Ashley Wile is your VP Internal for 2010/2011!
Thank you everyone!
View the results here (need to log-in).
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Sunday, February 7, 2010
About Me and My Experience
I spent the last year actively serving as the faculty representative for science on the UNBSU. As a councillor, I attend weekly council meetings as well as Union committee meetings and help with Student Union events such as the Haiti Fundraiser, the Book Buy and Sell, and Winter Carnival. One of the Union committees I sit on is the Academic committee, which assists the current VP Internal.
In addition to my councillor duties, I am the student representative on several senate committees. This is important experience as one of the most important roles of VP Internal is as a liaison with senate. The VP Internal spends a significant amount of time during the summer (twice a week) as the member of the Student Standings and Promotions Committee. I became a member of this committee last summer, and have continued with the committee throughout the school year. The committee deals with cases of plagiarism, appeals of students required to withdraw, and grade appeals. I work hard to give the Professors on the committee a student perspective on each case.
I have been part of the Red Shirt team, an important aspect of Orientation Week, for two years. This past year I was an event coordinator, part of the Red Shirt executive. Red Shirts receive invaluable training on how to give new students a warm welcome to UNB and help them develop skills they'll need for the upcoming year.
When I was elected to the Student Union as Science Councillor I quickly developed a passion for academic issues. I am concerned with the accessibility of available services to students, inconsistent policies, the lack of services for international students, and the high cost of tuition. Through senate committees and Red Shirts I have established relationships with many of the departments and people the VP Internal is required to work with. I have the passion and the experience to address these issues as VP Internal.
In addition to my councillor duties, I am the student representative on several senate committees. This is important experience as one of the most important roles of VP Internal is as a liaison with senate. The VP Internal spends a significant amount of time during the summer (twice a week) as the member of the Student Standings and Promotions Committee. I became a member of this committee last summer, and have continued with the committee throughout the school year. The committee deals with cases of plagiarism, appeals of students required to withdraw, and grade appeals. I work hard to give the Professors on the committee a student perspective on each case.
I have been part of the Red Shirt team, an important aspect of Orientation Week, for two years. This past year I was an event coordinator, part of the Red Shirt executive. Red Shirts receive invaluable training on how to give new students a warm welcome to UNB and help them develop skills they'll need for the upcoming year.
When I was elected to the Student Union as Science Councillor I quickly developed a passion for academic issues. I am concerned with the accessibility of available services to students, inconsistent policies, the lack of services for international students, and the high cost of tuition. Through senate committees and Red Shirts I have established relationships with many of the departments and people the VP Internal is required to work with. I have the passion and the experience to address these issues as VP Internal.
My Goals for the VP Internal Position
I have the following goals in mind for the VP Internal Portfolio. Generally, I want to improve the quality and accessibility of services offered to students by both the Student Union and the university.
Book Buy & Sell
Book Buy & Sell
- I'd like to address important student feedback that I've heard from my two years of volunteering at the sale. For example, students have expressed concern about the length of the lines, the timing of the event, and the accessibility of debit.
- I want to address these concerns by streamlining the process to purchase books. The system can stand significant improvement. Currently there are two binders, each has a thousand manually entered book IDs.
- Students are currently required to pay with cash. As VP Internal, I want to explore options to let students pay with debit. If this is not possible, I would coordinate with BMO to ensure that the ATM in the SUB lobby does not run out of money (which is typical in the first few hours of the sale).
- I'd like to coordinate with university services such as Student Services and Career Counseling to inform students about the world of academia that they have entered.
- I feel that there is not enough consolidated information for students in this area. Students arriving to university could benefit from a brief overview of the academic world. Particularly, I would impart information about what a Bachelor's degree is; academic integrity; and without overwhelming them with specific options, stress the wealth of opportunities that will be available to them as alumni.
- In order for services to be accessible to students, they need to know that the service exists and have an accurate understanding of the service provided. For example, students may not be aware of Counseling Services, and those that are may not know about their career counseling service.
- As VP Internal, I will work with the university to promote various services to students and ensure that the students that need the support offered to them receive it.
- UNB has many good policies and procedures in place. However, these policies aren't universally adhered to around campus, whether it's a lack of information regarding the policy, or a disregard for it.
