, Clubs Administrator SUBJECT: 2017/18 Clubs Ratification Pt. 2 DATE: July 12, 2017
Dear Assembly,
Please review the attached list of club names for ratification at your July meeting.
In reviewing this list, please note:
(1) official recognition of all clubs is conditional, pending satisfactory completion of clubs training;
Should you have any questions, concerns, or require any clarification, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Best,
Jenna Courage
Clubs Administrator 905.525.9140 ext. 24113 [email protected]
1
McMaster Students Union 2017-2018 Clubs
Club Name D Discover Naturopathic Medicine J Jack.org McMaster M Mac Cares MACtion Potential McMaster Chinese Students and Scholars Association McMaster Horn of Africa Students' Association P Project Pulse McMaster S Student Supporting the UHN
2