By Katherine Gibson (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: February 19, 2014 (Extended edition)
SUS to create a $10,000 scholarship
Representative-at-large Thomas Davies spoke about the creation of a new “Premier Entrance Scholarship.” The scholarship, intended for entering undergrad students, will give individuals the opportunity to have $10,000 a year put toward their education for up to 3 years.
As Davies explained, UFV currently does not have any major entrance award for prospective students to apply for. By adding this scholarship, SUS hopes to help UFV attract more prospective students, as well as aid students in financing their education.
“One of [the university’s] missions in its strategic plans is to have the best undergrad education, and that’s something that we really support,” Davies said.
“We want to support students, support their ability to come here, have open access to education, and bring excellence to UFV and to the Student Union.”
While Davies noted it was not yet finalized, he did list tentative criteria the SUS board will require of students interested in applying.
Davies’ list included a high admission average, involvement in school leadership and engagement with the community, a written essay, and willingness to work for SUS five hours a week once the funding is received.
“It will be a very comprehensive package because it’s a major award,” he said.
“The key is leadership, because that is what we, as SUS, stand for,” he said. “We want to promote leadership among students. So we want to ensure that [recipients] will be leaders on campus.”
VP academic Kristianne Hendricks raised the question of whether or not the award should distinguish between domestic and international students.
After much discussion, VP finance Ryan Petersen spoke to the importance of keeping the award open to every prospective student.
“Since our fee that we collect as an organization comes from both domestic and international students, this scholarship, as it stands right now … there should be no preference put on one or the other,” Petersen said. “This isn’t going to be a detriment to our organization or the university if they come from Canada or anywhere else in the world.”
The board received Petersen’s words favourably.
VP internal Greg Stickland also raised concern about the budgeting process, questioning whether the SUS budget was big enough at this point to sustain such a large scholarship program.
“I feel confident that our [budget] can handle this,” Petersen responded. The rest of the board agreed.
After extensive discussion, the motion was carried and the proposed scholarship fund was passed.
Fashion design department receives partial funding for grad show
During the January 24 board meeting, fashion design department head Deanna Devitt spoke on behalf of the April 29 fashion grad show. Despite her request for $1500, SUS decided to grant Devitt and the fashion department partial funding, in the amount of $650.
Petersen acknowledged the “large discrepancy” between the requested and allotted amounts. He maintained the amount of funding had been carefully discussed by the finance board and still allowed for the fashion department to effectively run their event.
“[For] fashion students, by and large, this is the only large event that they host throughout the entire year,” Petersen explained. “They still have their $850 to use towards it; that plus the $650 will come up with $1500 which they outlined on their budget.”
Representative-at-large Sarah Gabor-Martinez questioned whether the fashion department would have the opportunity to come back to the board should the allocated money not be enough to properly cover their event. Petersen assured both Martinez and the board the department would be able to do so.
After group discussion, the board voted on the motion and it was passed.
SUS sends board representatives to ABCS lobby week
Hendricks spoke to the board regarding the Alliance of British Columbia Students (ABCS) and attendance of SUS board members at the ABCS lobby week in Victoria, occurring from March 2 to 4.
Petersen, Stickland, President Shane Potter, and Hendricks herself were all nominated to attend. Explaining the rationale behind the members chosen to attend, Hendricks made it clear every person attending the conference was there because of his or her knowledge of and involvement with ABCS.
Hendricks also noted the importance of SUS members being actively engaged and present throughout the entire weekend. Asserting the value of having SUS representation, Hendricks highlighted the direct benefits to UFV students — they will have student concerns relayed to and represented in the provincial government. Because the provincial government determines funding for universities, Hendricks, as well as the board, felt the event held increased importance for UFV and student interests.
“The purpose of the weekend will be to meet with the MLAs and ministers in B.C. to advocate for the ABCS on student issues,” Hendricks said. “Grants and student loans primarily — a little bit of child care and a little bit of transit — but we’re really focusing on loans.”
The event will cost $150 per delegate to attend, with additional funding needed for sleeping arrangements and travel. During discussion Davies suggested the board amend the motion to include a funding cap of $1500 for the event.
The board approved the amendment and the motion was passed unanimously.
The next SUS board meeting will be held on the Abbotsford campus in A360 on February 21.