- For example, UNB's website has a listing of canceled classes that is rarely used by professors. Too often, students will show up to their class rooms only to discover a note on the door listing their class as canceled. More helpfully, some professor will email their class list directly with cancellations. I have had new instructors who would not cancel class in a snow storm because they looked at the cancellation site and perceived that no other professors had canceled classes.
- Separate faculties and departments operate as silos; good procedures in one faculty may not exist in another. Faculties would benefit from sharing procedure and using the best one, regardless of its origins. Students would benefit from a more consistent experience and an improved system.
- For example, the Faculty of Computer Science has an excellent TA application procedure that allows the faculty to choose their TA's based on their experience and grades. In my own department of Psychology, the opportunity to TA is not advertised and TA positions are provided by personal contact with the professor. This was particularly frustrating for me because I knew if I was trying to TA a CS course, there would be a simple online form, but if I wanted to TA a Psych course, I had to email a professor and hope they hadn't already filled the position.
- I want to increase the support for International students by improving services.
- As VP Internal I will work the the University towards eliminating the differential fee.
The Tuition Issue
New Brunswick has one of the highest tuition rates in Canada. The increasing cost of education is a burden on students and prevents some from accessing University at all. Despite a tuition freeze, effective tuition has continued to rise as UNB adds mandatory fees (such as the $50 health fee approved last year).
While it is primarily the VP External's position to lobby the federal and provincial government for lower tuition, there is a place for lobbying the University as well. As VP Internal I will advocate at the University level for lower tuition fees for both domestic and international students.
The cost of tuition is such that it is prohibitive to some perspective students and a continuing burden, in the form of debt, to graduates. I want to see a decrease in the cost of tuition, and not simply a tuition freeze with increasing ancillary fees. I think if we refuse to accept that this is the way it has to be, students can be a powerful force against rising tuition costs.
While it is primarily the VP External's position to lobby the federal and provincial government for lower tuition, there is a place for lobbying the University as well. As VP Internal I will advocate at the University level for lower tuition fees for both domestic and international students.
The cost of tuition is such that it is prohibitive to some perspective students and a continuing burden, in the form of debt, to graduates. I want to see a decrease in the cost of tuition, and not simply a tuition freeze with increasing ancillary fees. I think if we refuse to accept that this is the way it has to be, students can be a powerful force against rising tuition costs.
International Student Issues
International students are a unique and important group on our campus. As such, they may face a number of unique challenges. One of the most important of these challenges is the International differential fee - the differential "fee" is $6,430, bringing tuition for international students to $11,912 plus mandatory fees.
In my experience, international students account for a unusually high proportion of required to withdrawal cases seen during the summer months by the Student Standings and Promotions Senate Committee (SS&P). Students are required to withdrawal if they do not meet certain GPA requirements, but SS&P hears appeals. Often, appeals by international students reveal that they simply didn't have the support they needed to be successful.
I feel that international students in need of support would benefit from targeted promotion of existing but underused services such as the Math Help Centre and Peer-Assisted Learning. Student Union services such as English Corner Cafe can be important resources to international students. I'd like to expand and improve on these services and their promotion.
Currently, there are two offices for non-domestic students: one for exchange students and one for international students enrolled in UNB. They operate largely independently, but I'd like to see more collaboration between these two office and the Student Union in order to create comprehensive services.
International students face issues when coming to Canada for the first time. On top of possibly struggling with English as a Second Language and cultural differences, they have to deal with the Canadian Winter. Support could be offered to help students unaccustomed to harsh Winters prepare themselves for life in New Brunswick.
I was surprised to learn that airport pickup is available for exchange students, but not international students. Imagine coming to New Brunswick for the first time, in January, wearing sneakers and a fall jacket with no welcome. As part of Red Shirts, I understand how important a warm welcome from the university community is to new students. I will endeavor to implement airport pickup for international students requiring it.
In my experience, international students account for a unusually high proportion of required to withdrawal cases seen during the summer months by the Student Standings and Promotions Senate Committee (SS&P). Students are required to withdrawal if they do not meet certain GPA requirements, but SS&P hears appeals. Often, appeals by international students reveal that they simply didn't have the support they needed to be successful.
