AUSU News

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AUSU will be hosting some Facebook Live Events! Join your AUSU executives in some great discussions about AU, balancing commitments, tips on how to succeed, and more!

Post a comment or question on the topics discussed during one of the three Facebook Live events listed below for a chance to win a sweet AUSU prize pack!

Come visit AUSU live at facebook.com/AthaUSU during the sessions listed below. Participate in the session and your name will be entered into a prize draw. Must be an AUSU member to win a prize.

Monday, October 23 at 12pm MT

Topics: Secrets for studying online, ways to balance your commitments such as family, work, school, etc.

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Overview:

Under the direction of the Executive Director, the Governance and Advocacy Coordinator is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the Athabasca University Students’ Union (AUSU) governance and advocacy initiatives and strategies in order to enhance the overall experience of undergraduate students at Athabasca University. The Governance and Advocacy Coordinator will support the AUSU council in the development and maintenance of our bylaws, policies, and procedures, in order to ensure a solid governance structure to which the organization will adhere to.

AUSU is a statutory corporation, established by the Post-Secondary Learning Act of Alberta, representing the undergraduate students of Athabasca University. AUSU works to ensure the members receive an enhanced, quality educational experience. Our primary role for our members is advocacy – both for individual students and our membership as a whole.

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AUSU council is pleased to present a draft copy of our proposed AUSU bylaws. There have been significant changes made in order to ensure that AUSU continues to provide quality services, representation, and advocacy to safeguard the health of the organization well into the future.

Overall, the new bylaws reflect the direction that AUSU is moving to in the future. They still capture the spirit of the existing bylaws, but with enhanced direction and transparency. The revisions were also put in place to ensure compliance with the Post-Secondary Learning Act, which governs how student unions operate.

You can view the proposed new bylaws online here.    

Some highlights of the proposed changes are listed below, as well as ways for the membership to provide feedback or ask questions.Continue Reading

AUSU has been actively advocating for changes to clinical practice procedures on behalf of students in the Faculty of Health Disciplines at AU for over a year. We are pleased to say the Faculty just announced some of the positive changes we have been advocating for!

One of the primary concerns was that the clinical signups were based on an online sign-up sheet that opened at midnight MDT, and required students to compete for a limited number of spaces. At times, the sign-up sheet was full only moments after it opened, which has had a detrimental effect for many students, some of whom ended up having to extend their programs to wait for the next clinical sign up opportunity, with no guarantee that they would be granted a spot on a future list.

In addition, students starting a clinical placement were required to write the NURS 401 Medical Math Exam on the first day of their placement, which for some students meant a significant cost for travel and accommodations. If the math exam was not passed, the placement was cancelled, and students who travelled were out their travel costs.

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Want to get more involved with your AU Students’ Union?

Do you have ideas for engaging with other AU students?

Looking for a chance to get experience in committee or governance work?

Apply to be a voting member of the AUSU Member Engagement & Communications Committee!

The MEC committee is a standing committee formed by AUSU Council to develop a strong connection between AUSU and its members, and ensure that all AUSU communications are representative of AUSU’s goals and guiding principles.

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Our hearts go out to all those are affected by the wildfires blazing in British Columbia. It is a devastating tragedy – more than 230 fires are burning, over 400 square kilometres of land has been scorched, and more than 14,000 people have been forced from their homes¹.

We want you to know that AU and AUSU have numerous contingencies and supports in place to help students that have been effected.

Course Assistance

For any AU students who have been evacuated from their homes, AU is offering:

• Free course extensions
• Free exam rebooking
• Replacement course materials
• Free late course withdrawals.

Find out more information about this, visit the AU website here or call them at 1-800-788-9041.Continue Reading

Last month, AUSU executives Julian Teterenko (Vice President External Affairs, or VPEX) and Scott Jacobsen (Vice President Finance and Administration, or VPFA) went to the annual Foundations Conference for the Canadian Alliance of Students’ Associations (CASA). The conference was hosted at the Four Points hotel in Gatineau, Quebec from May 22 to 26.

The conference is a comprehensive introduction to the organization for all new delegates, and helps delegates learn how to advocate on behalf of students. It prepares new CASA delegates to take the reins of the organization. Since CASA is a student-run organization, the most prepared students make for the best prepared organisation. These conferences are crucial to the success of the organization and making sure that post-secondary students in Canada are represented to the federal government. Furthermore, it is crucial for Athabasca University students to have representation at these conferences since we are in a unique situation among post-secondary institutions in Canada.Continue Reading

CLICK PICTURE TO ENLARGE. Left to right: Councillor Kim Newsome, VP External and Student Affairs Julian Teterenko, VP Finance and Administration Scott Jacobsen, Councillor Robin Bleich, Councillor Amanda Lipinski, Executive Director Jodi Campbell, Councillor Brandon Simmons, President Shawna Wasylyshyn.

In June 2017, AUSU council traveled from across Canada to meet up in Athabasca for a council working retreat. The retreat was held over the convocation weekend from June 7 to June 10, which provided a great opportunity for council to see the ceremony, greet other AU students and celebrate their successes, as well as to meet in person with various AU stakeholders.Continue Reading