I feel that international students in need of support would benefit from targeted promotion of existing but underused services such as the Math Help Centre and Peer-Assisted Learning. Student Union services such as English Corner Cafe can be important resources to international students. I'd like to expand and improve on these services and their promotion.
Currently, there are two offices for non-domestic students: one for exchange students and one for international students enrolled in UNB. They operate largely independently, but I'd like to see more collaboration between these two office and the Student Union in order to create comprehensive services.
International students face issues when coming to Canada for the first time. On top of possibly struggling with English as a Second Language and cultural differences, they have to deal with the Canadian Winter. Support could be offered to help students unaccustomed to harsh Winters prepare themselves for life in New Brunswick.
I was surprised to learn that airport pickup is available for exchange students, but not international students. Imagine coming to New Brunswick for the first time, in January, wearing sneakers and a fall jacket with no welcome. As part of Red Shirts, I understand how important a warm welcome from the university community is to new students. I will endeavor to implement airport pickup for international students requiring it.
VP Internal - Roles and Responsibilities
The Governance Review conducted this year concluded that the role of VP Academic be replaced by VP Internal. The Committee recognized a lack of the clear contact in Union structure with the University for nonacademic student needs. The VP Internal, which includes all the responsibilities of the VP Academic, was created to be this clear contact point with the University for academic as well as non-academic issues.
The VP Internal is the liaison with University administration, Senate, Faculty councils, and the International student advisors office. Academic services such as the Great Grade Lauch, the Book Buy and Sell, Pizza and Plagiarism, and English Corner Cafe are currently organized by the VP Internal.
The responsibilities as defined in the newly amended Student Union Bylaws:
The VP Internal is the liaison with University administration, Senate, Faculty councils, and the International student advisors office. Academic services such as the Great Grade Lauch, the Book Buy and Sell, Pizza and Plagiarism, and English Corner Cafe are currently organized by the VP Internal.
The responsibilities as defined in the newly amended Student Union Bylaws:
VICE PRESIDENT INTERNAL
41. The Vice President Internal shall be responsible for monitoring academic regulations and improving the overall quality of life at the University of New Brunswick, and shall:
(a) assist the Union President in all matters relating to the internal workings of the University of New Brunswick and the Union;
(b) act as a liaison between the Union and the University Senate;
(c) be a student senator on the University of New Brunswick Fredericton Senate
(d) serve as the primary contact person for all Student Senators, as well as all students on Senate standing committees;
(e) ensure that there be adequate student representation in all decision making processes of the University of New Brunswick;
(f) determine and supervise coordinators and directors that fall under the jurisdiction of the Internal portfolio.
(g) ensure the execution of academic programming
(h) present a report of activities undertaken on behalf of the Union at all regular meetings of the Council;
(i) act as a liaison between the VP Associate Academic (Learning Environment) of the University of New Brunswick and the Union;
(j) report to the President;
(k) notwithstanding paragraph 35(h) above, until such time as such Vice President External returns to office or until such time as such Vice President External is appointed or elected in accordance with the provisions of these by-laws, fulfill, or arrange for the fulfilment of, the duties of the Vice President External who is, by reason of illness, family emergency, suspension in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws, or any other reason deemed appropriate by the Council unable to fulfill his or duties;
(l) fulfill and perform those duties as may be required and or necessary to achieve Union purposes and/or objectives; and,
(m) present an annual written report, in the form prescribed by the Council from time to time, to the Council before leaving office.
(n) Act as a liaison between the Union and
(i) Faculty councils;
(ii) International student advisors office;
Why Run for Senate Too?
In addition to VP Internal I am also running for a one-year senate seat. One of the biggest responsibilities of the VP Internal is as a liaison with senate, so it is important that they hold a seat as senator.
I have experience with senate as a student representative and will continue to sit on committees, but only senators are allowed at senate meetings.
The positions of VP Internal and Senator compliment each other. Electing me to both positions will allow me to perform better in each.
The Student Union is currently working with senate to have the VP Internal awarded a seat automatically, for subsequent elections.
I have experience with senate as a student representative and will continue to sit on committees, but only senators are allowed at senate meetings.
The positions of VP Internal and Senator compliment each other. Electing me to both positions will allow me to perform better in each.
The Student Union is currently working with senate to have the VP Internal awarded a seat automatically, for subsequent elections.
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